Any Advice for Solo Campaigns?

[GBISSET]

I have been enjoying the solo campaigns but am not making much progress. I wonder if it would be possible to make an easier level for those of us who would like a little less challenge? But in any case, can you all offer me any advice on how best to play?

I am playing the P&S generic campaign, which I quess is balanced, Im playing the poles vs the Turks on the easiest difficulty level. I am trying to form small armies of 700 pts or so with my best troops in a front line army, and my less effective people conducting sieges to my rear. When possible I will target an enemy force, and try to hit it with 200 pts more than they have. Since this is on enemy territory, they usually will have 200 or more pts of troops in the province which leads to a disadvantage for the actual battle. But if I attack with more than that they seem to retreat and refuse battle. I do check my provinces several times during the year to make sure I am fielding all troops possible.

However I find it very hard to pick up provinces.

Any tips in general?

Thanks,

George

[rbodleyscott]

The game assumes that like historical generals in this period, army commanders in the campaign will not normally accept battle unless they feel they have at least a 50:50 chance of winning. The maximum odds that an army will accept (barring scouting errors) scales with the difficulty level, and is the same relative odds as in single skirmish battles.

Are you able to beat the AI in single skirmishes on the same difficulty level you are playing the campaign?

It isn't necessary to win every battle to win the campaign. I have won it while losing over half the battles.

Some tips on strategy:

1) The chances of sieges being successful depends on the size and composition of the besieging forces, and the duration of continuous siege. Infantry are more valuable than cavalry in sieges, and medium or heavy artillery are most valuable. Make sure your besieging armies are well supplied with medium or heavy artillery.
2) Small field army forces (even a single unit) garrisoning your provinces, will act as a nucleus allowing up to 300 points of militia/garrison troops to join them if the enemy invades, so they won't be able to take your provinces with a cheeky tiny army (and a lucky roll on the siege random factor). You won't lose many field army men (in absolute terms) if your force has to retreat.
3) Small raiding forces into enemy territory may distract their field armies, making the enemy less likely to invade your territory, and giving your main armies longer to successfully prosecute a siege, and you won't lose many men (in absolute terms) if they are driven out again.

[GBISSET]

Yes, thats helpful. I was doing some of these things, but will add others. I am winning about 75% of tactical battles.

I should start another topic on the PC AI, I think its pretty good, but I would like to see more variation in its strategy for the battles. It seems I am fighting the same battle each time, which I win in the same old way (tho it is a near run thing)

Overall, am greatly enjoying the campaign aspect.

Thanks for all your work,

George