Bridge Battle - Auto-Resolve is best then.

[kiwitt]

While I don't normally like to Auto-Resolve, when facing an smaller enemy across a bridge Auto-resolve is best.

I attempted to cross a bridge with initially 114 units, used my stongest units to try and melee through and break the bridge defenders. I lost over 100 units by them routing back. I lost that one. Reloaded the Autosave and tried another tactic Horses first to cross the Bridge fast then Melee troops in reserve. No success. Tried Cavalry across another bridge and then tried to march over the bridge when I got the defenders corned on the Bridge. My Calvary got cornered by their reserves coming on. Lost Again.

Reloaded the Autosave and then Auto-Resolved, and as it is a numbers game, I won. I suspect the Bridge is not allowed for in the calculation of reults.

[chilling]

Why not try some of those stick shooty units. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-confused.gif

[kiwitt]

Tried those as well. They were just too well armoured to make a real dent and the cross-bows were too slow in firing.

May try Arbalests, but it may also suffer from the slow RoF.

[vlad_demstra]

we cant win them all... take the lose.. no big deal.

[The_678]

Yeah, I remember hearing before that when attacking across a bridge you should always auto-resolve. Also along the same, I also heard that if you are attacking a castle with NO siege equipment that it is much better to just auto-resolve.

[ichi]

It may be easier to use autoresolve for the bridges, but I have to disagree with the statement that it is better. Bridges can be crossed, it can be hard tho.

Set your time clock off for bridge battles. Attack in rainy/windy weather to reduce the effectiveness of defenders archers.

3 or 4 Arbs are very useful, they can reach across and are armor piercing, but they also last a while due to their slow RoF. Only need a few cav, the rest armored infantry. The only other units that I like to use on bridges are javelins - protected they can really hurt armored units - and Naptha to break the morale. In SP you need a General with good morale bonus.

Keep everybody as close to the bridge as you can, still outside of arrow range from the other side, in order to provide the morale bonuses and to repel anybody coming across, but also to chase when the enemey does break.

Send only one or two units at a time onto the bridge. I like to use a combo of one spear and one sword at a time. Once engaged, set them to hold position. When they become very tired, rotate them out. Push two fresh units in before backing the first guys out to reduce routing.

There are tricks: in heavy fighting, pull all but one unit off the bridge and position the rest of your guys to surround the bridge entrance. As your guys on the bridge rout the enemy will chase, and when they come off the birdge you can pounce on the from all sides. Once you get 3 or 4 units routing they just might cause the whole army to rout.

Once the enemy breaks is about to break (also if the enemy is totlally out of arrows) then send everyone across.

Don't use your cav until you are across the bridge.

ichi

[TheSilverKnight]

I always auto-resolve bridge battles. Except for Stirling Bridge. I win that one, but I can't win any other bridge battles. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[kiwitt]

Ichi,

I'll try your tactics. Arbalests will be needed then.

[ichi]

Good luck mate.

If not Arbs, then Xbows, and if not Xbows, in Early I sometimes go with no (or noyl 1) arrow. Friendly fire can be a big factor, and usually the defender has enough archers to kill anybody on the bridge. I try to minimize that by using the Arbs on the troops just behind the fighting front.

ichi

[Hetman_Koronny]

*bows*

114 units? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif How many soldiers is that? What about the enemy numbers?

I am just curious.

*bows*

[chilling]

Yeah I think ichi's strategy is the way to go.

Arbs are a must as they have the range to engage the enemy whilst staying out of range themselves. You can use them to slowly whittle the enemy down. Patience seems to be the key when you're attacking.

[NewJeffCT]

I agree with Ichi - send only one or two units at a time in an attempt to break through, or at least wear the bad guys down. Keep your other 14 units back out of missile & artillery range until just before you need them - then march your two replacement units up in loose formation until they get to the bridge...

And, who, what and how many were defending that 114 units could not win?

[Drucius]

I use something similar to Ichi, and I often win bridge battles with minimal losses.

[Demequis]

Quote[/b] (The_678 @ Jan. 19 2004,17:29)]Yeah, I remember hearing before that when attacking across a bridge you should always auto-resolve. Also along the same, I also heard that if you are attacking a castle with NO siege equipment that it is much better to just auto-resolve.
I disagree with the castle one. I always command the seiges myself if I have no artillery. You can send in junk units to break down the doors, whereas I believe the auto-resolve will waste some of your high quality units.

[kiwitt]

114 Units Makeup from MedMod

30 Bellatores
30 Knights of Calvatoras
30 Spanish Infantry / w spears
20+ Spanish Archers
20+ other lesser units (Militia/Pheasants)

When I played the Spanish in Med Mod IV I was attempting to take the Byzantines, holding Ille de France

They also had over 100 units.

I could not find any tough Spanish Infantry types to use under Med Mod IV.

[HawaiianHobbit]

I never auto-resolve bridge or seige battles there just too much fun.

[johnnybrigante]

Quote[/b] (kiwitt @ Jan. 20 2004,19:22)]114 Units Makeup from MedMod

30 Bellatores
30 Knights of Calvatoras
30 Spanish Infantry / w spears
20+ Spanish Archers
20+ other lesser units (Militia/Pheasants)

When I played the Spanish in Med Mod IV I was attempting to take the Byzantines, holding Ille de France

They also had over 100 units.

I could not find any tough Spanish Infantry types to use under Med Mod IV.

edit: i was going to ask if wasn't it 114 men (well, i actually asked), but apparently it was 114 units really...... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

(me and my stupid post http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-dizzy2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-confused.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-stunned.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-lost.gif )

[Revenant69]

Quote[/b] (HawaiianHobbit @ Jan. 20 2004,18:47)]I never auto-resolve bridge or seige battles there just too much fun.
Yep, same here. In fact I dont use autoresolve at all. Period. I enjoy playing out each battle no matter how small/big it is.

River assaults are fun becuase they can be quite difficult against a tough opponnent, like the Horde for example. Even with cannons, river assaults are still a tough enterprise. By autoresolving one loses the immense fun to be had in trying to develop a successful river crossing stratagem.

Rev

[hoom]

Pretty much my opinion too.
I never auto resolve because its too fun fighting the battles.
Further, auto resolve fails to take into account things like defending on a hill, rivers & castle defences so any time that you auto resolve because it does better at rivers/castles it does so because you are effectively cheating.

Generally for a bridge attacking battle, you're gonna want to bring in around twice as many troops as the enemy has so if the defenders have 100 units, then you're in for a world of pain.
One solution is to try to bribe them.
Another is to attack from a different province that doesn't have a river in the way (right click on one of your provinces to bring up the information parchment then move your mouse over a neighbouring enemy province and notice that the terrain description now indicates the terrain that can be expected in battle).
You could try using an assassin or inquisitor to kill the general...
Last resort is to just send wave after wave of cheap attackers & beat them down with sheer numbers.

Oh, instead of arbalesters, try using a bunch of demi or full culverins, their long range and morale penalty should aid you in at least forming a bridgehead.

[solypsist]

if you 'always' auto-resolve bridge battles, then you should auto-resolve when you're defending a bridge, too

[Suppiluliumas]

See if you can apply any of Alexanders techniques from the Hydaspes. All except for the fording at least. I'd like to see that added in Rome Total War though.

[ChErNoByl]

114 units? Can you easily do this in mehmod?

[kiwitt]

Not sure what you mean by easily. However, with over 7,000 men it is one hell of a battle, but the bridge really got in the way.

[RisingSun]

Which is the reason you want to cross it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Servius]

I usually just attack with overwhelming numbers, such that the enemy gives up the province and runs away. But if I have to assault a bridge...

Pavise Arbs to soften up bridge defenders while taking very little return fire damage.

Foot Knights (Chivalric, Gothic, Hospitaller, etc.) lead the assault. Their morale, defense, armor, and attack are usually phenominal. They are great assault troops. Don't use Halbardiers because their morale is terrible and even with a great general they will often crack and run away.

Another idea which I've never tried but you might wanna have some fun with is to bring some siege units with you, like balistas or those new organ gun somethingorothers. Their bark is probably still worse than their bite, but routing bridge defenders is just as good as killing them.

[CeeBod]

I usually win bridge attack battles with fairly minimal casualties - the AI usually sets up a fair way away from the river, allowing me to set up a wall of archers/x-bows on my side, and something nasty to attack anything of theirs that gets across to my side.

Then I just send a single "junk" unit over - preferably a horse archer unit, because of their speed (and they can usually get a volley or 2 off to annoy the enemy as well). Once they reach the half-way point on the bridge, the AI sends units to intercept - allow them to get very close, then run the horse archers back across the bridge - if timed right, you can usually get quite a few volleys of archer fire at whatever units the AI sent to intercept - yuo can even entice them to start crossing the bridge after you - which allows you to massacre them very easily with missile fire. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Rince and repeat for long enough, and the bridge defenders lose most of their hth fighting capacity - allowing you to then send in the main attack - which shuold break through quickly and cause a mass rout. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Count Fudgula]

I'm a great believer in using artillery positioned right next to the bridge to get the enemy troops to back off enough to allow lots of my guys to get across before the enemy are able to close off the bridge. Another handy tip to get a bit more range out of your arbalesters is to click on the far side of the bridge as if sending them all the way across and then getting them to halt (backspace key) halfway. This allows them to shoot and remain in a good position to back off if someone tries to attack them. With a bit of luck you can encourage the opposition cavalry all the way over to your side of the bridge where you can chop them up. The primary aim, however, should be to create a pocket big enough to allow enough of your troops to get across and set up a good defensive formation before contact with the enemy.

[hoom]

Quote[/b] ]I usually just attack with overwhelming numbers, such that the enemy gives up the province and runs away.
Not easily done when the defenders have 100+ units in the province, but a favourite tactic of mine too :)

[HopAlongBunny]

The only battles I auto-resolve are some of the "epic" battles. The end battle can just be sooo dull. I admit, when I started playing I would never have even thought of auto-resolving anything.

[Contra]

Quote[/b] (CeeBod @ Jan. 27 2004,04:35)]- allow them to get very close, then run the horse archers back across the bridge - if timed right, you can usually get quite a few volleys of archer fire at whatever units the AI sent to intercept - yuo can even entice them to start crossing the bridge after you - which allows you to massacre them very easily with missile fire. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Rince and repeat for long enough, and the bridge defenders lose most of their hth fighting capacity - allowing you to then send in the main attack - which shuold break through quickly and cause a mass rout. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
I would not advise it. On the 3-4 attempt to retreat your "junk unit" will rout without stopping. There is a penalty for running and not fighting, and it's uncurable. So all your troops will get a minus in morale, and general may develop a cute vice.
If you have problem with a province with a bridge - don't go there. Conquer the neighboring provinces, and then send your troops from all of them at once. Usualy AI will leave without fight understanding evident loss, unless you have encircled them, but then they are doomed.

[hoom]

But again, this is a province with over 100 units in it.
You can't just scare 100 units into running away.

[Contra]

You still have a much better chance attacking from more then one province.

[hoom]

I was not aware that the AI took that into account?

[torsoboy]

One of my most memorable bridge battles was when I had an army with 15 catapults and a whole clownboat full of Knechte, and supported by a allied contingent of Danish invading a Golden Horde held bridge territory.

The first salvo sent 15 big rocks flying into the air and crashing down on their general. Shocked by the overwhelming firepower the Golden Horde scurried back away from the bridge, allowing the Danes to cross the bridge. Outside the range of the catapults, they reorganized their archers and aimed at the bridge.

More than a thousand Danes died that day, trying to crawl over their fellow's dead corpses and arrows, boulders soaring over their heads. They finally did make it over and pushed the Golden Horde so far back, giving me precious time to summon the Knechte. The Danes did fight courageously that day and left the field without shame.

A thousand strong Knechten crossed the bridge and did battle with the Golden and were victorious.

I would not for the life of me missed that battle.

[andrewt]

I did that against the HRE. One of my catapults splattered his general and I was able to cross easily. They moved back and easily routed.

[hoom]

You should have seen what I did to the entire Danish royal family recently with 15 demi culverins on attack...
Didn't even need a bridge.

[Duke of RumpyPumpy]

Arbs arbs arbs.

1. Hit them while they are in range.
2. If they are not. Send a speedy unit over to draw them in, then turn tail and run.
3. Watch with glee as your arbs mow them down.

Also, why attack his 100 units with your 100 units?

Why not leave 30 units to defend, and attack somewhere else with 70 units. I find an important key is to draw the enemy into attacking and use your defensive advantage to take apart his main armies.

What does a general hide in his sleeves?

[chilling]

His armies. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

[Quessa]

Don't know about charging onto the bridge, as I have never got into that kind of a situation... expect for once.

I had this Byzantine army of mine with four Byzantine Infantry units, two heavy cavalry Kataprakhtoi and two arbalester units. I was facing the Golden Horde, as they were the defenders. I said that I've never tried to get to the other side of the bridge, and in fact, that's just true. The thing is, I didn't have time to, as their army just crossed the bridge and tried to rumble my forces (don't know was their Khan a dumb, retard or both). The result was as that simple, an usual body carpet and a few hundred Mongol prisoners and routing & partly skirmishing Mongolian Horse Archer units and a promotion for my general http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif .

Can't say nothing more expect for this. Just gotta buy a round of beer for those Mongolian geniuses http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif .