Attila tips and un-/under-documented features

**Slaists** · 03-16-2015, 20:09

Originally Posted by Bramborough

Yep, spies (and other agents) seem to be a bit better at assassination this time around.

I can attest to the "kill general afloat" tactic. Another option, if one is available, is to use an artillery ship to sink their general's transport; pulled that stunt against the Varinians last night, lol.

I understand what you're saying about assault/withdraw...but I don't quite get the underlying mechanic. Do the walls take additional damage merely by going to battle? Or are you talking about damaging the walls with artillery and then withdrawing once ammo is exhausted?

I meant withdrawing from battle once ammo is exhausted (if you do not have a sufficient breach for an economic assault). Often you need to destroy several towers before you can create a safe path to the city center.

**Slaists** · 03-23-2015, 20:15

Recommendation: do not assassinate enemy generals before a battle.

The reason is simple: it appears, troops care much less about the captain that comes as a replacement to the assassinated general. If you kill a general in the battle, the whole enemy army switches to "wavering" state. However, if you kill the replacement captain: enemy troops show as eager (not being bothered too much about the captain's demise).

This is especially apparent on legendary.

**Hooahguy** · 03-23-2015, 21:37

Ok but what if the general is super powerful giving big benefits such as better melee and stuff like that? Then the net gain is better than the net loss.

**Slaists** · 03-23-2015, 21:46

Originally Posted by Hooahguy

Ok but what if the general is super powerful giving big benefits such as better melee and stuff like that? Then the net gain is better than the net loss.

Then you kill him in the battle (as you'd do with any other general). The effect is huge there.

This is especially easily done when playing as Huns. You have to skirmish anyway. If the AI is chasing you, the heavy enemy general will lag behind inevitably: a prime target for your heavy arrows.

For infantry based factions: probably easier to assassinate the general before the battle though.

**Bramborough** · 03-23-2015, 22:03

I usually don't try to assassinate a general immediately before a battle. If I expect him to try retreating, I misdirect instead, so that the targeted army can be chased down. Otherwise, I kinda like hitting them with the Fatigue de-buff.

That said, multi-starred generals are a favorite target for my spies as they just run around making general mischief. A broad standing policy of making sure any enemy faction's 2+ rank leaders are continuously in the hospital or the morgue. So it's pretty rare that I go into battle against more than a greenhorn enemy commander anyway.

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 03-24-2015, 05:05

OK, I have a suspicion that the Huns spawn new stacks if you knock them down to 1. I can't confirm yet, but twice I was sure I'd got all but one of their stacks, they dropped from fourth to eighteenth and the next turn were back to fourth rankings wise.

Anybody else seen this?

**Hooahguy** · 03-24-2015, 13:41

Is Attila still alive? Apparently they spawn more stacks until he is killed, you cant kill them otherwise.

**Slaists** · 03-24-2015, 13:58

Originally Posted by Philipvs Vallindervs Calicvla

OK, I have a suspicion that the Huns spawn new stacks if you knock them down to 1. I can't confirm yet, but twice I was sure I'd got all but one of their stacks, they dropped from fourth to eighteenth and the next turn were back to fourth rankings wise.

Anybody else seen this?

Once I played in the North as Longobards and by mistake went for one of the Northern win-conditions outright. Little did I know: it was the spawning ground for Hunnic stacks, LOL. It's the most North East province on the Baltic sea. They probably spawn in other places too but they definitely spawned several stacks there.

As to tips

Benefiting from guerilla deployment units

I have seen many folks say guerilla deployment units are pretty useless (for them).

The trick is, most guerilla units (especially cav) have much longer spotting range than normal units. Some (elite scouts) are able to clear the fog of war from half the field. Here I use them: deploy them (usually I have 1 unit) as far on the opposite side of the battlefield as you can; preferably in some trees. You'll be amazed how much more you can see before the battle even starts (or after it starts).

Here is an example of an elite scout:

http://attila-enc.totalwar.com/#/unit/att_nom_unnigarde

1700 spotting; that's more than 2x for regular cavalry.