Need help with MP

[SoloDaNINJA]

I can pwn normal difficulty AI (I know thats not a huge accomplishment XD )but i have had 3 battles in MP and gotten pwned each time. I use what i consider a balanced army (cheapest historical general, 4 units skirmisher/light inf, 6 units line, 1 elite inf, 4 cavalry, and 1 or 2 expierimental howitzers.) But every time, even though i arrange my men correctly (infantry in a line, 2 of my light infantry in skirmish mode in front of them, elite inf in reserve behind them, cavalry and remaining light inf on flanks), i get owned. First time, The other dude had 7 units cav, and as much infantry as me, so he just steamrolled my cavalry and got behind my lines. Second time, my opponent camped behind a river with only 1 crossing with his unicorns (I mainly lost that because i let my howitzers get seperated from my main force and it got destoryed by his cav) , the third time this opponent used no cav, but 4 units of 12 pounder arty, and a seemingly endless amount of infantry. (His arty immediately destroyed mine, and caused havoc with my infantry. By the time they got to his line they were so demoralized my attack was repulsed with little effort. I got my cav behind his lines, but he had like 10 units in reserve that immediately flattened all my horsies :( )
What am i doing wrong? Should i use an unbalanced army, or is my strategy off? Please assist.

[daniu]

Well, it's hard to tell what you did wrong without knowing what exactly you did. I use balanced builds, your 6 line inf sound a bit too few.
Some general points:
1. I didn't find experimental howitzers to be worth it. Use normal ones, they are cheaper and effective enough.
2. Use lancers. Best cavalry if microed right (charge, withdraw, charge again).
3. You did form squares with your line inf when you got attacked by cav, did you?

I'd recommend to save your battle replays and watch it afterwards to see what you did wrong.

There's a small guide over at twc (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=351233) and here some MP battle commentary video channels: Synoptic (http://www.youtube.com/user/SynopticCam), saiedz (http://www.youtube.com/user/saiedz),Angelos (http://www.youtube.com/user/Peul230688), Point_Man (http://www.youtube.com/user/ReflexCss), PyramidForce (http://www.youtube.com/user/Hafesie) and me (http://www.youtube.com/user/lessthanwords).

[SoloDaNINJA]

The thing with the cav squards is if i formed squares his infantry would pwn me. His cav was attacking me from behind while his infantry were keekping me from doing anything.
Thanks for the links, i will look into them.