My First Experience with EB

[procopius1980]

It's 262 and the Casse control all of continental Britain; only Hibernia/Ireland remains.

I only fought a single battle in the open fields. It was against a Silurian general who commanded several Silurian warbands, a unit of Celtic Axemen, and one unit of Celtic Archers. My FL mowed down their army and immediately laid siege to Yns-Mon.

After several reinforcements came, my army commenced attack. In spite of besieging the city for several seasons, I did not have the foresight to build multiple rams. When I discovered how thoroughly trapped my men were near the entrance to the city, I send a unit of Gallic swordsmen to retrieve the ram and open a second hole. In essence, my men were being attacked on both sides of the gateway. Fortunatley, my men had the discipline to turn to face their attackers before the hammer and anvil was complete. With their backs being covered by their friends, my men were in no grave danger, but the stalemates was likely to take a great toll on my men. With the ram in position, we were able to open a second front and perform the hammer and anvil on the Silurians. This succeeded and routed one side (the smaller side) of the defenders, thus giving my men room to manuver. My naked spearmen led the charge up the hill. After routing several units of midland spears, my small diversionary force was attacked by the enemy general. His chariots suffered a crushing defeat, and the morale of Yns-Mon's defenders suffered as a result of their general's death. My exhausted Gallic swords marched around the hill to attack the defender's rear. Their midland spears turned to face the new threat while the 2 units of Druids and their Silurian allies continued to batter down the main part of my army still near the entrance. Although we suffered many casualties, it was now evident that we would prevail in the end.

The battle was lost, however, when my chariots, and their pathetic pathfinding, stumbled into a fresh unit of spearmen guarding the center of the city. I did not order them to attack the unit, but their bodyguard became spread out over the entire city. Of the 2-3 chariots that fell, naturally my FL was one of them.

I try not to reload battles or turns once I get a campaign started, but I could not let this be. The AI cheated as far as I am concerned. If I were a real iron man, I would have employed the same tactics as before, but I did not. This second battle saw three holes punched into the walls and most of the main defenders were slain after the general fell and the Silurians routed. From there, the druids (oh such good fighters), were mercilessly slain by their faster, lighter, advesaries. In the end, I think I lost 40% of my men, and I got to watch a heroic last stand where 13 druids and a handful of skirmishers and midland spears fought against hopeless odds. The final druid did not fall until I ordered my entire army to javelin him.

Ictus and the norther city of the Caledonians fell with greater ease, so the bards have few heroics to tell of their struggle.

I must say that I regret fighting on medium at this point. The battles appear too easy. Hopefully the fighters on the mainland will change my mind.

My capital city still only has 2200 ish citizens, so we have a ways to go. I still have no ability to build ships, so I will look over the tech tree with my laptop the next time I pull up the game. I prolly won't have anything new to report until the weekend.

[Olaf The Great]

It's 262 and the Casse control all of continental Britain; only Hibernia/Ireland remains.

I only fought a single battle in the open fields. It was against a Silurian general who commanded several Silurian warbands, a unit of Celtic Axemen, and one unit of Celtic Archers. My FL mowed down their army and immediately laid siege to Yns-Mon.

After several reinforcements came, my army commenced attack. In spite of besieging the city for several seasons, I did not have the foresight to build multiple rams. When I discovered how thoroughly trapped my men were near the entrance to the city, I send a unit of Gallic swordsmen to retrieve the ram and open a second hole. In essence, my men were being attacked on both sides of the gateway. Fortunatley, my men had the discipline to turn to face their attackers before the hammer and anvil was complete. With their backs being covered by their friends, my men were in no grave danger, but the stalemates was likely to take a great toll on my men. With the ram in position, we were able to open a second front and perform the hammer and anvil on the Silurians. This succeeded and routed one side (the smaller side) of the defenders, thus giving my men room to manuver. My naked spearmen led the charge up the hill. After routing several units of midland spears, my small diversionary force was attacked by the enemy general. His chariots suffered a crushing defeat, and the morale of Yns-Mon's defenders suffered as a result of their general's death. My exhausted Gallic swords marched around the hill to attack the defender's rear. Their midland spears turned to face the new threat while the 2 units of Druids and their Silurian allies continued to batter down the main part of my army still near the entrance. Although we suffered many casualties, it was now evident that we would prevail in the end.

The battle was lost, however, when my chariots, and their pathetic pathfinding, stumbled into a fresh unit of spearmen guarding the center of the city. I did not order them to attack the unit, but their bodyguard became spread out over the entire city. Of the 2-3 chariots that fell, naturally my FL was one of them.

I try not to reload battles or turns once I get a campaign started, but I could not let this be. The AI cheated as far as I am concerned. If I were a real iron man, I would have employed the same tactics as before, but I did not. This second battle saw three holes punched into the walls and most of the main defenders were slain after the general fell and the Silurians routed. From there, the druids (oh such good fighters), were mercilessly slain by their faster, lighter, advesaries. In the end, I think I lost 40% of my men, and I got to watch a heroic last stand where 13 druids and a handful of skirmishers and midland spears fought against hopeless odds. The final druid did not fall until I ordered my entire army to javelin him.

Ictus and the norther city of the Caledonians fell with greater ease, so the bards have few heroics to tell of their struggle.

I must say that I regret fighting on medium at this point. The battles appear too easy. Hopefully the fighters on the mainland will change my mind.

My capital city still only has 2200 ish citizens, so we have a ways to go. I still have no ability to build ships, so I will look over the tech tree with my laptop the next time I pull up the game. I prolly won't have anything new to report until the weekend.

You can only build ships in the southern Hiberian province and Ictis

Has anyone noticed that the last man in a unit is always the hardest to kill?

[procopius1980]

You can only build ships in the southern Hiberian province and Ictis

Has anyone noticed that the last man in a unit is always the hardest to kill?

TY

Now I fully appreciate why everyone suggested taking Ictus first, which I did not.

[Apgad]

Also, make sure that you take Ynis Mon and train all of your FMs there for a while (if you aren't already). They get more Druid attendants to give them extra traits and abilities. Their traits say something like "Ynis Mon - Training" initially, and then "Island of Darkness" when they've finished. I think it's about a year that they sit around learning, but well worth it!

[procopius1980]

Also, make sure that you take Ynis Mon and train all of your FMs there for a while (if you aren't already). They get more Druid attendants to give them extra traits and abilities. Their traits say something like "Ynis Mon - Training" initially, and then "Island of Darkness" when they've finished. I think it's about a year that they sit around learning, but well worth it!

I noticed that on my FL yesterday, but I didn't put two and two together. Thanks for the info.

I got to play some last night (a wife and three kids does reduce playing time). I've consolidated my hold on Engladn and I am buiding the Warrior's Hold (governmet building) in Ictus. I'll have a ship in a few seasons to make my way to the Emerald Isle.

[Apgad]

I'll have a ship in a few seasons to make my way to the Emerald Isle.

You don't need a ship! Just head north and you can walk across over Iona or Isle of Man or Arann or something like that. (Sorry, my geography skills regarding north-western English island-hopping to Eire is a little patchy... correct me if I'm wrong).

[procopius1980]

Doh! I knew you could do that in Medieval II at the Bosphorus straights, but not on RTW:EB.

BTW: I've done some research on building ships at Ictus, but I am still running into a major fail.

According to the tech tree on the EB homepage, and the building browser at the city itself, I need a level 4 (Casse Allied Tribe) government and a market #2. I have both of those now (tore down me level 1 goverment), but there is still no option to construct a building capable of recruiting ships.

Methinks I'll go hop on EB right now and march my army north of Yns-Mons.