Besieging tactics with Poles

[Temuçin]

Hi all,

I already experienced hussars' power on the battlefield now I need some tactics and strategies about sieges. My aim is to destroy ever powerful Sweden thus I need good bunch of opinions and ideas about how to capture their castles and cities with minimal casualties.  Which troops to use? What are the best tactics to apply?

Thanks in advance.

[Ironfall]

IMO, the best wall assaulting troop would be russian mercenaries infantries/cavalries with shield and mace. i usually equipt russian with poleaxe/sabre in field, switch to shield and mace on the wall. they are extramly powerful in hand to hand combat. their mace ingore 50% of target armor which works very well againts heavyly armored swedish troop. i once had them attacking a city with tons of swedish reiter on hard mod. they pretty much smash their way into the city with very few casualties. it take only 2 swing killing a full plated reiter. also its better to attack at night/rain/fog when guns and bows are less effective. do not try blow up the wall, use the old style ladder seige. this way your formation more likly having their shield facing the enemy position.

the only problem is it take very long time and big amount of money to fully upgrade an army of elite russian infantry or cavalry. but once you have them in enough numbers, you can march them to the end of the world!

[Temuçin]

Thanks for info.

Recently I faced some weird things in sieges. First, soldiers don't obey my orders while I use "build ladders" option. I order them to hold this position but they move and stop in densely packed fashion where ladders raises from land.  Second, I tried to use my German riflemen to snipe the enemy on the walls but strangely they don't shoot. They just wait and defenders massacre them.   

Any idea ?

[Ironfall]

i think thats an AI problem. the AI too dumb to find their target on the wall.

the recent patch seems fixed this problems a little bit. however shooting someone on the wall with 2/3 of their body behind rampart is rather disadvantagous and time comsuming. i perfer much simple and direct method. get your russians mace and steel shield or your poles with shield and axe. skip the fire exchange. rush and overwhelm the wall at a rainy/fogy night. russian infantry has 70 health they can take more than 2 muskeet shots unless its on the head. polish mercenary has better helm but poor shield, less health and lower weapon skill.

[inox_ionizer]

There are many ways to take fortifications with poles, but these are my favourites:

Make a ladder: Cut one pole in several parts and tie it between to full-length poles. Can be repeated to make several ladders. Use the ladders to climb onto the walls.

Undermine the walls: Dig tunnels beneath the walls and support them with poles. Once you have dug enough, set the poles on fire and evacuate the diggers. The tunnels will collapse without the support of the poles, and hopefully so will the walls that stand above.

Starvation: Build a palisade of your poles around the besieged fortification to make it harder for the enemy to sally out and break the siege. With nowhere to get supplies from, the besieged will eventually surrender or starve to death. If you have many poles, you should also build a palisade defending your camp against forces trying to relieve the siege from the outside.

[Temuçin]

There are many ways to take fortifications with poles, but these are my favourites:

Make a ladder: Cut one pole in several parts and tie it between to full-length poles. Can be repeated to make several ladders. Use the ladders to climb onto the walls.

Undermine the walls: Dig tunnels beneath the walls and support them with poles. Once you have dug enough, set the poles on fire and evacuate the diggers. The tunnels will collapse without the support of the poles, and hopefully so will the walls that stand above.

Starvation: Build a palisade of your poles around the besieged fortification to make it harder for the enemy to sally out and break the siege. With nowhere to get supplies from, the besieged will eventually surrender or starve to death. If you have many poles, you should also build a palisade defending your camp against forces trying to relieve the siege from the outside.

Thanks for your effort for extraordinary troll response.

Thank you Ironfall, I will try that.

[Kendoman]

I love blowing a hole in the wall. I charge in with 30 polish mercenaries using heavy armor shields and czekan. I follow with grenades to blast reinforcements when they are bunched and then I use a two handed sword.  I mop up with my winged Hussars.  I lose mercs, but not many Hussars and usually take the castle.

Cheers,

[Temuçin]

Thank you Kendoman (nice name btw)

It seems assaulting a city with units lacking shield is almost suicide.  The best way to attack a city is breaking the gate option IMO. Enemy comes to you and your shooters just decimate them. However that option is not always available. Could any one point out what determines the availability of that option?

[Kendoman]

Thank you Kendoman (nice name btw)

 The best way to attack a city is breaking the gate option IMO. Enemy comes to you and your shooters just decimate them. However that option is not always available. Could any one point out what determines the availability of that option?

Yes I like this too, You stand under the gate house or close to the wall so they can't shoot you.  I don't know why it is sometimes offered.

[Cleomenes]

Basic pikemans do the job. Winged Hussars=Open field-Win
Pikeman+musketeers+heavycavalry=win

[Asarkaniann]

You can break into the city. City. In fortress there is no such option.