Attacking Uphills - Need Help!

**DensterNY** · 10-18-2005, 16:10

Certainly good advice from several members here if you're playing against the AI to exploit its weakness in not holding a solid defensive position and inability to deal with a split army.

I usually play the English and whenever I'm in this situation I use one unit of Hobilars to draw my enemies out of their position into the range of my archers. Half the time the AI sends out some sort of Spearmen which I'm glad to be rid of so that I can charge my cavalry into them and the other half of the time they send out good heavy infantry. In either situation I can clear coverage for their archers and send my cavalry to target them as I march my infantry into their ranks. Usually by the time formal melee is underway I've taken out a good 40% of their army and turned the advantage towards me.

Its great satisfaction to decimate an enemy with numerical superiority entrenched in a solid defensive position.

**Vladimir** · 10-18-2005, 18:00

Originally Posted by DensterNY

Its great satisfaction to decimate an enemy with numerical superiority entrenched in a solid defensive position.

Ya, attacking with smaller and smaller armies is kinda like doing drugs, if you win. When you win it feels so good that you want to use fewer and fewer units until you're down to one unit of royal knights. Then you get the shakes.

**Geezer57** · 10-19-2005, 18:18

Had a couple of battles recently in my Irish/Early/Expert/GA/XL Mod campaign that had me pleased but a bit puzzled.

Since I'd earlier taken Wales and developed it, when 1205 A.D. rolled around I had access to Welsh Longbowmen and Arbalesters for my armies. During the course of securing the Iberian peninsula, I was attacked by a fairly big Spanish army (3.5k+) led by a 2-star General - my defending forces numbered less than half (1.6k) with a 6-star Prince. I set up a typical defensive position, with Arbalesters at front center, Welsh Longbows behind, backed up with a couple of Armored Spearmen in the event of a cavalry charge against the missle troops. There was a patch of woods on my left flank, so Huscarles went there - my right flank was open, so I positioned my cavalry (a mix of Irish Horsemen, Mounter Sergeants, and a Royal Knight) there.

The Spanish approached, led by Jinettes and Javelin men, and were met with a hail of arrow/bolt fire. The Jinettes, being large targets, literally melted away - the Javelins lasted a little longer, and soon switched to loose formation. Neither reached engagement range before deciding to retreat (not routed). They were then followed by some Feudal Sergeants and one FMAA - they received the same treatment and had the same response: they left. One unit of Royals followed them, accompanied by a half-unit of the same - they both died to a man, except for the singleton that routed off the map.

After accepting just over 200 casualties, the Spanish forces all just retreated off the map, having inflicted a total of zero losses to the Irish. Next turn had a similar (but smaller) battle with Portuguese Rebels, where things went almost exactly the same - only with fewer losses (125 or so) for them (still none for me).

Now I can see an individual unit breaking and routing under excessive missle fire, or even a unit that decides to withdraw in an orderly manner from the pressure. But what factors do you think are involved in having such a sizeable army decide to give it up before ever even coming to grips with the enemy (me)?

**Vladimir** · 10-19-2005, 18:51

I've had the same thing happen at least once. I was on a decent hill and was pounding away with my HAs when they decided to leave. No friendly casualties.

**Pericles** · 10-20-2005, 22:26

Originally Posted by Geezer57

But what factors do you think are involved in having such a sizeable army decide to give it up before ever even coming to grips with the enemy (me)?

You had a 6 star general vs a 2 star general for the AI, so this also plays a big role in deciding a battle.

Depending on what command stars your general had, such things as dread, fear, good defender, etc plays a big role in how your enemy perceives you.

**Vladimir** · 10-21-2005, 14:54

Originally Posted by Pericles

You had a 6 star general vs a 2 star general for the AI, so this also plays a big role in deciding a battle.

Depending on what command stars your general had, such things as dread, fear, good defender, etc plays a big role in how your enemy perceives you.

Do we really need to go over dread again?

**Geezer57** · 10-22-2005, 02:17

Originally Posted by Vladimir

Do we really need to go over dread again?

Everyone here should know by now that dread has no effect on the tactical battlefield, only on the strategic map.

Back to the original thread - the AI had a watchtower in their province, so should have been able to determine what it was up against. Why make the attack at all if not to follow through? Or is the strategic AI not as bright as the tactical AI? Your thoughts, please.

**NodachiSam** · 10-22-2005, 05:49

I've read there the AI thinks differently on the strategic map than on the tactical. One says "we should win this" and the other says, "uh oh this isn't going to work". I think numbers are more important to the map ai. Hmm, it is kind of like real life where sometimes the general knows better than the head honcho on the other side of the kingdom.

**DensterNY** · 10-20-2005, 16:46

Originally Posted by Vladimir

Ya, attacking with smaller and smaller armies is kinda like doing drugs, if you win. When you win it feels so good that you want to use fewer and fewer units until you're down to one unit of royal knights. Then you get the shakes.

I agree it is a good feeling especially when you just barely pull of a win by being sneaky and outmanuevering your enemy... As for the shakes, that's probably from staying up way too late playing MTW and drinking soda or coffee to keep yourself going... Hehe

**English assassin** · 10-20-2005, 18:26

But what factors do you think are involved in having such a sizeable army decide to give it up before ever even coming to grips with the enemy (me)?

I don't know for a fact but I think if the casualty ratio gets too silly the AI abandons the battle, in the same way it can abandon it without fighting at all if it thinks you are way too powerful for it. And 200 kills for no losses at all is a sign that its losing badly.

Of course the trouble is, if I'm right, it takes no account of the fact that you would have run out of ammo and then things would get more evenly matched. But then the AI isn't that bright.