City Attack

[Carl5872]

So I wanted to attack a city that is strength 41 (the capital city of Venice). I am Korea, and currently have access to musketmen and Hwachas. Would they be to weak to take it en masse? They don't have very many units, nor the gold to rapidly buy more than 1 or 2.

What would be the recommended units, and how many of them would be recommended to successfully attack a size 41 city?

 

[I_qua_I]

I don't know but hwach'as are a UU that replace the trebuchet but aren't actually siege units and don't receive a bonus when attacking cities. They are best against other military units instead. Another poster can probably provide a more enlightening post but I usually hunker down until canons when I play as Korea and want to take some cities.

 

[regeneration64]

I've never played as Korea but without the bonus to attacking cities I would perhaps hold off until canons unless you can afford 4-5 Hwach'as.

As with every (pre-modern era) city you wish to capture, you'll need at least :

* 3-4 siege units (for damaging city's HP)
* 2-3 melee units (for capture/soaking up damage)
* 2-3 ranged units (for support/attacking units)

As a side note, the 41 number is representative of the city's ranged combat strength and not the city's HP/health.

 

[VainoValkea]

Those numbers are double what I typically use. For particularly weak cities (CS's early on, for example) a single catapult, melee unit and composite bowman may suffice.

 

[Carl5872]

I've never played as Korea but without the bonus to attacking cities I would perhaps hold off until canons unless you can afford 4-5 Hwach'as.

As with every (pre-modern era) city you wish to capture, you'll need at least :

* 3-4 siege units (for damaging city's HP)
* 2-3 melee units (for capture/soaking up damage)
* 2-3 ranged units (for support/attacking units)

As a side note, the 41 number is representative of the city's ranged combat strength and not the city's HP/health.

Thanks for clarifying that! I think Ill try your 5 Hwach'as, 2 muskets, a pike, and 3 crossbows and hope for the best.

 

[regeneration64]

Those numbers are double what I typically use. For particularly weak cities (CS's early on, for example) a single catapult, melee unit and composite bowman may suffice.

Thanks for clarifying that! I think Ill try your 5 Hwach'as, 2 muskets, a pike, and 3 crossbows and hope for the best.

There's no hard and fast rule but pre-modern era I usually work along those lines.

 

[I_qua_I]

There's no hard and fast rule but pre-modern era I usually work along those lines.

This post is confusing. What lines? You quoted both the larger army poster and the smaller army poster...

 

[Carl5872]

There's no hard and fast rule but pre-modern era I usually work along those lines.

Thats true. I wasnt primarily looking for a general rule, but more is an attack viable with about 10-12 units against a city with that strength. I didn't want to build the additional units only to see them all die in one shot each.

 

[Montov]

I usually have a Horseman or Knight outside of the city range, to take the city when the siege units have bombarded the city to 0HP.

 

[regeneration64]

This post is confusing. What lines? You quoted both the larger army poster and the smaller army poster...

I was responding to the two replies with reference to my previous post.

Thats true. I wasnt primarily looking for a general rule, but more is an attack viable with about 10-12 units against a city with that strength. I didn't want to build the additional units only to see them all die in one shot each.

That sounds about right to me. A 41 strength city will likely destroy seige units in two hits but that's why you bring enough along to make up for any losses. There's nothing more frustrating than having your entire attacking force wiped out because you should have brought along another couple of units as backup.

 

[mikeville]

Sounds like you would need a couple of seige for a 40+ rated city. But as another poster mentioned, H'Wacha's don't have the bonus vs cities... so 5 may be about right.

I took down a 28 strength capital with no seige - I had 6 composite bowmen, 3 crossbowmen, and 2 swordsmen. I lost 2 of the composite bowmen.

(I was Shoshone and Poland was... upsetting me... and I didn't want to wait to build seige units. I figured I could take them once I wiped out their miliary, and I was right.)

 

[Carl5872]

Oh also forgot to mention he has the great wall, so that will throw a wrench into things.

 

[jessie23]

I'm no pro, but the algorithm that I usually use is as follows:

Is the city's defensive rating close to the offensive rating of my troops?

Oh Yes
Example: City with a defense of 14 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are above the city defense value! I should be able to take this city easily, with few units and no losses.

Yes

Example: City with a defense of 20 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are close to the city defense value. I should be able to overwhelm the city without siege weapons with few losses.

No

Example: City with a defense of 29 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are below the city defense value. I need to bring at least 1-2 siege weapons and I should prepare for some losses.


Oh No

Example: City with a defense of 38 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are waaay below to the city defense value. I need to bring at least 3-5 siege weapons and I should prepare to lose 1-2 units per turn. How did I get in this situation?

 

[regeneration64]

I'm no pro, but the algorithm that I usually use is as follows:

Is the city's defensive rating close to the offensive rating of my troops?

Oh Yes
Example: City with a defense of 14 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are above the city defense value! I should be able to take this city easily, with few units and no losses.

Yes

Example: City with a defense of 20 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are close to the city defense value. I should be able to overwhelm the city without siege weapons with few losses.

No

Example: City with a defense of 29 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are below the city defense value. I need to bring at least 1-2 siege weapons and I should prepare for some losses.


Oh No

Example: City with a defense of 38 vs (Longswordsmen (21) & Crossbowmen (18 ranged))

The combat values are waaay below to the city defense value. I need to bring at least 3-5 siege weapons and I should prepare to lose 1-2 units per turn. How did I get in this situation?

I like your way of thinking.

Oh also forgot to mention he has the great wall, so that will throw a wrench into things.

Just bring a couple more units of your choosing along (ranged/siege are arguably best). It's going to slow things down and you'll likely lose an extra unit or two.