battles difficulty

[princeseth]

i have started many games as the Byzantines in 1066 ... and i always my army loses is destroyed ... i raise all the armies i organise them with leaders and i lose every single battle...i win only battles that i have to much higher numbers in men...i can't win a single battle and in a few years my empire is all but lost...what am i missing here?..or the battles are supossed to be that difficult?...i admit i am no0 master to this game and i play at very easy option...what do you guys do to win battles and conquer other nations?...

 

[NikkTheTrick]

Take all forces away from the flanks and post them in the center, you will be much more effective.

 

[The_Blind_One]

Take all forces away from the flanks and post them in the center, you will be much more effective.

You are kidding right? Won't you get double flanked at that point? Taking massive damage...

 

[James_Manring]

You should look at what generals you have posted to your armies. Try and put them on there with a good martial skill. Also, pay attention to the terrain you are fighting on. If you are fighting in the mountains and you are always the attacker it is no small wonder you are not winning. Are you hiring any Cataphract Retinue?

 

[yezhanquan]

To add on, terrain is a rather big factor. Never attack across rivers, on in mountains, especially if the troops numbers are about the same.

 

[NikkTheTrick]

You are kidding right? Won't you get double flanked at that point? Taking massive damage...

From my experience, no.

When I fight an equal force with all my troops in the center, both forces take about the same damage initially. However, since he has only 1/3 forces taking all of the damage dealt to him, their center breaks. After which, the enemy becomes outnumbered and flanks fall one after another. The last flank to collapse ends up pursued and suffers horrible damage.

 

[princeseth]

thanks for the answers guys...still i find very difficult to win battles...especially when i attack...i take massive losses..my entire army is lost and i have to wait to raise new armies...by then the enemy has reached the gates of Constantinopole...its crazy...

 

[Kingsims]

Are you fighting Muslim Factions because they get a moral boost via low decadence. Put an a high combat modifer general in the centre flank (only have 1 flank). Then put his army on a hill or a river crossing. Lower your armies total size by 1000 less men than the enemy (The AI will take the bait). Then reinforce your army. Their left and right flanks will suffer devastating losses when their centre routs.

Thats the best way to beat the Seljuks early. Once you defeat their initial invasion.

 

[unknownenlord]

don't forget to call upon the varangian guard, they are mercenarys but with low upkeep and i think they have good quality soldiers. if you have legacy of rome you should hire retinues of cataphracts armies composed of mainly cataphracts will bascically destroy.

 

[unmerged(608717)]

From my experience, no.

When I fight an equal force with all my troops in the center, both forces take about the same damage initially. However, since he has only 1/3 forces taking all of the damage dealt to him, their center breaks. After which, the enemy becomes outnumbered and flanks fall one after another. The last flank to collapse ends up pursued and suffers horrible damage.

What happens when the enemy center falls? Does your center begin randomly flanking one of the enemy flanks or will it keep pursuing the enemy center?

 

[princeseth]

will try those strategies guys..thanks...and have all a happy new year....

 

[grumphie]

i prefer(assumign a 15kish army) to keep like 2k troops on the flanks, and put rest in center, flanks go full defensive commander. they keep off the flanking modifier, you crush their center.

 

[Rancor26]

From my experience army leaders and technology are biggest factors. If you have advanced technology and good martial skill leaders you should be winning battles easily.

 

[icon41gimp]

The opening battle against the Seljuks can be pretty tough since they field roughly the same size army. Raise all of your levies and call in the Varangian Guard mercenaries. Both yours and the Seljuk's stack should be something around 18k. If you can get to them before they can rally everything to one province then attack, otherwise just stay in the mountains on the other side of rivers. Let them siege a few provinces if they want, it will wear some of them down, but when they do attack make sure you're positioned in mountains and across a river. You should crush them with 10-12k left.

Take a white peace as soon as you are able, usually requires cleaning up the enemy stack and retaking any sieged holdings. Do not drag out the initial war or you risk getting overextended and then the Fatimids or internal factions will be too much.

 

[magitsu]

Whenever you can take down freshly raised troops before they combine into a stack. This way I was able to slaughter 6k Seljuks vs. 1,5k of mine in 1076 as duke of Antioch.