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Mori Gabriel Syme
02-24-2003, 18:29
For the first time, I have made it to the late period & manufactured gunpowder artillery. I know that sounds lame, but every previous game has ended with the AI rolling me back inevitably until I quit rather than watch my troops try to kill the enemy king with pieces of sharp gravel.

As the English, I invaded Granada from Cordoba with about 1000 troops including 2 demi-culverins & a bombard for the expected seige. One thousand troops is not a huge army on the Iberian peninsula these days; I have about 6000 in Cordoba to stem the Almohad tide. Anyway, the enemy retreated into the castle rather than risk pitched battle. That actually made me happy because it meant that I got to use my new toys.

My seige was pre-empted by a relief force, however. I know the artillery is mainly for seiges, especially the bombard; but I couldn't resist using them. I set up close to the edge of the map with the big guns on a small rise behind my troops--the bombard a bit to the side of the line in case it exploded. As the Almohad appeared, I ran the cursor over the ground to see when I could hit them with my artillery. To my astonishment, I could hit them where they started.

So I started firing the demi-culverins on the advancing lines, the bombard on the troops waiting. I hit a few, but it was still thrilling to hear the sounds of the guns firing & the swoosh of the shot as it flew toward the enemy. I particularly like the resonant, phasing quality of the bombard sound--just what a tube made in a bell foundry should sound like when something explodes in it.

Finally one unit of Almohad made it to my line & seemed poised to go around after the bombard, so I sent a unit of billmen after them. Shortly after that, the bombard fired, & I was told that the enemy general was dead. The enemy didn't break immediately, but they did once they came within arrow distance, except one unit of archers who ran when my feudal knights charged out after them.

My billmen got away from me while I wasn't looking & ended up three-quarters of the way across the map. They lost almost 50 from a full unit, but scored well over 350 kills. Except for my guns, knights, & 1 unit of billmen, no one had to do anything but stand there.

In the aftermath & thanks to my spies, the Spanish re-emerged in Portugal, where they have the Almohad under seige, & in Leon, which was rebel. It seems the general may have been the competent prince; I ransomed the strange one back. I may have the Almohad on the ropes here, as the bulk of his troops are in Morroco, most having retreated from the disaster in Granada. I'm very excited.

LordKhaine
02-24-2003, 22:12
You're gonna love the full on cannons... they have such a long range you could even use them in attack. With a few cannons the enemy defenders can often be forced off a hill http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

SirGrotius
02-24-2003, 22:44
I particularly enjoy the handgun troops also. I too never played a late campaign, but i started one recently and am pleased. My only worry is that the time will run out before I conquer the world Anyway, I have found the gunners effective, especially in breaking enemy morale.

Alrowan
02-25-2003, 02:39
mm.. the sounds of cannon fire is always fun... gunpowder in MTW is the best sounding thing since...

LordKhaine
02-25-2003, 02:54
I prefered the handgun smoke in Shogun actually. You just dont get the same waves of smoke in MTW http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

HopAlongBunny
02-25-2003, 04:12
Anything worth doing is worth over doing

When I hit the gunpowder age I try to have at least 2 places making nothing but artillery. If you've been squeamish about seiges, just show up with 10 or more assorted cannons http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

In regular battles the results can be spectacular as well. I find I really have to think about placement...and sometimes an ambush with cannon on the flank or rear works very nicely. Of course sometimes they just get thrashed http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif Oh well, no not every plan works every time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

A.Saturnus
02-25-2003, 14:18
When you take some artillery with your offensive force, you can first take the enemy lines under fire with them `till end of ammo, then withdraw them and bring in some fresh troops and attack then. Doesn`t bring too much since the morale penalty from the guns doesn`t stay long enough, but I find it satisfying to bombard the defenders first without a chance for them to do anything against it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

Mori Gabriel Syme
02-25-2003, 15:54
Last night I had to attack during the barrage because my armored troops were getting tired standing in the Moroccan desert. If I'd waited until the guns were through, my knights would have been already exhausted.

Kongamato
02-25-2003, 20:07
You ought to try a simultaneous cannonade/cavalry charge once your archery units have depleted the enemy sufficiently.

BDC
02-25-2003, 20:26
All my lan games end up with the broken remains of a castle and 2 Serpatine crews vs 2 Culliven crews, always. I really should learn to keep some shock troops in reserve to finish them off.