Relearning Napoleonic tactics - any battle tips?

[econ21]

Thanks, I am ending up using similar tactics to what you both suggest. Grapeshot seems a battle winner and, unlike ETW, the AI foolishly tends not to rush your guns, preferring to shoot it out, so you can rely on it more. At range, cannon does seems insipid - especially as the AI is very quick to move it's cavalry (the one thing cannonballs can hurt at range) if targeted. (I know you can target the ground in front but I think this is something of an exploit and prefer to let the AI have its moment of smartness). Incidentally, there seems to be some weird invulnerability of artillery: even close up, you can pummel them with grapeshot, infantry volleys etc and they don't seem to take the expected damage.

I find my casualties vary alot from battle to battle - sometimes very light, sometimes very high. I suspect the difference is largely determined by whether I stick to my prepared position and allow the enemy to come to my grapeshot, or whether I go for a more fluid battle plan, which tends to lead to more of an attritional meeting engagement between infantry. Friendly fire seems a real issue in the game and my generals seem frighteningly vulnerable (dying to spies, to chasing routers, to AI artillery snipers etc.).

I am not managing to pull off many of the tactics I mooted in the first post - I may need to practice more, or maybe the game just does not model them that well.

For now, unlike most other TW titles, I think I am enjoying the campaign level more than the battle one. NTW seems rather like RTR or EB in penalising early rushing - it's quite easy to bite off more than you can chew, occupying a capitol without having the strength to keep it from rebelling. The AI does a good job of pumping out full stacks, even on normal. And you can get Civ-like AI feeding frenzies, whereby lots of minor powers declare war on you (at least as France) if you get over-extended. I wish the British navy AI was a bit better though - Nelson should be terrorising my trade nodes in the Med, rather than swanning around in the Channel.

[Fisherking]

The strongest elements of NTW are in online play. Graphic is on quit a bit, or was, and may be up to a battle or two, maybe even a campaign.

The naval and trade AI is still a little weak.

I had the most fun playing the Spanish Campaign, so if you don’t have it, it is very good IMO. Much, much stronger than the warpath campaign in ETW. This one is actually fun. LOL

There is also a free units, British 10 Hussars that you should get. I forget the link but I am sure you can find it here in the forum some where.

The bounce was used back then so don’t think of it as an exploit.

The AI will rush your guns, and your whole line as soon as you take out their guns. It just takes a bit of fancy foot work by your cavalry.

The individual battles in the game can also present a challenge. Don’t think I ever got all gold with them.

Enjoy playing and post anytime.

[InsaneApache]

I know you can target the ground in front but I think this is something of an exploit and prefer to let the AI have its moment of smartness

I never target troops but fire just in front of them, even with grapeshot. It seems to kill more that way. Also if you do target troops, they invariably advance on your position. This is ok if the two armies are evenly matched but if, like me, you like to try your luck from time to time, it can be disastrous.

[murtagh3003]

I find that a good tactic to use in your campaign is to have a line of infantry (7 companies) with 4 or 5 light infront. On the sides I have 2 cannon pieces each with 2 light dragoons behind them. I use 6-lbers but try not to use them, i only use them because they are veterans. Try to use this as a defensive tactic by letting the enemy come to you. I found in my battle of Paris that France would not come to me, so only if nessessary move your skirmish line forward (if you have a mix of light and skirmish, noly move your skirmish). Try not to use your cavalry for your main attack, and try not to use heavy cavalry. Hev cav are far too slow to flank and if they charge, the enemy volleys them before they get close, try only to use lancers/light dragoons, and only then to take out lone arty or skirmishers (BUT WATCH OUT FOR SPIKES!)

Hope this helps. :)

[Fisherking]

You bet, and welcome aboard!

[edyzmedieval]

Artillery are actually quite useful in NTW, so use plenty of it - especially if you have the Grand Battery of the Convention for France, that 4 gun battery shreds everything.

[Fisherking]

Good artillery is a must. I often used to skip shots beyond max range into vulnerable units.

Good cavalry taking out the enemy artillery is also a sure way to speed up the battle. When their artillery is gone they usually move to attack and get eaten up by yours.

Artillery takes quite a bit of micro management though, and good supporting infantry on the flanks of it with maybe cavalry behind it if the enemy assaults it.

I hardly ever leave it out on the flanks but put it more in the middle of the line where it is better protected.