how to capture a faction leader

[handsome pete]

just a thought, but i often try to capture faction leaders and i think that statistically, shooting them with arrows first seems to make them more likely to die before capture.

sometimes i deliberately attack with archers from the angle that is less likely to strike the general, but even this i am now fearing.

in the past i've also tried fighting the rest of their army before fighting them so that they are more likely to run, although obviously this depends on what kinda forces you have to hem in a pack of fleeing bodyguards.

[eggthief]

u capture units, by killing them while they rout.

[Silent Assassin]

When you attack routing ennemies or when in battle sometimes you will kill him sometimes capture him, You will have a comment from the Narrator when this arrives

[robbo]

When I set archers to fire on a generals bodyguard, the general is usally the last man to fall due to his extra hitpoints so I wouldn't worry about using archers to deal with his bodyguard too much. One you've got rid of a lot of the bodyguards two units of spearmen usually do the trick. Engage from the front with one unit to keep him busy and then send another round the back and completely surround the general and any bodyguards he has left. If you've got unit scale set to huge it helps because there's more troops he needs to get past when he decides to rout.

[HighLord z0b]

Well, yes if you want to deliberately capture the general, don't shoot them with arrows first. Whilst they don't need to be routing to be captured, it makes it much easier.

[Sodbuster]

Bring some light cavalry and chase him down.

[ChewieMuse]

Nail him with archers them Run him with spearmen... or your own General, Seems to work for me, just if you want to capture him watch their General carefully and make sure your spearmen or general doesnt kill him

[Toshi-sama]

get a spare unit of light cavalry and when the guy runs you just send your fresh light cav to capture him

[handsome pete]

i made a pretty penny tonight, capturing a couple of faction leaders and an heir.

but the last battle i stuffed up. somehow the heir got himself into the middle of one of my units. he was getting cut from all directions. that was a mistake, i should have told the unit to march away. perhaps i should have told the unit to march in circles while he attacks them, and my men on his other flank wipe out more of his troops. that would have been a lot smarter.

[handsome pete]

the thing about the archers is that it's random, although melee is random too. i'm trying to create a fine art. i don't mind losing units if it gains 10,000+ or even 5,000. perhaps i should try attacking the generals unit from his opposite angle. then when he marches around to join his men in the fray, march that army away and attack the other angle. just some random thoughts.

[handsome pete]

i just redid that battle, i had the unit near the general running about, however the marching unit slew him, even though they were in the process of running away. somehow the fact that they were running almost made it worse.

[handsome pete]

just worked out a new trick..

when you attack their general with yours, their general has a priority to attack yours, by attacking their general on a front through your own infantry and then marching away. you can manipulate their general's horse within their unit to move around where you want him.
(so for instance, to draw him closer to the centre if he is too in the fray)

[AWZC]

Its very easy, hae some heavy infantry facing him and two units of cavalry on his flanks - one heavy, one light. let him chage the infantry, then counter charge with cavalry. Instant win!

[Antwerpen]

I never managed to capture any or leaders of even generals. My guys are awlays killing them if they get into a melee fight.

[handsome pete]

dread helps too