Tidbits & Tactics:

[Fisherking]

Empire is going to be a slightly different beast than what has gone before.

Here are a few things to remember. Some we know and some may be new to some of us.

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If the enemy is in range, so are you

If your attack is going well, you have walked into an ambush

The enemy invariably attacks on one of two occasions
a. When you're ready for them.
b. When you're not ready for them.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly

No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.

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Use available cover and concealment

Use movement by bounds when practical to close with the enemy. Use stationary unit in overwatch position to engage the enemy.(one unit engage the enemy while the other moves)

Skirmishers should have a ready reserve (deploy them two deep)

Keep a reserve when possible. It allow greater flexibility.

A charge is used to brake the enemy, if this is not working you my want to review your options.

If you are in a safe or hidden position, there is the ever popular; don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.

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Feel free to share!

[Martok]

If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly

I think this one is my favorite.

[Sir Beane]

I'll have a go at adding in a few helpful hints.

*Warning: Any and all advice contained within this post is used on the battlefield at your own risk. Sir Beane will not be held responsible for loss of limb, life or overseas colonies as a result of this advice.*

Campaign Map Strategy

*When in India, do as the Mughal's do. Load your armies so full of elephants with various artillery pieces strapped to them that the passing of your force causes the ground to crack and buckle, and all that is left after you pass is a new, rather pungent, mountain.

*When in a long-term alliance with a trusted ally be sure to attack them as soon as possible. Do you really think the A.I won't go for you at some point? It's a Total War game!

*The most strategically important location on the map is always Iceland. Take it and fillt it full of every man you have. I personally gurantee you will never lose a fight. Indeed you will probably never even take part in a fight, or even see any enemy soldiers.

*Contrary to popular belief you cannot identify a french spy by the fact that he carries around garlic and wears a beret. Do not rely on this as a way to background check your King's servants.

*When playing as the British don't wait for those Yanks to get uppity. Torch the whole place and go and take somewhere less ungrateful, like Norway.

Land Battle Tactics

*When marching into position on the battlemap make sure that your formation resembles a comical image, such as a duck. The enemy commander will be so busy laughing he won't notice you just took the one and only hill on the map and filled it full of cannon.

*When fighting the French don't expect them to run away or surrender when you yell at them loudly. Actual french soldiers are much less stereotypical and a lot more bloodthirsty.

*When playing Empire do not attempt to set up your forces like you saw in the promotional screenshot. The men in the first two rows will really appreciate not having the back of their head ventilated by an ally in row four.

*If the enemy is fielding elephants and you don't have any you have already lost, so why not have fun? Use your artillery to shoot your own men in creative ways, try and get the bodies to spell out a humorous word or phrase. Bonus points if you spell it in the enemies native language.

Naval Tactics

*For the duration of the battle make sure that you talk in a steretypical pirate accent.
"Trust me, me hearties! It'll improve your fightin' and drinkin' skill better 'n fancy landlubber things like 'tactics' and 'not fighting drunk'.

*Rum!

*More of the above!

*If you followed the previous two tips correctly then you shouldn't actually be able to read this.

*Endeavor to have your ships located on top of rather than below the water.

*Make sure you point all the cannons outwards, rather than inwards.

*Do not under any circumstances walk into the magazine room 'for a quick smoke'.

*If there is water on the inside of your boat then you are doing it wrong.

*During a boarding action do not swing from ship to ship with your cutlass held in your mouth. I knew a man who did this once, we called him headless Jerry.

*Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! (More rum)

[Owen Glyndwr]

I'll have a go at adding in a few helpful hints.

[

*Endeavor to have your ships located on top of rather than below the water.



*If there is water on the inside of your boat then you are doing it wrong.

These two were my favorites. I'll try to remember them when I be keelhaulin' the lot o' them scalawags, yarr!

[Megas Methuselah]

Kill or be killed.

[Sir Beane]

Some slightly more useful tips.

Land Battles

* If you can shoot the enemy, then they can certainly shoot you. Sitting back and exchanging shots won't win you the battle unless you have superior numbers.

* Cavalry is no longer the wrecking ball it once was. A foolish charge will be cut down from range. Use them to flank and to launch lightning attacks on weak points.

* Big blocks of troops look impressive. They also have the effect of making your men feel more secure and scaring the enemy. To an enemy with cannons though they just look like a big fat target.

* If the battlefield doesn't suit you, then force it to. Change the situation. If you need a defendable position construct one with lines of hardy men and earthwork fortifications.

* Let the enemy waste their shots on the green recruits, no one will miss them. Save your elite veterans for when the battle gets really bloody.

* Your general is no longer a superhero, he can't take on the enemy singlehandedly. It is unwise to let him try. On the front line he is an easily killed soldier, behind the lines he is the heart of your army.

* Artillery is faster now. Don't give the enemy the chance to whip their horse artillery around behind your lines.

* Horse archers aren't so hot anymore, sorry for those who liked them.

[Sheogorath]

I have a fine selection of Suvorov quotes for you :P

"The bullet's an idiot, the bayonet's a fine chap."

"Win with ability, not with numbers" (This guy was a Russian? )

"Accustom yourself to tireless activity..."

"When the enemy is driven back, we have failed, and when he is cut off,
encircled and dispersed, we have succeeded."

"He who is afraid is half beaten."

"Train hard, fight easy."


In terms of tactics, I personally prefer to keep an elite reserve back. Just two or three units. Once the grunts have worn the enemy down, these guys can charge in and route the enemy with minimal casualties and maximum effect.

If your opponent is so foolish as to allow you to turn his flanks, by all means, do so. Forcing some of your opponents men to turn sidelong to your own means more casualties for him.

One of my favorite tactics in NTW is to fire THROUGH an enemies front line into the unit BEHIND the one you're targeting. This means that BOTH units take fire, the rear unit absorbing much of the shots that miss the front one.

The same goes with artillery, but in reverse. Shoot at a unit IN FRONT of the one you want to hit. The ball will roll into the enemy most of the time, and you get bonus casualties in the first unit.