Terrain Basics

[LordLefty]

Gents:

Still trying to get my head wrapped around the game mechanics of BOA2. Hopefully, if I can pick apart "digestable" parts, it will make the learning process more intuitive?

So, here are a few questions dealing with terrain and combat:

Should combat units avoid attacking in Wilderness because of the severe attacker penalty?

Should combat units avoid attacking in Mountains because of the severe attacker penalty?

Even though combat units don't get a defense bonus in Wilderness or Mountains, is it a good tactic to defend in these regions since there is a severe attacker penalty? But what happens if your forces are defending, get attacked in either a Wilderness or Mountains region... and then counter attack that turn? Do your units also suffer the severe attacker penalty?

Is one of the better defense positions to be defending behind a Major River / Lake in a Woods region?

[arsan]

Hi!!

Yes, sure. If avoidable (which in most cases its not ) generally its better to not attack in difficult terrain (wilderness, mountains, marches, wooded areas...) But as everything, it depends of the situation and several factors besides the basic atk/def bonus. Right now i can think of...

- Unit type: regulars, cavalry, arty... should fight as much as possible in clear terrain. Instead, irregular forces (Indians, rangers, partisans) thrive in difficult terrain and can give even trained regulars many problems there, as they have bonus on mostly any terrain but clear.
So for them, attacking or defending in wilderness and the like is the way to go if they will fight mostly regular troops.

- Range: battles in difficult terrain start as shorter firing range (no clear fields of fire). This is bad for arty... but good if you have no arty on your side

- Frontage: this is the max number of elements that can participate in battle at once. Let's say in the first line of battle. Frontage value depends on terrain, weather, type of unit... Big massive battles with lots of units fighting each other at once can happen only on clear terrain.
On difficult terrains the frontage is limited. This is an advantage to small armies attacking or defending against bigger armies, as the big one will not be able to bear all their numbers on the attack at once (but they are still important as the second line element will cover the gaps created by retiring or destroyed first line elements.
Besides, in difficult terrains, irregular units take less frontage than regulars, so more can fight at once. Another advantage for irregulars when used on their preferred terrains.

Regarding your other questions, yes, a unit on offensive stance will not get the terrain benefits. Only the defensive one will. No matter that your are already on the region. If you are on offensive, you are considered as seeking the enemy and attacking him. Notice that both sides can be on offensive and neither get the terrain defensive benefits.

Regarding rivers: of course, as in history, they are very good to set up a defending line. Regarding the wood as perfect defending terrain, it depends: If you have plenty arty, cavalry and regulars, better defend on clear behind a river, specially if the enemy is strong on irregulars.

As you see, all this is pretty much common sense: use the terrain to the advantage of the kind of forces you have, defend in difficult places if the enemy is stronger and more numerous, think twice (or bring twice the force) before trying to attack the enemy defending besides a river, try not to mess with Indians and rangers on the wilderness nor use your irregulars to fight redcoats on clear and civilized areas...

Cheers!