Combat bonus on expert?

[Martok]

The AI's troops receive a +4 morale bonus in combat, but I think that's it. Of course, that much of a morale bonus can make a pretty huge difference!

As for archers, yeah, I think quite a few of us have that problem (I know I do, anyway). As a rule, most missile/skirmish units in MTW require the player to baby-sit them to at least some extent. Some units are better than others, but you still have to keep an eye on them so that they don't get caught in melee combat.

[naut]

It can be quite anoying. So I just never put them in skirmish mode, always in hold position and behind my line of infantry. This does restrict me, but it stops them from doing half the stupid stuff they do.

[bamff]

I follow the same pattern as Rythmic - I usually put them in a position where they can't really do their own thing....although sometimes you really pay a price for it...

[Csargo]

I do what Rhythmic does. Archers really piss me off the only ones I really like are longbowmen anyways.

[Ironside]

They do get a combat bonus on expert: 30%, wich means slightly less than 1 valour (don't ask me about the numbers , I'm simply qouting).
Hard got a 15% bonus.

Think that the comp getting +1 valour and +2 morale on top on that on expert (simular of having a general with 2 more stars).

But as stated, highlanders are supposed to slaughter spearmen and can do considerble damage to royal knights is those are caught in a bad moment.

[drone]

In MTW skirmish, I believe the unit will only skirmish away from their target unit, so they may blunder into another enemy unit while trying to keep their distance. You will just have to micro them. I don't skirmish archers, I just move them in front of my troops, get a few volleys in, then pull them back when the enemy starts marching quickly.

The Highlanders weakness is a combination of defense and morale. Their low defense (-3) means lots of casualties, and on normal difficulty this will usually make them easy to break after the initial surge since their morale is 0. On expert, you can't rely on this, they will just keep dishing out damage. The ideal solution would be to use missile weapons, but their quickness means you won't get in many volleys before they close. You might have to resort to pinning them with your spears then shooting into melee.

[Ludens]

They do get a combat bonus on expert: 30%, wich means slightly less than 1 valour (don't ask me about the numbers , I'm simply qouting).
Hard got a 15% bonus.

Think that the comp getting +1 valour and +2 morale on top on that on expert (simular of having a general with 2 more stars).

They get +4 morale at expert (and normal morale at hard), but otherwise you are spot on. Still, I did some tests before to see if this combat bonus made a difference, but it is hardly noticable. It's just that an engagement between equal units should turn in the computers favour. It is not like in R:TW were militia units can smash a phalanx just because of increased stats. Off course, my test was done with quality troops (FMAA) so there may be more of an effect with militia and such. The morale bonus at expert does make a big difference though.

[Dayve]

As long as i keep a good general in the army with at least 4 stars the battles aren't all that hard, just challenging, which is what i like.

I wish RTW had kept this system instead of giving the AI stupid +7 attack making battles really quick and completely un-enjoyable. A morale bonus would have been fine. But since CA sold out anyway and concentrated on graphics instead of AI and other things the battles would still be a doddle.

[Ironside]

They get +4 morale at expert (and normal morale at hard), but otherwise you are spot on.

One combat valour gives +1 attack and defence and +2 morale. One valour +2 morale gives 2+2=4 morale.

But I did formulate it unusually enough to confuse myself when writing about the general . The morale bonus on expert is high enough to be bigger than the morale bonus a 2-star's higher general gives on the battlefield.