Part 13

Select a general with high Command and Dread/Chivalry. Dread is preferred as it makes foes more likely to flee, while Chivalry boosts your own units' morale. Consider traits affecting bodyguard count, morale impact on units, loyalty, and HP. For smaller armies, a general with many bodyguards is crucial, often best achieved with your prince/heir. Avoid using the faction leader in smaller armies as their death can shatter the faction. A King's Ransom for a general costs at least 10,000 florins.

Ensure your general's traits positively impact morale, as routing units are lost. All traits clearly state their effects.

Avoid generals with negative HP traits like 'Feeling Poorly'. Traits like 'Brutally Scarred' (+8 HP) are beneficial but not required; they can be acquired through combat where the general is not under significant threat.

Once a general is secured (primarily for large conquest armies), focus on the rest of your army composition.

Include missile troops: 2-3 units for factions like Denmark (until gunpowder is developed), and 7-9 for factions like England (leveraging units like English longbowmen). Factions with musketeers, such as Russia's Cossack Musketeers, should utilize them for their range and power. Avoid Hand Gunners due to their poor range.

Protect missile units from cavalry with spearmen, recruited from cities with basic barracks upgrades for a low price. Pikemen and Dismounted Knights (or equivalents like Byzantine Dismounted Druzinha and Latinkon) also serve this purpose. Moors can use Urban Militia and Dismounted Christian Guards.

Incorporate cavalry for offensive power. Catholic factions (except Sicily and Poland) can recruit 'Feudal Knights' and 'Mailed Knights' from developed Castles. Sicily offers 'Norman Knights' (costlier but better). Poland has Hussars, Polish Knights, and Polish Retainers. Russia's 'Druzinha' are comparable to Feudal Knights with slight stat differences.