Sapping

[soibean]

Just wondering...
When to use it
How to use it

[SIcilian]

well sapping is when you dig a big tunnel under the ground and knock down the enemy walls. I generally use it when the enemy has many men on the walls. But... never have a seige tower or ladders in the line of the tunnel as they will be destroyed. I use heavily armored troops to man the saps as when the troops are going into the tunnel they tend to get shot alot.





your guys the enemy




sicilian fencer
en garde

[Doug-Thompson]

I use it every time possible.

Only some infantry units can build and use saps.

When you go to the battle map, you'll see some covered holes in the ground. The computer places them. You don't. Select an infantry unit and hold the cursor over the convered holes. You'll see a doorway icon. Click then, and you'll see the unit run to the covered hole and start "burrowing" to the wall. It reminds me of those Bugs Bunny cartoons: "I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque."

Don't get nervous just because it takes time, and the clock is running. When the sappers are done, a big section of wall will collapse. Walk right in with the unit of your choice and take the town. Also, the infantry unit that did the sapping will appear out of the original covered hole entrance and be available for duty.

[Sin Qua Non]

If I'm using a cavalry heavy army, I usually sap at several points to get them through and away from the wall, and on their way to the city center. I've not been successful with causing any casualties via sapping; they either aren't under the sap point, or they move out of the way (smart). just remember to get some infantry up the walls to silence the towers.

Sapping is also seems equally effective on all kinds of stone walls. There probably should be some kind of failure risk on large and epic walls. I mean, were sap points always 100% effective? Just because a wall collapses doesn't mean it topples completely, and people can't always get over the rubble.

[hoof]

Sapping's good, but ladders are faster, and the AI almost never counters your ladder team's movements (making it very easy to assault an undefended section of wall).

Rarely does the AI defend more than one gate with sufficient troops. Thus a couple ladder teams at each of two gates, virtually guarantees a quick capture of a gate, and in your army will go.

[Lord Ovaat]

Ladders aren't long enough for the bigger walls. And to answer another question, yes, sapping is way overpowered in this game. It was a difficult thing to do, let alone do well.

[Quillan]

I caused casualties one time with sapping, but it was a combination effort. I had sent an infantry unit up the wall farther down with ladders to capture two towers that were going to control the route into town from the sap point. When I did, an armored hoplite unit went marching down to engage them. That unit was passing over the wall when it collapsed.