Newbie Questions - Ask here and get Answers!

[cromagnon]

Morkaphi, I have seen enemy cavalry withdraw from my knights at least twice, so I would answer his question with a yes.

I think it's been a long time since you've been in a situation where you are facing superior forces, so maybe your memory is a bit rusty.

 

[alamo]

Like they say, retreat is a dice roll when loosing badly (1 hp vs 2+) - never knew it was 50:50. It is a significant advantage when you can salvage that unit.

As far as prediction, you can gauge your gambles based on the above rule. Expect losses against a strong defender (like Cav vs conscript infantry). On the other hand, Cav vs Elite infantry has a reasonable chance at victory or retreat.

Keep in mind that after retreat you need some movement left to get out of harm's way

 

[cromagnon]

And two or more hitpoints.

 

[morkaphi]

Originally posted by cromagnon
Morkaphi, I have seen enemy cavalry withdraw from my knights at least twice, so I would answer his question with a yes.

Good to know, since I never saw that myself. (Uh, I never saw any cavalry survive my tanks either.)

Thanks, cromagnon.

 

[spoc148]

How often do you spy on other civs and what do you usually spy on them for?
thanks
spoc148

 

[Strider]

Originally posted by spoc148
How often do you spy on other civs and what do you usually spy on them for?
thanks
spoc148

Not very often

And I normally spy on them to find out what city is producing a wonder and how long it's going to take that city to produce it. (and sometimes sabatage it's production )

 

[cromagnon]

Some people steal tech from other civs at the later stages of the game, when trading it from them costs the same (if not more) than stealing it.

Of course, be ready for a war if you fail.

 

[spoc148]

Ok sounds good....thanks a lot for the help
spoc148

 

[Grille]

Originally posted by vincenzo
One of the AI civs was trespassing, a military unit with a settler. Caesar kept saying he would remove them but they kept going. I attacked them and he sent in a load of horsemen. I have now mainly fortified my units and am defending well. But it seems I am unable to attack them. When I try to move one of my units onto a tile with an enemy, the game will not let me.
What is going on?
Thanks

In addition to anarres post, make sure using *plain* military units. For example, bombardment units like catapults can't attack. If this was already known to you, ignore me.

 

[yama75]

Originally posted by spoc148
How often do you spy on other civs and what do you usually spy on them for?
thanks
spoc148

Always before starting a war! You have a great advantage if you know how well/bad the enemy cities are defended, knowing this you can plan a good strategy for your attack.

 

[Hurricane]

Just some corrections to the retreat issue.

Firstly, fast units can never retreat against another fast unit. Any unit with a movement of 2 or more is considered a fast unit. So I think your memory plays you a trick, cromagnon.

Second, the chance of retreating depends on the rank of the retreating unit, going from 33% up to an elite's 67% (this can be checked and changed in the editor). It does not matter what rank the defender is.

 

[anarres]

I agree with Hurricane regarding fast units not retreating from other fast units.

I know at least 3 people now who are convinced they have seen 3-move units retreat from a 2-move units, but it is impossible.

The fact that vets have a better chance of retreat means barracks are valued even higher than usual for fast units.

 

[vincenzo]

I entered into a military alliance with Egypt against the Romans. But they have not committed any troops to the fight. How do I encourage that?
Also, is a right of passage agreement implied in a military alliance, or do I need to negotiate that too? Egypt will need to go through my territory to reach the Romans.
Thanks

 

[Grille]

1. Don't know for sure. Perhaps offer some gold by a loan deal (give them lump sum and ask for gpt). Then the ai *might* rush units they send out. But I guess you must also be lucky to get this method working as intended.
2. You need to sign right-of-passage (ROP) separately.

 

[morkaphi]

Originally posted by vincenzo
I entered into a military alliance with Egypt against the Romans. But they have not committed any troops to the fight. How do I encourage that?

I don't think there is anything you can do to "encourage" or "force" them to participate in the actual fight. However, I believe that AI usually (if not always) honor their promises to fight with you by sending troops (while available ) A lot of times, it takes time for your ally's troop to reach the battlefield, and also very often you don't see the AI civs fight during their turns.

What Grille mentioned, if you want the Egypt troops to come faster, sign an ROP with Cleo. An alliance does not automatically initiate an ROP.

@ Hurricane & anarres: thanks for making the retreat issue clear.

 

[vincenzo]

Thanks for the help, guys and gal.
I've dealt with the Roman force that invaded me, I am about to go slam them now. But I see I am about the enter the middle ages soon. Will that affect my war effort in any way?
Also I can switch from Monarchy to Republic soon. Should I do it now, or wait till after the war?
Thanks

 

[Turner]

Wait until after the war. That way, your probability of dealing with War Weariness will be exactly zero.

Sure, It could be low in Republic, especially if you were agressive in dealing with it. But in Monarchy, it's not an issue, period. So why bother?

Right after the war, tho, go to Republic, and get a jump on money and tech. . .

 

[Aloc]

In a CivIII guide I found online, it mentions an "attack of opportunity" or free shot. This is "that a unit can take on another unit when it moves away. Units
within a fortress automatically get this, as do most Ranged attack units
(by which I mean Archers, Musketmen, Riflemen, etc.) and Fast attack units
(Horsemen, Knights, Cavalry). A free shot gives the unit a chance (based on
their normal battle roll) to do 1 HP of damage to the fleeing unit."

Is this true and how can this be done?

 

[Aloc]

Does the Forbidden Palace place on a sea coast city provide a trade route, just like the Palace would?

 

[MadScot]

Originally posted by Aloc
In a CivIII guide I found online, it mentions an "attack of opportunity" or free shot. This is "that a unit can take on another unit when it moves away. Units
within a fortress automatically get this, as do most Ranged attack units
(by which I mean Archers, Musketmen, Riflemen, etc.) and Fast attack units
(Horsemen, Knights, Cavalry). A free shot gives the unit a chance (based on
their normal battle roll) to do 1 HP of damage to the fleeing unit."

Is this true and how can this be done?

Basically, if you have a unit of the required type fortified, and the AI moves out of a tile next to you (whether to go past or not, I think) you get a one-off attack, which can do no more than 1hp of damage.

I've noticed the braindead AI pathfinding sometimes moves me past the enemy units and I suffer a hp loss, even when there are alternate, safe, paths. When moving around enemy units I therefore always do the move in stages, to prevent taking a hit.

All you can do to have the free hit is fortify units (or have units in a fortress IIRC) and wait to see if the AI wanders past. It's not much of an attack, and I wouldn't plan for it. You can use the AIs love of undefended cities to have it wander past your front lines, which can often cause this to happen.