Attack distribution

[PvK]

In Post#474098 in a thread that I don't want to re-hijack back to this point,

Graeme Dice said:

It's clear that you don't have much understanding of the battle mechanic from this statement. It doesn't matter if you give him bodyguards, or supporting troops, since melee attacks are effectively all concentrated on the most survivable unit in a square. In a single combat round, every single attack will be dealt to him (or to friendlies in the same square until they are dead) until he dies and they move onto the next target. 3:1 odds are almost exactly what a unit needs to be able to survive when supported by other troops because three units ganging up on a single other unit is the norm in dominions.

I thought this was wrong based on what I've seen during play, but I thought I'd wait to directly reply until I had an answer from IW. JK just confirmed, and other players have given examples, that indicate Graeme was incorrect about this. Attacks are randomly distributed against targets in a square.

PvK

[Gandalf Parker]

I didnt say anything at the time because I could see where prgrammically it could make sense. Add up all the hit points, add up the armor, add up the damage, do the math then provide the visual results.

But I had been thinking that it seems to me that Ive gotten multiple battle afflictions in the same group in the same battle. That would seem to indicate multiple targetting.

Also I think Ive watched battles and seen hit points go down seperately.

[Meglobob]

Yea, I have watched enough battles to know this was the case from observation.

Lone SC's in Dom3 are very, very fragile especially mid game or later...

I took out a blue dragon, in its own dominion with nearly 300hps with ring of regeneration, luck pendant and fear helmet. The force that did this? 4 illusionists (no magic items) and a werewolf. I lost the werewolf...

My SC's now lead armies, have powerful bodyguards and operate as part of a bigger force. I would not risk one on his own, considering the cost of his equipment.

I believe the age of the SC is now over...for anything short of conquering indies, tiny armies of less than a 100 troops.

Dom 3 is all about huge armies (preferably blessed), backed with magic and the odd battlefield hero.

[HoneyBadger]

I agree, I had a heavily empowered PoD equipped with several artifacts and tons of high level spells. I sent him alone into an average to weak independent nation and, while he did win, he came out of it with a chest wound. Another time, I sent an unequipped blue dragon into an independent province and he got slaughtered. If tough SCs are having problems with independent provinces, then there's not a lot of hope for using them alone.

[Graeme Dice]

PvK said:
I thought this was wrong based on what I've seen during play, but I thought I'd wait to directly reply until I had an answer from IW. JK just confirmed, and other players have given examples, that indicate Graeme was incorrect about this. Attacks are randomly distributed against targets in a square.

Which still doesn't change the fact that the most survivable unit in a grid square will end up facing more attacks than every other unit.

[PvK]

You overstate your case. The only time the "most survivable" unit will take more attacks than the others is when the others die and there are still more attacks into the square, which is not a very common situation, especially if you choose good troops to fight with your commanders.