Stupid flying units getting killed makes me angry

[PvK]

But Vynd, if they "improve the AI" by making pursuing units never block enemy retreat, then Norfleet and I and others will just have new complaints about how suddenly pursuers are immune to any risk (except from the fratricidal archer AI), and how our pursuers never block the escape route.

PvK

[NTJedi]

Originally posted by Tris:
This seemed an appropriate place to reply to Norfleet's sig...

"Kill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions, and you are a conqueror. Kill all, and you are a god!""

Actually, if you think about it, when you "KILL THEM ALL" you just end up being a very very lonely man.

I would have to agree that this quote from Jean Rostand has several flaws.

[delacroix]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
The tendency of fliers to cut off routers is a VERY GOOD THING, not a bad thing!

The few losses you may take are nothing compared to what you might lose if you allowed them to escape and regroup.

Reading Norfleet's response, I think it's a very plausible tactical option to be allowed to purposefully have flyers (or any unit) to be on reserve to attack 'only' routing units much less to engage routing units freely. Killing all escaping enemies may not win any diplomatic awards, but it certainly can turn the tide of war.

However, Vynd also has logical reasoning for not wanting his units to engage routing enemies or to avoid routing units... Of course attacking routing units does entail some risk as routing units can still fight back to a certain extent and as PVK stated its abstractly portrayed in the game, however there is no option present to avoid routing units entirely. Of course the developers don't have time to implement every little mini-order, but I think Vynd has every right to say 'this stinks' because the current combat options in regards to routing do not cater to his preferences at all if he wants to avoid those routing units.

In the perfect world we'd have an order to allow or not allow units to attack routing enemies, and then everyone would be happy to a certain extent... maybe combat expansion should be considered for dom3 hehe .

[PvK]

Originally posted by delacroix:
... Reading Norfleet's response, I think it's a very plausible tactical option to be allowed to purposefully have flyers (or any unit) to be on reserve to attack 'only' routing units much less to engage routing units freely.
...
In the perfect world we'd have an order to allow or not allow units to attack routing enemies, and then everyone would be happy to a certain extent... maybe combat expansion should be considered for dom3 hehe .

Yep, good ideas!

PvK

[ May 05, 2004, 21:04: Message edited by: PvK ]

[Chris Byler]

In my opinion, the behavior of flying units is fine, but archers should be less likely to fire at routed enemies if there are friendly troops near them. Hold your fire and get closer instead.

If the flying units are getting killed in melee by cut off routing enemies... you need some tougher flyers. But in my experience the main threat in this situation is the archers/crossbowmen continuing to fire at the routing units and hitting their pursuers instead.

[Norfleet]

On a related note, I think it would be funny if you could designate a squad to attack your OWN routing units to cause them to rout in the other direction.

[Vynd]

At the very least, it'd sure be nice for my units to attack non-routed units FIRST, and only go after routed units if there is nothing else left to attack.

[Tris]

Arrrgh! Norfleet suggests NKVDominions.

"So I line the salamanders up behind my nervous troops, and then have men with small spears poke them repetitively. Now see how they like fleeing through a WALL OF FLAME Mwahahahaaa"

Hmmm....a nice unit in a mod might be a 'commissar' style unit, with a high level of Standard as he "inspires" the troops, but who auto-casts panic on his own troops when he dies. "'Ere, Fred - that nasty guy with the evil glowing eyes and the whip just copped his. Lets get out of here before Philannon turns up again"