What is 'First Strike'?

[BrotherDragon]

In the pre release info Samurai is given +1 First Strike Chance, Cho-Ku-Nu is given +2 First Strikes and Knights are immune to First Strike. Also, Drill I promotion gives "One Extra First Strike Chance" and Drill II promotion gives "+1 Extra First Strike".

I have no idea what all this means.

 

[UnitQ]

Me eather

 

[seasmath]

I think I read somewhere that a first strike chance let's you attack without the enemy retaliating, but only on that first attack animation...

 

[vorius]

yeah I agree, sounds like it basically means a free strike, that unit gets one free attack against an opponent before they start hacking eachother like normal. Sorta like how submarines worked in Civ2 I believe it was?

What happens when two +1 first strike units are in a battle though?

 

[Meleager]

What happens when two +1 first strike units are in a battle though?

I imagine that only attacking units can get a first strike.

 

[seasmath]

^Either nothing, or they both first strike and take turns before assaulting each other?

Edit: x-post with Meleager

 

[Grey Fox]

I believe its getting one attack without retaliation. Usually is in other games when its called first strike.

I think this one is gonna be one of the better promotions. (Atleast favoured by me, maybe not technically)

 

[Rexflex]

First strike often appears in combat simulation games which otherwise uses a combat method of simultaneous strikes. That is, both opponents may cause damage at the same time to each other. This combat method may cause situations where both opponents cause each other enough damage to be incapacitated or killed, which normally means they both lose the combat.

With this concept of First Strike, that sort of scenerio would instead result with the First Strike player not receiving the damage from their opponent on the basis that their opponent got killed/incapacitated before they could complete their own strike.

 

[Meleager]

Welcome to CFC Rexflex

I imagine that the first strike capability would give a significant advantage. Expeccially with powerful units.

 

[Rexflex]

Thanks for the welcome.

Those who have played games with this style of first strike (Magic: The Gathering card game, for example) would be well aware of just how powerful a first strike advantage can be.

 

[Raggamuffin]

I assumed this would apply to archer units. Still hoping it is.

 

[Gogf]

I think it's like a defensive bomard, except on the offense (very similar to what people have said, but a different way to think about it).

 

[fitchn]

I would presume that the first strike is a free chance at damaging the opposing unit. E.g., if you win the 'roll', you damage the unit, but if you lose, nothing happens; this would happen for each 'first strike' chance; afterwhich, combat would resume as normal with each side taking damage.

(originally posted in another thread; edited for relavance)

 

[Loppan Torkel]

So will units have initiative?

 

[knupp715]

I agree with Fitchn
Also, welcome to Civilization Fanatics Center Vorius and BrotherDragon!

 

[fitchn]

...
I think this one is gonna be one of the better promotions. (Atleast favoured by me, maybe not technically)

I couldn't agree more! A unit with moderate strength, a fair amount of firepower, and a sufficient amount of first strike opportunities could very easily defeat most (regular/not upgraded) units without the other unit even having a chance to damage your unit!

 

[Crayton]

Actually, I read that units have 300 hp, not the 3 represented by men (each man = 100 hp). First Strike means that you get to take a "pop shot" at the opposing unit and then both units engage in normal combat.

If both units have a first strike then both units take "pop shots", but this is congruent to a normal round of combat.

This is an extension of the Civ3 combat where Archers and Longbowmen could take a "pop shot" at invading forces. The first strike can be used on both offensive and defensive units and is no longer a factor of bombardment.

 

[seasmath]

It's pot shot.
But really, I read the 300 HP thing too... sounds good!

 

[Crayton]

Who shoots pots?
I thought it was a boxing metaphor? *pop*

 

[JeBuS27]

pot shot definition