The 500km Elephant Fence

[supadodo]

and although they left the fort (for the first time in my experience), it didn't make much difference. Mmmm, flame-grilled...

Actually, AI leaving forts is perfectly normal. If the battle odds are heavily against you which judging from your army composition, it is, the AI will happily stroll out to engage you. But since forts are so darn small, those elephants must have had a hard time coming out.

[phonicsmonkey]

I think maybe they venture out more often in 1.2

this save game was from an old campaign I originally played in 1.1 (with one of Carl's problemfixers). I fought four or five battles like this and in no instance did they leave the fort, just sat there getting pummelled

when I re-fought the battle it was in 1.2 - they immediately rushed out the front of the fort......and then just sat there getting pummelled

to be fair to them, they did charge a few horses into my pavises. didn't help them much though as by the time they reached them they'd been thinned out by cross-fire and fiery rocks landing on their heads

it's pretty funny by the way to watch elephants running amok inside a fort - particularly if they start outside and run back through the gates while the rest of the force is trying to exit

hehe

[joe4iz]

I must admit to not having done this. Nor do I think I will try it. I enjoy letting them seige my towns for the fight...especially if I win.

Generally, I give Jeruselum or Antioch to an ally and will try to hold Acre.

I used to do this in RTW but after one of the patches, the AI will "bounce" out of the fort and resume where they were going. I find it funny (not in a humorous way) that you could do this. Good use of an exploit...very creative.

Did each stack occuppy a fort and then stay there? If not then I would think you may trap one or two stacks, but then they would move on. I guess you have to be careful about the position for attack or you will attack two stacks accidently.

If another stack is there, isn't there a chance that your units could get stuck and not move out?

[Vanya]

GAH! Elephants!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

GAH! Cut heads off! GAH!

What's more, Vanya must add...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

GAH! If youz don't like the shoes, get out of the shoe store! GAH!

However, it is clearly evident that an elephant would need somewhat large, if not "oversized" shoes. Therefore, when dealing with such prickly issues, it is best to...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

GAH! Give the doomed province to the Pope! Your selfless act will bring salvation to the people. It might also bring the 'phant riders closer to God... one way or another. GAH!

GAH!

[phonicsmonkey]

Did each stack occuppy a fort and then stay there? If not then I would think you may trap one or two stacks, but then they would move on.

In this instance three stacks fell for the bait in one turn. I can't tell whether they would have then moved on as I annihilated them that turn with fiery rocks

the rest of the Horde seemed to be dissuaded by this turn of events and turned South - later they did the very same thing at the southern extent of the fence near Gaza and I knocked off another couple of stacks

then the sorry remnants headed off into the desert towards Jedda - I started to chase them and to fence them into a smaller area with more forts, but lost interest in the campaign before I caught up with them...

[avery123]

Hi phonicsmonkey,

on yr pic executing the elephant fort barbeque, i notice that yr fort only has 1 gate.
I assumed forts always had 2 gates?

?????

[RemusAvenged]

Great post, I love the fort wall, I've built a few too that look like the Great Wall, in the Middle East like yours and then another up in the Steppes. Oh how they remind me of BI.

Even if the AI doesn't actually occupy the fort, I believe that's a 1.2 fix, you can still wall off the stacks from each other and then pick them apart. I've gone as far as to create zoos so that future generations can marvel at the warrior peoples of the past. Sometimes though the animals try and break loose and have to be put down.

Too bad the AI isn't smart enough to pull a Blitzkrieg on these Maginot lines. Giving the AI too much credit I'll some times create double rows of forts just in case. Otherwise all you would have to do is sack one fort and move through the hole you've created.

[GFX707]

True. I believe it is public domain, and anyone can use it.
_______________
I train all of my soldiers to defend themselves against attackers armed with fresh fruit.

Last time I checked it belonged to the English.

[rebelscum]

those elephants must have had a hard time coming out.

Yes elephants are often closet 'gay; for years before eventually breaking down and telling their families, who most often have known about it since barbar was the age of six and would not be told from putting on mummies make up.
Please catch up on a long running elephant post.
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=40780

[Gray Beard]

In the Kingdom expansions I've found that the Byzantine flamethrower unit (Unlike the cannons mounted on elephants these really existed) do a wonderful job on the Timurids. I set them up like archers behind and to one side of a group of speamen and when the elephants hit the spears I run the flame throwers around roast the flank. The Elephants run amok and leave the field of battle trailing smoke like a Fiat

[phonicsmonkey]

In the Kingdom expansions I've found that the Byzantine flamethrower unit do a wonderful job on the Timurids.

Excellent.

I knew there must be a sub-conscious reason why I picked the Byzantines for my Crusades campaign....

NB. will someone please code a smiley for flame-grilling elephants?

[Shahed]

LOL. I did'nt see this before, nice job ! Do it again but with Stone Forts ;)

About the canons, I do remember seeing something like a large rifle or small canon in an old painting. I'm looking for it again, but I can't find it right now. If I do I'll post a link. As far as the 2-3 musketeers on the elephants, that's easy enough, and completely feasible.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

GAH ! Vanya if youz can't find ur shoesize does'nt mean phants can't GAH !
GAH ! Phant Headsoup & heart WTFBBQ! GAH !

EDIT: Just for the sake of information:

Image courstesy of phred.

This is from "Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire" by Caroline Finkel

"Schiltberger wrote that Tamerlane had thirty-two trained elephants from the backs of which he is reported to have launched the legendary liquid incendiary agent known as 'Greek fire' at the Ottoman army"

The Schiltberger reference is

Johannes Schiltberger. "The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger, a Native of Bavaria, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1396-1427."

The battle in question is the Battle of Ankara July 20, 1402.
It's not proof positive but at least its a contemporary reference.

Note that Timur was also the only man ever (to my knowledge) to hold a Turkish King prisoner. I still have'nt found a link to that image of a gun on a Elephant, will repost if I do. I'm sure they did everything they could with elephants but of course the rapid firing uber airborne lightning strike nuclear gold chevron artillery is just pure fantasy.

[phonicsmonkey]

thanks Sinan!

I had a great time with this fort-wall....kept moving it closer and tighter around them...when I eventually tired of the campaign the remaning Tims were hemmed into a much smaller fort box in the middle of the desert.

Is there a way to get the stone forts working in the Crusades campaign? I know someone (Rhedd I think?) was trying to do it but I've been away for a bit..

[Shahed]

I do the same in Kingdoms, build stone forts everywhere, keep unwanted visitors out. There is a partial fix but I have'nt tried it yet as I was slightly confused as to what I'm supposed to do. I belive it's possible to get the forts on the battle map, but not on the strat map. Best you check it out & post a query if you have any questions:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=130065

[phonicsmonkey]

thanks, I should spend more time over at twc

hey, LOVE the camel-gunner pic by the way

great research!

[Shahed]

That's courtesy of phred, posted in another thread a while ago.
Gives new meaning to camel gunner !