Tactics: Principles, Tips, Tricks, and Traps

[FAJ]

The problem is, the payoff for that tactic (assassinate + cutoff retrest) is very low. Against weak armies it works, but if the target is juicy at all, it is probably led by some beefy commanders, who would laugh in the face of assassination attempts (Especially with bodygaurds).

It has low risk though, as he would have attacked you to get in that position anyways, so you know his commanders and you can probably see if he has troops with "gaurd commander" as well.

Just watch out for any of HIS flying commanders to swoop in and a big boost of PD. The plan could backfire into forcing the enemies hand to create a big fortified province in the center of your lands .

[Shovah32]

Yes basic assasinations are poor (though en-mass they can be ok) but other things arent. Extremely massed seeking arrows, that tornado spell, mind hunts, Strong(void spectres, heliophagi ect) stealthy commanders with black hearts, summon tupilak (kick *** long range assasination), dreams of rlyeh (very kickass long range assasination of doom) and of course, pimped out assasins (a demonbred slayer with boots of strength, robe of shadows, girdle of might and ring of the warrior is nasty, huge strength (above 20 atleast), great attack, 2 strongly poisoned attacks, ethereal AND flying (so he can strike the first blow).

[dirtywick]

An alternate on cutting off a retreat is to take the province or provinces directly behind the enemy with fliers and/or stealth units. That way when the big army routs the survivors will retreat into your or independant territory and die without a fight.

[FAJ]

That was the idea I thought

[dirtywick]

FAJ said:
That was the idea I thought

Then I misread it, sorry.

[Manuk]

asasinating is good but PD raised at lvl 1 will prevent army from routing (you get a commander immune to assasination) even with no real commanders.

[HoneyBadger]

I'd like to add my own meager strategic insight: namely to not let yourself focus on any one tactic or logistic or strategy to the exclusion of all others. This is a trap I tend to fall into-if you want to build a strong artillery, then make sure you have the foot and calvalry you're going to need to capitalize on it. Don't try to outfit your commanders with so much bling that you can't cast mass-effect spells back at the other nation who's hitting you with evocation 9. Don't raise the defense in a single province to 240 expecting that the other guy won't be able to break though it, because the other guy will, one way or another. If you can bless one Jotun jarl or a hundred flagellants, bless the flagellants unless you have a very good reason not to. And as a side note-when defending provinces, raising province defense is fine, but consider what that point of defense specifically is buying you: if it's giving you Jotun militia and spear, raise it up to 20 and then add some human sized archers if you're able to, or heavy infantry/calvalry, or even some slingers. Try to look at what you've got as a whole, instead of as individual parts, because all those parts fit together into a machine, and how well that whole machine works dictates how well you do in the game.

[UninspiredName]

I have three little ones.

1: Javelineers rule.

2: Against most standard commanders, a Succubus with enough Blood magic to cast Hellbind Heart really comes in handy if you try an assassination in mid-attack. I usually try the spell twice, then just use an enchanted weapon. (Usually Heartfinder Sword. Who am I kidding, always heartfinder sword.) Charm would also be a good one for any assassin, theoretically.

3: Tying in with the last one, be sure to bring a decent supply of commanders along when attacking. Especially if your foe has attack spells he doesn't need to aim. (Or the aforementioned mind-control magic)

And I'm definitely going to remember the Tornado Charm. Thanks much!