Military needs to be more straight put

[Prime624]

So I have played CKII for a while and have read practically all if the guides, but I still have trouble understanding the military aspect of the game. From cultural buildings/units to unit power to choosing what troop levies/buildings to build to choosing commanders without using an extremely tedious process.

Not only should Paradox make these things more clear, but can someone please explain these things to me? Thanks

 

[6ix]

All you really need to make sure of is that you have more soldiers than your enemies when attacking, or roughly the same amount when defending. Also, heavy, light and archer cavalry are significantly more powerful than other soldiers, so armies of them can take on significantly larger forces.

 

[Prime624]

All you really need to make sure of is that you have more soldiers than your enemies when attacking, or roughly the same amount when defending. Also, heavy, light and archer cavalry are significantly more powerful than other soldiers, so armies of them can take on significantly larger forces.

The first part is obvious and I understand terrain advantages, but how do I get more cavalry?

EDIT: Never mind. I guess I'll just explore the files for some time before I play next time.

 

[unmerged(494787)]

Light Cav is terrible. Heavy Infantry, Heavy Cavalry, Pikemen (for Scots/Italians), and Horse Archers are the strong units.

 

[l3ol3o]

Light Cav is terrible. Heavy Infantry, Heavy Cavalry, Pikemen (for Scots/Italians), and Horse Archers are the strong units.

This. For the most part numbers matter the most. The majority of the time the army with the most troops will win if there are no terrain bonuses. Heavy Cavalry is really the only unit that is strong enough to make up for numbers.

You want a healthy mix of all units though but I suggest focusing on whatever your cultural unit is. You never want to build only 1 unit type. The combat system makes this near impossible anyway.

You need archers/horse archers for the long skirmish phase. With enough you can rout your enemy before the melee even starts. You need the light infantry, heavy infantry, pike men, and heavy cavalry for the melee phase. Lastly you need some light cavalry to run down armies that were routed.

In my recent games I've liked to mass archers or horse archers. They are cheap and powerful in large numbers. If you play as the English you get a huge bonus for your archers making them awesome.

 

[Prime624]

Do Saxons and Scotts have the same cultural units? And if I'm Saxon/Scottish and I have land in Pomerania as well, can I get Saxon cultural troops/buildings in Pomerania or will I get Pomeranian or will I not get any?

 

[Gingerninja]

Do Saxons and Scotts have the same cultural units? And if I'm Saxon/Scottish and I have land in Pomerania as well, can I get Saxon cultural troops/buildings in Pomerania or will I get Pomeranian or will I not get any?

Saxons have Heavy Infantry, Scots have Pikemen. Cultural buildings and retinues depends on Leader Culture no matter where that is in the entire world. ( I don't know how it works with vassals being of other cultures)

 

[Prime624]

Saxons have Heavy Infantry, Scots have Pikemen. Cultural buildings and retinues depends on Leader Culture no matter where that is in the entire world. ( I don't know how it works with vassals being of other cultures)

So I am Saxon King of Scotland (now Ireland, Sweden, also would-be Pomerania) and for retinues I can get a 200/300 pikemen/archers (or the other way around). Can anyone get those? I can also get 400/100 or 100/400 heavy/archers. Is that my cultural unit?

 

[Talq]

No they are all standard retinues. Your cultural unit is 500 heavy infantry, costing 80g, and is at the bottom of the list.