Battle tactics

Battle Basics
Battles are decided by battle points. Each unit contributes a certain number of battle points. These points can be increased by upgrading the unit (each upgrade increases battle points by 50%, and they stack), or by researching military tech (Longbow, Fire Arrows, Dragon Strength, Speed, and Courage). Each of these tech upgrades increases battle points of all units by 10%.

Some units also give bonuses to other units:
 * A mage boosts ground units (swordsman through dark knight) to 120% of their original power
 * A white mage boosts ground units to 140%
 * A knight boosts cavalry to 130%
 * A dragon knight boosts dragons to 200%

Enemy units also can counter these bonuses. White knights counter mage bonuses, and dark knights counter white mage bonuses.

In each battle, the side with the most battle points wins. Simple.

Units
Swordsman have the best bang for your buck. Even though they only have one battle point, they are incredibly cheap. Cavalry may have three battle points, but they cost more than three times as much.

With 2,000,000 gold you could recruit 10,000 swordsmen (Base Battle Power 1*10,000 = 10000) or 2,000 Cavalries (BBP 3*2,000 = 6,000) Hence swordsmen are better in terms of cost-efficiency

If you have 10000 swordsmen and 200 catapults, you actually have more battle points than 15000 swordsmen. (10000*1+200*30) > 15000

Calculating Battle Points with Bonuses
Here is a spreadsheet that lets you calculate battle points of units. It also lets you put in any number of units, at any level. This can allow you to calculate the battle points of your entire army. It also takes into account military tech, friendly unit modifiers, and enemy unit modifiers.

How to use:

 * Go to the sheet for your level (click on the tabs at the bottom).
 * Input values for your tech levels in the white boxes at the bottom left.
 * Input the number of each troop you have.
 * Decide whether you want friendly unit modifiers (mage, white mage, knight, dragon knight) and put a 0 or 1 in the "consider?" box.
 * Decide whether you want enemy unit modifiers (friendly mage and white mage bonuses cancelled) and put a 0 or 1 in the "consider?" box.
 * Look at results (show BP per unit and total BP).

Note:
You must DOWNLOAD the file in order to make changes to it. Click on "file", and say "download as" excel.

I don't want to have it free on the internet, because when people use it, they will change it completely, so for now, you'll have to download it to change it. Alternatively if you don't have Microsoft Excel or Open Office there are several free online alternatives such as Google Docs. If you have a Google Docs account, you can go to the file menu of the spreadsheet and choose Make a Copy to get your own editable copy directly in Google Docs.

Download:
Excel Spreadsheet