Some ransom

[drone]

I never pay it. The troops worth paying ransom for usually don't run until they take big losses anyway, so you just end up paying for the dross.

[Ironside]

Captured line is the best morale line ever. It's good runner that gives morale penalties, while captured gives morale boosts (at the cost of stars, but that's fairly easy to regain). Now, since the general can only be captured after routing (once, if rallying and routing again, this becomes more complicated), it's very hard to get in battle and easier to get by retreating through sea ways, but it's very strong.

Natural leader is extremely hard to actively get or boost and the rest of the morale lines are random.

On average I agree on not paying for ransom. It's mainly useful if you still need to pay while retreating by sea or if there's some good units in there. I still usually do it but that's mostly as a tribute for service well done, unless they did do poorly. Then it's execution time.

[Gilrandir]

Speaking of capturing the enemy's generals (preferably kings), is there any sure way to do it. Sometimes, when you encircle him he gets captured, other times he gets killed. How can you ensure the capture hoping for ransom?

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi

I always ransom my troops back if I have the florins. I consider it a matter of honour; sort of the MTW military covenant.

Plus, I think the AI always will if it can afford to.

Best regards
Victor

Sapere aude
Horace

[Prince Cobra]

Hi

I always ransom my troops back if I have the florins. I consider it a matter of honour; sort of the MTW military covenant.

Plus, I think the AI always will if it can afford to.

Best regards
Victor

Sapere aude
Horace

I agree with Victor. As a ruler, you are a father of your people and you are responsible for then. I must be with little cash or have suffered a very humiliating defeat in order to refuse ransom. Have in mind that my favourite faction are the Byz and I love playing in High Late, which means that I often play wars of attrition where my warriors die like flies but bring as many elite units of the enemy with them to the grave. I consider ransoming them back as a small gesture to their loyalty. And yes, Captured line virtues do a good work.

P.S. Stazi, cpatured generals usually do not get "Good runner" but "Captured". They do lose a star but add +3 morale to the troops, which could be useful.

[Gilrandir]

As a ruler, you are a father of your people and you are responsible for then.

What about your people's readiness (and sworn loyalty) to stand or fall by their king? If your army routed leaving their king and father in the hands of the enemy they don't deserve ransoming back. I ransom the captured back only if they had performed deeds of valor against the enemy that was much stronger. In this case the returned troops are given the place of honor and garrison the capital where they can bask in the grace of the king.
And, what do you do with the ransomed troops? If you disband them then it is a sheer waste of money.
But another connected question: when you capture the enemy's king you are sometimes paid the ransom, and other times you are refused. Can you be sure that you will get your money or is it a random choice of the AI?

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi

I believe the AI will always ransom (and offer captured troops for ransom) if it has the florins. For the player not to do the same might be considered by some old school MTW players as an 'exploit'.

Regards
Victor

Sapere aude
Horace

[Prince Cobra]

What about your people's readiness (and sworn loyalty) to stand or fall by their king? If your army routed leaving their king and father in the hands of the enemy they don't deserve ransoming back. I ransom the captured back only if they had performed deeds of valor against the enemy that was much stronger. In this case the returned troops are given the place of honor and garrison the capital where they can bask in the grace of the king.
And, what do you do with the ransomed troops? If you disband them then it is a sheer waste of money.
But another connected question: when you capture the enemy's king you are sometimes paid the ransom, and other times you are refused. Can you be sure that you will get your money or is it a random choice of the AI?

Unless it is quite early in the game, the place of the Byzantine Emperor (with at least 1 heir in his stack) is not on the batlefield. My Emperors are actually administrators, stewards and sometimes a bit crack brained or lazy but are not really keen on leading the Imperial armies from the front. If I have spare heirs, I send them as generals. (you can see the idea to prevent a sudden ending of the dynasty here).

Usually my Emperors are very harsh towards their generals. It's most unforgivable to run from the batlefield, and the good runner/doubtful courage reputation destroyed the career of not one or two six star generals. If the general was truly great (which usually mean he defeated one or two armies of the mongols in High) the he might become governor of one of the Mediterranean islands and even command their conquests. If they are captured, this usually means ability to take the responsibilities of their mistakes and are ransomed back with the rest of the army. If they die ("Your general has fallen before the enemy onslaught"), their family receives honours for the loyal service of their member. If the general retreats in good order (withdraw buttons) he almost always receives a second chance. As for the people, if the defeat is truly humiliating, I sometimes deny ransom. But usually, I think they have done their best and deserve to be ransomed back. Then I retrain them to a full size units, which usually takes years with all the units. If I ransom back some mercenaries, nothing can be done and they are almost immediately sent back to the battlefield unless the units is too small (and ransomed back because of other units)

If you ever play with the Byzantines in High starting campaign with limited Varangians guard (say no more than 1-2 units per stack) or in Late, you will clash with a low morale and outdated army. Every battle against a Catholic opponent is a challenge. The key to crush a Catholic is to have more resources and more provinces to rebuild your army, even if you face a defeat. Victories are also often expensive, so more provinces are not a bad thing.

[Prince Cobra]

Speaking of capturing the enemy's generals (preferably kings), is there any sure way to do it. Sometimes, when you encircle him he gets captured, other times he gets killed. How can you ensure the capture hoping for ransom?

Weak units such as the plain spearmen and other relatively weak units do a good job. The chance to capture the enemy general is far higher. If you manage to provoke a mass route of the army by crushing the wings and encircling many units you also get a good chance to bring the enemy general in chains.

P.S. Avoid situations, which make the enemy harder to break (no retreat possible, for example)

[Stazi]

Captured line is the best morale line ever. It's good runner that gives morale penalties, while captured gives morale boosts (at the cost of stars, but that's fairly easy to regain).

P.S. Stazi, cpatured generals usually do not get "Good runner" but "Captured". They do lose a star but add +3 morale to the troops, which could be useful.

Sorry, my fault. I always try to avoid my general being captured so I see those two very rarely. Thank you both for the clarification.

[Cyprian2]

I'm with Prince Cobra and Victor. Ransoming your men (when possible) is a point of honour. Here's an example from a campaign I played as the Swedes (XL + Tyberius). Inge the first and his carls had embarked on a raid against the pagan Estonians, where they fought like wild boars, but suffered eventual defeat. Inge sundered many a pagan skull before his horse was felled under him and he was delivered into heathen hands. They kept him and his surviving housecarls in a pigpen for three weeks before making this demand:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

For ten men (and the king, of course)!

I gladly paid the ransom. The Swedish people sacrificed much for their good king (though they were never consulted in the matter). It took about twelve years to recoup the money, but you can be sure that Inge (who received the "captured" trait) returned to the Estonian shore and repaid the indignities of his captivity with interest.



That's how the Swedes do it, anyhow.