The Helsatian Empire
Strategy: Hammer and Anvil.
Strengths: Large numbers of heavy cavalry, including powerful Heavy Knights. Backed up by heavy infantry and crossbowmen.
Weaknesses: Heavy cavalry are very expensive. Few professional archers. Very few recon units. Armies are extremely vulnerable if lured into forests or mountains due to lack of light infantry. Poor quality levies.
Lore:
The land now known as Helsatia was once part of the vast and proud elven empire, Great Palhon. Helsatia lies south of the Gray Steppe, east of the Westerlands and north of the contemporary elven kingdoms of Palhon and Idapalhon. Today, Helsatia is indisputably the most powerful empire in the known world.
The Helsatian people boast a long history on the battlefield as the arch-enemies of goblinkind. Centuries ago they were called from distant Noarlan by the Westdalians to drive the goblin hordes from the Westerlands. Victory followed victory and soon the ancient Helsatians were recruited as mercenaries by Great Palhon to drive goblin invaders from the northern counties of the elven empire in exchange for land and great riches. Once the goblins were forced back onto the Gray Steppe, the elves reneged on their promises in the hopes of preventing the warlike Helsatians from settling in their lands. In retaliation, the Helsatians turned on the elves, shattered Great Palhon into two successor states and took the northern third of the empire for themselves. In a single stroke, the Helsatians ended elven dominion and carved out a vast empire for their descendants.
Governance of Helsatia is a complicated fusion of Noarlan warrior tradition and elven customs inherited from their defeated opponents. The old elven counties have been carved up into six feudal principalities controlled by the leading dynasties in the empire. The Kaiser is elected for life by the Great Council of State composed of the aristocracy and senior bureaucrats - in accordance with ancient elven tradition - but now the Council is dominated by the six Prince-Electors who often violently compete for power and influence.
Helsatia remains wealthy and powerful beyond the wildest dreams of most kingdoms. But the quarrels of princes and intrigues within the imperial court leave its vast borders vulnerable...and the goblin tribes know this.
Helsatia In Battle:
Helsatia's knights are an iron fist capable of smashing virtually any opponent. But their reliance on heavy cavalry also has downsides. Helsatian armies should always try to fight on the open plains where their cavalry advantage can he used to maximum effect. Forests, mountains and broken terrain will all significantly reduce the combat power of their knights. Helsatian commanders also need to make sure that they do not spend all of their gold on knights and forget to buy infantry to hold the line.
In total, the Helsatian army is composed of 2,704 soldiers.
- 4 Leaders, protected by an additional 200 knights.
- 100 Heavy Knights
- 600 Knights
- 800 Heavy Infantry (Men At Arms/Grenzers)
- 900 crossbowmen/Archers
Leaders:
Due to its large and wealthy feudal nobility, Helsatia's leaders are escorted by a bodyguard of knights. This means that unlike their Westdalian counterparts, Helsatian leaders can move fast and their guards double as heavy cavalry.
Cavalry:
Helsatia's knights are the pride and glory of the empire. They are brave, talented and hardened by constant warfare against Goblins, Elves as well as their fellow men. In fact, there are far too many knights available to Helsatian commanders to possibly hire them all.
Heavy Infantry:
Helsatian heavy infantry come in two types. Defensive Grenzer regiments and Men at Arms regiments that are suited for both attack and defense.
Fire Troops:
Crossbowmen make up the bulk of Helsatia's fire troops. They do maintain a small corps of professional archers, but fire troops are far less important to the Helsatian Army than they are to Westdale.
Light Infantry:
Two companies of Jagers are the only professional light infantry possessed by Helsatia. Use them wisely.
Levies:
Helsatian levies are poorly trained and poorly equipped. They consist primarily of levy spears and levy archers. Semi-professional levies like Town Watch are rare in Helsatia.
Custom Unit Groups:
The large number of knights in the Helsatian army makes it very easy for them to build combined arms unit groups. Alternatively, multiple regiments of knights can be merged together to form truly devastating cavalry forces. Also remember, unlike their goblin enemies, human leader units can be part of unit groups. Here are a few examples of Helsatian unit groups often used by beta testers:
Tying it all together:
Helsatia possesses the best cavalry forces in the game. If used properly, their heavy infantry can hold goblin hordes in place while knights trap and smash them. But knights are expensive and they can never be everywhere at once. Especially since Helsatian armies tend to be the smallest in the game. Additionally, be very careful how you deploy your two Jager companies. As a Helsatian commander you are always short on recon - which makes it more difficult to discover the goblin's true objective. Consequently your Jagers are quite possibly the most important units on the battlefield.
Website: www.ns2games.com
Original post on the forums: http://www.ns2games.com/node/213277
The original post on the forums also features detail info on unique Helsatian unit types.