First Strike...please explain...

[battchy]

Sorry for the simple question, but I haven't found a clear description in my manual yet.

What, game mechanically, does a "first strike" do? Is it similar to how in Civ3 some units (artillery, mostly) would get to have a shot at an attacker's health before that attacker's battle actually began (this is what I assume)? If so, how does the math work now in Civ4? Read another way - how much damage does a "first strike" do to an attacking unit (obviously unit-relative)?

Thanks for the help before-hand,
B

 

[DwWinnebagos]

Look in the strategy articles, there's a write-up on it. Combat Explained I believe.

Essentially it's a +14% - +19% increase, depending on the relative strengths of the two units.
edit - explanation below mine is correct.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

Check the strategy articles forum for details (the subforum to this one)

what it seems to do is give a unit a round of immunity to damage

so with a unit that has 3 first strikes, on the first 3 rounds of combat, if it loses, it takes no damage. (so if both units have three first strikes, the first three rounds of combat don't matter)