Devastation and Raids

[Jagger]

So does anyone do raids simply to cause devastation?

I will choose an area for devastation by alt-right clicking on the map. Typically they are represented by fields on the map but not always. Then I move troops to the mid/high fertility area for two turns. If the enemy comes out to fight, I will either run or fight depending on the situation. But after two turns, the mid/high fertility area turns black and the enemy province loses income for quite awhile.

Although I don't know if I receive income from these raids.

Kind of fun to do along your static fronts.

[Zenicetus]

I haven't done that, but I do use armies parked on the major roads leading out of enemy provinces, in the "softening up" phase of a war. This blocks trade, and if you combine that with a port blockade, you can really cripple the enemy's economy. Just a single unit will do it. I usually use a cavalry unit, so it can quickly retreat if the enemy sends a big stack after it. So that's my form of "raiding." I'll have to try the devastation thing, although I suspect that blocking trade puts a bigger dent in the economy.

[Quillan]

Devastation is longer lasting, but not nearly as crippling. I have occasionally seen devastation effects in provinces in the 500-600 per turn range, but normally a bad case is between 100-200 per turn. You can't tell the exact effect unless you own the province, and it shows up in the settlement details screen. It's a negative on your income.

[Helvio]

Not sure if M2TW does this yet but in RTW the general would get negative attributes from being in enemy lands without attacking. Something like 'does not fear the gods', which had -1 or -2 morale. That stopped my devastation raiding

[dismal]

Seems pretty expensive to pay an army just to stand around. I tend to go for more productive uses like, say, taking a city.

I generally spend little time worrying about my enemy's economy. Take his cities and his economy is your economy.

But if I did, off hand I'd guess a more efficient way to get a bunch of assassins to sabotage to his trade and other buildings. Good for leveling them up anyway.

[Zenicetus]

Seems pretty expensive to pay an army just to stand around. I tend to go for more productive uses like, say, taking a city.

I generally spend little time worrying about my enemy's economy. Take his cities and his economy is your economy.

Well, I mainly did that when taking on factions with huge economies like Egypt in RTW. The lesser factions didn't need softening up like that. Since it only takes a single unit to block a road, it's not that expensive, and it's something you can do while you're also taking the enemy's cities, one by one.

But if I did, off hand I'd guess a more efficient way to get a bunch of assassins to sabotage to his trade and other buildings. Good for leveling them up anyway.

Oh sure, I did that too. Economic harassment on as many fronts as possible.