What is your favourite Tactics for a open field battle?

[Cetra]

Pretty much as the title sais, you are fighting in a open field what is your go to Tactic? Hit and run ? take a hill with archers and defend them with a Shield wall? what units do you use for said tactics? Jump in and share would love to pick up a few ideas!!

[lionhart]

Depends on the composition of my army. If I have an all mounted army on relatively flat ground, then the best tactic is to order them to follow me, approach the enemy line at a slow gallop and then order them to charge just as the enemy archers are coming into firing range.

On the other hand, if I have only foot soldiers (infantry and archers) and the enemy has cavalry, then the best tactic is to lead them to the top of a hill, or into water, and have them form two lines: infantry in front and archers behind. I also tell the infantry to stand closer so that the enemy cavalry cannot charge through them and get to my archers.

These are basic tactics that really only effect the opening moments of the battle, but Warband does not support anything more complex than that. The options for giving detailed orders to your troops are very limited. The outcome of most battles is decided within the first 15-30 seconds anyway.

[NavFamG]

Instantly hit F1 (everyone) and then F2 (follow me) to stop them from all charging. I'll then lead them to the best defense terrain near by and once there tell them to Hold / Stand fast.

Once the enemy has gotten close I'll release my cavalry to attack / harass them while I run around and help out around my infantry / archer line.

I'm playing Native Expansion and can form my troops into ranks so I end up with Infantry up front and archers in back with what Cavalry I have off to the side.

[Cetra]

Originally posted by lionhart:

Depends on the composition of my army. If I have an all mounted army on relatively flat ground, then the best tactic is to order them to follow me, approach the enemy line at a slow gallop and then order them to charge just as the enemy archers are coming into firing range.

On the other hand, if I have only foot soldiers (infantry and archers) and the enemy has cavalry, then the best tactic is to lead them to the top of a hill, or into water, and have them form two lines: infantry in front and archers behind. I also tell the infantry to stand closer so that the enemy cavalry cannot charge through them and get to my archers.

These are basic tactics that really only effect the opening moments of the battle, but Warband does not support anything more complex than that. The options for giving detailed orders to your troops are very limited. The outcome of most battles is decided within the first 15-30 seconds anyway.

With a all mounted army do you ever consider using horse archers?? or not your thing im trying to perfect a way to use them but the AI as you pointed out is limited

[Cetra]

Originally posted by NavFamG:

Instantly hit F1 (everyone) and then F2 (follow me) to stop them from all charging. I'll then lead them to the best defense terrain near by and once there tell them to Hold / Stand fast.

Once the enemy has gotten close I'll release my cavalry to attack / harass them while I run around and help out around my infantry / archer line.

I'm playing Native Expansion and can form my troops into ranks so I end up with Infantry up front and archers in back with what Cavalry I have off to the side.

Very nice, with Floris mod using tactics you can order each troop type before the battle even starts, i like your style starting with a cav charge ill give t a try

[Twinkletoes]

Find a good place to hold position and let the enemy come to you.

If they stop I get a good firing range for my soldiers and then skirmish on their outer flanks to slowly chip their numbers and make them waste ammo.

Generally I like to keep the fighting on my side of the field, quick reinforcement for me, long travel time for them.

[felmari]

generally i like well rounded army i try to get arches/cross on a hill infantry in front of archers and cal to the side but posibly a small hill or level ground and can be a distance away side but forward a bit. that is a general tactic but there are things that can dictate other positions for instance if i have a masive cal and am fighting with other lords(i do this sometimes when i know i am going to fight with others) i will flank. i will hit and run-ish or regroup i would say having 10 20 guys chasing singles is no good. horse archers is another story and if i use them will have them follow me doing circles or have them move fast to good firing positions.

[NavFamG]

Originally posted by arascevik:

Very nice, with Floris mod using tactics you can order each troop type before the battle even starts,

Can't remember which mod it was, but one I played years ago on a different computer not only allowed you to order the troop type's like the Floris mod, but in the camp phase you could set up your different commanders and what troops they got and then when the battle started (after talking to the NPC you were attacking) a 'battle map' would show up with limited terrain info on it and you'd click where you'd want the troop commands you set up to station themselves.

[lionhart]

Originally posted by arascevik:

With a all mounted army do you ever consider using horse archers?? or not your thing im trying to perfect a way to use them but the AI as you pointed out is limited

I don't find horse archers useful, either in field battles or in sieges. I never have any in my army unless I am roleplaying as a Khergit with Khergit-only troops. Even then, horse archers are the last type of ranged troop I would want to have in a siege.

[Twinkletoes]

Originally posted by lionhart:

Originally posted by arascevik:

With a all mounted army do you ever consider using horse archers?? or not your thing im trying to perfect a way to use them but the AI as you pointed out is limited

I don't find horse archers useful, either in field battles or in sieges. I never have any in my army unless I am roleplaying as a Khergit with Khergit-only troops. Even then, horse archers are the last type of ranged troop I would want to have in a siege.

Horse archers I find to be an odd sort of anti-cavalry cavalry. They can usually peg a horse well enough and sooner or later the horse will die leaving the rider as an easy mark for your more battle hardened cavalry. And thanks to their natural speed most other cavalry have a hard time evading them.

An all cavalry with some horse archers is not bad, an all horse archer but little cavalry, not so much.

[lionhart]

Originally posted by Twinkletoes:

Horse archers I find to be an odd sort of anti-cavalry cavalry. They can usually peg a horse well enough and sooner or later the horse will die leaving the rider as an easy mark for your more battle hardened cavalry.

I have never tried this tactic but I must admit I am a little skeptical. I am sure it works well against light cavalry like caravan guards, but I think a horse archer would find it much tougher to take down heavily armored horses like the ones used by knights and mamlukes, and those are the units I am most concerned about.

[Twinkletoes]

Originally posted by lionhart:

Originally posted by Twinkletoes:

Horse archers I find to be an odd sort of anti-cavalry cavalry. They can usually peg a horse well enough and sooner or later the horse will die leaving the rider as an easy mark for your more battle hardened cavalry.

I have never tried this tactic but I must admit I am a little skeptical. I am sure it works well against light cavalry like caravan guards, but I think a horse archer would find it much tougher to take down heavily armored horses like the ones used by knights and mamlukes, and those are the units I am most concerned about.

Yes, your right.

How often do you see armies FULL of knights and mamlukes?

The usual prey of horse archers are coursers and hunters. Maybe that is why you don't value them? Your looking for a hard counter to a specific unit.

The best units for knights and mamlukes would probably be lancers(well, either that or Spear/pikeman that are not retarded). Sadly they are not in native