Bleeding a sally/city

[Macilrille]

I like to be attacker or defender, both has its merits.

Another thing, similar to the sally to hurt enemy is a tactic I have dreamed up, send a small army to besiege an enemy city, then when they sally, thinking they can beat you. Hurt them as much as you can without hurting much yourself, then retreat (surrender), next turn do it again and so on till they are bled white, so you can take the city.

I tried it with Cyrene, but it turned into a Heroic Victory instead (oups). Does anyone know whether it will actually work, or does the AI autoheal?

[Mediolanicus]

The AI "wins" the battle so it heals casualties.

Also in my EB campaign with BI on M difficulty the AI usually retrains between retreat and new seige.

[ziegenpeter]

The AI "wins" the battle so it heals casualties.

Also in my EB campaign with BI on M difficulty the AI usually retrains between retreat and new seige.

What? Even on field battles? I was always trying to do as much damage as possible and then flee.

[Atraphoenix]

for defence it works I sally every turn mostly manage to break the siege in the 3rd trial.
but not for attacking. If they sally kill'em all!

[ziegenpeter]

for defence it works I sally every turn mostly manage to break the siege in the 3rd trial.
but not for attacking. If they sally kill'em all!

But how do you get the draw? because you cant retreat when you sally, right?

[athanaric]

But how do you get the draw? because you cant retreat when you sally, right?

Have all your soldiers move back into the city (including reinforcements!). Then check the message you get if you click "end battle". There should be a message saying "Euer Ausfall war erfolgreich [...]" (Your sally was successful). Now you can click OK.

[athanaric]

It is a standard move of the Artificial Idiocy, however I wouldn't try it, as it is not very effective. A better method is to send and army that is just inferior to the defenders, making them sally. Now if your army is reasonably balanced - or specially equipped for beating a certain kind of garrison - you will have little difficulty beating the AI. For example you could attack Taksashila with a half stack consisting of peltasts, Baktrian Hillmen and Archer-Spearmen. The city is very difficult to take by force but if the AI army sallies, you can turn them into pincushions.
However, the main problem arising from "my" strategy is how to pacify the city afterwards.

[satalexton]

thats easy, just enslave em' all =P