I realize this should have been put in the questions forum but it is about strategy so hopefully it wont be out of place here.
I know the optimum military to have is large stacks of master troops, however in most cases that is very hard if not impossible to achieve. So my question to everyone is this: Which is the optimum, large low level stacks of troops or smaller high level stacks? What is the best to use in a defensive and/or offensive position?
TL

At the start of a game, it's good to have large stacks of low-level troops. But in the mid/end game, it's more important to have master troops as low-level troops will be destroyed very quickly when they meet e.g. ballista and marks which outrange them. Basically it's all a balance - you need enough stacks to be able to impede your enemies movement, but enough high-level troops to be able to inflict damage from range on any type of enemy troop type. Remember that there is max damage in most games so usually there's not much point in creating troop stacks which can cause damage above their max damage.

Assuming equal skill level and resources master level troops will ALWAYS beat expert level troops will always beat advanced troops will always beat basic troops. The higher production rates of the lower level troops don't come close to offsetting the greater power of the higher level troops.

As for it being nearly impossible to get to master level troops - not so. If I can be assured of keeping myself out of a war for the first 15 turns I will have master level troops within that time frame. If not it takes me till around turn 20 or so instead.

The only time (outside skirmish) when you want a stack to do more than their max damage is either with Macemen (where their unlimited retal atttacks that aren't capped can destroy stack after stack), or in a slow game where you plan to keep attacking at about 40% BP ( to get more attacks in).

Low level troops will always have a place in battle though, to remove retal and impede enemy movement, buildings and takeovers, as well as scouting.


Kyrion

Not too mention fodder. Its annoying to have to kill basic troops when there are like 6 stacks of them, it also gives you a chance to possibly save/move your more advanced troops into a better attacking/defending/retreatin position. They arent completely useless

Now there are a few out there that prefer to go lower/middle level stacks in very high count, even at the end of the game...and they are doing quite well for themselves...
So I think try out, experiment, see what best suits your style of play, and then exploit it.

If you are going to take large stacks of low level troops make sure:

You have all 4 equipment upgrades (weapons and armour), this will allow them to do a lot better!!

Try to take a mix and keep an eye on TOTD!

Avoid enemy mace stacks, VERY IMPORTANT!! especially when they're over 100 strong, shoot them with range

Take small stacks of troops too (especially against those mace!)



In the end I'd guess the best thing would be to have one master troop and loads of lesser troops. i.e. Knights with loads of spears or Mace with scouts (to stop the nasty knights).


Well, that's just my view...

Oh, and comms can make a big difference!

Kyrion

Ping!.

The famous comm. strategy.

It is incredible what a 100 count stack of comms. does to a good stack of whatever. It rocks!.

If you use your 1st strike and 2nd close to a good amount of comms, you'll see the difference.

imo it all depend on the ressources you have.
i would always use hc and not scouts if i´ve got the ressources.

Also of value is that most master level troops have special abilites which mean they are far better than their basic counterparts.
Hvy Cav Max damage 50% chance
Knights No retal attack
Marksmen no range penalty.

Therefore I tend to gear my barracks to master class as soon as possible and rarley change them back.

I hate it that people still my comm strategy... grr

Ya ya go ahead and use those big stack low level troops. My ballistas love them.

Also High level HC and Maces love those!.

Pity they normally come a little late on to REALLY build, and the extra cost for levels involves multiplying the extra cost for the initial skill superiority

It can be done though. Only a matter of finding out how

Ballistas are pretty useless unless you got the right size stacks....too big = redundancy, too small = not enough bonus....heheh