Warlord Game Strategy Discussion

[wodan11]

What, the Combat line or something? Or Drill? Or the Genghis or Immortals mounted with flanking? Just curious. Pbly the latter, I'd guess, given the recent discussion. Starting with flanking I'd guess you may have a higher survival rate than you had in your last game.

Though, I still contend that it may be better to start with the first couple of levels of Combat (soften up invaders with cats). Then, get Leadership, tactics, flanking. Then, broaden out with advanced Combat, Drill, etc.

[rah]

I'm going to do few more mounted GGs early to take more advantage of flanking and even blitz. Tactics will be a higher priority and I'm going to delay CR. I'm still torn on when to do leadership since it speeds things up. Still a tossup on combat vs drill. I'll probably stick with combat first unless my first neighbor doesn't have horses. I'll probably prep a few woodsman also especially if I have a city where a hill is on the predicted AI invasion path. I'm going to do a bit more variety to see what is best. I was a bit too vanilla the first time I tried it.

[wodan11]

Sounds good. You're right having some variety is a good thing. That way your situational response can be more optimal.

[rah]

But sometimes early when attacking an SOD you'd prefer similar type units.
A variety are always at a disadvantage where if they're similar, after the "nutcracker" you get the advantage.

[wodan11]

Well if you can predict what type you want the most of, you're in business.

Anyway I already gave what I thought is probably the optimal promo order.

[rah]

If you know what resources your neighbor has, it is a touch more predictable.
Yeah, I'll try a few of your suggestions a long with mine and we'll see how it goes. But I am sure that delaying the CRs may save me a few early GGs.

[rah]

If you know what resources your neighbor has, it is a touch more predictable.
Yeah, I'll try a few of your suggestions a long with mine and we'll see how it goes. But I am sure that delaying the CRs may save me a few early GGs.

[wodan11]

Just don't delay CR past maces.

ps a Warlord on a siege unit isn't necessarily a bad idea. I've done that too in some of my Warlord games and had good success. Of course you have to rename him to Torstensson or similar.

[rah]

I used to do that before flanking could kill them, but that's a thought since they're moving with a stack of gods the potential would be less, but could you imagine losing two GG on one attack?

[Brael]

Flanking makes it too much risk I think. The AI likes those withdrawl promotions, a knight with flanking 1 has a 25% chance to damage the cat. It could die with what, 2 hits? That's a 1 in 8 chance if two mounted units hit the stack.

[wodan11]

Yeah but the main reason they are vulnerable to flanking is because what do people give cats? CR and sometimes Barrage. Anyway, if you put a Warlord on a siege unit, you could load it up with Combat, Drill, etc. Is your run of the mill AI mounted unit going to kill a Combat VI, Drill IV siege? Yeah, you have to worry about Horse Archers, but even then I daresay you'll be at 90%+ odds. If this terribly bothers you, just wait until you have Cannon. Only HA has both immunity to first strikes plus flank attack. After that, it's either one or the other, or nothing, I believe.

[rah]

Do the promotions to the cat matter when the flank damage is assessed?

[Brael]

Does combat even help protect against a flank attack? I've seen some strong siege units die before weaker ones with flank. I thought it worked like collateral damage and simply hit the units not being fought (except is able to kill them). Effectively bypassing their defense, and there's not a promotion to reduce flanking damage like drill does to collateral is there?

And flank attacks hit any time the unit survives, knights are the least worrisome, my example before was bad. Knights don't have any innate withdrawl so flanking 1 only gives them a 10% chance. Everything else is 15% or above with cavalry highest on the list at 30%. A couple of flanking cavalry can destroy cannons.

[rah]

And will certain promos assist like anti-collateral protection for other units?

Inquiring minds want to know

[wodan11]

I believe, though admit I may be wrong, that flank does % damage vs the combat strength of the unit (not the base strength).

If I'm wrong, then you're correct, but realize that the AI simply won't attack as long as you guard your units with undamaged Warlords. The AI isn't smart enough to realize it does flanking damage. It just looks at the combat in front of it: green HA vs demigod, < 1% chance of winning, don't attack.

edit: all this theory aside, all I can say is I've done it and the AI didn't whack my Torstensson. In fact, I remember one game I had several siege Warlords running around.