Authority Plays: Dealing with Pathfinder Harrass

[Stalker0]

Now that pathfinders are willing to be evil sons of female dogs, I've been finding authority rushes pretty challenging. It feels like I need 2 units around my base to act as baby sitters, otherwise my workers can't get any work done as the pathfinder just lingers around and snipes what it can.

I was curious what techniques people have been using to deal with this new threat?

 

[Rafs]

2-3 skirmishers if you are on flat terrain is good enough imo (or 2+1horseman), but if you are near rough terrain and the pathfinder highly promoted (survival 3 + all movement upgrades at least) I find it's nearly impossible to kill them, as they will prioritize running away, only if they run into a corner/water I am able to get them killed.

 

[saamohod]

How about making pathfinders unable to attack civilian units?

 

[Stalker0]

2-3 skirmishers if you are on flat terrain is good enough imo (or 2+1horseman)

Problem is I only have 6-7 supply in the early pushes, so that is literally half my army.

 

[Rafs]

Not much you can do about them if they are highly promoted honestly, as they ignore ZOC and if they get survival 3 you won't be killing them with 2 archer units. If you have limited supply I'd recommend hiding civilians under soldiers or in town until the scout leaves, and if you are sure you can't take him down I'd recommend not hitting them (if they are hurt it'll be more likely they will pillage to heal to full). Only real issue is TR, those will get pillaged.
On rough terrain (where pathfinder I/II work) a promoted scout is honestly a top tier harassment unit, nothing comes close imho, maybe incan or iroquoi horsemans but thats it, so I don't think there are any real counters besire fielding some horsemans/knights for deffense.

 

[DeAnno]

Fighting against them it's becoming more and more apparent how gross it is that Pathfinders can promote to ignore ZOC so quickly and easily. In desert/forest/jungle they really just do whatever they want basically.

 

[Grassland Farm]

It's a trio of ignoring ZoC and going ignoring terrain costs and going faster in some of them. Even in regular warfare, pathfinders can do some serious crazy moves, they basically out-manoever Cavalry as soon as any rough terrain is involved.