Artillery .....Aaargh!!

[Drewski]

Ok, So I'm trying a new campaign as Rome (hey we all need a bit of glory boy stuff every now and again)

And this time, I've decided that Artillery is the order of the day, and the 2nd thing I build in Rome (just have to have an Academy first, sorry), is a Siege Range. So every full 20 unit stack that goes out has 2 Scorpions (I don't really see the point of Ballistas, the point of Scorpions is their obscene range).

And what do you know, it changes completely the face of combat. Faced with a stack that has Scorps on either wing, the ai seems to go into some mad " must kill the artillery now" mode. Its quite weird to be charged (very, very slowly of course) by phalanxes. AI, I'm the Romans. All my guys throw stuff at you first. I WANT, in fact I beg you to charge me. It gives 2000 vs 2000 troops battles, me 50 losses , AI 1950 losses.

Anyway, you get the point. But here's me original Artillery AAARGH!......1) Cities and Forts....why on earth can you not move Artillery (and we're talking the quite tiny Scorpions here) out of a city or fort? I mean come on, you can fit half a dozen Elephants through the same gate, but a 4 foot wide siege weapon? No way Jose...

And river crossings.....perchance, and partly through design, a lot of my early battles vs the Gauls (and end to the fighting? Ha, we just lost 3 billion men in one battle to you, we have many more to die yet) were fought around the river in the alps due west of Milan......and you know what? You can't move Scorpions across bridges. You can have 3 squillion men fighting on said bridge, but the extra 100 pounds of a scorpion would crumble said bridge...hhhhmmmmhhh...So how the frik do my Scorpions on the campaign map ever get to Massila??? They sure as heck can't cross bridges...maybe I missed the teleport button...

So on defence out of cities and forts, and when rivers are involved, you're basically 2 units down....

Is this hardcoded (which Im guessing) or is it moddable?

[Tiberius Nero]

Is this hardcoded (which Im guessing) or is it moddable?

You guessed well; we would also love to be able to place scorpions where they belong, that is on the walls, but there seem to be many hardcoded limits to where siege engines can move.

[Jamey]

And what do you know, it changes completely the face of combat. Faced with a stack that has Scorps on either wing, the ai seems to go into some mad " must kill the artillery now" mode. Its quite weird to be charged (very, very slowly of course) by phalanxes.

I've often (but not always) seen similar behavior if I put cavalry exposed on my flanks (especially if my general is one of the flanking cavalry). I started deploying all cavalry behind my main line as a reserve to reduce this effect, as it causes the AI to behave very dumbly. A berserker charge of my cavalry with infantry will allow the cavalry to run away and my infantry to pivot onto the enemy flank. A massacre ensues.

I try to avoid drawing the AI into really dumb behavior. I also try to avoid using spies to open gates (which results in the AI stationing its units by gates I'll never enter). I also try to avoid bridge battles.

[Thotiate]

I also try to avoid bridge battles.

I have sex with bridge battles.

I also see what you mean about the flanking cavalry, as I employ the same tactic as you described above.

As for artillery, well, I must confess I don't think I've ever used it. Ever.

Alex

[Andy5]

I found when I was facing a rampaging Selucia with stacks of gold and silver shields with +4 experience, scorpions were my only hope. I stationed 3/4 stacks on key bridges containing two scorpions. I would position a scorpion on either side of the bridge giving enfilading fire into the phalanxes crossing the bridge. I decimated them. But it took me four major battles before I started seeing lower quality infantry in the Selucid stacks, which enabled me to commence an offensive strategy.

[Drewski]

I found when I was facing a rampaging Selucia with stacks of gold and silver shields with +4 experience, scorpions were my only hope. I stationed 3/4 stacks on key bridges containing two scorpions. I would position a scorpion on either side of the bridge giving enfilading fire into the phalanxes crossing the bridge. I decimated them. But it took me four major battles before I started seeing lower quality infantry in the Selucid stacks, which enabled me to commence an offensive strategy.

I did something very similar yesterday, after taking Massilla. I don't want anymore Gaul cities atm (too busy elsewhere), and building a fort has basically the same effect as just leaving a stack standing on the Rhone bridge. My record was being attacked by 2 1/2 full stacks of Gauls at the same time (where on earth do they get all the troops from? I'm only at 255BC) anyways, both Scorpions in that stack are now double gold...

I don't consider it cheating, when the ai flat out refuses to make any logical peace deals. Its just the most effective way of defending yourself.....

[Kylan271]

I have had this hassle when stationed Catapults etc in a city that is besieged and far out I can not use them as I will destroy my walls! On wooden walls it is OK,but you cannot exit to attack unlesss you sally forth,only way. I use scorpions,but mostly catapults as 6 I use..decimates most armies with fire shots from far away.

Artillery has another use,it lowers the attack ratio in battles,but you can use the troops to flank infantry and have your general come from behind whilst the enemy chases after your artillery troops..heh. Also you can man enemy walls if allowed to 'withdrawl' or attack an enemy hand to hand,in sieges,freeing up other troops. So run out of ammo,no probs use the troops for other things..

[LeoDowner]

'I have sex with bridge battles.'

haaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha