Are you having difficulty creating an army in multiplayer that can handle a versatile array of enemy troop compositions? Do your units not work together coherently to seize victory? This guide will aid you in designing an army that is suitable for countering almost any force that your opponent can devise.
In Empire total war the factions share the same basic core units, such as line infantry, light infantry, and mortars. That means that your opponent’s forces will have similar abilities to your own troops, but that different components of each army will be emphasized. One army may contain a large number of mortars for long range combat; another may contain a strong cavalry force. Ideally, after you have chosen a faction, Prussia in this example, you will be able to field a well balanced force that battles in a coordinated fashion, always ready to exploit an enemy weakness.
The army I have selected for this guide. The game settings were late period with large funds.
Now I will present a detailed description of each component of this army.
Cavalry
Aside from the general’s bodyguard unit, I have selected two units of uhlans, equipped with lances, and two units of cuirassiers, sword cavalry. By selecting cavalry equipped with both swords and lances, my lance cavalry can inflict devastating charges that are rapidly followed by sword cavalry, who are more suited for slaughtering the remaining enemy infantry at close range.
Alternative Cavalry Composition
I have also utilized 2 units of dragoons instead uhlans. The dragoons can dismount and fight in the infantry line if a gap forms in it, but can also remount if they are needed to support a cuirassier charge.
Infantry Line
I choose to take a mix of line infantry and elite guard infantry in my force. This is because line infantry are needed to soak up enemy musket fire and artillery rounds, shielding your smaller guard infantry units. The elite guard units are used to deliver quick, deadly blows into the weakest sections of the enemy. When your opponent’s line infantry are thinned, a melee charge with your elite troops can cause the enemy’s front line to rout. This can quickly extend to the rest of his army, resulting in an efficient victory for your troops.
Infantry Composition
Taking an infantry force consisting entirely of basic units or elite units is not recommended. You will either have a large number of relatively weak line infantry, that may panic and rout as they begin to take casualties, or you will have a small, expensive, infantry line that is very vulnerable to artillery fire. Either situation does not bode well for the remainder of the force.
Light Infantry
My army also contains a few light infantry units, Jaegers for the Prussian faction. They are far more useful than line infantry. Light infantry in the late period carry rifles, which have a much longer firing range than the muskets of regular line infantry. Line infantry should be placed at the head of your army to inflict damage to your opponent as he approaches.
Light infantry can be positioned into a skirmish formation. This formation allows the light infantry to spread out widely, protecting them from artillery fire. Additionally, the light infantry duck down when in skirmish formation, allowing line infantry to fire from behind your light infantry without inflicting casualties from friendly fire.
Jaegers in skirmish formation with line infantry behind
If you have light infantry hidden near a weakened enemy flank or a charging cavalry unit, you can spring a trap. Unleash a few quick volleys into the exposed enemy soldiers, inflicting heavy casualties at little cost to your own men.
Artillery
I have decided to select two upgraded mortars for my army. The mortars will not be sufficient to defeat the artillery of an opponent who has selected four or more mortars, but they are sufficient to create a gap in the enemy’s infantry line for my army to exploit. I’ve selected a very mobile force that can quickly charge into any weakness my opponent’s lines reveal.
Summary
An army containing an array of units that work together in specific roles to defeat the enemy will win battles against an army that overemphasizes any branch of his force. The example Prussian force is well designed for tackling any troop composition that an enemy general can come up with. Similar forces can be devised for any of the other factions, simply avoid the temptation to crowd your army with too much of any particular unit type.
Leave a comment
