Multiplayer - what is the hardest to easiest factions?

[Marcus]

Just asking what factions do you find easy to use in multiplayer and the hardest to use?

[ThePendulum]

Cant speak for how the factions line up in PVP, but against the AI, the Anglo Saxons are the easiest to play as, and I would say Vikings are the hardest to play as. In my experience, anyways.

[PeteSkTemplar]

Factions have same units almost (beside Saracen only spears) but every faction has different mix in tiers of those units. Only exception are Anglo-Saxons they do not have T1 infantry so they have good all units. Slavs have worst shields but the rest ok with good archers. Germans have worst twohadnders but good spears, ok archers, only they have xbows and true heavy cavalry. Vikings though have best shields they are very late and very expensive, worst archers or similar to Saracen horse archers being expensive and not that efficient.

To make it short every factions has some strengts and weaknesses but some factions are hit less by that design.

My understading: (Anglo-Saxons - just jump to T2 and you are fine with whatever you want huscarls are not that late for best twohanders who are not to be be main infantry being easily coutnered by spears), to some degree Germans (if given time they can steamroll when they upgraded those cheap units and armors) I guess). The rest of factions are dependant more whom they face though Slavs would be imo number 3 in flexibility if they were not more expensive to T3 they would be even perhaps too (early) flexible). Saracens are difficult because of some rng / luck how grenades will either decimate enemy or get killed in a bling, similarily assasins. Their spears are ok when upgraded but I do not understand why their horse archers are that bad - I expected similar efficiency to Slavic ones especially not having another regular archer unit at disposal.

I am often thinking about what would be an impact of new tech to make T1 unit upgradable to T3 peformance of its class to broaden options for later game that faction design. Especially it would be good for vikings imo for their spears are too "early" while though best shields are very hardcountered by cavalry while not theri archers should be at least cheaper.

And it has been long since last time - again I wish we had match settings for siege units to be or not to be avaliable same as with heroes (also improved that from time to time lagg occuring even in skirmish).

[Elliott]

Wow do the tiers of the unit make a big difference? I assumed they would perform similiar its just slowly giving you more options. I guess you should avoid building your t1 units later into the game?

[tomasoltis]

Originally posted by Elliott:

Wow do the tiers of the unit make a big difference? I assumed they would perform similiar its just slowly giving you more options. I guess you should avoid building your t1 units later into the game?

they are generally the weakest, but through upgrades they sort of get in the better position - but factional differences are pretty big.

T1 is generally weak, T2 units are 'standard strength' and T3 are sort of what the faction excels at or is unique.

Huscarls are T3 and generally the best 2 handers.

Viking spearmen are T1, same for saracen spearmen, but saracens have some pretty good upgrades so I would expect those to be better - and they fill out the general void for saracen infantry if you dont count very expensive and small squads of hassassins.

slav shields are fast, can do some damage but their survivability is pretty bad, feeding others exp. And they themselves are slow to exp...

german archers are T1 - viking archers are probably even worse even though higher tier - these cost a lot of wood, have good range especially through skill.
cleavers are T1 - extra weak vs archers, unlike huscarls. Your archer reisstant infantry is the spearmen.

Build what you need, but dont try to rely too much on low tier units too much. They can work, but if you get hard countered, you get more snowballed.

I like hassassins, very strong, few models, can do some serious damage, in defensive formation they fight well in small spaces. like chokepoints, so unless overwhelmed, they re good. Use them with spears for great results.

[deemo1225]

Right now I would say easiest are saxons or germans. Vikings are good if you like to play around infantry rushes. Slavs take more skill to work around their units and so do saracens. Germans and saxons though have very solid full army rosters. For germans just know spears are king with spear wall they become massive tanks though they are pretty expensive.

[tomasoltis]

ger spears got good resist vs arrows cause they lack swordsmen infantry type.

slav shield warband is not only the weakpoint, not having 2handers, but their exping speed makes one wonder what to do with them. Archers exp up cause they finish retreating units, but no exp for sustaining or damaging makers infantry in general too slow to gain exp. Infantry around 2-3 at best when oyu have archers at 5 already.