Re: Battle scripts
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Mainly you are right, but since I AM afraid of flyers (well underwater flyers to be more precise) and mostly of amassed Ulmish crossbows attacking him I prefered to do it this way.

Hmm, I actually never looked for it this hard, but the defenders first spell IS cast before attacks from ranged attackers, right ?

CharonJr

Re: Battle scripts
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yes.

Re: Battle scripts
 

Oh, I didn't notice that you were defending... Then Invulnerability is better cast first. I thought that you were attacking. You know, I haven't much thought using SCs for defending. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Battle scripts
 

Another example:
Since the new order(Hold and fire),one can make very good use of the Dragon Breath attack now AND of melee.

I am currently testing out Caelum for the first time and have chosen a Water Dragon to get a heavy hitter early on.
On turn 2 I am already able to attack most independent provinces(Strength 7),as long as my dominion in my home province raised proberly to give the dragon good HP.

I attack with around 25 Archers and the dragon.
Dragon is placed quite a bit ahead of the archers,who are placed exactly in the middle.
Archers:"Fire Closest",no real worry,that they harm my dragon,because of good protection.
Dragon:"Hold&Fire,Hold&Fire,Hold&Fire,Attack closest".

Due to the high precision Archer Fire and the mighty Breath Attack most independents are already routed before reaching the dragon.
Now,if there are archers(especially crossbowmen),the Dragon flies to them after the third round and does melee.
Before the patch,it wasnt possible to make good use of both breath and melee.
If you set the dragon to fire closest(the only order,where he would use Breath Attack),he would move on his claws to reach the archers and thus getting a lot more bowfire + if he had ammunition left would fire at the archers(maybe missing).

Re: Battle scripts
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Nah, actually I DO attack, but since this happens fairly often vs. indie provinces which might be attacked on the same turn by AI troops, I often end up as both the attacker and the defender http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

CharonJr

Re: Battle scripts
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Defending, attacking, it's all just a flip of the coin. What really matters is who instigated the battle. If you're defending because you baited your opponent into attacking you, or intercepted his attacking force, you're still the one holding the initiative.

Re: Battle scripts
 

I like to bring along a nature-3 caster with 'Relief' in the fifth slot, if it's decently feasible and the research is done already.
Early parts of scripts I not infrequently use include Summon Earth Power, Power of the Spheres (if has astral, other paths, and pearls), Quickness (for those without it natively; heh, I had a mage with +255% heroic quickness in an SP game goofing off with Black Company; usually got off four spells in the first turn...), perhaps Communion Master/Slave if I'm set up for that.
Later on, I like to have Nether Darts scripted if available, and perhaps Paralyze, Soul Slay or Petrify. Last game I was goofing off with Gifts from Heaven http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ... not the most precise spell, but fun.
If possible, one priest will be scripted to cast Divine Blessing, Power of the Sepulchre or similar global battle-bless spell.