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Mobile Units: Too Good?
Yes, this is a rant about combat imbalance, but it has nothing to do with the ongoing debate about "Tank killed by Spearman" scenario.
As you all know, units with mobility greater than 1 can retreat when they are fighting slow units with only 1 mobility if they are losing. The problem this creates is that it is almost impossible for a slow unit to kill a fast one. For example, Horseman Vs Spearman fortified in a city. While it is unlikely for the Horseman to defeat the Spearman, it is also extremely unlikely for the Horseman to be lost in the attack. What will usually happen is that the Horseman will damage the Spearman, then retreat when its HP gets too low.
In games I play I don't even bother building Swordsmen or Archers anymore. Horsemen, Knights and Cavalry are simply superior. In my experience, when I attack a fortified town with slow units, I inevitably lose some in the attack. In contrast, I almost never lose fast, mobile units when attacking a town, even when the odds are against me. I have successfully taken cities with Knights, cities that were defended by RIFLEMEN, and not lose a single Knight. Each attacking Knight managed to weaken the Riflemen a little, then retreating, until my last Knight delivered the killing blow. My group of Knights essentially behaved like an ARMY, even though they were not.
This is also not a freak case, unlike the "Tank killed by Spearman" debate. I have perfected my game to the point where I can build a dozen mobile units, blitz a city, wait a few turns to heal, then blitz the next city. Usually my casualty is minimal, even when the enemy has well fortified defenders. I am afraid that this game will degenerate into a mobile unit rush.
I would suggest that the combat rules be changed so that the retreat ability of mobile units be less powerful. Perhaps make it such that units can only retreat if they have at least 2 movement remaining. This will make Horsemen and Knights have to wait a turn outside enemy city before attacking, or lose their retreat ability.
I realize that this change will actually INCREASE the chances that a Tank will be killed by a Spearman, but who cares about that, right?
As you all know, units with mobility greater than 1 can retreat when they are fighting slow units with only 1 mobility if they are losing. The problem this creates is that it is almost impossible for a slow unit to kill a fast one. For example, Horseman Vs Spearman fortified in a city. While it is unlikely for the Horseman to defeat the Spearman, it is also extremely unlikely for the Horseman to be lost in the attack. What will usually happen is that the Horseman will damage the Spearman, then retreat when its HP gets too low.
In games I play I don't even bother building Swordsmen or Archers anymore. Horsemen, Knights and Cavalry are simply superior. In my experience, when I attack a fortified town with slow units, I inevitably lose some in the attack. In contrast, I almost never lose fast, mobile units when attacking a town, even when the odds are against me. I have successfully taken cities with Knights, cities that were defended by RIFLEMEN, and not lose a single Knight. Each attacking Knight managed to weaken the Riflemen a little, then retreating, until my last Knight delivered the killing blow. My group of Knights essentially behaved like an ARMY, even though they were not.
This is also not a freak case, unlike the "Tank killed by Spearman" debate. I have perfected my game to the point where I can build a dozen mobile units, blitz a city, wait a few turns to heal, then blitz the next city. Usually my casualty is minimal, even when the enemy has well fortified defenders. I am afraid that this game will degenerate into a mobile unit rush.
I would suggest that the combat rules be changed so that the retreat ability of mobile units be less powerful. Perhaps make it such that units can only retreat if they have at least 2 movement remaining. This will make Horsemen and Knights have to wait a turn outside enemy city before attacking, or lose their retreat ability.
I realize that this change will actually INCREASE the chances that a Tank will be killed by a Spearman, but who cares about that, right?
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