Army

An army is a large group of soldiers that can be controlled to attack other armies or siege a holding during wars. Based on its composition an army will be shown having a certain quality.

After an army has completed half of a move order it becomes movement locked, meaning that it will not be able to receive orders until it arrives at its destination.

Armies ordered to cross a sea zone will embark onto a fleet. Embarking costs  Gold proportional to the army size. While embarked army maintenance is raised by +25% and the army will start to lose supplies after 30 days at sea.

Stats

Every unit has five important stats:

•  Damage: Each point causes 0.03 damage during the battle phase.
•  Toughness: Reduces losses caused by damage (both routed and killed). Each point allows taking 1 damage before losing all strength.
•  Pursuit: Each point causes 0.17 damage during the retreat phase.
•  Screen: Each point blocks 0.33 damage during the retreat phase.
• Strength: Represents how many soldiers are in the unit and affects the total amount of stats. Heavy cavalry have 50 soldiers. Elephant cavalry have 25 soldiers. Siege weapons have 10 soldiers. Other men-at-arms have 100 soldiers and the number of soldiers for levies is their total amount. Men-at-arms can have their size increased for the same cost as recruiting them.

Levies

Levies are conscripted peasants that make up the bulk of all armies. They are not very impressive on their own, but are used in great numbers to complement more important troops. A Levy has 10  Damage and 10  Toughness. Levies have no cost when unraised, and have a monthly cost of 3  Gold per thousand when raised.

Knights

Knights are characters that fight in an army. Each ruler can only have a small number of Knights. By default, Knights are appointed automatically based on their  Prowess skill, but characters can be manually forced or forbidden to become Knights.

Knights combat stats are based on their  Prowess skill. Each point of  Prowess grants 100  Damage and 10  Toughness.

If an army loses a Battle, each Knight has a 10% chance to be captured and imprisoned and 5% chance to be killed. The chances are increased to 55.3% and 27.6% respectively if the army is defeated in the Early Battle Phase.

To be appointed as Knights, character must fulfil the following conditions:

• Is adult
• Is not imprisoned
• Has neither the  Blind nor  Incapable trait
• Members of the clergy and characters with the  Devoted trait may only serve as knights if their faith has the Recruitment Clerical Function doctrine, the Warmonger tenet, or the Unrelenting Faith tenet.
• Based on the Martial Custom of the rule's culture:

• Male: only men may become knights
• Female: only women may become knights
• Equal: both men and women may become knights

Commander

Each army can have one Commander, a character who commands the army and uses its  Martial skill to improve an army's  Advantage. There are many different Commander traits available, which either have a direct effect on battles or give the Commander bonuses outside of battles.

If an army loses a Battle there is a 10% chance for its Commander to be captured and imprisoned.

Men-at-Arms

Men-at-Arms are trained troops that come in several different Regiment types which excel in their given role, all with their own stats and uses. Each type of Men-at-Arms will counter at least one other type, reducing their  Damage proportional to the size difference of the countering Men-at-Arms. Men-at-Arms regiments are reinforced at a rate of 10% of their maximum size per month.

Most of the Men-at-Arms types have a favorable and unfavorable terrain. These bonuses and penalties are specific and can be seen in game at the Men-at-Arms regiment management window by hovering over terrain icons. The modifiers are constant and not percentage based.

Each Ruler has a limited number of Regiments for Men-at-Arms, but existing Regiments may be upgraded to increase their size (Even if you can no longer create new regiments of that type old ones can still be upgraded). Regiments can also be downsized to lower the monthly maintenance or destroyed, but the cost is not refunded. Men-at-Arms Regiments are inherited by the primary heir when a ruler dies, but if the heir already has their own Regiments, they will not inherit more than what their limit allows.

Feudal and Clan Rulers pay for Men-at-Arms with  Gold. Tribal Rulers pay twice more with  Prestige to create a regiment but 30% less for maintenance.

All Men-at-Arms except Elephants and House Guards triple their maintenance cost when raised.

Regular

Regular Men-at-Arms are available to all cultures as long as the other requirements are met.

Regiment	Type	Cost	Raised Maintenance	Damage	Toughness	Pursuit	Screen	Counters	Helpful terrain	Disadvantageous terrain	Requirements
Light Footmen		45	0.45	10	16	10	16			None	None
Bowmen		55	0.6	25	10	0	0			None	None
Light Horsemen		85	1.05	22	15	30	30				None
Pikemen		75	0.9	22	24	0	0			None	None
Armored Footmen		90	1.2	32	22	0	0		None	None	Quilted Armor innovation
Armored Horsemen		200	2.1	100	35	20	0				Arched Saddle innovation
Crossbowmen		88	0.9	42	18	0	0	x0.5	Hills		Advanced Bowmaking innovation
House Guard		50	1	40	32	0	24	x2 x2	None	None	Finishing the Warfare dynasty legacy Only one regiment, up to size 5, can be maintained
Chasseurs		111	1.36	40	15	40	15				Desert Tactics innovation
Order Knights		90	1.2	36	26	0	0		None	None	Christian Holy Order
Jomsviking Pirates		63	0.63	30	30	40	40			None	Northern Lords DLC decision events

Regional

Regional Men-at-Arms are made available through regional innovations.

Regiment	Type	Cost	Raised maintenance	Damage	Toughness	Pursuit	Screen	Counters	Helpful terrain	Disadvantageous terrain	Innovation	Region
Caballeros		85	1.15	22	16	20	50				Caballeros	Iberia
Camel Riders		85	0.84	22	15	20	20				War Camels	Middle East North Africa Persia
Hobelars		94	1.15	22	15	50	30				Hobbies	British Isles
Paiks		60.5	0.66	28	16	10	10			None	Bamboo Bow	India
Sahel Horsemen		90	1.15	22	15	30	30				Sahel Horsemen	Sahel
War Elephants		400	2.94	250	50	0	0	x2x2			Elephantry	India South East Asia

Traditional

Traditional Men-at-Arms are available through traditions and reaching a certain era.

Regiment	Type	Cost	Raised maintenance	Damage	Toughness	Pursuit	Screen	Counters	Helpful terrain	Disadvantageous terrain	Tradition	Era
Abudrar		81	0.81	20	16	20	10				Mountain Herding	Tribal
Ayyar		75	1.08	35	22	12	0		None	None	Futuwaa	Tribal
Bondi		50.2	0.6	14	18	12	0				Coastal Warriors	Tribal
Bush Hunters		55	0.66	30	12	5	0			None	Bush Hunting	Tribal
Cataphracts		260	2.73	120	35	25	10				Eastern Roman Legacy	Tribal
Druzhina		117	1.56	40	30	0	30		None	None	Druzhina	Tribal
Gendarmes		240	2.52	125	40	20	10				Chanson de Geste	Late Medieval
Goedendag Militia		45	0.45	13	18	0	16		None	None	Polders	Late Medieval
Guinean Uplanders		54	0.54	18	14	0	20			None	Upland Skirmishing	Tribal
Horn Warriors		45	0.45	12	16	0	20			None	Mountain Skirmishing	Tribal
Horse Archers		135	1.35	45	20	40	30				Horse Lords	Tribal
Huscarls		115	1.53	40	26	0	24			None	Hirds / Coastal Warriors	Tribal
Khandayat		108	1.44	42	22	0	0			None	Khadga Puja	Tribal
Konni		110.5	1.36	25	15	60	20				Konni Raids	Tribal
Lenkas		115	1.54	42	22	24	0			None	Garuda Warriors	Tribal
Longbowmen		66	0.72	44	14	0	0			None	Longbow Competitions	Tribal
Metsänvartija		60.5	0.66	30	14	10	10			None	Forest Wardens	Tribal
Monaspa		250	3.15	110	30	25	10				Caucasian Wolves	Tribal
Mountaineers		108	1.44	40	26	0	0			None	Himalayan Settlers	Tribal
Mubarizun		108	1.44	45	25	0	0		None	None	Mubarizun	Tribal
Mulathanūm		85	1.15	22	15	30	40				Desert Ribats	Tribal
Nile Archers		60.5	0.66	30	14	10	10				Land of the Bow	Tribal
Palace Guards		108	1.44	38	24	0	20	x2		None	Royal Army	Tribal
Picchieri		97.5	1.17	40	24	0	0			None	Republican Legacy	High Medieval
Sarawit		108	1.44	32	26	0	10				Amharic Highlanders	Tribal
Schiltron		112.5	1.35	36	28	0	0			None	Strong Kinship	Late Medieval
Shomer		45	0.45	10	24	0	40		None	None	Defensive Tactics	Tribal
Varangian Veterans		150	2.0	45	30	10	0			None	Coastal Warriors	Tribal
Vigmen		61	0.66	18	20	0	22			None	Coastal Warriors	Tribal
Zbrojnosh		99	1.32	34	20	0	10				Mountaineer Ruralism	Tribal

Cultural

Cultural Men-at-Arms require innovations only available to certain cultures.

Regiment	Type	Cost	Raised maintenance	Damage	Toughness	Pursuit	Screen	Counters	Helpful terrain	Innovation	Culture
Chu-ko-nu Archers		82.5	0.9	30	20	0	0	x0.5		Chu-ko-nu	Any Chinese
Landsknechts		90	1.08	30	24	0	0	x0.5x2x2		Zweihanders	Any Central Germanic
Palatini		180	2.4	60	30	0	20		None	Legionnaires	Roman
Vaulter Infantry

Siege Weapons

Siege Weapons are Regiments that cannot fight in battle, but will greatly increase Siege Progress when attacking Holdings. They are unlocked by discovering the innovation with the same name.

Regiment	Daily Siege Progress	Max Fort Level	Feudal / Clan cost	Tribal cost	Description
Onagers	+0.2	5	60	120	These small torsion catapults can tear down enemy fortification by hurling stone projectiles over a distance.
Mangonels	+0.3	10	66	132	The traction-powered mangonel is easier to operate than the onager while also boasting a faster rate-of-fire.
Trebuchets	+0.4	15	78	156	The counterweight trebuchet can hurl large projectiles with much greater force than mangonels or onagers.
Bombards	+0.6	30	96	192	No longer constrained by the limits of levers and pulleys, these cannons can blast through fortifications with ease.

Supply

Supply reflects whether armies are properly provided with food and other necessities. Armies carry supplies with them as they move around the map. All armies can carry at least 100 units of Supply, although armies commanded by a commander with the Living Off the Land perk can carry up to 300 supply. When they are raised, they start with 100 Supply. Supply is consumed once per month whenever armies are in a Barony with a lower Supply Limit than the army size and gained whenever armies are in owned, occupied or allied territory up to the current Barony's Supply Limit. Low Supply will apply penalties to Advantage in battles. If an army runs out of Supply entirely, it will receive a bigger Advantage penalty and also take Attrition damage every month.

Supply limit

The base supply limit of a barony is 2000. The minimum supply limit of a barony is 1000. Each point of development increases a county's supply limit by +150. Coastal baronies have their supply limit increased by +25%. A barony's supply limit can also be affected by its terrain. Tribal baronies only provide half of their supply limit to armies belonging to other governments.

Attrition

Attrition is a loss of Levies and Men-at-Arms that is caused by various factors:

• Besieging and looting armies suffer 1% attrition per month.
• Armies that have completely run out of supplies suffer 5% attrition per month.
• Moving into a hostile County that only borders other hostile Counties instantly causes the army to lose 5% of their troops (minimum of 100) unless the County is coastal. The Reaver trait reduces this by 75% (minimum of 25).

Special soldiers

Special soldiers are maintenance free armies that belong to historical rulers and do not reinforce.

Army	Inherited	Ruler	Year
1200 Levies 300 Huscarls if Northern Lords is not installed 200 Huscarls if Northern Lords is installed 100 Varangian Veterans if Northern Lords is installed		Hæsteinn of Montaigu	867
1200 Levies 300 Huscarls if Northern Lords is not installed 200 Huscarls if Northern Lords is installed 100 Varangian Veterans if Northern Lords is installed		Hæsteinn of Montaigu	867
600 Levies		Lubb of Najera	867
600 Levies 400 Huscarls if Northern Lords is not installed 200 Huscarls if Northern Lords is installed 100 Varangian Veterans if Northern Lords is installed		Dyre of Köungarðr	867
1250 Levies		Halfdan of the Jórvík	867
1250 Levies		Halfdan of the Jórvík	867
1250 Levies		Halfdan of the Jórvík	867
1250 Levies		Halfdan of the Jórvík	867
1250 Levies		Ivar of the Suðreyjar	867
1250 Levies		Ivar of the Suðreyjar	867
1250 Levies		Ivar of the Suðreyjar	867
1250 Levies		Ivar of the Suðreyjar	867
400 Levies 200 Huscarls		Olafr of Léon	867
600 Levies 400 Huscarls if Northern Lords is not installed 200 Huscarls if Northern Lords is installed 200 Varangian Veterans if Northern Lords is installed		Rurik of Holmgarðr	867
1200 Levies		Hummay of Bilma	1066
1200 Levies		Hummay of Bilma	1066
1200 Levies		Hummay of Bilma	1066
1075 Levies		Vijayabahu of Vijayabahu	1066
1075 Levies		Vijayabahu of Vijayabahu	1066
1075 Levies		Vijayabahu of Vijayabahu	1066
1075 Levies		Vijayabahu of Vijayabahu	1066
800 Levies		William II of Normandy	1066
800 Levies		William II of Normandy	1066
800 Levies		William II of Normandy	1066
800 Levies 200 Armored Footmen		William II of Normandy	1066
1000 Levies		William II of Normandy	1066
1000 Levies		Harald IV of Norway	1066
1000 Levies		Harald IV of Norway	1066
1000 Levies		Harold II Godwineson of England	1066
1000 Levies		Harold II Godwineson of England	1066
1200 Levies		Tatus of Pechenegs	1066
1410 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
1410 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
1700 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
1700 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
1700 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
1700 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
2000 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
2000 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
2000 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066
2000 Levies		Al-Muazzam Alp Arslan Chagri-Begoglu of Seljuk	1066

References

Mechanics