Final bump:
This applies to hard mode as well. No wait, scratch that. This is the ONLY way to win hard mode if you have Normal Angevin Dynasty tech, gens and lvl 1 Lombardy Halberdiers (believe me, my gacha luck for this unit is particularly abysmal and I didn't think to strengthen it).
No war drums or IAPs used.
Gens used:
- Simeon on the 2× charging cav + 1× counter inf. May want a lvl 2 caltrop (inf dmg reduction) or mantlet (ranged dmg reduction).
- Cnut on 1× lvl 11 Viking Raiders + 2× Varangian Guards. Use a lvl 2 support wagon unless a lvl 3 version is available and has the same cost.
- Alfred on right 2× melee cav. Same war gear as Simeon.
- Baldwin IV on left 2× melee cav. No war gear until later.
- Harald Hardrada on 1× charging cav + 2× melee inf unit. Either Simeon or Cnut's war gear choice.
- Narses on 2× Lombardy Halberdiers + 1× crossbow man. Same war gear as Simeon.
- Belisarius (later) on 1× inf guard + 1× javelineers + 1× whatever you can afford. Your best Rhinoceros or battering ram.
Important developments:
In spite of what I had said in earlier posts, this plan takes advantage of the nearly two 3× lvl 14 viking raiders that appear as well as AI Rebel decision to retake the lost western city.
1. The AI will move to destroy you in waves. It feels like every 3-4 turns, troops will advance.
The eastern vanguard and the central troops forming the wedge will move to attack on Turn 1.
2. Enemy reinforcements, two 3× viking raiders and/or blue vikings, will appear at the two open tiles at the NW corner of the map. These troops will move to seize the western city and will move down any in their way, but preferably target player troops first.
3. Western forces will move to resist and attack the vikings. However, some will still hunt your remnants down.
4. There is a garrison west of the eastern city. It will leave around turns 8-10. After this period, the eastern city will be empty for a turn or two. Any spawned troops may either move westward or resist.
5. The enemy commander will remain still and his defeat changes nothing, except bring you closer to victory.
6. Near the end, after turn 12, the fall of the eastern city and defeat of the enemy commander, the exhausted rebels will not actively spam troops, but they will stack troops on the garrison.
After defeating the garrison around turns 13-14, no one else is spawned.
7. You will also win once all enemies have been eliminated.
Plan:You have to avoid the western city until the other objectives have been dealt with. Your allies will throw themselves at the garrison, but there is no salvation for the reckless. The enemy will hit hard in multiple waves and you have no choice but to resist.
Retreat the two legions by the city southward, by one tile. Other troops to move eastward to intercept the enemy wedge, if possible, or else to surround the two starting tiles. Alfred is the only one capable of doing so.
In my only clear, two roaming enemy units will move into the abandoned tiles south of the city, blocking the western city off. Destroy the two units. Using Baldwin's active, I was able to critically wound the two units.
Now, carefully maneuver your troops to take on and defeat the waves of enemy forces.
The enemy's "reinforcements" will launch the desired flanking attack, drawing many of the western forces away.
The rebel forces will start to lose momentum and the eastern city will be virtually isolated. Quickly move in force and strength, as well as change war gears. Hit the city hard and fast, taking it ideally in 2 turns at most after a full assault.
At this point, Alfred, Balwin and Cnut survived. Quickly regroup and recover as stated below:
Alfred can be stacked to have 2× melee cav and 1× ranged inf.
Balwin should be stacked to have 3× melee cav.
Cnut can be stacked with a ranged inf or melee inf unit, but you'll probably lack the resources.
Now, summon Belisarius. He is a game-changer on this map at this point. His active will help Cnut move once and hit twice. His recruitment discount passive allows you to raise a full legion with what little you have.
Alfred and Baldwin confronted and defeated the enemy commander on their own.
The rest must recover and head westward, ASAP. Time is short.
Defeat the remaining enemies and win.
Tips:
- Use Baldwin's active wisely.
- As your stragglers head to the attack the eastern city, use those in danger of dying as a meatshield if there are still pursing western forces. Use this as a last resort if retreating fails to shake them off.
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