assorted gameplay questions

[gurakshun]

hi, i'm relatively new to EB, so some of the mechanics are not immediately apparent to me. Please let me know if there is something i should read to get the right answers.


1) What does the AP characteristic actually mean? Shouldn't it mean it cuts directly through armor, meaning even those mace wielding irish dudes should slaughter the walking tanks down to a man? - also, i have found little combat effectiveness of the "Ambakaro", the Lusotannan shock inf - just like the spartans, there are very few enemy elite units this one can actually handle, and unlike the spartans, ambakaro get torn apart by projectiles...

2) What does lethality mean?

3) Is it just me,or do Arjoz (Arverni nobles) have the highest base attack in the game? (I haven't seen anything higher than 14 on infantry). With that in mind, why would anyone want to use their swords when the spear does huge damage, and since it is a "short" spear with no visible fighting disadvantages (unlike the spartans), they can massacre their enemy (this one is my favorite unit).

4) if slingers get their AP attribute removed (which i have seen is devastating on armored units when fired up on from the rear) how are we supposed to take out Thorakitai Argyraspidai and Dosidataskeli, etc. short of repeated (VERY) heavy cavalry charges?

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is newbie....

[Puupertti Ruma]

1. Armour piercing in RTW simply means that the enemys armour value is halved. So it actually doesn't just negate armor but "pierce" it.

2. Lethality is the chance a succesfull hit will actually kill it's opponent. So, in EB, to kill a man you have to first beat his defence with your attack rating, and then have a succesfull lethality roll.

3. Can not say anything about that particular unit, but the sword vs. spear question I can say something about. In EB the lethality rate is tied to the units weapon, while the attack rating is given by the units ability, how wieldy his weapon is and other things. Usually celtic longswords have very large lethality, but are a bit unwieldy to use, hence a bit lower attack rating. Nevertheless the higher lethality usually is better than higher attack rating.

4. I guess you have to isolate them and swamp them with your cheap AP infantry.

[overweightninja]

Perhaps I can help with points 1 and 2...

1: Puupertti Ruma has already answered your AP question, however in relation to Ambakaro, they're not the same as Spartans, they're Spanish tribal elites, so use them as such. Ambushes and shock tactics, not holding your battle line and stuff like you'd expect the Spartans to do.
Vasci Armoured Shock Infantry are the true Luso elite infantry when you can get them.

4. Yup, flank them with shock infantry, skirmishers and cavalry. Enemy elites are elite for a reason :D

Cheers

[QwertyMIDX]

3. Can not say anything about that particular unit, but the sword vs. spear question I can say something about. In EB the lethality rate is tied to the units weapon, while the attack rating is given by the units ability, how wieldy his weapon is and other things. Usually celtic longswords have very large lethality, but are a bit unwieldy to use, hence a bit lower attack rating. Nevertheless the higher lethality usually is better than higher attack rating.

Actually attack factor is a product of both the unit's skill and the weapon type while lethality is a product solely of the weapon.