Province Defence?

[Ferrosol]

CyborgMoses said:
What would you folks suggest for an alternative to province defense for those nations where PD is useless, such as any of the ape kingdoms?

well if we are theory crafting here i would say minimal PD(either 1 to act as a tripwire or 10 to catch sneaking enemies) and back up quick reaction forces deployed to cover as many provinces as possible.
Now whether that is worth diverting sorely needed troops from the front lines to cover your rear areas is another matter all together

[Gandalf Parker]

I dont think any PD is "useless". If for no pther reason than to take the hits while other units do the work. A nation with PD of shooters isnt going to well by iteself, and a nation with PD of infantry isnt either. But for the bow-nation Id buy a commander and some infantry then set them forward so the PD shooters dont get wiped out so quick, and maybe position them to the sides since the PD shooters are going to appear in the middle. Then for a nation of PD infantry Id get a commander and shooters so I can set the shooters to the flanks, and set them back abit so they dont appear on the battlefield too far forward drawing the attacks. And many can benefit from some decent flankers such as knights set for hold-and-attack rearmost.

Try making use of your PD and boosting its weak points rather than ignore it because it does so badly by itself.

[Meglobob]

Gandalf Parker said:
Try making use of your PD and boosting its weak points rather than ignore it because it does so badly by itself.

Yes Gandalf is spot on here. Putting a mage or two to back up your PD can make your PD awesome, especially if you cast spells then retreat at the end. It can make for a effective fighting withdrawl strategy, wearing down a invading army until your main field army arrives.

Another trick I like to do is, a main research centre for your mages, is not to build a castle. Just rely on PD 30+, plus the combined magical power of your researching mages to defend the province. With a castle the mages would after change from research to patrol. You effectively save on the cost of a castle and wasted research time.

[Gandalf Parker]

Hmmm I hadnt considered the retreat thing. That can make a PD support group VERY multipurpose. Set to the right position and with the right orders, and then retreat. Even if the province goes down, they will move back and support the PD of he next one, then the next, and the next.
Definetly one for the tactic journal.

Gandalf Parker