What to do with the archers stack

[Shiber]

Now that the archers have successfully taken Orleans, we should discuss what to do with them next, as well as how many of them we should leave in Orleans.
My suggestion is as follows: leave 3 units in Orleans (one wounded spearman, another archer and the wounded archer that is currently there) to guard and heal while the rest (1 spearman, 3 archers) head to Chartres. Chartres is an important target because it will allow us to connect Orleans and Paris to the rest of our empire, bringing them much-needed dyes to solve their unhappiness problems.
The 3 archers should be able to take Chartres without suffering heavy casualties. Once they do, they should head to Rheims where the wounded archer (now completely healed) will rejoin the stack. Rheims will either fall or be handed over to us in a peace deal with France.

What are your opinions?

[Max]

Shibber,

I'm not sure going immediately to Chartres would be a good idea: Chartres has no culture and is size 2. As Joan will probably poprush a spearman if we approach her city, it would mean that we destroy it.

I can see two other solutions for Chartres:
1) Include it in the peace bargain with Joan in 3 or 4 turns from now
2) Let it culture flip as it is now surronded by our empire ans not too far from our capital city

[Epistax]

I can't remember what it's called, but they should go to the current capital, while the other stack should go to the other size 3. Lyons will be the eventual french capital

[GhengisFarb™]

Originally posted by Epistax
I can't remember what it's called, but they should go to the current capital, while the other stack should go to the other size 3. Lyons will be the eventual french capital

Absolutely, Chartres is of no concern as its in the middle of the jungle and can only have a production of one. It's not going anywhere. While, we have the initiative we should send both stacks north to take the two respective cities.

Once things quiet down we can declare a quick war and take Chartres. No biggie, but we should take the two cities to the north and declare peace to make it easier to get peace form the Germans and Persians who will be all irritated with France for getting them into a war and then abandoning them.

We also would have an easier time with Paris and Orleans if the operation is quicker. Taking Chartres means sacrificing the French capital and leaving it within our borders.

[Aggie]

I still don't want to immediate pursue an attack on RHeims(the capital), I would rather wait till the swordsmen have taken marselles and then we will have both forces converging on Rheims for a final battle of this war. However what the archer stack does before that battle, is up in the air. I was thinking chartes, but we could go south and take the next city down. Its not a jungle city and the odds are better. Remember I do intend to attack Rheims, so the attacks are not instead of, but before. Generally I think we will get one of these 2 cities + a 1pop city in surrender negotiations. I see chartes as a must since we need those luxury via road and all I don't like haveing an enemy city in my area. Yes it might culturely flip, but it might take a long long time. If we save it for the next war that means some of our force must take it first. After that they will have aways to go to get to the real battle. So lets keep ourselves cohesive. Here's my current plan. 5Sword attack marselles. We lose 1 in assault and 2 stay for defense. This means 2 swords from sword army will participate in Rheims attack. Archer force will attack with 4 archer next town. Lose 1 archer. Then leave 1spear and one archer for defense. This leaves 3 archers on the Rheims attack. We could send 2 of those archers instead(1 each to paris and 1 marselles) and send spear from orleans to paris. Keeping a archer in orleans. Then we can have 3 of the 4 swords also participating in attack on rheims. I think a 5 sword force could easily take it. Howeber these are broad plans. Do know I will consult this thread often and use the ideas that seem best.
Aggie

[Epistax]

I would just suggest attacking both cities at the same time for the sake of ending the war ASAP, although the AI is sure to demand a certain # of turns before willing to speak. Damn I hate that. If your the one that declares war, they should be listening for peace talks right away.

[GhengisFarb™]

Originally posted by Epistax
I would just suggest attacking both cities at the same time for the sake of ending the war ASAP, although the AI is sure to demand a certain # of turns before willing to speak. Damn I hate that. If your the one that declares war, they should be listening for peace talks right away.

I agree I think each stack could take their respective city. Rhiems only just became the capital so I wouldn't think it would have a large force built up in it. Besides it was an outskirt city before that.

[Shiber]

I suggested that we take Chartres mainly so we can provide our French towns with dyes to solve their unhappiness problems, but now that I think of it again I see it would take some time to connect Chartres with a road anyway so we can wait until we reach terms with the French.
If we still can't get Chartres I suggest we get Rouen instead and build one harbor there and another somewhere in Mingapulco so we can trade by sea. By then we should have at least one wine tile within our borders.

[Panag]

hi ,

there is wine in Paris , ...

what we really need to do is to connect all our cities by road for the trade ( extra income ) and top move troops faster , ....

harbors should be build to produce trade veteran naval units and this is very important , to get more food (!)

the stck should be used to go after marseille

have a nice day

[Epistax]

I say do not attack Chartres or Rouin (sp) directly- sue for them. IF we cannot sue for both, we should try to have a stack ready outside of one of them. Take the city, and that same turn, sue for the other and anything else. It's my experience that when they're ready to talk, nothing short of diplomatic alliances against them or a nuke will take them away from peace talks, including further invasion.

[Shiber]

I second that.

[Aggie]

My problem is what if we attack Rheims with a 1spear 4 archers and lose the war is over. I'm not saying we will but that it is possible. There will be 3 spear in Rheim by the time we attack. So 4 vs 3, now we have 4 points each, so real adds are 16:9 on hitpoints. However we have established that capitals get wall bonus so suddenly the odd are 16:13.5. Plus a 25 fortification bonus =16:15.75. That means we have a 50 chance of loseing and that means we would only get marselles. With the smaller force unable to attack we might get less in negotiations. On the other hand if we attack elsewhere first we might lose some archers ,yes, but we might get some upgrades. Also the swords would then help on Rheims. Also it is possible, not likly, but possibel that after Rheims we will have enough troops to push west ward and seize or at least threaten iron city. Either way negotiations will be helped.
Aggie

[Shiber]

Then again, Chartres is not a great target either. They have 2 pop and they might poprush another defender so we won't capture Chartres, we'll destroy it. I'd rather get Chartres in a surrendering agreement than destroy it.
I guess we'll have to take our chances with Rheims. Perhaps it'd be a good idea to move one swordsman to Rheims to help the archers.

[GhengisFarb™]

We march both stacks north and leave the spearmen to hold Marseilles(after the swordsmen take it), and attack Rheims with our swordsmen and archers. Or send the spearmen to relieve swordsmen in Paris-are there any in Paris?

I just think sending the archer stack after Chartres or Rouen will slow down the assault on Rheims, which in my opinion is the end of the war.

If we're given a choice in the peace process I'd take Chartres over Rouen anyday.

[Shiber]

If we eventually attack Rheims then we should do it after we attack Marseilles, otherwise the capital might change to Marseilles.