Bridge Battles

[El Diablo]

Ahh yes the glorious bridge battle.

Take 'em out big time when they cross the river right??? Load up on strong phalax type troops and plenty of archers to lob over the top and mess them up huh???

Well I left a token army in a fort at a river crossing (on my side of the river I might add). Playing as Macedon.

The fort was beseiged and I sent up some reinforcements to sort out the nasty Dacians (almost the perfect mix - change Archers for Peltasts) but for me to break the seige I had to attack - or the Dacians would have starved out my troops in the fort. Thus THEY are defending on the bridge. I have to cross and I get the maximus casualties. That was not part of the plan.

How do you get THEM to assault YOU at the river crossing???

Grrrrrr.............

I did not want to just leave some troops there (not in a fort) incase they were bribed away....

[bedlam28]

Hi El Diablo,

From the moment you got besieged you were kinda lost from what I read.
If you allow them to take your fort, suddenly they are the fortefied position bringing troops across the bridge and settling comfortably in your old garrison.

But if you attack them and on the battlemap and you are on different sides of the bridge, you are screwed.
The only time I have seen a defending AI army attack is when it has reinforcements coming, but I've never seen them attack such a suicidal position when they can just sit back and wait for you.
The AI is incredibly stupid at times, but I think you will be gifted to get that scenario.

If it is a pivitol position/ situation are you able to go back a turn and empty the fort?? it will disappear and your guys will be attacked directly.. and therefore become the defenders. ( unless you get bribed like you mentioned)

Good luck either way.

[Third spearman from the left]

Yes I've had this same problem and it is a pain when you think you have a good defensive position. The only way I can think to beat it is to maybe build the fort in front of the bridge-crossing point.

Put a unit of peasants or a unit of mercs that is down to a hand full of troops in the fort they can guard access to the bridge. When you are attacked bring your main troops up to the bridge, wait for the fort to fall and then wait ready for the attack at your safe end of the bridge.

Its an idea but maybe someone else as some better tips

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi,
The same is true for me. I am yet to see any attacking army win on a bridge battle - unless I am the attacking army In bridge battles there is often a shallow bit of river further up from the bridge if you can find it. You can use that shallow bit of river to cross with cavalry/infantry and to flank the enemy army with. Charge them from behind and you should be able to wipe a few out. If your flanking force manages to hold there, without routing, then you could wipe all of them out as they will be unable to run for their lives being surrounded. Good luck with your campaign. Cheers!

[Severous]

Hi El Diablo

I think your plan was sound.

I suggest that you should have moved the reinforcements next to the fort then stopped them. Doesnt have to be next to the beseigers...next to the fort will do. Then you sally with the troops that are inside the fort.

The battle when then be a sally. You will start with your garrison inside your fort. The enemy will be drawn up outside the fort. Your reinforcements will arrive on the battle map edge from the direction thay occupied on the campaign map.

There will no river on the battlefield..maybe a pretty graphic in the distance. But it wont play any part in the battle.

I love sally battles. Did loads in a defensive campaign as Germany. Got loads of pictures somewhere.

[antisocialmunky]

I just park my men on the bridge, problem solved.

[redriver]

this is how it works with bridge or no bridge battles.. if ya initiate the battle then ya attack and AI waits for ya to come at 'em and vise versa.

so if ya want the AI to cross the bridge just wait and let it attack ya first. never attack AI armies on/near the bridgers....

[bedlam28]

Well Severous,

Thats a bloody good idea !!
I for one will be trying this rather than sacrificing my fort.

Many thanks.

[Severous]

Whilst the manual says the attacker on the campaign map is the attacker on the battlefield I've found this not to be true in all circumstances.

If the AI is the side with the best odds (slider bar) it will often become the attacker on the battle map. It wont try to force its way into your town in a sally but it will act aggressively to any units you send outside the walls.

[HumphreysCraig00]

You could try to get them to attack by using weak forces to attack them and then when they rout the AI should chase them over the bridge onto your side.

The shallow water further downstream from the brige plan will also work if there is a crossing but there isnt always (Ive only ever seen a crossing on dirt road level bridges)

Sallying forth with reenforcements would be the best option though.

And dont worry about your force being bribed, ive never had a force of any real combat effectiveness be bribed. *Biggest bribed army for me was 2 mercenary units, one at 1/4 strength)