How do you feel about?

[Sillius Soddus]

Ok, In a 2v2 fighting on a Steppe map I came across a game when someone used Artillery against me.

I thought it was going to be a typical game so I brought along the standard 4 Pavs, V3 Inf (FMAA and Mil Sgts) and Chiv/Templar Knights. (Just like every other player except that one guy who brought the Artillery)

My enemy was lined up before me with two bits of arty and 5 Longbows with some MAA and Chiv Knights... I was on the defending side.

Right from the word go large rocks were bouncing through my army. Going into Loose formation for key units did not help much, and before I even decided what to do my General's head connected with a rather large rock. (he probably thought it was a football and tried to head it back)

Needless to say I was forced to attack (rather than stand there and get pelted all day), only to be swiftly routed because my Gen was already dead.

It seemed like a very cheesy win for the enemy and I was Really not impressed. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

My questions are as follows.

- How does the community feel about Artillery being used in such MP Steppe Games? Do you think its a skilled tactic, or just an easy win?

- How can you defend against such a player with a conventional MP army with no Artillery? Because it seems to me to be practically impossible.

[Sillius Soddus]

I also had a late era 1v1 go the same way, up against an Army made up of Arqubusiers Cannon and Lancers... Seemed really lame.

[The_Emperor]

Strangely enough I had a similar Game last night with the other members of the {LORE} clan in a 3v3.

My army had large holes ripped in its formations and the General soon died.

Anyway to answer your questions.

1. I hate Artillery in steppe games with a passion. It does seem to be a way of gaming the game with little skill required. When the enemy is being hit with Artillery he HAS to respond or just sit there taking hits... Or move out of range (which isn't always possible)

2. I do not know of any effective response other than rushing a unit of Cav in to quickly destroy the offending artillery itself. But normally thats exactly what the person with the Artillery is expecting and will have his own Cav and Infantry in close support.

[ichi]

Check out this thread - one of my favorite polls in the Jousting Field Forum - for some interesting thoughts on arty.

Using Arty in MP (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=18;t=5666)

For a long time arty was frowned upon but lately I've noticed a come back - one interesting aspect is the use of catapults on steppe maps - for 225 florins (the cost of a pav xbow) you get some kills and the psychological impact your opponent got on you - he made you rush

How to Deal: Some arty has a limited range, others have limited field of fire. Stay at the edges, use trees, go around to the side.

If he has 2 arty, then sacrifice one unit of yours to be the designated fielder for rocks and balls - take one for the team as it were. But your lowest quality unit just in range and see if you can get him to shoot it.

Spread out - while loose form works, its best IMHO to form a long line so that a rolling, bouncing rock does not get extra credit for hitting the first unit then the one behind it.

Move, but don't run. Watch where he is shooting and keep the main targets moving.

In addition to death, arty causes fear. So I think that you must either go at him immediately, before you take losses, or wait until he is shoot out. Waiting a while then rushing while still taking incoming arty is the worst of all worlds - especially if your Gen is hit.

If you do charge, don't run a long way, as your guys will be useless when they get there. I find that walking in an orderly fashion makes a lot of the arty shoot over my guys heads.

If the arty looks vulnerable, send a fast cav to hit it - arty crews are frequently set on skirmish and will run away when appraoched - this gives you time to move your army closer without taking fire.

Again, remember, if they take 2 arty they only have 14 units left, and that means that when you match up one unit of each one unit of theirs, you should have 2 free units - if you make sure your two free units are cav and send them around the flank you can be very effective.

One fianl note. When a guy has arty he tends to get tied down - its harder for him to be more mobile than if he didnt have em. Just an observation on the psychology of arty - this can be exploited in a 3v3 or 4v4 game by overloading the other side of the map - Mr Arty Camper might not leave his precious weapons to aid his allies.

ichi

[nightcrawlerblue]

I love arty I once had an army with 6 catapults. My enemy would come into range and WHAM Bye bye general/sorrounding units... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[katank]

I too love using massed arty.

a combo of 6 cats in addition to my pav arbs, and preferably some naptha in a bridge battle is just awesome.

even better is 4-8 culvs, serpentines, and organ guns. if they get decent valour, watch for massive rout for all enemy units unless very high valour or elite.