Attack precedence in battle

[Perun]

Jean-Yves once mentioned that there's no precedence in attack during one battle. This is not how it should be. Here's a suggestion how order of attack should be implemented:

We all know that there's about ten levels of stamina and courage already implemented. In real life, army with highest level of stamina would attack first, whether it's a defender or attacker. Then an army with first lower level, and so on, until the last one. If two or more armies have the same level of stamina, attacker should move before defender, since he's got initiative and is aggressor after all.

But what about courage? It's obvious that coward will never attack first. And that extremely brave soldiers will strike first no matter the odds.

So here's my solution: stamina and courage should be responsible for the attacking initiative in this intermixed order:

1. utterly invigorated
2. utterly bold
3. extremely invigorated
4. extremely bold
...
n-2. utterly invigorated
n-1. utterly affraid
n. nearing exhaustion

In this case, not only we can predict the course of battle, but stamina and courage really come to some use apart from battle loss calculations.

[Matija]

See also here

[Perun]

Matija said:

See also

Yeah, well. This is some kind of recalculation then.

Since dragons (should) lose their stamina slower they're almost always in position to strike first. Skulkrin are on the opposite side of them.

Attacker or defender shouldn't matter. Who's less tired should hit before the opponent.

Your last remark is this way considered, since moving troops out and back in to battle takes some stamina anyway.

So, we basically agree that something like that should be implemented. ;D

[Matija]

Actually, it seems that dragons tire normally, and since now they can move further, they have to stop at the lake every second day.

[Matija]

Perun said:

Attacker or defender shouldn't matter.

The reason for the attacker benefit is for this situation: Your spy discovers enemy spy (with spy I mean a lord without troops) and attacks him. If both have the same levels of courage and energy, then I think the attacker (assasin) should get the first strike and not leave it to random chance.

Otherwise I'm not particular about what mechanism is employed, just that randomness is removed.

[Perun]

Attacker or defender shouldn't matter.

As I mentioned earlier, stamina and courage determine first strike, and if both are totally equal, attacker should have precedence.

What I meant here was that it doesn't matter if you are defender or attacker as long as your combat capabilities are better than of your opponent's.

[Matija]

Then we agree.

[Freiegeister]

Different races should have advantages in different terrain, that could factor into the order of battle.

ie Fey on forests, Dwarves in mountains, Free/Foul on the plains.

[Matija]

Yes! Also the terrain should influence the damage they do: fey in the forests, dwarves in the mountains, targ in the hills.

[Ringthane]

So to line it up, we'd have:

-movement modifiers according to relationship between race and terrain

-initiative calculation based on individual differences between allied and enemy armies' boldness

-damage distribution based on pro-rata'd differences between aggregate allied and aggregate enemy armies' energy

-(don't know if i agree with terrain modifying damage)

Is this it?

[Old Shendemiar]

Perun said:

Jean-Yves once mentioned that there's no precedence in attack during one battle. This is not how it should be. Here's a suggestion how order of attack should be implemented:

I'm not sure if it's completely random on all parts. Each time i had Shendemiar in big battle, HE was the one who killed most enemy leaders, and each time it was possbile, also the enemy main lord.

[Matija]

Matija never killed an enemy lord.

[Old Shendemiar]

Matija said:

Matija never killed an enemy lord.

Maybe he's not warrior type. Maybe he's genius, but weak physically. Maybe he has some great speakers talent's and he's an inspiring leader.

[Ringthane]

So we can go back to the idea of tailoring our main leaders with a points system ;D