So which types of units should I take and why?

[ramadawn]

Playing through the demo and seeing all these choices of land units to pick from. A number at the same tech level.

So I have to ask. What should I pick as my main unit type and why?

Cause from here, its just a lot of values without context and the manual is zero help

Thank.

 

[towerbooks3192]

Not sure about the ratio of Cavalry to Infantry but always bear in mind that infantry is required when you are besieging a province. Some people might enlighten you with the right combo but I used to do a 1 Inf to 2 Cav and just add a cannon for the units that I want to siege.

Edit: If you meant the unit type then I guess the latest is better but not sure about variations like in EU3 like I don't know when is it best to use Eastern Infantry over Bardiche Infantry or something

 

[Tildeman]

It's attack stats vs. defensive.
Yellow is attack, green defense.
More squares the better.

 

[firelordzuko]

That depends on how you expect to fight your wars. Different units should be about as well, but they've got different offensive/defensive attributes. I tend to pick all-rounders, but I suspect if you plan on attacking and rofl-stomping only you should go for offensive units, or if you're an OPM defensive.

 

[ramadawn]

That depends on how you expect to fight your wars. Different units should be about as well, but they've got different offensive/defensive attributes. I tend to pick all-rounders, but I suspect if you plan on attacking and rofl-stomping only you should go for offensive units, or if you're an OPM defensive.

By why should I say take gallowglass (sp?) vs say condatta or a broze cannon vs housfire cannon (sp?).

Why should I get a unit with +3 shock def vs +4 offensive moral. What does this even mean? And why doesn't paradox explain all this?

 

[MrLebanon]

Why should I get a unit with +3 shock def vs +4 offensive moral. What does this even mean? And why doesn't paradox explain all this?

I haven't looked into the what's what and the who's who in the units.

But it's pretty clear in this proposed scenario
- Are you defending on mountains & rivers vs an enemy that outnumbers you? +3 shock def would be good at making sure your troops hold the line
- roflstomp attacking? Blitzkreig? Get that +4 offensive moral to keep your troops fighting at full strength longer when on the attack

 

[knul]

If EU4 combat works the same as EU3, the pips (f.e. +3 offensive shock), this is what happens:

Every turn in combat a die is rolled. Modifiers are then applied to this roll, the result determines the casualties of the enemy. Some of these modifiers are shown in the combat screen: terrain penalties, leader bonuses, etcetera. What is not shown directly is that the unit modifiers are also applied to the die roll.

Say that you are in the Shock phase, then a unit on your side with +3 Offensive Shock adds 3 to the die roll. The unit it is attacking (you can find out by mouseover the unit) subtracts from your die roll his Defensive shock.
The same happens in the Fire phase with Offensive and Defensive Fire. Morale works probably in a similar way, but much less is known about that.

 

[ramadawn]

If EU4 combat works the same as EU3, the pips (f.e. +3 offensive shock), this is what happens:

Every turn in combat a die is rolled. Modifiers are then applied to this roll, the result determines the casualties of the enemy. Some of these modifiers are shown in the combat screen: terrain penalties, leader bonuses, etcetera. What is not shown directly is that the unit modifiers are also applied to the die roll.

Say that you are in the Shock phase, then a unit on your side with +3 Offensive Shock adds 3 to the die roll. The unit it is attacking (you can find out by mouseover the unit) subtracts from your die roll his Defensive shock.
The same happens in the Fire phase with Offensive and Defensive Fire. Morale works probably in a similar way, but much less is known about that.

Well that helps a bit thnx.

Sure wish the devs would provide a detailed description on how these mechanics work....

 

[ejones44]

Well that helps a bit thnx.

Sure wish the devs would provide a detailed description on how these mechanics work....

Yeah I agree, why is there no complete explanation of combat Paradox?

 

[unmerged(139685)]

Given that you can determine when you attack but not when you defend, I tend to favor offense.

 

[Hommnom]

I was wondering about unit types that are clearly superior, within a tech level...for example, at military tech 30, why would anyone take, say, Drill Infantry over Napoleonic Square? If I remember correctly from looking at the unit types, the Napoleonic square is superior in every category, so it's not even a question of offense vs. defense or shock vs. fire vs. morale. I think it'd be nice if some of the units were a little more balanced to make for more interesting strategic decisions...and if this were all explained better in-game, as others have said.

 

[firelordzuko]

I was wondering about unit types that are clearly superior, within a tech level...for example, at military tech 30, why would anyone take, say, Drill Infantry over Napoleonic Square? If I remember correctly from looking at the unit types, the Napoleonic square is superior in every category, so it's not even a question of offense vs. defense or shock vs. fire vs. morale. I think it'd be nice if some of the units were a little more balanced to make for more interesting strategic decisions...and if this were all explained better in-game, as others have said.

Probably a holdover from EU3, where drill infantry came several levels before Napoleonic Squae.

 

[Reezy]

I was wondering about unit types that are clearly superior, within a tech level...for example, at military tech 30, why would anyone take, say, Drill Infantry over Napoleonic Square? If I remember correctly from looking at the unit types, the Napoleonic square is superior in every category, so it's not even a question of offense vs. defense or shock vs. fire vs. morale. I think it'd be nice if some of the units were a little more balanced to make for more interesting strategic decisions...and if this were all explained better in-game, as others have said.

Do they cost the same too?

 

[knul]

Do they cost the same too?

Yes, all units of the same type and tech level cost the same. And no, I don't understand the inferior units. But to be honest, EU3 had some weird issues with unit types, especially the whole "doubly punished for non-western tech group" ordeal.

 

[unmerged(148491)]

Yeah I agree, why is there no complete explanation of combat Paradox?

Hell no... game gets very boring when everything is explained, and there's nothing left to discover. Then actually - combat IS fully explained already, so I guess those who don't understand it yet should probably learn to internet - or just stop being lazy and expect to be served information that is already 100% available and self explanatory.

To answer OP's question - it all depends on the country you play. To give few examples:
a) you play huge country with huge manpower fighting against small annoying country? Go full offensive - break them asap, and inflict as much losses as possible, and war will be won fast. If you do it the other way you will never be able to destroy their armies and they will keep coming back - making your war take much longer.
b) small developed country fighting against someone much bigger and bit less developed? You can go for defensive infantry/cavalry and mass offensive artilery - so your troops form 2 rows. Your enemies will always outflank you, so you want as few of their units to attack as possible, while having the biggest possible punch on those you already fight - and yet you need to preserve your own troops - ergo defensive meatshields in front of artilery
c) You fight against eastern/horde country or savages from Africa or the new world? Not much point in using units with high Fire defense, is there?

Long story short - you will be fine using pretty much anything, but if you want to min-max, then there's usually no golden rule to "Own them all"

 

[towerbooks3192]

Hell no... game gets very boring when everything is explained, and there's nothing left to discover. Then actually - combat IS fully explained already, so I guess those who don't understand it yet should probably learn to internet - or just stop being lazy and expect to be served information that is already 100% available and self explanatory.

To answer OP's question - it all depends on the country you play. To give few examples:
a) you play huge country with huge manpower fighting against small annoying country? Go full offensive - break them asap, and inflict as much losses as possible, and war will be won fast. If you do it the other way you will never be able to destroy their armies and they will keep coming back - making your war take much longer.
b) small developed country fighting against someone much bigger and bit less developed? You can go for defensive infantry/cavalry and mass offensive artilery - so your troops form 2 rows. Your enemies will always outflank you, so you want as few of their units to attack as possible, while having the biggest possible punch on those you already fight - and yet you need to preserve your own troops - ergo defensive meatshields in front of artilery
c) You fight against eastern/horde country or savages from Africa or the new world? Not much point in using units with high Fire defense, is there?

Long story short - you will be fine using pretty much anything, but if you want to min-max, then there's usually no golden rule to "Own them all"

That is enlightening. Thank you for that one. I still tried to figure things out in EU3 when it is best to do something. I had to defeat Naples as a restored byzantium by sending tons of troops that get slaughtered by their advanced infantries (never westernised at that point). Also most guides get in to the numbers instead of a simple explanation that is easy to understand like yours.

 

[drewbc32]

Yeah I agree, why is there no complete explanation of combat Paradox?

Because, the devs want to crush us in multiplayer :unsure:

 

[ramadawn]

So how does offensive and defensive Moral work?

 

[unmerged(148491)]

So how does offensive and defensive Moral work?

Seeing that not that much has changed from EU 3 I'd assume that it still uses the same formula (easy to find in wiki's) - if you are looking for the numbers. Other than that I guess it's rather obvious what each does - offensive makes your enemy lose it faster, and defensive makes your units lose it slower.