How to capture enemies?

**Idaeus** · January 24, 2008, 05:02 AM

Is there any way you can affect if your enemies get captured or killed? I was thinking about doing a campaign where I would take over the whole of Italy. That would mean I have to either kill or capture the pope.

I'd rather capture him than kill him so is there any way you can choose/affect what happens?

Thank you for your help!

**Samir** · January 24, 2008, 05:58 AM

you can only capture routing units on the battlefield (units that run away from the battle)

so you have to fight an army that has the pope in it.
scare him, by destroying his army, as well as scaring him into running away
and "kill" his character (the general of the bodyguards unit) while running away. (not while fighting, that will count as killed pope, you have to kill him while he flees, you can see the white banners on his unit icon)

then you captured him and you can ransom, release or execute him.

The papacy usually has some money to pay the ransom, but they still refuse to do so. Ironically if the pope is a former mean priest who has violent traits, he will refuse to pay his own ransom

If you are catholic you are excommed for this.

if you try this when you siege the city the pope is in, you cannot capture him as you kill all prisoners after a siege regardless of what you do with them, because they have nowhere to be released to.

**Cyrus Spitama** · January 24, 2008, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Samir

if you try this when you siege the city the pope is in, you cannot capture him as you kill all prisoners after a siege regardless of what you do with them, because they have nowhere to be released to.

Actually, I think I captured a general once in a siege and ransomed him and was paid, but he died anyway because he had nowhere to go, so it paid off both ways.

**loquar** · January 25, 2008, 01:59 AM

It is a bit frustrating that meleeing routers captures them but shots kill them. Not surprising, just frustrating.

**Internazionale** · January 24, 2008, 05:59 AM

If he routs, you will capture him. If you cut him down while his bodyguard is fighting to the death, he will be slain.

In other words, make him rout, and when he routs let him escape and go after him with your horsemen.

**Orcs_Forever** · January 24, 2008, 06:51 AM

Make him rout them go after him with fast-moving horsemen , make units rout and the generals morale will be lowered more.

**N3rull** · January 24, 2008, 06:50 AM

I'm interested though, what happens next?
After you kill the Pope and consume the Papacy?
Puppet Pope like in M1 or some kind of an invisible "Pope on exile" ?

**Old Geezer** · January 24, 2008, 07:04 AM

If you kill the Pope and take all his cities, he just reappears somewhere (a catholic country from my experience) and can sit in one place for quite some time awaiting a new home to be given to him. Maybe he'll come attack you, but I have not seen this.

**Idaeus** · January 24, 2008, 08:42 AM

Ok thank you everyone for your answers!

Another question though: Do all routing enemies that are "killed" on the battlefield actually become captured?

**HANDsolo** · January 24, 2008, 08:53 AM

Only the lucky ones

**Duke of Asti** · January 24, 2008, 09:02 AM

Well I've noticed something strange about capturing men. It will say I captured like 113 guys but after the battle a have like 1,000 something.

**HANDsolo** · January 24, 2008, 09:07 AM

Yes, all units that fall over while routing are captured. But there are exceptions. Its the rules. As per the Geneva Convention, any man who, while withdrawing from the battlefield, is tapped by the dull edge of an enemy weapon, must assume a prone position and remain stationery until the battle has ended.

However, these rules do not apply to arrows, flaming rocks and other such projectiles. If you do find yourself struck by one, make your peace with God/Allah.

**Idaeus** · January 24, 2008, 11:11 AM

What so if I hit a enemy unit, while the whole army is routing, with a arrow he will become my prisoner?

**Razbojnik** · January 24, 2008, 05:03 PM

I dont think so.
Because once i managed to rout the Hungarian king,but as i had no light cavalry,i arrowed him.He fell,but he died.

I wanted to capture him for 10000 ransom:

**Pontifex Maximus** · January 24, 2008, 05:40 PM

the pope must die. i find it easier to do it when he's secretly female

**Emperor_Palpy** · January 24, 2008, 05:56 PM

The Pope almost never leaves Rome unless forced out, though, so unless you can actually find him in an army, he's always killed. I do so enjoy capturing kings though. Special pleasures to execute, they are.

**Idaeus** · January 26, 2008, 04:30 AM

Originally Posted by Emperor_Palpy

The Pope almost never leaves Rome unless forced out, though, so unless you can actually find him in an army, he's always killed. I do so enjoy capturing kings though. Special pleasures to execute, they are.

When I was playing a Moors campaign the pope came down with an army into Tunis. And they weren't even crusading I think. He was very VERY killed!

**Internazionale** · January 25, 2008, 11:15 AM

If I rout the enemy, but I don't have enough cavalry, I always tell my missile units to fire at will. I always destroy the armies, since I don't want them to come back. Now in my french campaign Marsielle is almost constantly under siege by Milan on M/M, but I always win with loosing 20 % - 40 % of my army. Really frustrating, since I rarely have time to retrain them.