The Swedish empire was mostly built during the Great Northern War. After the armies of the earlier Scanian War proved to be rather inadequate King Charles XI recruited the Caroleans to realise the grand dream of empire. However after his death in 1697 and with no new empire young Charles XII came to power. He led his armies personally from the frontlines, giving the Russians a good show in the Great Northern War and conquering the Baltic.
The reason for his many victories was tactics, which relied on the spirit of the offensive and iron hard discipline to fulfill it. The guide here will discuss these tactics and how you can use them in Empire Total War. It's worth a read because when they are timed properly the tactics often win battles. It's important to know that I don't play campaigns in Empire, so this guide is really just for multiplayer battles, although the tactics do inflict many casualties on your enemy, so maybe they would be useful in campaign too?

As mentioned, the Caroleans were a powerful force and were very well commanded. They won many battles whilst being heavily outnumbered which they were able to do because of their formations, tactics and weapons which were selected bearing in mind that Sweden's manpower was limited.

At the outbreak of the Great Northern War, the Carolean musketmen were equipped with a musket (without a bayonet) and rapier, however four years later in 1704 every musketman was given a bayonet. The Carolean pikemen had pikes and rapiers while the grenadiers were armed to the teeth with muskets, rapiers and grenades. The Swedish heavy cavalryman was equipped with a rapier, carbine, two pistols and had a cuirass. The cavalry was used as the key instrument of victory and contrary to the other regular armies in Europe, the cavalry made up half of the fighting force. For instance, during Charles XII invasion of Russia the army counted 31,000, and more than half, 16,800 men, were cavalry.

The smallest 'big' unit in the Carolean armies was the battalion, which could be set up in two ways; pikemen in the centre, muskets on their flanks and with grenadiers on the extreme flanks, all in four ranks, or in another special way - having the units in six ranks and with the pikes in every unit's 3rd and 4th ranks meant that they could stick out between the musketmen in front and defend them from enemy charges while they fired. The grenadiers were included at various points throughout the line which meant this deployment inflicted many casualties while taking very few.

The infantry would wreak their own havoc while the huge cavalry numbers charged in support. The Swedish cavalry, contrary to the other European armies who rode in knee-to-knee formations, rode in knee-behind-knee formations which made up a slight wedge or chevron shape across the whole squadron. This was to achieve a cluster that would maximise each man's effectiveness - again to save casualties because of recruitment restrictions. The cavalry had longer rapiers designed for thrusting and charged at the maximum possible speed in the same extremely aggressive manner as the infantry to finish off bloodied enemies and secure victory.

The Carolean infantry would march to 100 paces from their enemy, pop off a volley and reload then run to 10 (!) paces before firing their second volley, throwing grenades into the terrified enemy's ranks and then charging into them with sword or bayonet. The cavalry would act in support and then run the enemy down while the artillery were positioned to fire into the enemy's flanks. Sometimes the infantry fired three volleys, one at 100 paces, another at 50 and then at 10, although this did not have the same morale effect on the enemy.

It is important to realise that historically these were ridiculously aggressive tactics that were carried out with rigid discipline. For recruiting, see, the soliders were bombarded with protestant propaganda and in the army religion was the basis for the strict discipline. Examples were made of men being punished with death for saying "oh my god" and other similar expressions. The men were assured that dying in battle was for God etc. and this is how they were able to fight near fearlessly.

It is also important to realise from their enemy's point of view the effect of seeing these uncoventional tactics performed - often a Swedish charge was not needed because the enemy already fled seeing the Swedes running forward, entirely unphased by the volleys and then forming up and firing a point blank volley.

These historical tactics can be used exactly in the game, although be careful to check your infantry unit's melee stat and be aware of the enemy's before making an infantry charge - it is usually ok all the time if you have cav in position to support, but if not, the aggresion of the tactics has to be toned down for playing in game. Also, pikes are not necessary, but sure are refreshing to play with.

So the build I usually take is:

• Two 24lb foot artillery.
  
• Two heavy cavalry.
  
• Two Regiment of Horse.
  
• Three grenadiers.
  
• Three light infantry.
  
• One riflemen.
  
• Six line infantry.

Of course the units can be tweaked, but I find this build is nice and versatile. Squeezing in a unit or two of superior line infantry is never a bad idea. It is important though to have 3 grenadiers no matter what, and if the rules of a battle are no artillery, I always add more cav.

I deploy in two ranks with the line infantry as the main line and the grenadiers behind them in the centre. Put your light infantry on the flanks tucked behind the edge of the main line to cover their flanks from enemy cav - be sure to actually move them into position to fire on an enemy charge if you see one starting. My cav are positioned far off my own flanks and my artillery well behind my lines in the best terrain positions I have on my side. It is often necessary, especially on certain maps, to split the forces. Just judge how best to do this yourself.

First thing I do after deployment is advance my cavalry against the red line at the side to halfway between my enemy and I, preparing to intercept whatever may come; an enemy cav charge or their infantry's flank. These engagements should be the first and are very important - in a perfect battle you will take out their cav here and have all of your's remaning. If they do not advance their cav so that you may intercept, just move your cav into entising positions in and out (don't have them run unless they really need to) to try and provoke your oponent into committing his cavalry.

Despite the historical tactics I like to be conservative at first when advancing my infantry line, not going far until I am happy the enemy will not shift theirs; it is then that I begin the proper tactics and advance very close to the enemy (10 paces) to start firing. Be careful though because sometimes beign this close provokes the enemy into charging you, and if this happens early it is risky if you do not know the melee stat comparison between the units. Often when I get into range I stretch my units out to the thinnest rank so that the enemy's fire will cause less casualties at once. Depending on the map I usually end up moving my light infantry to screen the main line or to a position to harass the enemy at range.

I cannot guide how to fight every battle, and so the only other advice I can give is to use the grenadiers by sprinting out in front of the line, throwing grenades and then retreating back to their original position behind the line infantry. I like to do this right after the enemy fires a volley, so that the grenadiers can be their fire and can throw their grenades while the enemy reloads.

Again, wait until cav support is available before charging your line into the enemy, and don't charge the grenadiers or light infantry in. Throughout using these tactics it is crucial to bear in mind your timing - make sure that if you can, you charge, throw grenades or advance when they are reloading. Don't worry so much about taking fire because if everything works out, you will not take much before you are in melee. Make sure to keep an eye on your cav throughout the battle and have them run only when necessary so they are not tired when helping out the infantry.

So to recap:

• Deploy
  
• Enage the enemy's cav - try to take them out, but if it is not going to work, withdraw your cav to save them from routing.
  
• Advance the infantry to a normal range, fire and relaod.
  
• Run the line very close to theirs, fire, then have your grenadiers run through and throw grenades at the enemy when they are reloading then retreat them back.
  
• If cav is available, put them at a suitable distance from the enemy and charge them and your infantry at the enemy.
  
• If cav is not available, keep throwing grenades and firing - retreat to half of a normal range if you like.