How does first strike work?

[roidesfoux]

I have the general idea, but I'm hoping for specifics:

1)What does "1-2 first strikes" mean?

2)What's the difference in the Drill promotions between "+1 first strike" and "+1 first strike chance"?

3)If anyone has the numbers, in what circumstances are Drill promotions better than Combat promotions?

-RdF

 

[Heroes]

I have the general idea, but I'm hoping for specifics:

1)What does "1-2 first strikes" mean?

2)What's the difference in the Drill promotions between "+1 first strike" and "+1 first strike chance"?

3)If anyone has the numbers, in what circumstances are Drill promotions better than Combat promotions?

-RdF

1-2 first strikes just means 1 or 2 first strikes randomly, I guess.

I don't think drill is better than combat in any case, because quite some units are immune to first strike: War Chariot, Horse Archer, Camel Archer, Knight, Conquistador.

 

[Rabbit_Alex]

I think that "+1 first strike" means that you get +1 to your attack strength on any given first strike attack. "+1 first strike change" means that you are given 1 extra chance to attack the enemy before he gets to attack you. So if a unit had +2 first strike chance, he gets to attack twice before the other guy can.

 

[roidesfoux]

1-2 first strikes just means 1 or 2 first strikes randomly, I guess.

I guessed as much. Does anyone have an idea of the probabilities involved?

-RdF

 

[BeefontheBone]

I'm under the impression that your first first strike, so to speak, is guaranteed (unless the enemy are immune, of course) and the rest are possible - a random number of first strikes up to your max but not less than 1 is chosen. I may be wrong, however, since the Drill I promotion is available to units who already have first strike (archers et al.) and the text is different between Drill I and II - in which case it could just be that there is no difference, they were just written slighty differently.

 

[zyphyr]

The inherent First Strike on units that have it always happens.
The +1 Chance from Drill I has a random chance of occuring. Some fights it will happen, sometimes it wont.
The +1 from Drill II always happens. That is in addition to the chance of one from Drill 1.

So, First Strike with no Drill = 1 First Strike made each time (shown as 1 First Strike in the unit stats)
First Strike + Drill I = 1 First Strik + 1 Chance of a 2nd First Strike (Shown as 1-2 First Strikes0
First Strike + Drill II = 2 First Strikes + 1 Chance of a 3rd (shown as 2-3 First Strikes)
.. Drill III = 4 First Strikes + 1 chance of a 5th
.. Drill IV = 6 First Strikes + 1 chance of a 7th (Can you say OUCH!!!)

Of course, against a unitl immune to first strikes, change all of the above to zero first strikes.

 

[Astax]

Should also know that first strike is while defending only

 

[KAuss]

A unit with first strike also negates frist strike from defender... I don't know how it carries over to a unit with 2-3 first strikes though...

It's also been said that a "first strike" message appears in the combat log when attacking... I've never searched it since I rarely attack with first strike units... So it seems as though it plays a part in offense...

 

[Charles 22]

Yes, I thought I read in the manual that it was defensively only, however, I seen somebody do an ingame screen shot where an archer was attacking warriors while showing the combat odds thing (which I've never got to work) and it showed a first strike on that table.

 

[Arathorn]

Should also know that first strike is while defending only

False. If the attacker has an advantage in number of first strikes, the attacker will get his extra round(s) at the beginning.

For how the randomness of "chance of first strike" resolves, I don't think anybody knows yet. For a discussion of when first strike is useful, might I recommend my article on combat at http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=137615 ? I think you might find it useful.

Arathorn