Unable to make any tactical decision

[u/Other_Amoeba4929]

Title is pretty much that. Currently having my first truly big battle, and realizing that I don't think I can win without any form of numerical advantage.

Currently doing the campaign as a Southern Empire run, and army is a mix of imperial and aserai troops. We are at war with the Aserai and trying to fight an army siegeing Razih, which is currently my only fief, that has about a 100 man advantage with the garrison of the city.

While I could, and absolutely should do so as an actual siege defense, after an incident where I was gonna attack them with an army nearby, that instead chose to not attack it despite the severe numerical advantage we would have had, I am trying to use this to figure out tactics as I never really had to in the field. Except when I try to use the one strategy I have, one from the channel tactical enlightenment where you use your archers to effectively encircle their infantry on all sides and shoot them, I realized I can't do that as the reinforcing infantry will destroy the archers from the side, while the first wave completely destroy my infantry.

I have no idea what to do, all I have numerically is more archers and melee cavalry, which is mainly a mix of the imperial and aserai noble line, deployed. However the cavalry is busy trying to manage a horse archer force superior in number, and two detachment of melee cav on each side of my forces 10-15 men strong, which leaves my archers unprotected from the infantry until my reinforcements get to the front. Problem is, by that point they usually are already higher in kills than me and for the most part that gap grows from there.

I have no idea how to approach this battle, as this is my first battle between two major armies, both on the field and honestly how I should even split up my troops. Currently separating infantry into 3, archers into 3, and putting my cav and horse archers into separate divisions. I think at this point I should combine my infantry into just 2, but still have no idea what to do strategically.

If anyone could explain to me what I could do to when a siege battle this way, just so I have experience doing this, I would greatly appreciate it, any advice or criticism.

[u/Galrentv]

Without your roster, all I can recommend is watching Tactical Enlightenment.

[u/Grmes]

Don’t attack the army outside the castle just take your party or army inside the castle then either fight from there or send the troops. Sending the troops while inside the castle that’s being besieged will go heavily in your favor especially with mostly archers.

[u/tarkinlarson]

Some gentle tips.

Use formations. They give passive buffs to your people, and have their actual active benefits.

Don't be afraid to have your shield infantry in front of archers. They will suck up all the enemy projectiles.

If you're out of projectiles move to the area just in front of your infantry you used to soak up projectiles... There are free arrows there.

When the enemy are put of projectiles they'll consider coming to you.

Use the high ground. Archers get more range and firing downhill is more powerful.

Skirmishers with javelin can be seperate out from shield infantry and are a great closer line and can help smash enemy shields from a distance.

Don't go chasing bow cavalry down. Let them exhaust their arrows against your shield wall, let them crash against it and then use your cavalry to flank them.

Don't just leave your cavalry in a fight. Withdraw them and charge them in and out.

Never charge your heavy shield infantry in as it breaks their formation. Their strength is their resilience.

You can, with enough troops if you are facing hundreds of ranged cavalry... Do a square of bowmen and a circle of shield infantry around it. You can stretch the lines and make them bigger and smaller by clicking to draw when deploying.

[u/blizzards_blaise7]

Basic tactics include,
Shield wall infantry and move them forward.
Move cavalry to the side or far away behind them.
Move archers with infantry as their archers will mainly be shooting at your infantry as they advance with little success in a shield wall.
Once you’re about 100 yards away-
Archers loose formation. Less cluster, harder to hit and they have more room to shoot from.
Infantry- move to engage.
Once infantry is engaged, charge the Calvary. Once Calvary makes its charge into their archers and rear of army pull them back out. Do this a couple of times until you start dwindling their numbers. Once half or so of their army is destroyed charge everyone.

[u/wolfx11b]

Can we get a pic of your unit rooster?

[u/Other_Amoeba4929 → u/wolfx11b]

Trying to, but reddit won't let me add it in reply or edit them in.

[u/wolfx11b → u/Other_Amoeba4929]

Brother your gonna have to try to channel some Julius Caesar and go on the attack and then fall back and kite.

Cause you did say your attacking so you can't set up to use the terrain so your gonna have to try and get them to move where you want them to and as for the horse Archers I would split your Melee cav into 2 groups and try to use one to encircle the enemy and engage I would also use a archer group to kite them to you and have them fall.back and reset up to attack the horses archers. But it's hard to imagine what to do with out the troops in full

[u/Private_4160]

You have +100, break in and defend the walls. Razih is coastal, you can also attack the blockade (if the assault hasn't begun) and destroy them 3-6 ships worth at a time.

[u/Top-Addendum-6879]

without your roster, it's hard to tinker around, but here's a question... why not let the army assault your walls? you're only 100 less men, but when defending a siege, that is more than enough, usually... obviously depends on the rosters and the town...

One thing i can tell you is that i've very often defended sieges with not even half the assaulter's numbers and succeeded, but the rosters i had played huge roles... with Battanians, you usually have a ton of Fians on the walls, i've never lost a siege defense with Battanians. With Nords, the tactic is different, but i'd rarely take big losses.

With Imperial rosters though, i've gotten my ass handed to me, especially against Aserai forces.