Best way to scale a hill?

**lobf** · 05-06-2008, 19:35

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

**Midnj** · 05-06-2008, 19:38

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** · 05-06-2008, 19:55

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

**Sand** · 05-06-2008, 20:02

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** · 05-06-2008, 20:05

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** · 05-07-2008, 22:49

Originally Posted by Elmetiacos

...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** · 05-06-2008, 20:02

Originally Posted by 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.

this is the way to fight that battle.

**Ibrahim** · 05-06-2008, 20:46

Originally Posted by craziii

this is the way to fight that battle.

seconded

**Tellos Athenaios** · 05-06-2008, 20:52

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...)

**Olaf The Great** · 05-06-2008, 23:09

I'm sure its not as bad as Illryia in RTR.

**Parallel Pain** · 05-06-2008, 23:20

Though I agree with all of mentioned, sometimes just so happen the highest point on the map is at a corner, in which case you will never find a level spot. And if it's one of those damned mountains, it'll be steep no matter which way you go and even if the men walk they'll be exhausted half way up.

Now add to that if the enemy have tonnes of archers and skirmishers (in fact 3/4 of full stack) and that ranged attacks get damage increase with height (I have prove of this), then you are toast.

To take things even further, add to that the +7 atk/morale the AI get in VH, then you might as well surrender or retreat before they start shooting.

I have personally used this to crush the Seleucids in my Saka Rauka campaign (without the VH bonus obviously).

So really, the best way is not to fight it at all. I always zoom in max on the campaign map to make sure I won't be getting into one of those situations and (as far as possible, it's quite hard to see on the campaign map) try to make the AI attack me when I have the ground.

So if I was you I would just not attack him at all. He can't stay on that mountain forever. Actually it'll be good if he does as you can just go take his cities while he hides up there.