This game seems really impossible without setting damage to half or lower

[TehAce]

Seriously how do you guys do it? You basically die within 3-5 hits and thats with over 45 armor in everything.

And don't get me started with the sieges. You're trying to walk up the one little ramp trying to dodge and block every freakin arrow coming at you, and then at the end you're meet 20 soldiers ready to bash your face up.

 

[NJSQRL]

Let other people take point... Seriously.

I honestly think that some people who have troubles with this game just try to move too quick.

45 armor? Far too light, I won't even look at something (in the shops anyway) unless it is 50+ Then you have to pick your fights... Never go diving into a dozen enemies, you will always lose. Instead try getting into 1v1 or 1v2 (1v3/4 works too if your good).

I know I say I like to charge headfirst into enemy lines alot and... well its true. I just don't mention the dozen or so Swadian Knights or Huscarls that are coming in right behind me.

In sieges have your companions go up the ladder/over the tower first... if you have outfitted them with good strong armor, strong shields, and a half decent weapon they can tear a nice hole in that line allowing you to again get the fight on your terms.

Use tactics... don't just charge your whole army into the enemy force... sit up on a hill and let your archers skewer them from a distance and then when they start up the hill signal for the charge.

Don't get me wrong here.. I am by no means saying that it is easy, just that with a little precaution you can still make your way through it.

 

[Aure]

I started on the lowest difficulty at first. During the game i started to boost it up when i got comfortable. The dmg to myself option i increased when i started a new game with an imported character. It worked very nice for me.

 

[Coy]

45 armor? Far too light...

Seriously? Grab some leather armor and get your weapon proficiency to around 260 and kill everyone

 

[NJSQRL]

45 armor? Far too light...

Seriously? Grab some leather armor and get your weapon proficiency to around 260 and kill everyone

And get mowed down the second I drop my shield to strike... no thanks. My weapon proficiency for one handed weapons was 380 or so last time I saw it go up... I have no trouble getting the hit out quick, its the damage I may take before I can raise my shield again that causes problems.

 

[Skuadak]

I played warband at 1/4 1/2 dmg as well for long time, but after win with 217 people army only with 8 npc and villagers as support I thought something's wrong here. So I decided to start a new game with normal setting. At begging I found it totally unfair - 9 looters killed me about 15 times before I won them. After some time you will use to being kill by 2 arrows, you will start to be more caerfull, find that rambo style don't work at all and you will get joy of playing that way. Just be patient. Few days and you'll be good

 

[obscure]

On the other hand, after trying it, I personally decided that I found the 'Rambo style' a lot more fun than spending the battles trying to stay safe, so I just lowered damage to player to minimum. So I say if your character's vulnerability frustrates you, decrease damage to player and have fun with it.

 

[Ludial]

45 armor? Far too light...

Seriously? Grab some leather armor and get your weapon proficiency to around 260 and kill everyone

And get mowed down the second I drop my shield to strike... no thanks. My weapon proficiency for one handed weapons was 380 or so last time I saw it go up... I have no trouble getting the hit out quick, its the damage I may take before I can raise my shield again that causes problems.

Play at max diff, even when I start a new char. I wear nomad or khergit armor(for reference, a basic one gives 24), and only equip myself from loot(which means that in order to get a good weapon or piece of armor, I need to kill something big and scary first). It's all about skill, proficiency, controlling your distances and knowing how to use your soldiers. And in sieges I simply have my soldiers shoot the defenders off the walls.
Just a note - always make sure you have a good helmet on. And keep your head low.

 

[NJSQRL]

45 armor? Far too light...

Seriously? Grab some leather armor and get your weapon proficiency to around 260 and kill everyone

And get mowed down the second I drop my shield to strike... no thanks. My weapon proficiency for one handed weapons was 380 or so last time I saw it go up... I have no trouble getting the hit out quick, its the damage I may take before I can raise my shield again that causes problems.

Play at max diff, even when I start a new char. I wear nomad or khergit armor(for reference, a basic one gives 24), and only equip myself from loot(which means that in order to get a good weapon or piece of armor, I need to kill something big and scary first). It's all about skill, proficiency, controlling your distances and knowing how to use your soldiers. And in sieges I simply have my soldiers shoot the defenders off the walls.
Just a note - always make sure you have a good helmet on. And keep your head low.

Melee I rarely lose... its archers that get me which are why I need my nice big fat armor (plate, mamaluke, reinforced heraldic mail, ect...)

Its not so much a problem with the initial wave but when they go defensive (as missile heavy armies tend to do) my line gets broken as the brawl ensues and then the second wave spawns and rains death down upon us.

 

[CydeWeys]

In sieges have your companions go up the ladder/over the tower first... if you have outfitted them with good strong armor, strong shields, and a half decent weapon they can tear a nice hole in that line allowing you to again get the fight on your terms.

Haha ... well it seems like I haven't figured out how to arm my army yet (when you say "companion" do you mean the special named ones, or is it just everyone in your band?).

 

[Aure]

Melee I rarely lose... its archers that get me which are why I need my nice big fat armor (plate, mamaluke, reinforced heraldic mail, ect...)

Its not so much a problem with the initial wave but when they go defensive (as missile heavy armies tend to do) my line gets broken as the brawl ensues and then the second wave spawns and rains death down upon us.

Against that scenario, if im not playing on a leveled battlefield (so that my knights can trample them) i set up defensive positions and go to them by myself. I use a reinforced huscarl shield on horseback (it looks awful but its the best) and i zig-zag a lot. Then i horse bump the hole archer line (never try that without a charger), even kill one with my lance. At that point they will break formation and charge you. Now all you need to do is zig-zag your way back (shield on back at this point).

Its a bit tedious, i know, but sometimes you have to do it to avoid heavy casualties.

 

[Winterz]

Well there's nothing better than having a good horse with a good axe/sword....an hunter or some good Warhorse and you can do magic with it....anihilation while mounted is never impossible...

Enemy Cavalry - If you(mounted) are being engaged by many cavalry and you decide to rush after spawning...then leave your army behind well protected and move upfront alone so that their cavalry will follow you....
make them run a bit after you and then sometimes try turning when they are close to you and attacking some who go towards you...it will be a clean kill or at least you'll take alot of damage from him. Keep doing this and they'll simply run out of men. Atenttion, because if his cavalry manages to stop you somehow they will sorround you and you'll suffer alot of attacks and probably you'll die with no way of escaping. If you are being chased by Mounted skirmishers/archers than the best way to kill them is to take them to the limits of the map where they will get all blocked then it will be very easy kills(use your shield and try to attack from behind so you don't get shot when trying to hit one of them). If you are facing skirmish and melee cavalry then make them follow you and take them right to your army  , otherwise you're dead.

Enemy Infantry - After anihilating their cavalry this should be very easy....try to be always on movement so that their achers don't get you or your horse....Then their archers have tendency to be separated sometimes from the main infantry(melee) group...so if you have good combat stats, each rush...one kill, without taking any damage. When their archers are gone start attacking whatever is left of their infantry but try to attack the corners because if you attack the middle they'll rpobably manage to block you, kill your horse and then kill you. Watchout for their spearmen and attack the spearmen only from behind or with some cheap tricks like slowing down your horse so that he's spear attack fails and then give him a terrible hit on his face. You'll end up killing all of them and gain a xp boost.


Siege attack Well if you dont have a big army than try gaining some lords thrust and then tell them to follow you to battle and use their troops as decoys while you attack with yours in an unforgiven 2nd wave.


Well this is what I do when wanting to preserve my army in some battles. 

 

[NJSQRL]

In sieges have your companions go up the ladder/over the tower first... if you have outfitted them with good strong armor, strong shields, and a half decent weapon they can tear a nice hole in that line allowing you to again get the fight on your terms.

Haha ... well it seems like I haven't figured out how to arm my army yet (when you say "companion" do you mean the special named ones, or is it just everyone in your band?).

Yes I mean the special named ones... go to your party tab and talk to them, you can raise their skills (assuming they have leveled) or ask to see their equipment which will let you give them armor and weapons.

While in there click on the little [infantry] thing you see when you click on them in the party tab (should be to the right of their feet under class of troop) set them to whatever unnamed group you want, rename the group if you want, and then use that key to select them in battle (infantry is first so its 1, archers second so they are 2 and so on, unnamed 1 = 4 unnamed 2 =5 )

Tell every one to follow you or hold their position then hit whatever key you had to their group to select them and have them charge... then either follow them up directly or take your infantry and have them come up behind them.

Obviously the advantage is that you can be reckless with them as they cannot die only get knocked out. Once they hit a fair level if you built them to be powerhouses (I usually have matheld and nizar... both great fighters) they can clear the path for you and your troops and make that hole you need.

That is ofcourse... assuming they make it up the ladder. I have a problem with sharpshooter heavy garrisons in Rhodok lands as they tend to take them down as they are on their way up.

 

[Coy]

45 armor? Far too light...

Seriously? Grab some leather armor and get your weapon proficiency to around 260 and kill everyone

And get mowed down the second I drop my shield to strike... no thanks. My weapon proficiency for one handed weapons was 380 or so last time I saw it go up... I have no trouble getting the hit out quick, its the damage I may take before I can raise my shield again that causes problems.

Well see that is what your problem is, you are using a shield in melee. Go grab a balanced glaive or something. Or if you REALLY want to use a shield get your shield skill to 8 or more.

 

[NJSQRL]

45 armor? Far too light...

Seriously? Grab some leather armor and get your weapon proficiency to around 260 and kill everyone

And get mowed down the second I drop my shield to strike... no thanks. My weapon proficiency for one handed weapons was 380 or so last time I saw it go up... I have no trouble getting the hit out quick, its the damage I may take before I can raise my shield again that causes problems.

Well see that is what your problem is, you are using a shield in melee. Go grab a balanced glaive or something. Or if you REALLY want to use a shield get your shield skill to 8 or more.

2 handed weapon would be suicide against archers (when not mounted) on full difficulty... yeah you can try to dodge and whatnot but when you come to 20 sharpshooters in one spot... there is nowhere to run, the protection of my shield (at 10 tyvm...still goes down eventually) and my armor is what lets me reach them to make em put away the bows.

 

[Jock]

I - It might sound cowardly, but hide behind your troops when waiting for the enemy to get closer.
II - Get a decent helmet and armor, don't go naked with a huge axe.
III - Shield, you are an idiot without it.
IV - Only when playing Nord or Rhodok, go cavalary, higher position and  faster movement.
V - Get your proffiences up and don't charge headlong to the enemy.
VI - Army, you need it, Warband is not a solo game.
VII - Sieges, you need strong troops and a lot of them to get a castle.
VIII - Stick together. Always make your troops stick together, it makes the enemy easier to attack and better defence for your troops.

 

[DrZaius]

A tip for siege battles while using a crossbow;

I like to hide against one of the walls while my men are running up the ladder. The troops in the tower above me can't get a shot against me because they don't have an angle; I fire at the far tower quickly, then turn around to reload the crossbow; exposing my back (which has a huge shield on it) to the archers on the far tower.

 

[Blankin]

Staying behind your troops, especially when you're unshielded, is far from being cowardly, if you are knocked out they are probably screwed because of the autocalc. (Assuming you are playing native).

If you charge headalong into archers and get stuck you're in a as bad situation as infantry, they will get their melee weapons and mob you down.

In the beggining of the game i order manhunters and mounted companions to follow me, the first are easily replaced and the latter can't die.  If you get stuck they will come to rescue you.

In sieges I pick a good crossbow and stay behind shielded infantry so i'm not much exposed to enemy bolts.

 

[TehAce]

Ah I see, thanks for the tips. First time I saw this game I thought it would be easy like Dynasty Warrior style where one person can kill 500 people in one go.

 

[Captain_Octavius]

I always play at maximum difficulty in everything, except automatic blocking is on. Not that it really matters since my default weapons are the Heavy Morninstar + Huscarl Sheld + Masterwork Siegecrossbow + Large Bag of Steel Bolts. That shield almost never breaks.

Just don't go rambo style, go ninja style. Think hard, find covers, position yourself smart. And yes, you need the best armour in the game. I fully take part in any battle, but I am for example never the first one to climb the ladders. In sieges I destroy the most dangerous ranged units with my siege crossbow, while taking cover at the foot of the castle walls, or inside the siege tower. I only climb the walls when my melee units have a strong foothold there, or if the balance is very equal and they need my personal support for just that little edge.

In field battles I often charge straight in. Simply because I rock at mounted combat. I also use a Heavy Sarranian War Horse, it's doughty, fast, and has great manoeuvrability.


Start playing at highest difficulty, and stick to it. You only get better if you lean over your edge. If you stay in your comfort zone, your personal skill progresses very slowly.