For the Patch- no prisoners on autoresolve [Archive]

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Razor1952

09-08-2003, 02:38

Playing a long game means lots of autoresolve.

Unfortunately if you capture a factionleader you want dead(or perhaps other units ) he will be automatically ransomed(usually) if you autoresolve the battle.

Of course if you play the battle you can kill all prisoners , but this can be tedious.

In the patch therefore I would like the ability to kill all the prisoners rather than have them automatically ransomed when using autoresolve.

Teutonic Knight

09-08-2003, 20:50

I think CA already has decided what they're gonna put in the patch, so I think they couldn't care less about what we think at this point in time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

Qilue

09-09-2003, 00:29

One thing you could do is specifically target the king with your missle units.

Giles was tired, hot and thirsty and if only his belly would stop rumbling. After so many battles against the hated french he could no longer feel fear. But he was loyal and would follow his prince to the death. Here was yet another battle and mayhap the last because Prince William had finally brought the French King to battle near the town of Champagne. Looking at the French Knights, Giles could see the Royal standard behind the melee as another of his shafts sped into the air. Suddenly an order was passed through the army with much enthusiasm.
"1000 florins and a noble title to the man who kills the French king."

Of course, this kind of behavior is dishonourable and only savages and moslems would stoop so low. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Revenant69

09-09-2003, 01:43

Actually i like it just the way it is. For me the fun of the game is to fight many battles be it against 1 peasant or 1000 royal knights. So i do not autoresolve 99.99% of the time. The only time i do is when i need to go to bed and have to skip the impending battles so that i can quit the game.

So my point it that if you do not fight the battles out and just autoresolve - you give the initiative and control to the computer. And if the computer decides to ransom the prisoners you shouldnt complain because you already put the fate of that battle into hands of the AI.

This is just my 2 cents.
Rev http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Razor1952

09-09-2003, 04:56

Fair enough Rev, I concentrate on the campmap , not the battlefield, thats just my personal approach, I guess everyone gets their own bent on what they enjoy most about MTW.

I find fighting 3k vs 3k battles particularly tiresome, smaller engagements ok if they are close to even , but can't see the point in fighting lopsided battles.

Revenant69

09-09-2003, 07:29

ToranagaSama

09-10-2003, 05:26

Quote[/b] (Razor1952 @ Sep. 08 2003,23:56)]Fair enough Rev, I concentrate on the campmap , not the battlefield, thats just my personal approach, I guess everyone gets their own bent on what they enjoy most about MTW.

I find fighting 3k vs 3k battles particularly tiresome, smaller engagements ok if they are close to even , but can't see the point in fighting lopsided battles.
Hello,

Regarding vanilla MTW, I suggest you start to actually fight all your battle and forget about "finishing" the campaign for awhile. This way your "battle" skills should begin to improve, which, I believe, will reduce the "tedium" to a large degree.

In "vanilla" MTW, for the "Player", it is ALWAYS just a *Single* stack vs. whatever the AI brings. In your example, at most 960 vs 3000. There is no *need* to sit there and slog it out for 3 hours unless that's what one wants to do.

The key is that once you have the AI troops on the run KEEP them on the run. Do NOT allow *any* unit to gather and stand after the bulk and/or General have started to "Flee". Confront the AI reinforcement unit(s) as they enter the field at the "point of entry", in other words at the edge of the map--IMMEDIATELY The AI reinforcements will *very* often flee w/o engaging. This is especially so, if the General has been killed or has fled off the map. It also helps to slaughter a fleeing AI unit in view of reinforcing troops. This is why its VERY important to have 1 to 3 units of *fast* cavalry whose EXPRESS purpose is to run down fleeing troops.

Once the (bulk or most formidable) AI troops have begun to flee send a unit of Cav after them. If you have another unit of Cav, hold them until another AI unit flees, send the second unit after them. Maintain your offense, once the first fleeing units have been chewed up a little by the Cav and are firmly on the run, then Halt the Cav and seek out other fleeing AI units (or units that can be hit from the rear or side). Send the Cav after them. Repeat this pattern as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Also, while engaged with the above actions, seek out ANY AI units that are making a stand or appear to be re-grouping. Concentrate your remaining non-Cav units (particularly Archers and/or any *fast* foot troops (peasants and African Spearman are especially good for this duty and could be held in reserve for this purpose) upon them.

In general, you MUST be *quick*, purposeful and KEENLY aware that AI reinforcing troops *will* be entering the field. You also need to have quite capable "Movement" skills, that is the ability to move to *any* point on the battlefield INSTANTLY.

At times you may get a bit busy and/or make a mistake or two. In which case the AI may be able to get 2, 3 or 4 units to enter the Map at the "edge". In this situation, you MUST pull back you Cav and GATHER the "bulk" of your Army into an OFFENSIVE formation (for instance a formation you might use on a Flat map). Move the Army toward and near the Edge of the Map where the AI troops are/will be entering. Stay mindful of the fact that the AI troops can and will enter from various points at the "edge".

At this point you s/b able to outnumber and overwhelm the 2 to 4 units entering the field. For example, once organized, take a couple of units of Spears and a unit or two of Archers and attack one unit of entering AI troops; take 2 or 3 units of heavy infrantry (MAA or whatever) and send them at another unit of entering AI troops; if you've got a unit or two of Heavy Cav (Knights) (with a unit of spears if you have them) send them at another unit of entering AI troops.

Hold your Fast Cav and/or Peasants in reserve to go after any *new* AI unit that might attempt to enter the field.

In a SIMPLIFIED nutshell--that's It

The AI could have anothe 10 Stacks with 10,000 troops--END GAME--they should never get the chance to enter the field.

THE most important thing to remember is that once ALL (or at least the vast majority) AI troops on the field are in a state of "Fleeing" the battle AUTOMATICALLY Ends. So the underlying key to winning any battle is to induce a state of "FEAR" into the troops, and once induced, INCREASE it.

When confronted with VAST numbers of AI troops (on the Campaign) map which you *must* battle, simply get the troops/Units ON THE FIELD to flee, keep them fleeing and you'll not have to deal with the AI's reinforcements.

CAVEATE: You need to have a good general allowing ALL your units, at minimum, 2 Valour. Anything less is usually a loser and it takes an EXTREMELY competent Player making Zero mistakes to win with just 2 Valour. 3 Star units gives an excellent chance. Gimme a good mix of of troops with a mix of 3 and 4 Valour troops and I'll fight a MILLION of AI troops http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif Bring a "balanced" Army and use your Archers effectively. 0/1 Valour Archers are generally ineffective (and its a judgment call whether to bring them at all).

The whole purpose of this LONG post, which I hope will help someone, is that you *need* to be willing to Lose, and you need to fight your battles, in order to develop your skills. The game is a challenge and meeting that challenge can be great fun provinding the most satisfaction. JMO.

[It will ALSO make one a better Modder http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif as competently dealing with the battles allows one to comprehend, intimately, how what takes place on the Campaign Map truly determines the outcome of battle. Its one thing to comprehend the "Stats" its another to comprehend how the "Stats" actually manifest on the battlefield. JMUHO.]

SECOND CAVEATE: The above ONLY applies to vanilla MTW, Shogun and Shogun: MI. It's a good deal more difficult in MTW: Vikings as CA made the AI reinforces a good bit less inclined to flee. Add the MedMod to Vikings and the above can be VERY difficult In which case, its a good idea for the Player to bring 2-4 of reinforcements. Light Cav and Fast foot troops are *probably* best. Lighter Units have the best chance of making it, quickly, across the Map to the AI Edge w/o becoming completely Tired.

JFYI, unless "forced" into battle, I never battle with 0/1 Valour troops. Its a loser, though some of my most satisfying victories have come with Zero valour troops. Do not engage your general in battle, keep him at the rear near your lowest Valour troops (the nearness of the General reduces their likelihood to flee) and always have a unit on the ready to protect him. In other words, keep the General as "fresh" and unlikely to flee as possible.

Whew