21-12-2000 11:27									#1
	Help needed on defensive improvements. Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

I have been unable to learn "exactly" what the various defensive city improvements do, other than City Walls.

Ballista Towers give an offensive bonus against ground units. Does this apply when you attack out of a city, or when you are attacked, or both? Does it affect bombardment, or ranged attack factors during a battle?

Same thing with Battlements and Flak Towers. If someone would explain exactly what these improvements do, and when they do them, I would be very grateful.

Also, I understand from a strategies guide that normal battles factor in the effects of terrain for both sides. How does terrain affect the attacker?
I guess I need a round-by-round explanation of how a battle plays out. I have gotten different impressions of how it plays out from different sources.

	21-12-2000 11:50									#2
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

I'm not sure if this fits here or not so forgive me if it doesnt.

Does a city give ANY defensive benefit at all? I had an AI pikeman take out a warrior and archer (both vets) within a city. I also had a vet fortified warrior on a mountain taken out by a barbarian warrior. its almost as if the defensive benefits arent actually included in the determining the victor.

If terrain affects both attacker and defender, then the defensive bonuses need to be jacked up to compensate. If I remember my military doctrine, the attacker should plan on a 3-1 advantage to take a strongly held position.

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History is written by the victor.

	21-12-2000 15:17									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

IIRC if the attacker and the defender are on the same terrain (before the attack) then the bonuses are equaled out. So if your warrior stands on mountain and the enemy warrior stands on mountain and he attacks you then there are no terrain bonuses. If the defender is in plains and the attacker in mountain then the attacker gets the mountain terrain bonus.
I dont know if this is correct but its rather stupid!!!

I would like to know exactly who does combat between two units work!
For example: A pikemen against a hoplite. How does that work. Something like: The pikemens attack is compared to the hoplites defense strength. If it is higher then he does Firepower damage minus Hoplite armor.
Something along that line?


Besides I think Combat in CtP2 is ****ed up. Try to attack a submarine with a stack of 2 of yours. Only one submarine is attacking (most of the time the wounded one, if there is one) and the other sub is waiting till the first dies and then jumps into action! This is STUPID!!!! But well holds for other units as well. Try to attack a hoplite with 3 of your hoplites. You will notice that only one at a time attacks. STUPID STUPID STUPID
Is there a way to change this?

ATa

	21-12-2000 18:50									#5
	Inflate your Upload Space

with regards to the attacker on the mountain and defender in the plains....that does indeed make sense as when one has the higher ground, one is always at an advantage. that's just a real life reality check actually stuck into this game...

i think elitepersian is correct. making all units flanking should take care of the other issue.