siege tower ability

[Cras]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Sir Toma of Spain]

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]

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.