Mid Game - Newb in Need

[PvK]

Originally posted by OG_Gleep:
...
Generally, what orders would you give to an army of this composition, and where would their starting positon be relative to back middle or front:

a) Block of Ulm Infantry Shield
b) Block of Ulm Infantry 2hnd Axe
c) Block of Ulm Infantry Spear
d) Block of Xbow
e) Block of Xbow
f) Block of Heavy Calv
g) 2 Ulm Smiths
Assume there are vanilla Ulm commanders as well.
...

Infantry in middle, slowest types in front, about the middle of your start area.

Xbow and Smiths behind the infantry - cast spells to improve morale and armor, if any, and Blade Winds if available.

HCav on extreme left or right flank (about as far forward as inf, or a little behind them), with orders to Hold and Attack Rear.

Any tough magic-equipped commanders given some same-speed guards on Guard Commander, with commander on Attack Nearest, placed on flank of infantry perhaps opposite the Hcav.

Main problem with this army: NO CANNON FODDER!!! Add cannon fodder, and your losses to your good troops will go way down. Only engage enemies you think you can probably defeat.

When facing the AI with multiple enemy provinces with enemy armies, and you go take one of theirs, have a force move in to protect the province you vacated, on the turn AFTER you vacated it. It should hold and embarrass the counter-attack, while your first attacking force can go romping through weak enemy back territories. Use spies and scouts to see where the large enemy armies are, in advance of your own armies. Or, if there are large armies ready to take the province you vacated, step back to your vacated province with your main army, and fight the main enemy as it moves in to attack you defenses, but now with both your defenses AND your main army.

PvK

[aldin]

Originally posted by OG_Gleep:
a) Block of Ulm Infantry Shield
b) Block of Ulm Infantry 2hnd Axe
c) Block of Ulm Infantry Spear
d) Block of Xbow
e) Block of Xbow
f) Block of Heavy Calv
g) 2 Ulm Smiths
Assume there are vanilla Ulm commanders as well.

Just one more slightly different take:
-Combine the Xbows into a single block centrally on one flank with orders to fire closest.
-Put the Cav on the other flank slightly forward of the XBow position with Hold and Attack Rear.
-Infantry in the center slightly forward of the cav position and cheated a bit towards the XBows and away from the Cav with Hold and Attack Closest.
-One Smith behind the infantry and one behind the Cav, both casting Legions of Steel.
-I like to arm vanilla Ulmish commanders with Xbows and orders to fire.
-This army would greatly benefit from the prophet coming along to cast Sermon of Courage.

~Aldin

[Snoop]

What works for me...

1. Long spear group. Have a large troop of long spear or Pikemen setup on the botom flank and out in front so the enemy will target them first. {attack closest}

2. Cav troop. Have a Cav troop of 10 to 25 men setup at the VERY TOP but just a bit behind the long spear/pike troop so they dont get engaged by the enemy first. If archers in ememy army {hold and attack archers} If no enemy archers {hold and attack rear}

3. Light inf group. Have barbarians or fast moving infantry typs 20+ setup to flank the enemy inf. Set this group UP TOP right next to your Cav group so they dont get engaged just like your Cav. {attack rear}

For the rest of your army have holy casters cast moral boosting spells and mages casting spells that buff your troops. I stay away from mages and archers that hit my own troops. If I use archers I use a different army setup so my archers dont hit my own men.

good luck