Attacking cities

Airsaw · Rigger Posts: 1806 **3281 Gold** -

Welp, from what I've experienced (all my posts on strategy are from the rogue point of view) there's only ONE sure-fire strategy that will give you a win in a land battle against superior forces. Most times it works, but be advised, sometimes it DON'T (doesn't).

You deploy your forces as close to the center of the field as you can. One group of pirates should be in a position to make a wide, end-run. Normally the opposition will attack the group in the field, in the open. They also seem to like to attack, as a group, the units closest to them. SO, this group will stick and move, stick and move. Well, "stick and move" for the infantry amounts to getting shot, then backing up, getting shot then backing up. But, that's what you're doing. You are using the main body as bait to lure the opposition away from the track your "flying wing", or that pirate unit, will use to gain the gates of the fort.

The opposition, but for the native mercenaries and the cavalry, are limited to two squares, as are you. The greater mobility units usually attack headlong without waiting for support. SO, as THEY approach you, you try to take them out, cavalry generally gets there first. If you are heavily outnumbered, two (sometimes three) cavalry units are present, so while you're busy ganging-up on them their slower infantry has time to catch up. Still, you'll have room, and the moves, to retreat from them.

As you're leading the opposition away from your flying wing, naturally your flying wing is moving toward the gates. If they make it, regardless of how decimated your forces are, you still win. So, it's possible to sacrifice the entire force just to get this group of pirates to the gates.

TIP: While retreating your main body (as bait), keep them as much in the woods as possible. For the cavalry and mercenaries to attack one unit of yours, they are in range for your other units to counter attack. Cavalry will pursue you into the woods and they're child's play to take-out in that terrain. DON'T leave your units in the open within range of a cav attack. Once you've handled the cav/mercenary units, just keep two squares between you and the remaining opposition, and you'll likely have enough room and time to get your flying wing to the gates.

TIP: Your flying wing should follow a route which takes them around the backsides of hills (and so away from the opposition's view), and in the woods for the same reason, although it's not as effective. Your advantage here is, normally the opposition will stop and fire rather than charge your unit. You'll lose quite a few guys, but you are moving away from the attacking unit, which then has to pursue. They rarely set-up for a charge. Normally, they move one square (if close enough) then fire. If you are able to move out of range on your turn, they (then) try to close the gap, then fire if they can.

TIP: Your buccaneers can move one square, then fire. So, they can attack while in retreat. Your infantry cannot. But, the idea here isn't to salvage as many troops as possible (which is still important to attempt). It's like a sacrifice bunt in baseball.

This is literally a footrace. Your entry relies initially on not being seen. It's sometimes possible to move your flying wing entirely under cover and undetected. If they ARE detected, you'll usually be behind their lines, and they have to chase you...TOWARD the gate.

I've won this way at my 200 crewmen against the opposition's 500 soldiers. Having a good sense of how to fight an enforced retreat is important here. There's a lot of improvisation, and your moves should be calculated turn-by-turn, by careful examination of the route of retreat, and consideration of the opposition's line of attack with regard to terrain.

The most powerful attack, by the way, is downhill from the rear. That is 5, 2x, 2x.
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Mycroft Stanyer · Seaman Posts: 145 **2709 Gold** -

Striker · Gunner Posts: 698 **680 Gold** -

For the cities that cannot be accessed by land, you can normally anger the town by destroying any ship (except governor's ships) that comes close to the town.
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WaxonWaxov · Cutthroat Posts: 392 **2424 Gold** -

fossaman · Gunner Posts: 717 **3515 Gold** -

My strategy is pretty much just to cower in the woods and pick them off. I find that attacking them is just pointless, let them come to you so you can pick the ground. Flank attack whenever possible, if necessary using another unit as a distraction to make them turn the other way.
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PrinceScamp · Gunner Posts: 862 **213 Gold** -

huh, neat
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wigquig · Powder Monkey Posts: 2 **31 Gold** -

I am playing a Journeyman level game. I have reached a standstill. No matter how much I annoy a town into attacking me, I cannot attack the town by land. I have tried anchoring next to the town and waling in, as well as putting into port. although the towns will not trade with me, attack me from the sea, and send pirate hunters after me, I still cannot attack the towns. Any suggestions?

I have thought about starting a new game at a harder level but am wondering if there is a limit to how many times you can divide the plunder before being forced to retire or if you are only forced to retire starting in apprentice mode.

rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4434 **10381 Gold** -

wigquig · Powder Monkey Posts: 2 **31 Gold** -

Thanks Little Bear. I appreciate it.

millerman67 · Powder Monkey Posts: 39 **78 Gold** -

I always like to start out with at least 25-30 more men than the city does. Then using the high ground,cover and flanking tactics,it usually works out for me.
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Buckaneer Rogers · Swabbie Posts: 57 **474 Gold** -

The only advice I can give is to have your officers and pirates strike from woods to keep them protected, and to concentrate buccaneer fire on cavalry or anything that poses a significan risk. Also, if you can't beat em, try to out maneuver them by getting to the town gate, sure, you won't be able to put a new gob in place, but you get the gold, and isn' that all that really matters? Wink

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Westley_Roberts · Iron Guts Posts: 913 **10357 Gold** -

I just looked thru the "Land Battles" Forum, we have no clear cut Sticky on how to attack cities, nor the stats and strategies. So, after reviewing this particular Topic, I deem it worthy of answering most, if not all of the basic questions regarding the topic at hand.

Thus, I proclaim this Topic Sticky'd!!!
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Cp. Kain · Gunner Posts: 528 **4815 Gold** -

- Something just occured to me...The screwy cavalry has relatively weak defence...So if you attack with simple pirates (flank and/or HIGH hills)...
- You be slaughtering them easily...
- One question: sometimes, you can walk/attack after the first attack...sometimes you can't.
- Wha' be it dependin' on?
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TheSpanishRenegade · Cutthroat Posts: 275 **1674 Gold** -

As far as I have seen your units get two moves/attacks per tun. But when you use the first move to walk into a wooded area, then you lose your second move. Other than that I can't think of anything that would "rob" you of your second move...
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