Captured enemy soliders?

[goober745]

I noticed that when you fight battles, sometimes it says on the screen that you captured a number of enemy soldiers. What happens to them after the battle and can you actually do anything with them? I couldn't seem to find any option regarding them.

[JeffBag]

During a campaign game, after you have returned from the battle map back into the campaign map, there should be an option screen telling you the number of people captured as well as the value of the ransom. From this screen you are given the choice to either ransom, release, or exterminate.

[Kraxis]

Of course you need to have won the battle.

If not, then the enemy just receives their prisoners back (I would have loved to be able to kill them off if it looked like you were loosing like in MTW).

[IRONxMortlock]

When you release prisoners do they come back as military units for your enemy or do they disappear into the population? If they come back, where do they appear.

How about when their ransom is accepted?

[Kraxis]

Released and ransomed troops come backthe same way. To the nearest enemy settlement, at least that is the only thing I haev experienced, but I suppose it can form a seperate stack when on the steppe or something.

[pat the magnificent]

i've released prisoners i captured while sallying out against a besieging army and had them immediately turn around and resiege my settlement.

A- i'm fairly certain they're breaking some kind of rule concerning movement points, and B- is this the thanks i get for being nice to you?

hence forth i shall execute every last prisoner i capture. and if the pope doesn't like it... i guess i'll execute him too.

[Ice]

I execute them all. If I don't I'll just have to fight them again.

[Kraxis]

I execute them all. If I don't I'll just have to fight them again.

Yeah... but that king brings you 10k florins and the others bring you 1k. So it is certainly a profitable way to get money.

I caught the Danish king on the way to Århus, ransomed him and then laid siege to the city, where I managed to kill him him soon afterwards. Free money.

[Whoz'onE]

How does one increase the chances of capturing instead of killing the opposing Generals? I always seem to end up killing them. As I understand it, you capture those troops who are caught after the battle has been declared won?

[FrauGloer]

How does one increase the chances of capturing instead of killing the opposing Generals? I always seem to end up killing them. As I understand it, you capture those troops who are caught after the battle has been declared won?

Yes and no. All routing units are captured (if you manage to catch them, that is). So, if you want to capture an enemy general/king, you'll have to force him to flee, then charge after him and bring him down. If he is brought down before he routs, he dies. After you have won the battle, if you click on "End Battle", all routing units still at large will escape, while chasing them down gives you more prisoners to ransom/execute. Personally, I charge down every one of them, but most of the time, my ransom demands are refused.

Just yesterday, I wiped out the last french when their full-stack king's army attacked my army besieging Marseille (their last city). First, I wiped out all but 5 or so of the king's host, killing him in the process, and by the time the reinforcements from the city arrived, I was able to reform and smash them, too. Result: Lost 353 Killed 892 Captured 1964 Muahaha

[Temujin]

You capture any enemies that you catch fleeing. Generals are hard to capture, because their units have high morale and seldom flee before the big guy goes down.

[Mordred]

I love the Germans begging for mercy: "The reich will pay for us, JA!"

[Kraxis]

I like the Italians... "You know we can pay..."
Those moneylender...