sapping

[Breeze]

Wondered what the word was on this subject I havent seen much in the forums about it. Do any of you sap in campaign mode do you see this as a viable tactic?

[Antagonist]

Sapping is something you do on the battle map, not the campaign map. Personally I don't bother with it that often, but it is useful, particularly when you want to get large numbers into a city quickly, or when the enemy has strong units on the walls (Sapping works very well against Romans, I have noticed) It's also good for cavalry-centric civilisations, as the breachs are good for getting cavalry inside.

The problem, of course, is first of all that you don't get to choose exactly where the sap points are going to be, which is a pain, and also that you don't capture the walls and towers, which can be a problem as towers and units on the walls can fire down onto your troops inside the city and cause heavy casualties.

Antagonist

[HarunTaiwan]

Once your troops are through the breach you can send up to the walls to stop the archery.

Saps are probably the best way to siege. Especially if your siege towers get burned.

[GrimSta]

in Multiplayer sieges i often use Sap Points, Siege Towers and Onagers to accomplish my aims.

these involve sending Sapper units to the sap points, if these are destroyed, i use the Towers with berserkers in them, and if that fails two unots fo heavby onagers can knock 3 breachs for you easilly

later mate

[Garvanko]

If you have a choice, use saps, then onagers, then towers, then rams. Saps are the most efficient and effective way to get inside a city.

I always use them wherever possible.

[Seasoned Alcoholic]

Use crappy troops in your saps though, sometimes the damn things collapse! I've lost a whole unit of Silver Shield Legionnaires doing this = not good

Peasants are superb sappers - it doesn't matter if they take casualties since they can't put up a fight anyway. Also watch your unit's stamina after they finish sapping - most of the time its at Winded or Tired, so they may need a break before you throw them into a fight.

As others say, saps are great for getting your cav into a settlement, but usually your missiles and infantry receive pretty frightening casualties from nearby towers (they may get massacred by epic stone walls and their missile projectiles). Try and control the gateway before bringing in the bulk of your army - use peasants or some low-cost unit to gain control of the walls (providing the enemy isn't heavily concentrated).