Combat, Terrain and Movement

[Madrick]

As I couldn't find all the information I needed in the FAQs I ask here:

1. Armies have different values (afaik shock, movement, fire and siege) which are important in specific phases. When and how often happen these phases during combat and thus which is the most important value ?

2. Different types of forces have advantages against others on certain terrains. Cavalry > Infantry on Plains and Desserts, otherwise it's the other way round. Does the terrain the attacking army is coming from have an effect, too ?

 

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As I couldn't find all the information I needed in the FAQs I ask here:

1. Armies have different values (afaik shock, movement, fire and siege) which are important in specific phases. When and how often happen these phases during combat and thus which is the most important value ?

Shock and Fire phases alternate (once you get to land 9). Shock is more important early, while Fire gets the big shot late game.

It all depends on what type of troops you have, and what type of terrains you wage war upon. Cavalry is useless in mountains (and only barely better in other difficult terrains), that means that infantry is more powerful ; as cavalry's strength lies in shock, and infantry's in fire, go for Fire if you're in the midst of difficult terrain.
If on the other hand you're in midst of the russian steppes, where cavalry rules supreme and techs'll stay low (due to techgroups, your's and neighbours'), shock keeps the highlight.

Whatever, you don't need to choose either shock or fire, you can have both. The real choice is between offensive (high shock, low siege) and defensive (low shock, high siege). That's where you need to decide which is important, even if, against the AI, you can always manage to avoid battles (and so, focus on siege, because that's where wars are won).

2. Different types of forces have advantages against others on certain terrains. Cavalry > Infantry on Plains and Desserts, otherwise it's the other way round. Does the terrain the attacking army is coming from have an effect, too ?

No. The only effect in that regard is of crossing a river or a strait (or disembarking from ships). And the effect is hampering the attacker, not giving any advantage.

'hope it helped.