Milan: Gameplay Information

Milan has a precarious starting position, being surrounded by potential enemies but luckily they come armed with some superb units to allow them annihilate armies that stand against them. In common with Venice, Milan has the ability to train quality troops in cities so lack of castles is no bar to progress when playing Milan. Indeed, there are some players who have played entire campaigns as Milan with no castles whatsoever. The famous Genoese Crossbowmen are easy to retrain and are available in both standard form and as militia units. They have a base missile attack of 13 and this is armour piercing. Virtually no unit can withstand sustained crossbow fire. Combined with Italian Spear militia, you can have a very effective early game army that is simple to re-train. Italian Spear militia units should not be confused with standard spear militias because they have better stats and once upgraded, they can easily fill the role of Armoured Sergeants. Broken Lances are also available in mounted & dismounted units. They are simple to re-train. The only downside of all these city units is their morale is not as high as Knights. This can be remedied with the use of Carroccio Standards. Milan are one of the few factions to have access to musketeers. Milan also have another ace-in-the-hole for online battles. The lowly Cavalry Militia is often ignored but the Italian versions are of better quality and quite cost-effective.


Table of Contents


Campaign Overview

Religion
  • Catholic
Long Campaign Win Conditions
  • Take 45 Regions
  • Take Constantinople
Short Campaign Win Conditions
  • Take 15 Regions
  • Outlive the Holy Roman Empire
  • Outlive Venice
Finances
  • Initial Money: 6000 Florins
  • King’s Purse: 2000 Florins
Initial Settlements
  • Milan (Minor City, Capital) – Town Watch, Small Church, Grain Exchange, Dirt Roads, Port, Land clearance, Town Hall
  • Genoa (Minor City) – Town Watch, Port
Initial Generals
  • Duke Giorgio (54, Faction Leader) – 3 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 3 Authority, 3 Piety
  • Count Bernardo (36, Faction Heir) – 5 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 5 Loyalty, 3 Piety
  • Cristoforo Rossi (35, Family Member) – 2 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 5 Loyalty, 3 Piety
Initial Admirals
  • Admiral Adelmo (22, Admiral) – 0 Command
  • Admiral Vico (22, Admiral) – 0 Command
Initial Agents
  • Frolio Carcano (26, Diplomat) – 2 Influence
  • Chimenti Bossi (20, Spy) – 3 Subterfuge
  • Lerino Matarrese (30, Merchant) – 2 Finance
  • Evio Perego (38, Cardinal) – 5 Piety
Initial Troops
  • General’s Bodyguard – 3
  • Peasant Archers – 3
  • Italian Spear Militia – 5
  • Mailed Knights – 1

Milan may appear to have a difficult start and it is true that there is no shortage of potential enemies but there are 4 rebel provinces within easy reach. Taking Dijon, Marseilles & Bern will put the brakes on the ambitions of France & the Holy Roman Empire. Venice to the east is considerably less of a problem if Venice is taken. With the number of fellow Catholics bordering you, it is likely that you will come into conflict with the Pope. There are a number of ways around this. Firstly a boat with as many priests as possible should be dispatched to Tunis. They can begin converting North Africa to Christianity and gaining piety. This will allow you to begin the process of controlling the college of cardinals. Large cash donations to the Pope also help to gain favour. Crusading is a very necessary task for expanding and also appeasing the Pope. If a far-away and hard-to-hold province like Jerusalem is captured, be sure to gift this poisoned chalice to the Pope. The gift will do much for your papal standing. By keeping “in” with the Pope and fighting defensively in Italy, it is likely that one of your opponents will be excommunicated before long. The Holy Roman Empire are a likely candidate for this. Once this happens, you can expand but you need to move fast before they are brought back into the church.

France are an excellent target for expansion. By focusing your efforts on a mini-French & Italian empire, you will be rewarded with a relatively defensible (and rich) realm and possibilities of expansion into the Iberian peninsula or east into the lands of the Holy Roman Emperor.


Recruitable Units

The following table contains all of the units that Milan can recruit in Multiplayer and Custom Battles. For the Grand Campaign, use the “All” period with the following corrections:

  • Units in (Brackets) are mercenaries and therefore cannot be trained in campaign, although any general can recruit them in the field if he has space in his army and there are some available.
  • Units in [Square Brackets] cannot be recruited in campaign, they are for Multiplayer and Custom Battles only.
  • Units in Italics can only be recruited in certain regions (eg. The New World) or after a certain event (eg. The discovery of gunpowder).
PeriodMilitia UnitsInfantryMissile InfantryCavalryMissile CavalryArtillery
Early
  • Italian Militia
  • Italian Spear Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Peasants
  • Sergeant Spearmen
  • Armoured Sergeants
  • Dismounted Feudal Knights
  • Carroccio Standard
  • Peasant Archers
  • Peasant Crossbowmen
  • Mounted Sergeants
  • Mailed Knights
  • Feudal Knights
  • General’s Bodyguard
 
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
High
  • Italian Militia
  • Italian Spear Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Peasants
  • Sergeant Spearmen
  • Armoured Sergeants
  • Dismounted Men at Arms
  • Carroccio Standard
  • Peasant Archers
  • Peasant Crossbowmen
  • Genoese Crossbowmen
  • Hand Gunners
  • Mounted Sergeants
  • Mailed Knights
  • Famiglia Ducale
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • Men at Arms
  • Mounted Crossbowmen
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Trebuchet
  • Bombard
  • Grand Bombard
Late
  • Italian Militia
  • Italian Spear Militia
  • Peasants
  • Dismounted Broken Lances
  • Peasant Archers
  • Peasant Crossbowmen
  • Genoese Crossbowmen
  • Arquebusiers
  • Musketeers
  • Famiglia Ducale
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • Broken Lances
  • Mounted Crossbowmen
  • Ribault
  • Culverin
  • Monster Ribault
All
  • Italian Militia
  • Italian Spear Militia
  • Pike Militia
  • Genoese Crossbow Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Peasants
  • Sergeant Spearmen
  • Armoured Sergeants
  • Dismounted Men at Arms
  • Dismounted Broken Lances
  • Dismounted Feudal Knights
  • Carroccio Standard
  • (Religious Fanatics)
  • Peasant Archers
  • Peasant Crossbowmen
  • Genoese Crossbowmen
  • Hand Gunners
  • Arquebusiers
  • Musketeers
  • Mounted Sergeants
  • Mailed Knights
  • Feudal Knights
  • Famiglia Ducale
  • General’s Bodyguard (Early)
  • General’s Bodyguard (Late)
  • Knights Templar
  • Knights Hospitallier
  • Men at Arms
  • Broken Lances
  • Mounted Crossbowmen
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Trebuchet
  • Bombard
  • Ribault
  • Grand Bombard
  • Culverin
  • Monster Ribault

Constructable Buildings


Cities

Building TypeVillageTownLarge TownMinor CityLarge CityHuge City
WallsWooden Palisade (Upgrade)Wooden Wall (Upgrade)Stone Wall (Upgrade)Large Stone Wall (Upgrade)Huge Stone Wall (Upgrade) 
Improved Towers Ballista Towers
Barracks Town WatchTown GuardCity WatchMilitia Drill SquareMilitia BarracksArmy BarracksRoyal Barracks
Siege Ballista MakerCatapult MakerSiege Works 
Smiths Leather TannerBlacksmithArmourerHeavy ArmourerMaster ArmourerArmour Factory
Ports PortShipwright 
Sea Trade Merchants’ WharfWarehouseDocklands
Trade Grain ExchangeMarketFairgroundGreat MarketMerchants’ Quarter
Roads Dirt Roads Paved Roads 
FarmsLand ClearanceCommunal FarmingCrop RotationIrrigation 
Academia University
Churches Small ChurchChurchAbbeyCathedralHuge Cathedral
Inns BrothelInnTavernCoaching HousePleasure Palace
Town Hall Town HallCouncil ChambersCity HallMayor’s Palace
Art Artist’s StudioArt Gallery
Banks Merchant BankMerchant Bank
Assassins’ Guild Assassins’ GuildMaster Assassins’ GuildAssassins’ Guild Headquarters
Masons’ Guild Masons’ GuildMaster Masons’ GuildMasons’ Guild Headquarters
Theologians’ Guild Theologians’ GuildMaster Masons’ GuildMasons’ Guild Headquarters
Merchants’ Guild Merchants’ GuildMaster Merchants’ GuildMerchants’ Guild Headquarters
Alchemists’ Guild Alchemists’ GuildMaster Alchemists’ GuildAlchemists’ Guild Headquarters
Thieves’ Guild Thieves’ GuildMaster Thieves’ GuildThieves’ Guild Headquarters
Explorers’ Guild Explorers’ GuildMaster Explorers’ GuildExplorers’ Guild Headquarters
Swordsmiths’ Guild Swordsmiths’ GuildMaster Swordsmiths’ GuildSwordsmiths’ Guild Headquarters
Knights Templar Knights Templar Minor Chapter HouseKnights Templar Major Chapter HouseKnights Templar Headquarters
Hospitallier Knights St. John’s Minor Chapter HouseSt. John’s Major Chapter HouseSt. John’s Headquarters
Horse Breeders’ Guild Horse Breeders’ GuildMaster Horse Breeders’ GuildHorse Breeders’ Guild Headquarters

Castles

Building TypeVillageMotte and BaileyWooden CastleCastleFortressCitadel
CastleMotte and Bailey (Upgrade)Wooden Castle (Upgrade)Castle (Upgrade)Fortress (Upgrade)Citadel (Upgrade) 
Improved Towers Ballista TowersCannon Towers
Stables StablesKnight’s StablesBaron’s StablesEarl’s Stables
Barracks Mustering HallGarrisson QuartersDrill SquareBarracks
Ranges BowyerPractice RangeArchery RangeMarksman’s Range
Siege Ballista MakerCatapult MakerSiege Works
Cannons GunsmithCannon MakerCannon FoundryRoyal Arsenal
Smiths Leather TannerBlacksmithArmourerHeavy ArmourerMaster ArmourerArmour Factory
Ports PortShipwrightDockyardNaval Drydock
Roads Dirt Roads Paved Roads 
Farms Land ClearanceCommunal FarmingCrop RotationIrrigation 
Mines MinesMining Network
Churches ChapelLarge Chapel 
Swordsmiths’ Guild Swordsmiths’ GuildMaster Swordsmiths’ GuildSwordsmiths’ Guild Headquarters
Knights Templar Knights Templar Minor Chapter HouseKnights Templar Major Chapter HouseKnights Templar Headquarters
Hospitallier Knights St. John’s Minor Chapter HouseSt. John’s Major Chapter HouseSt. John’s Headquarters