Trolling for castle storming advice

[aldin]

As an Ulmish n00b I can heartily recommend Trolls for castle storming. They're tough fighters who regenerate and don't need supplies. What troops / spells does everyone else use for braving the storms of arrows while trying to fit through a teeny-tiny hole in the wall?

~Aldin

[Gandalf Parker]

Flyers such as raptors. Knights. Ethereal units.

Remember the object is to take as little damage as possible. Armored units are one option. Protectin against arrows is good. Speed is another (fewer volleys of arrows). Armored units with speed and protection against arrows is a thought.

[ December 20, 2003, 16:49: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[SurvivalistMerc]

I have generally found those black plate infantry with morningstars to be good castle stormers. The shield and protection protects from most arrow fire.

Warning: They (black plate infantry) are not very good at Ctis castles and caution should be used against strong nature nations whose defenders are mostly of the archer and mage variety. Breath of the Dragon, poison slings, and other poison attacks are devastating against Ulm.

The real problem here is that the combat AI will run you right through poison clouds you could easily avoid. It's painful to recall how many black plate infantry I once lost to a retreating hydra. There are some things you just should know better than to chase after, especially when you ought to know they're faster than you anyway.

I will usually send a group of vine ogres in first when I suspect the use of poison.

I'm sure black knights work well due to their mobility, but if you don't have them hold a couple of turns, they will draw the spell fire to themselves...and they are expensive units which hold up poorly against magic.

The real answer to almost all of these questions in Dominions is: it depends. (And I love that. )

What are the defenders? What is in the towers? (What is in the towers depends on the nation.) How many towers?

[Taqwus]

If I've the gems and mages, I like softening up the defenders with a wave of Seeking Arrows or (often more lethal, but harder to get) Earth Attacks or (N/A for astrals) Mind Hunts. Kill as many leaders first. I might also use Leprosy the turn I move the troops in.
In battle, fliers are good. Long-range / high-precision magic is good -- Soul Slay, Paralyze, mind bLasts, that sort of thing. Against missile towers, air shields are nice. Magic that hits a small area is good because the enemy will probably be bunching up near the gate. Tramplers, high-fear units and fear magic can be used to clear a path. Howl and artifacts which cause it are good; the wolves appear frequently inside the walls; very good for absorbing tower fire, enemy spells; can cause your own mages to waste gems protecting them 'tho.
It might be a good idea to use cheap mindless arrow fodder (eg longdead, mannikins, dispossed spirits) on the front flanks (hold orders) to absorb tower fire while your more valued units go for the gate; haven't tried that yet.

[PvK]

I tend to use hordes of cannon fodder, particularly as Ulm. Send in the scum units! Time to raise a few hundred tribals... add some mercenaries... and repeat. Flying units are a very good suggestion, though, if you have enough that are expendable.

PvK

[aldin]

Boy, I'm still having trouble with this storming stuff. The advice looks great though, gonna have to try some fodder attacks (Ulm IF). It's just really disgusting to lose a dozen Templars to Mandragora.

~Aldin

[PvK]

Yeah, I've nearly always regretted sending my elite Ulm units into a castle meatgrinder, even when they win. Ulm needs to use cannon fodder to complement (and sometimes, to completely stand in for) its good slow-build units, particularly for castle assaults, and to absorb the destruction of other menaces like poison gas, mental attacks, Jotun giants, soul vortex, during Foul Air, etc.

PvK

[apoger]

For Ulm, mages summoning Earth Elementals will do the trick for breaking into a castle. They are large and can trample right through the door. Full elementals are much better than lesser for this purpose.

Add some ranged spells and archery, and forts aren't so bad.

The arrows arn't that big of a deal unless you put your softies up too close. Try grabbing a pile of your milita and have them sitting on a flank beside the wall; they will get hosed by the arrows while your more decent troops funnel forward.

[NTJedi]

The fastest way to conquer a castle is by bringing a powerful air mage with you. The air mage can cast mass flight which allows all your melee troops to jump right next to the enemy.(No Bottlenecks!) Also you'll get arrow fend which protects troops from arrows.

[ December 22, 2003, 15:15: Message edited by: NTJedi ]