FAQ: Ermor(Middle Age) VS Elephants.

[thejeff]

When I'm using elephants I tend to put the elephants in the middle on the grounds that they'll end up there anyway.
Mages and archers go on the far flanks. Any other troops do as well, usually with attack rear orders, which tends to keep them farther to the sides.

So whenever the elephants rout, they'll at least avoid the archers and mages and probably only trample a few troops on the front line.


I'm not sure how that would affect any of these suggestions, but since several seem to assume elephants would be on the flanks, I thought I'd mention it.

[Soyweiser]

Originally Posted by thejeff

I'm not sure how that would affect any of these suggestions, but since several seem to assume elephants would be on the flanks, I thought I'd mention it.

That is why you first examine a battle which the elephant army fought. After this you place your anti-elephant army in a spot where the elephants are not, but in front of the rest of the army is. I would just choose one of your flanks, the one with commanders probably, so you lose a large leadership part of the army. This prevents further advance.

The elephants run towards the enemies, and hopefully rout in front of the rest of the enemy army. The important step is first scout the elephant army. I think, that this would work as long as you have a lazy opponent who doesn't change the tactics from battle to battle. (Just watch two attacks of the same army to check this). Adapt your tactics to counter your opponents tactics.

I would use scouts and PD to get this information. If you have a scouts in a province you can attack with him to discover the tactics of the army (set the scout to retreat, wait for more turns if you also want to know the spells cast by the mages). Or after a large army attacks a PD, look at the tactics of the army.

"He who is well prepared and lies in wait for an enemy who is not well prepared will be victorious. Know your enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles you will be victorious"

[chrispedersen]

In CBM, spells like Earth grip are lowered to level 0.

Similiarly, tangle vines etc. You want to let just a couple of elephants through.

But lastly, as ermor, I'd really look at either ghost grip or Fright. Elephant morale only starts as an 8, as I recall, and if he's invading you, and gets hostile dominion and a fright - he's down to 2.

IIRC, ghost grip has 5+targets and stuns for oh 20-40 stun, with a good range. 4 casters of that, casting at a group of 10-20 elephants should be enough that

ANY missile troops should slaughter them. People forget that chance to hit with a missile weapon is related both to size (elephants are huge) and fatigue.

You shouldn't have any problem stopping 20 elephants with 4 ghost grippers, 40 slingers.. and 6 or 8 vestals.

[Soyweiser]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

ANY missile troops should slaughter them. People forget that chance to hit with a missile weapon is related both to size (elephants are huge) and fatigue.

They also only have a defence of 8, Protection 11, and a magic resistance of 6.

And if you stop them from trampeling, they only have their trunk attack. At damage 17 (strength 20 - 3), reach 0, and attack skill 10, not great for a 100 gold unit. Average heavy infantry are better armed.

The more I look at them, the less dangerous they look.

[Stavis_L]

Originally Posted by Soyweiser

The more I look at them, the less dangerous they look.

Why, hello there Mr. Not Scary Elephant! Would you like to play a nice game of Parchi...aargh!!! (squish)

[chrispedersen]

Originally Posted by Soyweiser

They also only have a defence of 8, Protection 11, and a magic resistance of 6.

And if you stop them from trampeling, they only have their trunk attack. At damage 17 (strength 20 - 3), reach 0, and attack skill 10, not great for a 100 gold unit. Average heavy infantry are better armed.

The more I look at them, the less dangerous they look.

IIRC, fatigued, bypasses armor.

[Soyweiser]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

IIRC, fatigued, bypasses armor.

The trample attack?

[chrispedersen]

Originally Posted by Soyweiser

The trample attack?

No, the previous poster was saying that elephants have prot. From memory, the chance of being hit by missile weapons increases from fatigue.

The chance of bypassing armor also increases with fatigue (I think).

This is why I believe ghost grippers and slingers to be synergistic and effective against elephants.