blocking tactic

[Ramses II CP]

You can burn a trebuchet with flaming ballista bolts or arrows, or even break it with non-flaming projectiles, but even when it is destroyed it makes a mighty good roadblock. AFAIK the AI never does this, which is to say intentionally attacks the siege engine as opposed to the crew, but if you have a good ballista crew you might have some luck sneaking in close enough with them.

[supadodo]

I tried blocking the bridge with a treb in a bridge battle with the Mongols yesterday. Oddly the Mongols became smart and just waited at the other end, not too smart though, I used my other trebs to blast them into kingdom come

Its only after the barrage where the problem comes. They still overpower my forces so its either I try to lure them in or withdraw. But in the cases they decide to cross the bridge, I win hands down and my losses are only less than a 100.

[avery123]

Here's an idea.

Build a fort on a bridge, with a week unit inside, so your enemy will take it.
Then, with a large army waiting within range of the fort, attack the fort to take it back.

Make sure your large relief army has, say 3 trebuchets.
Split your army on the battle map, parking 1 trebuchet in front of their little fort front door, and the other in front of their little back door, blocking them in.
Then, with your 3rd remaining trebuchet, pound their forces to dust, tying not to hit the wooden walls.

You would probably have to keep a reliable unit behind each parked trebuchet, just to make sure they're bunged up properly. Then I guess just mop up what's left in there.

?

[lobo76]

Here's an idea.

Build a fort on a bridge, with a week unit inside, so your enemy will take it.
Then, with a large army waiting within range of the fort, attack the fort to take it back.

Make sure your large relief army has, say 3 trebuchets.
Split your army on the battle map, parking 1 trebuchet in front of their little fort front door, and the other in front of their little back door, blocking them in.
Then, with your 3rd remaining trebuchet, pound their forces to dust, tying not to hit the wooden walls.

You would probably have to keep a reliable unit behind each parked trebuchet, just to make sure they're bunged up properly. Then I guess just mop up what's left in there.

?

Great idea. This will block them from coming out of the fort which they do now in the 1.2 patch.

I'd think you will need some range units to cover the gate still, and more than 1 treb to kill whatever is inside the fort.

[Magraev]

Only problem is you can't build a fort on a bridge (or even next to a bridge iirc).

[lobo76]

Only problem is you can't build a fort on a bridge (or even next to a bridge iirc).

You can build next to one. They can still go pass by the fort, but will take an extra turn... or two.

[Empirate]

I tried this blocking thing last night, and it worked like magic! The Venetians were attacking a bridge held by my about even forces. I placed to Catapults right in front of the bridge exit on my side, with XBows to the sides. The enemy charged across the bridge and took a few hits of flaming catapult goodness, but then they had to stop, blocked by the Catapult's mass. Only time and again most of a unit would manage to extricate itself from the crowded mess their army had become, to be stopped cold by my pikes. Ouch. Five units of Crossbows rained death into the middle of the bunched up Venetians. After my arrows had run out, I just charged in everybody and simply wiped them out. A bit cheap, I won't be using it much for this reason, but a great find!