Engineering and Tactics - Question

[nachinus]

I have some doubts about these two skills.

Engineering: I understand it cuts both time and costs of building improvements and siege stuff. But I wonder if it also affects the quantity or quality of the assault engines displayed. I mean, do your armies get more ladders or use towers instead of ladders if you have higher Engineering skills?.

Tactics: I know each 2 points gives you 1 more battle advantage point. But what does that battle advantage mean? I can read it at the beggining of each battle, but what does it do?. Is it worth it? 1 point for each 2 doesn't sound too decisive.

 

[ComradeOm]

In addition to the above, any advice on how important engineering is? In other words, is it worthwhile carrying Artimenner around?

Tactics: I know each 2 points gives you 1 more battle advantage point. But what does that battle advantage mean? I can read it at the beggining of each battle, but what does it do?. Is it worth it? 1 point for each 2 doesn't sound too decisive.

As I understand it the battle advantage dictates the ratio of army sizes at the beginning of the battle. So a high advantage means that you'll have more men on the battlefield at the start; ie a higher share of the limit on the total soldiers

 

[nachinus]

As I understand it the battle advantage dictates the ratio of army sizes at the beginning of the battle. So a high advantage means that you'll have more men on the battlefield at the start; ie a higher share of the limit on the total soldiers

Thats sounds reasonable. I too thought that it had something to do with numbers and reinforcements. I wonder which is the exact influence the numbers have in the ratio.

 

[unmerged(169164)]

This piece of information circulated somewhere. It is on this forum. Elsewhere for sure.

It seems to me that it works on points in difference. If the enemy has six tactics and you 8, you start the first engagement with 2 by x men more (only works for the battles that can not field all men at once)

Cant remember x value.

 

[Owen]

You only ever get one ladder or one siege engine in sieges.

 

[nachinus]

You only ever get one ladder or one siege engine in sieges.

Ouch, that's bad. And what determines if you get a ladder or a tower? Is it influenced by the engineering skill?

 

[unmerged(96606)]

You only ever get one ladder or one siege engine in sieges.

Actually that is not true; I recently conquered a swadian castle and to my suprise there were two ladders. Not sure why though as my engineering skill didn't change from the last castle.

Probably part of the castle design to keep a tiny bit of variety.

Anyway not on the subject, but thought I'd point it out. :rofl:

 

[Owen]

Ouch, that's bad. And what determines if you get a ladder or a tower? Is it influenced by the engineering skill?

It's simply set by which town or castle it is.

 

[Yellowjacket]

Tactics is very useful (yes it does what the others say), engineering is fairly worthless, afaik it just makes you build engines a little bit faster.

 

[unmerged(169164)]

Actually that is not true; I recently conquered a swadian castle and to my suprise there were two ladders. Not sure why though as my engineering skill didn't change from the last castle.

Probably part of the castle design to keep a tiny bit of variety.

Anyway not on the subject, but thought I'd point it out. :rofl:

That's part of the design. Also doors you can rush through in some castles/cities.

Engineering is marginally useful. Useful at the start as it helps to cut down costs and time of building. Less as the game progresses.

I suppose this might change in later versions of the game as relief armies are to be introduced. Being able to build a siege machine before the relief army and can engage yours outside will probably matter.

At present versions, it takes a long time before a relief army is mustered and when you are the defensive, the enemy alwalys let you go through their ranks without engaging you.

 

[Yellowjacket]

At present versions, it takes a long time before a relief army is mustered and when you are the defensive, the enemy alwalys let you go through their ranks without engaging you.

Which seems strange. I don't know much about seige warfare, but unless you were absolutely commited to starving the enemy out, why would this ever happen?

 

[Puritan]

Tactics is very useful (yes it does what the others say), engineering is fairly worthless, afaik it just makes you build engines a little bit faster.

Tactics is fairly useless if you have the battlesize set very high, which is possible with mods like the battlesizer.


Engineering is pretty useful IMHO. Sometimes just a few hours can make the difference if one of your cities/castles comes undersiege while you're still building a tower.

The ai doesn't seem to have much, if any engineering. It takes them days sometimes to assault ladder castles sometimes, or maybe they are just waiting for more lords to show up?