First Impressions of CK2- whats up with the levy system?

[Synario]

I just bought ck2, (no DLC yet). Overall its a very interesting game, exceptionally different from Eu3. Particularly the combat. I hate to say it, but the combat seems a little unusual and dare I say it, unfulfilling compared to Eu3. I'm hoping I'm wrong because I've only played as a tiny Count/Earl so far in Ireland.

What's mostly usual is the the levy system if somebody could explain that to me. I think the fact you can't regain men is what throws me off. Combat seems to go like this: Raise a levy, throw it against the enemy, bring it back home, disband, raise the levy again, throw it at the enemy, come home, disband, rinse and repeat; the only way to keep up to strength is the very odd pattern of having to disband and re-raise your levy again in quick secession. Is it just me that I have a problem with this? It just seems to throw the thrill or momentum of combat off when you have to keep calling back your levy to disband it and raise it again.

Am I do something wrong?

 

[cywang86]

Nah you're not doing anything wrong (except for not buying the LoR expansion:happy. The levy system portraits the system being used by the Europe at that time. It's a part time conscript system instead of a centralized government controlling a professional army.

It's certainly very annoying after a while, especially when you have to repeatedly move your troops from inland to coast to invade the muslims in the Meds.

With the Legacy of Rome expansion though, you have the option to build retinues. They're closer to the army concept in EU and beyond, where they reinforce themselves overtime but at the cost of monthly reinforcement payment. Though there is no military maintenance if they're just sitting around doing nothing.
They're only a portion (10~50% depending on tech) of your realm army size and not modified by vassal opinions, so theoretically you can have a retinue army that's bigger than your levies. (given that your vassals hate you)

 

[Alexander Seil]

It's quite fulfilling when you force a decisive battle. It's a lot more meaningful than EU's, not to mention that more stuff happens during the battle.

I think your observation does have to do with you playing a tiny minor. Your forces shouldn't melt after one battle, you can perfectly well wage a large war with a single call-up of your levies, just be aware that it's a finite resource and don't throw it away carelessly in battles you can't win.

 

[Synario]

Well thank you for the explanation.

Is my observation correct that the ONLY means to rebuild a levy is to disband it and rebuild it?

I find it hard to believe that a single call-up in a large war would be sufficient which prompts this question.

 

[tormos]

This observation is correct. Some clever players (with larger realms than yours) will raise part of their forces for the initial parts of wars with smaller/less concentrated opponents, and use the other portions as reserves while the first part recovers or to bring their sieges up to assault strength.

 

[Hootieleece]

Since your playing a Count or Duke in Ireland, save up your gold for mercenaries. 1500 men for 75 gold and 6gold/month.Then you will have enough to wipeout your enemies.

The problem is that the levy system represents how war was actually fought during this time.A King or Lord would call on all his vassals for a war.They would assemble after spring planting.Go fight the enemy, maybe seige the enemy castle or assault it.(but usually just destroy the fields) and the go home in time for Harvest.The light Infantry in your levy are your peasants/serfs.(who are your farmers) If war wasn't decided, they would repeat the next year.

Read A history of the 100 years War. England and France had some sort of truce for most of the 116 years they were ar "war". And that was near the end of the games timeline.

 

[Alexander Seil]

Well thank you for the explanation.

Is my observation correct that the ONLY means to rebuild a levy is to disband it and rebuild it?

I find it hard to believe that a single call-up in a large war would be sufficient which prompts this question.

How large a war? If you force a really decisive battle, even if your forces are left at 60-70% at the end, your opponent is basically finished.

EDIT: There's thankfully much less chasing enemies all over the map in CK2 relative to some other games Paradox made. At least compared to what I remember from EU. It's possible to inflict strategically devastating losses in the field.

 

[JerikTelorian]

This observation is correct. Some clever players (with larger realms than yours) will raise part of their forces for the initial parts of wars with smaller/less concentrated opponents, and use the other portions as reserves while the first part recovers or to bring their sieges up to assault strength.

I am fairly certain that this is not correct, unless something has recently changed. If a county's levy was weakened, after a few months you should be able to re-raise those troops from their Home Counties. Just go the army menu and raise all levies, and they should pop back up, no need to disband anyone.

 

[Alexander Seil]

That happens when the levies are completely destroyed - I don't think you can re-raise without disbanding otherwise.

 

[The_Blind_One]

That happens when the levies are completely destroyed - I don't think you can re-raise without disbanding otherwise.

That is correct, each barony has a single army unit. It cannot have 2 seperate ones. One must first disband/lose the original if one wishes to reraise with fresh troops.

 

[anonymouswolfm]

I am fairly certain that this is not correct, unless something has recently changed. If a county's levy was weakened, after a few months you should be able to re-raise those troops from their Home Counties. Just go the army menu and raise all levies, and they should pop back up, no need to disband anyone.

That was the change introduced by 1.07 (I think) - levies no longer replenish at home unless those raised are destroyed/disbanded.