aiming mouse pointer for artillery: bugged?

**Slaists** · 04-08-2009, 20:23

This irritates me, so I'll throw it out even though it's not a game-breaking bug/forgotten feature. If one tries to target walls/houses, the artillery aiming pointer does not change from the neutral default. It changes to the red 'targeting something' pointer only if units are targeted.

It took me a while to figure out that artillery would still shoot if I clicked with the 'neutral' pointer on a section of a fort wall... Come to think of it: I should not have targeted the 'people' in garrisoned houses (the artillery aiming pointer turns 'red' if one targets the flag above the garrisoned house) but rather used the 'neutral pointer' to target the house itself. The former action resulted in my artillery shooting in the air and hitting ground BEHIND the town instead of aiming at the house in question. Before I realized the pointer was bugged I just thought that my inexperienced artillery was abysmal at aiming... They're not.

This brings me to something that actually is an implemented feature in the game: artillery can bombard sections of battle-ground now. (Heh, this feature reminds me of the old good Warcraft I and II days). One just has to target the area to be bombarded and the artillery will fire at it until ordered otherwise. I have not seen this advertised much (if at all) except one tip from the battle advisor.

**crpcarrot** · 04-09-2009, 17:19

well done on figuring that out :P

**Tully Bascombe** · 04-09-2009, 22:21

It seems to me that one of the ETW guides recommended clicking in fornt of a unit instead of directly clicking on the unit. American Indians and East Indians are often difficult to hit with artillery as they have a tendency to run to one side or the other when targetted. In fact I believe the AI often plays "dodgeball" with my artillery. I'll be lined on one side of the battlefield facing the enemy, both of us parked waiting for the other to make a move, or with him advancing towards me, then I'll target some of his units. Once I open fire the units I target will move laterally or backwards, drawing away my fire, so if I targetted some units that were densely bunched in his center they take my fire to where it's nearly harmless. I pick out new targets, then the new targets do the samething. This sort of behavior might be appropriate for American Indians, but I don't think it fits the historical berhavior of other nation's troops in this era.

Clicking in front of units doesn't work that well either, even if they're stationary. In theory you should be able to bounce the ball through their formation, ideally you should be able to make it so the cannonball goes through their unit on the second bounce to produce the maximum effect, but I've yet to acquire the skill to do that.

**Vlad Tzepes** · 04-09-2009, 22:36

Originally Posted by Tully Bascombe

Clicking in front of units doesn't work that well either, even if they're stationary. In theory you should be able to bounce the ball through their formation, ideally you should be able to make it so the cannonball goes through their unit on the second bounce to produce the maximum effect, but I've yet to acquire the skill to do that.

Well, it's easier if you want to destroy a garrisoned building that's out of range. Worked for me, it didn't dodge at all

On the other hand, have you seen the way mortar balls bounce off the ground?

They're going to the moon!

**Tully Bascombe** · 04-12-2009, 16:21

Originally Posted by Vlad Tzepes

On the other hand, have you seen the way mortar balls bounce off the ground?

They're going to the moon!

Yes, but mortars can use exploding or carcass shot, which I think are more effective in the game than they were in real life. With 3 batteries of mortars and howitzers I've nearly wiped out the garrison of a fort. In the game round shot from cannon is pretty much useless against forts except for battering down the door.

**Fisherking** · 04-12-2009, 17:20

It is nice to know not to target unit standards! Something I have likely done in the past, just because it is easier than picking out the unit.

Area bombardment was indeed mentioned before release…it doesn’t mean everyone has seen it though.

Most things in the game could be better documented, that is true enough.

Mortars and Howitzers are much more accurate than cannon and round shot are just very big bullets. Shooting into flanks can kill more but it is not devastating until there are better ammunitions.

**Smellycat** · 04-12-2009, 17:35

Originally Posted by Tully Bascombe

Yes, but mortars can use exploding or carcass shot, which I think are more effective in the game than they were in real life. With 3 batteries of mortars and howitzers I've nearly wiped out the garrison of a fort. In the game round shot from cannon is pretty much useless against forts except for battering down the door.

4-5 units of demi cannons pretty much flatten a star fort if you concentrate the fire. I think the size of the cannonball makes a big difference against buildings (pointing a finger at 64lb guns)