Two Questions

[Kongamato]

I have two questions.

1: When I double-click attack on an enemy unit that is, for the most part, behind another enemy unit, does my unit recieve the charge bonus when attacking the units that obstruct the targeted unit when they come upon them?

2: Is camping upon the top of a hill actually less tactically feasible than defending the bottom of it? Imagine a crowd going from a flat surface up a stairway in the entrance to some crowded sports venue. Just before the stairs, the people will crowd up, as their advance up the stairs is slower than their prior walk across the flat surface. Thus the enemy army is somewhat squished at this point, with a lack of flatness in terrain to vertically organize their formation. Also, any flanking units can attack in full strength, as they will not have to charge uphill into the rear of the enemy and be placed in danger of losing an uphill battle with the rearguard. Instead, they can attack with a charge and possibly a height bonus in the case a hill is behind the enemy army. Anyway, I had been thinking about this and decided to post it. Using this tactic would require timing, as in order to gain the missile advantage your forces would need to take positions higher up on the hill.

[KukriKhan]

1) I'm almost certain that's true, because the bonus is achieved by having given the command, not what it's results are. Somebody straighten me out if I'm wrong.

2) In real life, never defend from the very top of a hill, your outline against the skyline is too inviting a target. In MTW/STW, I usually defend from a position about 1 third down from the top; enough space for my counter-attacking troops to gain momentum, and enough space to make my enemy have to struggle somewhat to get to me. But that's just my preference.

[deus ex machina]

A tactic I sometimes use - esp. against peasants - is to hold a troop of cav. in reserve and well off from the main battle line. Once the enemy troops are sufficiently engaged, I march this cav. group out and around to the rear of the enemy - place the group into one single line and charge in. Usually, the resulting morale hit of having an enemy (my guys) at the rear charging breaks them right there without contact. If the enemy troops are made of stronger stuff, the result is less certain. Anyway, I am sure that I am stating the obvious for the more seasoned generals here, but, like others, I am still learning.

As a footnote to Kukrikhan's response to the second question, I believe the military term for such a line upon a ridge or hill is the military line or military ridge line. And, just as stated, this line is usually below the actual ridge line.

[pdoan8]

1) I am not sure. In my experience, I don't see any different in the result of a direct charge and a behind target charge. Sometimes, charge behind the target even give greater result since the target doesn't respond to the charge.

2) I prefer around the middle to near the top. My highest unit should be close to the top but not on top or over the top. The lowest unit should be around half way down the hill.

[ABG]

1) I think so. You can also click (with cavs) one point behind the troops you want to attack. Deploy your cav in 1 or 2 lines and just double click in a point behind the target. Test it and you will see if it works or not.

2) Well, it depends of course how is the hill, where are the enemies, your allies... I sometimes defend on the top and sometimes in the middle. If it is possible i try to defend just down the hill, its more funny http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif