Defending gates, AI rush.

[+Marius+]

Hi, just installed the mod and it's amazing.

Just 1 question.

Whenever i defend in a siege and try to hold the enemy at the gates, it seems that the AI just "double clicks" on my central plaza and just run over my men bursting through the first line if they have greater numbers.

Is this intentional to keep AI away from bottlenecking infront of the gate or?

I mean, i like it when its more challenging but defending Osgiliath is messed up

Orcs just passed through Boromir and citadel guards and attacked my archers to such an extent that Boromir ended up attacking them from the rear without changing position

[DrDragun]

I think it makes the game easier actually, since even archer rush into melee range where they are easier to kill. It also makes enemy generals run to the front and die fast.

Archers and catapults are EXTREMELY good at shredding the "blob of doom" at your gates. Position a couple rows of spearmen or other high-mass units (the best have the "shield wall" ability which increases their mass and makes their formation stronger) to contain the enemy surge, then shoot into the middle ranks with archers.

If you don't have enough troops to face the blob of doom, then you can surrender the gates without contest and defend the streets or city plaza itself. The enemy units tend to separate more after the gates are taken.

[mondpeiler]

I had this at osgiliath as well.
I think, if I remember correctly, I never had that in any other settlement, so peraps it is osgiliath speciffic either a bug or intentional.

[Dínenor]

Happens to me often. All the units try to squeeze through the bottleneck at once and they get pushed through your formations or just ignore your troops altogether. One thing you can try is positioning troops further back than usual, giving the enemy more room. Or just have a reserve unit further behind, to kill any enemies that get through your formation.

[+Marius+]

Hmmm, that or use 1 troop and sally out to mess up the siege engines so the archers can have their show while the AI gets it together again

Well, its better that the old style of just waiting for wall towers to kill the AI while you battle 14 guys a time with a 2 kilometer line of people waiting to get on the action at the gate

Btw, why are the towers so weak in this mod? They shoot much slower and cause much less damage than in vanilla.

Also, while using shieldwall is the unit required to be in guard mode to be effective?

[RuleBritannia]

I've noticed this too, mainly on Osgiliath. I think it's realistic, because if thousands of Orcs ran at a line of troops, they'd push through, even if they didn't kill the troops, but still, it can be annoying.

[FC Groningen]

Best thing you can do is not actually defend the gates, but have a double row/unit of pikemen (if you have them of course) defend the streets between the gate and the plaza. They will have a really hard time to break through that and after, you can do what you want with the balled up enemy army.

[ThaDoews]

Defend ur gate, if you loose it. Use your streets and attack them from the flanks!
When they are all together, fire at them with your archers!
You can also make good use of catapults when haveing the enemy just inside of the gates when they are all together

[Galain_Ironhide]

I defended once at E.Osgiliath and it was nearly a disaster - especially at the gateway with the "blob of doom" (I like that name). So now I either meet the enemy in the field or sally out at E.Osgiliath if sieged.

For some reason in TATW I am much happier fighting in the field than in a siege condition. Was always the reverse in SS.

[The Teutonic]

Always love the look of Orks pilling in and overunning my cities

[Altimis]

Know this, "Rush" is best way to get your own soldiers killed : ) that work the same on enemy, they try to rush = die alot

Of course, its make game easier if you have everything prepare for "Rush" nothing to be fear.

But if you are low, screwed.

[Dude with the Food]

I 'rush' a lot. If I do it why can't the enemy. The only time I've seen them do it though was when Celeborn was defending a bridge from snaga skirmishers and 2 goblin infantry. He would have lived but for the snaga running through. I don't normally use it in siege but if it works, it works. Just use it against them but attack while your own troops are 1/2way through. Especially when in shieldwall.