Nordic troops are highly desirable for siege warfare (especially attacking) and, with the Rhodoks, are the best troops for sieges. On the field, they are a terrible faction to pit against Swadia, the Khergits, and the Sarranids, due to their outdated fighting style and weakness to cavalry. However, this weakness can be easily avoided by simply battling with the other factions where their cavalry are useless - in villages or castles their horsemen will spawn without horses; not even a mighty army of Swadian Knights or Sarranid Mamlukes will stand a chance against the Nords without their horses. In mountains or forests (or rivers) you can order your troops to hold a hill (or stand in the water of a river) where the cavalry of your enemy cannot charge into your troops and will be easy picking