Battle Tactics: Unfair combat

**Thema'zandaar** · June 21, 2008, 10:21 PM

I was just wondering about this. If two units are engaged in battle and one unit has more soldiers than another, will two or more soldiers co-ordinate their attacks to bring down one enemy soldier? I haven't actually seen this happen in the game but then, its a little hard to view all the soldiers fighting when you zoom down. Does anyone know? Thanks.

**Heinz Guderian** · June 22, 2008, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by Thema'zandaar

I was just wondering about this. If two units are engaged in battle and one unit has more soldiers than another, will two or more soldiers co-ordinate their attacks to bring down one enemy soldier? I haven't actually seen this happen in the game but then, its a little hard to view all the soldiers fighting when you zoom down. Does anyone know? Thanks.

yes they do. I have seen it.

**The Sixth Wizard** · June 22, 2008, 05:13 AM

And thus four units of peasants will beat a single unit of Varangians.

**Heinz Guderian** · June 22, 2008, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by The Sixth Wizard

And thus four units of peasants will beat a single unit of Varangians.

getting flanked from all sides is sure to piss on the parade of any elite unit.

tactics: you're doing it wrong.

**Aurion** · June 22, 2008, 07:32 AM

Tactics: Helping the peons actually put up a fight since 2,000 BC.

**Thema'zandaar** · June 22, 2008, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by The Sixth Wizard

And thus four units of peasants will beat a single unit of Varangians.

Not if they have anti-peasant mines.

Peasants should have a frightens enemy troops ability. Don't you know how many kings have been frightened by mobs?

Thanks for your responses. I'm sure this factor has been considered in balancing issues. Now, to WAR...

**knight of virtue and valor** · June 22, 2008, 02:15 PM

well if a few trashy mobs peasantry could scare couldn't any one?

**anaztazioch** · June 22, 2008, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Thema'zandaar

I was just wondering about this. If two units are engaged in battle and one unit has more soldiers than another, will two or more soldiers co-ordinate their attacks to bring down one enemy soldier? I haven't actually seen this happen in the game but then, its a little hard to view all the soldiers fighting when you zoom down. Does anyone know? Thanks.

In BC mod i often see 3 spearmans vs one cavalry unit. All spearmans hit at same time, not just stare.

**Thema'zandaar** · June 22, 2008, 02:45 PM

Just to be sure, these three spearmen do belong to the same unit don't they?

**anaztazioch** · June 22, 2008, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Thema'zandaar

Just to be sure, these three spearmen do belong to the same unit don't they?

Yes same squad.

**oou420** · June 23, 2008, 01:13 AM

they don't consistantly do it, what they seem to do is get in combat stance and shuffle around, attacking nearby enemies. if they have more guys, they will end up teaming up on individual combattants. they also attack randomly, sometimes it seems coordinated because of coincidence. theres no real soldier AI in the game, and i dont think there will be for a while

**Bull** · June 23, 2008, 04:19 AM

Actually I think the soldiers mostly engages in one on one fights, the shuffling is just to make sure they do that. Occasionally two or three soldiers attack one at the same time out of coincidence, but not for long. Usually one of them drift off to find another person to fight.

This is where I think the RTW engine was better, the unit with more men will "wrap" around the other unit, thus flanking the unit.

**Thema'zandaar** · June 23, 2008, 07:32 AM

No, RTW definitely had a single combat complex. In fact, I never ever saw two soldiers - even of different units attack one soldier at the same time. Yes, they did gang up on him but they always took turns hitting him, even if it was just one soldier surrounded by an army.

I don't suppose any amount of modding will actually change inter-unit AI. It appears to be one of those things that's hardcoded. Pity.

**FXR** · June 23, 2008, 07:38 AM

Have to disagree with the fear of the mob thing.

Not always the case. Cesear's legions in Britain were hit by much larger masses of barbarian troops, and the individual British soldiers were also taller and larger. The average roman soldier was about 4'11" - 5 feet in height. Archeologists know this from the Roman shoes and helmets. While the average Celt was an average height of about 5' 6" - 5' 8". But ... the Romans annihilated them.

Flanking however would cause anxiety.