4vs4 tips 'n trix

[Snoopy]

Anyone have any useful tactics for 4vs4 land maps (almost always Finland)?

I have played them several times (I find them to be the most fun, being quite epic in proportion, and Finland is a great map), but I have only really won about half my games, though most of the rest I go out in style. If I could, I would post replays to show you, but I want some advise in improvement.

Post your 4vs4 tactics, and someone tell me how to post replays. Thanks!

[guerra]

Go to Documents and Settings folder in your primary drive.

Click your username

Application Data

The Creative Assembly

Empire Total War

Replays folder.

Then zip or rar the file and upload it to the forum. Voila! And if you want to watch other replays, just unzip them and paste them into your replay folder.

4vs4 requires teamwork and coordination. If you start at the front, you are gonna take some abuse. March on and fight best you can. Keep your troops alive and stable. Make sure you have reserve troops and not all your troops are in the front line. You must play the role of the "Shield". Keep a sturdy line and don't die.

The backup must fill two roles. Support your comrade, make sure he doesn't get flanked and plug any holes in his line. And more importantly, you must be the hammer and smash your enemy's flanks. Cavalry charges are key.

Horse artillery is really important on this map. Mortars are crap in early stage.

[Living Receiver]

Is Finland the map you posted the replay on Guerra? havent tried 4v4 yet.

[guerra]

There is only one 4vs4 land battle, and that is Finland.

[Gora sahib]

EDIT: I wrote this with 'rules' games in mind - No morts, no rockets, no 64lbrs. I host and play matches that encourage balanced armies, and I wrote this with that in mind.

In a general sense, Alliance 1 (usually the Host's side) starts at a disadvantage as Alliance 2 has more woods to cover and screen their movement, is in a better position to gain the heights at the top of the map, and has an excellent defensive position in the center. The center of the map is dominated by a geographic feature I like to call 'the ship's prow.' This feature is oriented very much in the favor of Alliance 2.


Typically, most of the action takes place in the center and top of the map. Occasionally there is some action at the low end of the map, but this usually involves two armies canceling each other out.


General advice:
1. Stay together - theres strength in numbers, and if you can bring more weight to bear on a single opponent the quicker you can knock him out.
2. Alliance 1 - if you cant lure Alliance 2 out of their superior starting position then your best bet is to have two armies push center, and a third swing over the top of the heights in a flanking move (this may take more than one army). The 4th army can be in reserve and hold A1's left flank.
3. Alliance 2 - Youre in the cat bird seat ... dont blow it by rushing forward - if you do wish to attack use the heights on your left, gain those first then flank A1. But, odds are A1 will attack you, so defend well and you will carry the day.
4. When hosting, to avoid people dropping out and the match ending, its often best to use medium funds and unit size set on SMALL. Yes, yes, the SMALL unit size is not as fun and sometimes you can play through a whole match on MEDIUM, but the fact is that many people dont have the specs to run E:TW 4v4 matches. So if you want to play 4v4, and see a largely lag free match all the way to the end, use medium funds and SMALL unit size.


Cheers,
Gora sahib