siege tower ability

**Cras** · 12-17-2004, 13:24

I have had seach towers that just role forwards and in a few battles I had siegetowers that looked protected and they fired off a incredible volley of arrows...

how do you get the last one? does it have somewhat to do with the experience of the unit? the matter in which your unit is advanced, urban units vs peasants?

**Fridge** · 12-17-2004, 13:48

There's a thread on these forums that deals with the siege towers missile capabilities. Apparently, it works so long as the unit inside/pushing the tower is NOT a missile unit. Just set the tower to fire at will, and it'll open up.

I think the different types of tower are made depending on the size of the wall. For large stone walls you get those ones that look armoured, though they catch fire just as well as the other ones! Apparently the big ones fire ballista bolts, and can be devestating. I'm guessing they also take more build points.

I've never tried it, but apparently you can just wheel the towers up near the wall, halt and let them open fire - they can pretty much take out a whole unit that way. Now why doesn't the AI ever do that?

**Unseen Potato** · 12-17-2004, 17:25

Originally Posted by Fridge

Apparently, it works so long as the unit inside/pushing the tower is NOT a missile unit.

It works with missileunits too. right click the missil unit carrying the siegetower. unlike melee units, the fireatwill button is already on. turn it off, and then turn it on again. After this the tower will open fire just as with melee units.

**Fridge** · 12-17-2004, 17:48

Thanks for the tip, Potato.

And did you like the way I used the word 'apparently' three times in a very short space of time?

**Zatoichi** · 12-17-2004, 18:38

A good bit of hedging your bets there, Fridge! But apparently you were right all along. I'll get me coat...

I didn't know any of this, I'm very keen to blow out work early in order to seige those pesky Egyptians! I can't wait to give 'em what for with my new toys! Well, it is Friday after all...

**Feanor** · 12-21-2004, 12:25

On the subject of these towers, does anyone know how to get a second unit to go up the tower once the initial unit is on the wall? Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks

**KiOwA** · 12-21-2004, 13:47

It's easy. Though the mouse display tells you that no other unit can enter the tower, that's false. As long as the first unit completely out of the tower, click on the second unit and and click on the wall. They will automatically use the tower to get up on the wall. You'll obviously want them close to the siege tower, so they can start climbing as soon as the first unit drops off.

**rebelscum** · 12-21-2004, 16:10

I think the size of the tower depends on the size of wall you are attacking.

**Sir Toma of Spain** · 12-22-2004, 01:03

Originally Posted by Fridge

Now why doesn't the AI ever do that?

They do. In one custom battle i was amazed when the enemy charged out of their tower to be confronted by 3 Urban Cohort!!!

**HicRic** · 12-22-2004, 11:13

Yep, the larger seige towers (when you're assulting Large Stone Walls or Epic Stone Walls) fire ballista bolts. It's great, but it has finite ammo, I'm afraid. So you can't exactly clean the walls off completely, although you can do some decent damage.

Oddly enough, seige towers all cost the same number of build points no matter what their size, if memory serves.

**The_Emperor** · 12-22-2004, 16:12

Originally Posted by KiOwA

It's easy. Though the mouse display tells you that no other unit can enter the tower, that's false. As long as the first unit completely out of the tower, click on the second unit and and click on the wall. They will automatically use the tower to get up on the wall. You'll obviously want them close to the siege tower, so they can start climbing as soon as the first unit drops off.

yes this is very true. I discovered it by accident one day when I had a unit that lost its siege tower, when my guys were inside I told them to go up the wall... half expecting them to march through the gate and up the side. Instead they marched around the wall and stopped near the nearby ladders and started to climb!!

Given the fact that base level siege towers have only one small ladder inside I would sugguest taking normal wall ladders along for the reinforcements... With those three ladders its much faster getting guys up the walls!! Set the siege towers rolling first and have them take the tower arrow fire while your ladders come up alongside...

Sometimes its even worthwhile just building a tower to use as an arrow sponge and then getting a normal ladder to capture the wall section instead.

**King_Etzel** · 12-23-2004, 15:00

Hmm actually the siege tower has another use. When your men first start climbing the unused siege tower, they gather at the top until there are like 20 or 30 or them, then they will all rush at the wall together. Rather useful for gaining a foothold on the wall, unless of course the first wave gets repulsed. Which means that the single ladder is not bringing up more men than are getting killed. Which means that unless you do something your men are going to walk one by one into a meat grinder. Which mean you are in a fix. So far i have no idea how to get the silly men to repeat that nice first charge. Not to say that ladders are BETTER than siege towers, because the same thing will tend to happen if you face the same sort of unit on the wall, except in multiple places. Plus you get the added bonus of arrows raining from heaven onto you men.

P.S. "The same sort of unit" refers to a bunch of Spartan hoplites. Scary people. Skewered my silver sword silver shield principes. Finally managed to kill them by halting my assault and they walked off to aid theyre comrades in dealing with another, more successful attempt on the wall. I sent up another fresh unit to deal with the Spartans and managed to get them to fight with their swords. The first unit up the wall lost 135 men. Good thing they didnt rout.