Baiting: Does it save hammers? Does it accelerate conquest?

[Immaculate]

Hi,

So, i'm finding that i'm a bit short on hammers in early wars sometimes and want to increase my efficiency. If i can lose 3 axemen instead of 5 axemen to take a city, then i am happy (as we all are i am sure).

So what people have learned to do is to bait a few defenders out of the city they are trying to take with workers or wounded units. I am new to this tactic (just started trying it out) but i can't really seem to make it work too well for me.

Does anyone have some specific/practical advice (for emperor level games mostly)? My goal is to minimize losses so i can keep the war engine chugging along longer and take more cities.

Thanks,
Immac.

 

[oyzar]

place a wounded unit 2 squares away from the city(one that an archer can defeat) or maybe just a warrior and have the rest of your troops a couple squares away(need chariots). The archer then often attack and kill your guy so you can easily attack it afterwards. With workers it works even better just leave it unprotected(and max movenet range away from the city) and the AI will tend to send someone to pick it up. Of course a worker actually cost more than an Axeman(though it cost less than 2 but not my much, however they are easier to whip for 2 pop). Needless to say worker baiting become quite alot better as units start getting more expencive(though its most usefull in the early game since thats when you need the hammers as allready noted.

 

[Immaculate]

Will the AI always 'take the bait'? I imagine they would not if it meant leaving a city undefended? Will they leave it with only one archer? With two? How low would they be willing to leave their defenses if it meant gobbling up wounded units/workers?
Is there any tricks to prevent them from 'destroying' as opposed to 'capturing' workers so you can get them back later?
Is it worth 'hiding' your own forces (assuming you have mounted forces able to spring into action along a road and into their city in one turn)?

Immac.

 

[oyzar]

I dont know th eprecis mechanics of it but it seems that hiding them might work(same as you can capture workers with mounted units even a couple turns after war starts). I know it will go down to 2 archers but not sure how much lower they will go.