Ithilien Ambushes

**Mathieu Of Belgium** · February 23, 2012, 03:51 AM

Hey all,
I'm playing as Gondor and during my play it seems as I can't make a succesfull ambush. Every time that I send Faramir into the woods he kneels and says: "This is the perfect spot to launch a cowardly ambush my lord" but the next thing that happens is an amry of Mordor attacking him.
Can someone please help me?

**Nemesis_GR** · February 23, 2012, 03:55 AM

Maybe he fails the abmush?Does the battle message say anything about ambush?

ps.I never used ambushes...

**Pinkie Pie** · February 23, 2012, 04:05 AM

Or me, the ai always seem to know your army is there

**Syanur** · February 23, 2012, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by martin616

Or me, the ai always seem to know your army is there

This is right, AI see everything. But there is another point. If you stay in ambush, and the AI try to go/pass on that way, there will be battle. They don't have to attack you to make battle. So you may think they attacked you. Perhaps they didnt. But when two army come to combat due to ambush; the fallen can't retreat, the ambusher can retreat which will prevent an unintended war against a neutral faction.

If the AI is ambusher, everything is same for you.

**KnightsTemplar** · February 23, 2012, 04:21 AM

I think the way 'ambush' happens is not you attacking them (that is impossible AFAIK, 'interrupt' their turns?)
But the over-curious enemy go attacking you, which is in turn an ambush.

IIRC the ambush I had end up like that too, but my deployment zone is a U surrounding the enemy, giving you the perfect ambush deploy.

**oxxid** · February 23, 2012, 04:55 AM

Be sure to be hidden from ennemy sight before hiding, or else he will attack you. Works for me.

**Pinkie Pie** · February 23, 2012, 05:14 AM

AFAIK you can not hide an army that has no movement points.
Concerning ambnushes, I have always felt that it is better to stay in the open and be the defender. Most of the time the ai mobs one side when I ambush them which tends to end with more losses than a standard battle wuld.

**Toshach** · February 23, 2012, 09:55 PM

I've actually had a lot of succes with guerilla operations in Ithilien early in the campaign. I send Faramir, Ithilien Rangers, and a unit of Militia Cavalry into Ithilien. At the beginning of the campaign, there are a lot of small 1-2 unit stacks of orcs roving around east of the Anduin. Ambushes work well, but even if you don't ambush, you can use your cavalry to goad the orcs into chasing them, and then Faramir and the Rangers to fill them with arrows.

Patience is a virtue. Don't take on large stacks (three or more units). Nip away, and you'll find that after half a dozen turns you'll have destroyed 5-10 units of orcs and orc leaders. It's fun and very lore correct.

**Agamaran** · February 24, 2012, 09:53 AM

Use lots and lots of cavalry for ambushes. Later in my campaigns I like to take 3/4th stacks of cavalry militia to Rhun and hide in their forests. Eventually they bring an army to come and investigate the pillaging going on and they always walk into my ambushes. It's a beautiful thing to watch cavalry charging in at all sides. Battles are over in less than 30 seconds this way with few to minimal casualties on your part. This way I empty their defending stacks and then move in my foot soldiers to take their undefended cities.

As for a successful ambush, make sure the enemy can't see you moving into position or that they are not in LOS when you setup an ambush. It may take a few turns before an ambush takes, so you have to be patient.