Archers nailing hidden units

[Celt Centurion]

Until last night, I had been under the impression that when a unit went into hiding, they were reasonably safe.

Last night, I saw a couple of rebel armies standing on the roads between the cities in Sicily. I picked out some units to take them down, including two units of archers to be the main killing force.

In both cases, I right clicked my archers to shoot at certain units an instant before they hid. The archers started shooting, and didn't stop. I couldn't even see the rebels, but as my archers shot at "where they were", I began to see individual rebels jump up and fall back down.

As usual, I kept my infantry between the archers and the rebels, but did not engage them, nor did I engage the cavalry on the flanks.

When the rebels were down to about 20%, they came out of hiding, and the archers kept shooting. When they ran out of range of the archers, my cavalry was waiting to cut down the remainder while the archers shot at yet another unit trying to hide.

As it turned out, both rebel armies were 100% casualties at the end, and my own losses were "0". Didn't lose one man.

I would never have thought to have archers shooting at hiding targets, but by golly, they "nail" them really well.

Strength and Honor

Celt Centurion

[Severous]

Usually as soon a volley of arrows hits a unit it will react by moving and blowing any chance of hiding.

I often send a flanking unit out ahead and around an enemy. It will often react by shifting its battle line...again forcing units out of hiding.

I assume you cannot target a unit that is in hiding.

As you saying CC that a target in hiding is any easier or harder to kill by archery?

[x-dANGEr]

I recall from the times of version 1.1 that archers could spot hiding units. AI, you only need to put them to fire at well and they will shoot any hiding unit. (A bug of course, I think)

[Drusus Magnus]

Usually as soon a volley of arrows hits a unit it will react by moving and blowing any chance of hiding.

I often send a flanking unit out ahead and around an enemy. It will often react by shifting its battle line...again forcing units out of hiding.

I assume you cannot target a unit that is in hiding.

As you saying CC that a target in hiding is any easier or harder to kill by archery?

Wouldn't the fact that they have their backs exposed make it easier to kill them? They're holding their shields in front of them.

[teja]

I made the experience that units always try to execute given orders. You ordered your archers to shoot the Rebels when they had been visible, so they continued to execute their orders after they hide themself.
If you would change the order of the archers, while they volly into the hidden enemies, they will become unable to find them again! For example: Move your archers a few steps towards the hidden enemy (they actually shoot at), they will no longer shoot therafter, even when autoshooting is activated.
This is a known bug. You can see the similar at the strategy map:
An enemy Diplomat/Army/whatever is moving into your field of sight. You want to know where they will move to during the upcoming turn. Order an own Diplomat/Army/Assasin/Whatever to hit this target (while they are unable to hit that target during your own movement phase), then end your turn.
With the upcoming movement phase of yours you will no longer see your target. But check the unit/whatever you ordered to hit this now invisible target and you will see the complete path into the Fog Of War up to the new location of this target.
It works. Kinda stupid, but normal.