Routing and Reinforcements

[marlboro]

On a number of occasions, I have routed the whole army; only to have 16 brand new units appear at the edge of the screen as reinforcements.

The only advantage is that as an attacker, the defender suddenly starts being aggressive and attacks your army, so you can hang back and play the role of the defender.

Any tip or experiences?

[The Illustrated Man]

Just my two penneth and all...

From my experience, if I'm faced with enemy reinforcements, and I don't have any or very few reinforcements, I try to do the following (in the 1,2,3 order):

1) reform your units to receive a new attack
2) try to move your army into a good defensible position
3) maintain your attacking momentum

Step 3 IMHO is prolly most important 'cos it's easier to break enemy units when their general has left the field.


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We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, for he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother be he ne're so vile, this day shall gentle his condition. And Gentlemen in England, now a bed,
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here and hold their Manhoods cheap, whilst any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispines day.

William Shakespeare - Henry V

[Hosakawa Tito]

Also don't get strung out chasing fleeing units, I'll chase at a walking pace,don't charge, with a cav unit or two, just to make sure the fleeing units don't stop and reform to add their strength to the fresh reinforcements. If you have a cav archer unit I like to have them go half way to provide cover for my cav unit/units that are chasing, then when fresh enemy units arrive I recall my chase cav to the main body and use the horse archer to sting any enemy units that are now in pursuit. As stated above reform the rest of your forces in a good defensive position, withdraw any spent units for fresh ones yourself if you have any. If not I'll take any missile units that are out of ammo, reform them behind my spears, and use them as last ditch flankers when the enemy reinforcements show up. Don't rush pell mell after fleeing enemy when they have reinforcements coming, you'll just tire out your own units, and more than likely be fighting those fresh enemy ones uphill, a sure way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

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Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell so that they look forward to making the trip.

[Alrowan]

the enemy reinforcments usually appear from roughly the same spot. you can exploit this by using your cavalry to hit them as they make the field of battle. btw, ALWAYS have an idea if you will face reinforcments

[marlboro]

There was once a case where I had to fight off an army of 5000 troops. Took an hour and countless wave of enemy troops.