Best way to scale a hill?

[Long lost Caesar]

Alright so the imagine the scene.

Your army has finally chased the remnants of that annoying faction leader of that annoying faction (see how I keep it open for all?) and now its the final showdown, all of your victories climaxing at this final struggle.

But what's this? It's a mountain map? The enemy are on the top of a steep hill, practically a mountain itself, and are holding position? And to make matters worse, there's no way to engage them without scaling the hill/mountain/olympus-like monument?

So here's where my question comes in: how do you guys deal with this situation? What's best, to run or walk up a hill? Does it make any difference which you choose? After all, its the same distance, and if they didn't leg it up there they'd simply have further to walk! What would you do? Cheers

[lobf]

Take the easiest slope up, if there is one. Go real slow, rest often.

[Midnj]

It's usually best to take an indirect approach. Scale the hill first until you are level with them (or even above), rest your army, then traverse to engage.

[Elmetiacos]

...or tempt them into charging off the hill, Hastings style.

[Sand]

Heading to a point level but distant with them, resting, and then moving to engage along the slope of the mountain usually works.

Can also provoke the AI into moving off its position by splitting your forces - usually into cavalry and infantry and forcing the AI to pick which side to defend.

[lobf]

I should add that's what I meant by "easiest slope up". It's best to find a level spot somewhere, and if it's not close, you can sometimes coax them out of their position with skirmishers / cav.

[Tancredii]

...or tempt them into charging off the hill, Hastings style.

Senlac is more like a speed restriction bump than the hills we have to deal with in EB. Although in principle tempting the oppo off the hill is the best way - use fodder and draw them into a nasty little welcome - Cynoscephalae is probably a more relevant example.

As for exploits in moving parrallel and then resting before engagement the above battle also demostrates infiltration at it's best.

Bloody Romans...........

[craziii]

It's usually best to take an indirect approach. Scale the hill first until you are level with them (or even above), rest your army, then traverse to engage.

this is the way to fight that battle.

[Ibrahim]

this is the way to fight that battle.

seconded

[Tellos Athenaios]

Would say thirded; but I've got something to add. Make sure to have some decent medium/light cavalry (rather than heavy cavalry as those tire too quickly) to cover your troops while they march upwards.

Also be sure to include the usual array of fair/long range missile units: it's nice when you climb upwards; rest; and finally turn your initial disadvantage to your advantage... (Especially as those hills are outright impossible to stage a proper battle on; with the exception of an ambush perhaps...)