What determines whether a ranged unit attacks or captures a worker?

[Evening gonad]

I've right clicked on workers with crossbows to (re)capture them. However, I recently right clicked on workers with an Atlatlist and they attacked instead of captured. Under what conditions does capture versus attack occur?

 

[Acken]

No idea. Just use the (M)ove command instead of right clicking

 

[Evening gonad]

Ah, got it. I will do that from now on, thank you.

 

[whoward69]

If you're not at war with the worker's civ, and right click a ranged unit onto it, you'll get the declare war popup and then attack the worker, as opposed to capturing it.

 

[CraigMak]

If it is your declaring action then he will shoot. If you declare war first and then click it will capture.

 

[reddishrecue]

No idea. Just use the (M)ove command instead of right clicking

That's a good tip. I would rather use the move command myself. That's why I usually dont like using ranged to capture worker units.

 

[neilkaz]

Yes, just make that you're at war and use the move command.

 

[Evening gonad]

If you're not at war with the worker's civ, and right click a ranged unit onto it, you'll get the declare war popup and then attack the worker, as opposed to capturing it.

If it is your declaring action then he will shoot. If you declare war first and then click it will capture.

That makes sense. That was the conditions that it occurred under. Thank you for the replies.