Ambushing and Morale

[Muagan_ra]

I've asked this before, many moons ago, but I want clarification...

In Rome TW, an enemy being ambushed affected their morale - ambushed on the field, that is, as their status always said "frightened by enemy appearing from the woods."

Given the similarity of the game mechanics to RTW, and that there are many unit properties that aren't listed on their unit cards, I have a hunch there may be a hidden game mechanic which achieves this. I noticed too in a recent ambush battle that the enemy where immediately "shaken" as I charged into them.

Any masters of the data files able to shed some light?

[SirRobin]

I'd like to know this too.

And .. I never ever used ambushing, I wonder if it's even a useful tactic?

[Stolet]

It seems logical that the ambushed army should get a morale penalty. It probably does As for the usefulness, ambushes are not successful all the time, you should pick a general, get him to the woods, try some ambushes, when some succeed he'll get those ambusher traits and then probably every ambush you try with him will succeed. I've never done this though, don't really have generals to spare with the AI getting cash bonuses and everybody attacking me. Although ambushes might be a great thing for northern European factions.

[SirRobin]

...and that general could be sitting out in the woods for years without any enemy passing by

[Muagan_ra]

Ambushing is usefull, but it works best with cavalry. Essentially it allows you to attack your enemy out of formation, and done well it can be very effective indeed.

[Stolet]

With a full stack of melee cavalry the battle will be over in 10 seconds, or 2 seconds after the cavalry charges into the enemy But a full stack of cavalry costs at least 4000 florins per turn (if all units have 200 upkeep, so all light cavalry) and you don't really want that potential sitting in woods. Ambushing is nice only if you know the enemy will pass through that spot the next turn. Well, that's the whole point of ambushing