I do like chainmail. It's quick t'make, gives good protection, and only costs half as much iron as plate. I'm plannin' on makin' chain until I can make plate. Then, I'll make plate for my leaders, and pass th' chainmail down to my cavalry. That means makin' the armory work t' best advantage.
Every town has lots of peasants, and lots of spears.
When ye take a town, reload yer armies with fresh peasants and give 'em spears. Ye've got 10 unit slots in an army. About 7 should be filled with spearmen. Numbers matter more than skill, since if ye've got enough lads on yer side, they can swarm aroun' the enemy, and yer pile o' lads simply swallows up their pile. They're a good heavy guard, an' a little harder t'kill, since they've got a shield.