*The other are soon finished off, once the EPAs finish reloading.* You only had seven or so ballistae, right? I think that's what you had on your list. Also, which cliffs are you talking about? The ones behind the wall, or the ones on the sides of the dale? MM pulled the archers on the sides back some time ago, so I'm not sure if they'd still be in range.
*Archers keep firing.* Yes, that's correct. The cliffs above the wall. To my knowledge, there haven't been orcs on the cliffs to either side since the skirmish with 8Legos ended.
Then I think they'd be destroyed. Okay. Well, they'd be out of range then. I'm about 380 meters away from the wall, and I'm guessing the cliffs are at least a good forty meters or so back from that, putting the total range at some four hundred and twenty meters. A good longbow is only going to reach about three hundred meters on flat ground (probably less with whatever your Orcs have), and a height advantage will only go so far. Based upon my calculations, your archers would need a height advantage of over 165 meters to reach 420 meters (my front ranks), or 225 meters high to reach 450 meters (the middle of my army).
*Archers keep firing.* Yes, that's correct. The cliffs above the wall. To my knowledge, there haven't been orcs on the cliffs to either side since the skirmish with 8Legos ended.
Then I think they'd be destroyed. Okay. Well, they'd be out of range then. I'm about 380 meters away from the wall, and I'm guessing the cliffs are at least a good forty meters or so back from that, putting the total range at some four hundred and twenty meters. A good longbow is only going to reach about three hundred meters on flat ground (probably less with whatever your Orcs have), and a height advantage will only go so far. Based upon my calculations, your archers would need a height advantage of over 165 meters to reach 420 meters (my front ranks), or 225 meters high to reach 450 meters (the middle of my army).
I agree. Hmmm, yes. *Orcs are withdrawn back to ground level, behind the wall.*
Okay, sure - I was never going to win this battle anyways. As to the trebuchets - just how far back are you?
*The barrels explode anyways, leaving un-ignited oil in a large patch in front of your forces.* Some of your HATs would have been destroyed, keep in mind. *The siege weapons fall back again, before fire can be returned.* *As soon as my troops see the artillery and barricades, they fall back, avoiding the majority of the losses.* Could you please give me a comprehensive view of your camp layout? I have troops on the walls that'd be able to see the whole thing, but you still haven't posted anything about it.
Glad we see eye-to-eye now. Just within scorpion range, so about 380-some meters. Trebuchets have a range of about 300 meters (as do most bows).
I know. I may not be stating losses as we go, but I've been keeping them in mind. Which siege weapons are you referring to? Trebuchets can't exactly be moved quickly.
I don't have a camp, just a formation. And I did state my formation at the beginning of the battle, but I'll go over it again. Front line consists of LTs (small, light tanks with a polybolos) and halberdiers (filling the gaps in between tanks, more or less lined up with the back sides of said tanks). Side flanks are covered by MAPs (large, rectangular tanks with six repeating arbalests and two polybolos on top) line up end-to-end, creating a mobile wall (though also restricting my formation's movement to forwards or backwards, very limited turning and no going sideways). Rear has the EPAs, and the HATs and Gunuzirak are in the middle. So your phalanx is engaging the LTs, though must somewhat break formation in order to really engage the halberdiers (to go between the tanks in order to reach them). The Wargs hit the side wall of MAPs, hence the five-foot double-walled barricade brimming with light artillery.
*A number of LTs pursue your main force to help drive them back. After your troops farthest from mine reach about seventy or so yards a way, a few lit incendiaries are fired where your trebuchets' shots landed. The LTs continue to drive your forces into the resulting inferno.* *After all ballistae are destroyed, my artillery fires on other targets, like trebuchets and onagers, in addition to the infantry.* *Gunuzirak continue their barrage on your nearby forces.*
Okie, but sidenote - my troops are behind where the trebuchets fired the oil - regardless of your position, there's no way trolls could run 300 meters in the time frame we're considering - so if you want to light it, go ahead, but it'll stop your pursuit and give me a barrier.
*The Crossbowmen fall behind the ramparts I'm assuming the wall has, and begin shooting from a crouched/belly position.* *My troops quickly recede to the gate, the wargs going first and Ologs turning around to prevent being followed.* My siege weapons fell back in my last move, so I'll ignore your new aiming, though most of the Ballistae must be destroyed by now. *The Crossbowmen begin lighting fire-bolts and shooting them down at the artillery.* *The Sappers who were working the now-destroyed siege engines begin making and loading incendiaries into the Onagers at the back side of the wall.* Clarification on the artillery - they've fallen back to the back side of the wall, out of sight of your ballistae-like weapons, but catapults and such would still have a trajectory able to reach them.
Glad we see eye-to-eye now. Just within scorpion range, so about 380-some meters. Trebuchets have a range of about 300 meters (as do most bows).
I know. I may not be stating losses as we go, but I've been keeping them in mind. Which siege weapons are you referring to? Trebuchets can't exactly be moved quickly.
I don't have a camp, just a formation. And I did state my formation at the beginning of the battle, but I'll go over it again. Front line consists of LTs (small, light tanks with a polybolos) and halberdiers (filling the gaps in between tanks, more or less lined up with the back sides of said tanks). Side flanks are covered by MAPs (large, rectangular tanks with six repeating arbalests and two polybolos on top) line up end-to-end, creating a mobile wall (though also restricting my formation's movement to forwards or backwards, very limited turning and no going sideways). Rear has the EPAs, and the HATs and Gunuzirak are in the middle. So your phalanx is engaging the LTs, though must somewhat break formation in order to really engage the halberdiers (to go between the tanks in order to reach them). The Wargs hit the side wall of MAPs, hence the five-foot double-walled barricade brimming with light artillery.
*A number of LTs pursue your main force to help drive them back. After your troops farthest from mine reach about seventy or so yards a way, a few lit incendiaries are fired where your trebuchets' shots landed. The LTs continue to drive your forces into the resulting inferno.* *After all ballistae are destroyed, my artillery fires on other targets, like trebuchets and onagers, in addition to the infantry.* *Gunuzirak continue their barrage on your nearby forces.*
Okie, but sidenote - my troops are behind where the trebuchets fired the oil - regardless of your position, there's no way trolls could run 300 meters in the time frame we're considering - so if you want to light it, go ahead, but it'll stop your pursuit and give me a barrier.
*The Crossbowmen fall behind the ramparts I'm assuming the wall has, and begin shooting from a crouched/belly position.* *My troops quickly recede to the gate, the wargs going first and Ologs turning around to prevent being followed.* My siege weapons fell back in my last move, so I'll ignore your new aiming, though most of the Ballistae must be destroyed by now. *The Crossbowmen begin lighting fire-bolts and shooting them down at the artillery.* *The Sappers who were working the now-destroyed siege engines begin making and loading incendiaries into the Onagers at the back side of the wall.* Clarification on the artillery - they've fallen back to the back side of the wall, out of sight of your ballistae-like weapons, but catapults and such would still have a trajectory able to reach them.
Sorry. I thought that your forces had engaged my front line for a short bit. If that's not the case, then the oil is not (intentionally) lit nor do my tanks pursue you.
Correction on the artillery - both sides would be out of sight of each other, and all weapons would have a trajectory able to hit the opponent (ignoring range). However, the shorter range of catapults actually mean that they'd have to come out from the wall quite a distance before they'd be in range, while my ballistae could hit them just behind the wall.
*As the bottleneck of the gate slows down the movement of you troops, artillery take the chance to give them one final farewell-pounding. After a single volley, my entire formation retreats out of range to further formulate plans (and also to pluck out bolts and douse what small fires may have started (and of course make some minor repairs)).*
All Archers are pulled down from the mountain and prepare to withdraw from the Dale. Orcs start to dig in the area just behind the wall, while others add more boulders to the heap behind the gate, and dig a trench around it.
{JAMMERS! -GOOD- ONLY!} I think the time has come for us to make a break for it. There's a nice gaping hole in their wall (despite the crumbled stone everywhere), and I've done about as much damage as I'll be able to do effectively with the troops I have, since I'm pretty well limited to ranged units. I'll lay down cover fire for you and try to keep Sham's troops pinned down. I need you to rush the gap and take out his archers. I'll also send some of my light tanks with you, for support. Think that's doable?
All Archers are pulled down from the mountain and prepare to withdraw from the Dale. Orcs start to dig in the area just behind the wall, while others add more boulders to the heap behind the gate, and dig a trench around it.
Ah, it's up now.
*The oil is lit on fire, getting rid of it for the coming fight.* *Wet skins and cloths are draped over and pinned to most of the exposed wood on my artillery.* *After this is finished (which will take a little bit) my troops start advancing again.*
Okie, but sidenote - my troops are behind where the trebuchets fired the oil - regardless of your position, there's no way trolls could run 300 meters in the time frame we're considering - so if you want to light it, go ahead, but it'll stop your pursuit and give me a barrier.
*The Crossbowmen fall behind the ramparts I'm assuming the wall has, and begin shooting from a crouched/belly position.* *My troops quickly recede to the gate, the wargs going first and Ologs turning around to prevent being followed.* My siege weapons fell back in my last move, so I'll ignore your new aiming, though most of the Ballistae must be destroyed by now. *The Crossbowmen begin lighting fire-bolts and shooting them down at the artillery.* *The Sappers who were working the now-destroyed siege engines begin making and loading incendiaries into the Onagers at the back side of the wall.* Clarification on the artillery - they've fallen back to the back side of the wall, out of sight of your ballistae-like weapons, but catapults and such would still have a trajectory able to reach them.
Sorry. I thought that your forces had engaged my front line for a short bit. If that's not the case, then the oil is not (intentionally) lit nor do my tanks pursue you.
Correction on the artillery - both sides would be out of sight of each other, and all weapons would have a trajectory able to hit the opponent (ignoring range). However, the shorter range of catapults actually mean that they'd have to come out from the wall quite a distance before they'd be in range, while my ballistae could hit them just behind the wall.
*As the bottleneck of the gate slows down the movement of you troops, artillery take the chance to give them one final farewell-pounding. After a single volley, my entire formation retreats out of range to further formulate plans (and also to pluck out bolts and douse what small fires may have started (and of course make some minor repairs)).*
You're good.
The ballistae fire mostly from line-of-sight, though, right? *A couple of Ologs go down, but the rest of my troops remain mostly unharmed as they hurry through the gate.* *The gate is shut, and troops fall back and begin repairs on the siege engines.*
Sorry. I thought that your forces had engaged my front line for a short bit. If that's not the case, then the oil is not (intentionally) lit nor do my tanks pursue you.
Correction on the artillery - both sides would be out of sight of each other, and all weapons would have a trajectory able to hit the opponent (ignoring range). However, the shorter range of catapults actually mean that they'd have to come out from the wall quite a distance before they'd be in range, while my ballistae could hit them just behind the wall.
*As the bottleneck of the gate slows down the movement of you troops, artillery take the chance to give them one final farewell-pounding. After a single volley, my entire formation retreats out of range to further formulate plans (and also to pluck out bolts and douse what small fires may have started (and of course make some minor repairs)).*
You're good.
The ballistae fire mostly from line-of-sight, though, right? *A couple of Ologs go down, but the rest of my troops remain mostly unharmed as they hurry through the gate.* *The gate is shut, and troops fall back and begin repairs on the siege engines.*
What do you mean? Yes, ballistae are typically more effective with lower trajectories, but they can also arc their shots to fire over stuff. Really, there are two trajectories for hitting any given spot, though the lower one is often more effective for ballistae. In this case, however, because we're at nigh-maximum range, those two trajectories are almost the same, so the effectiveness is about in the middle of the usual range (probably slightly more, because calculating this sort of trajectory isn't nearly as mind-boggling as an arc at a closer target ). Catapults, are similar, but they tend to use more moderate trajectories (lower trajectory still has some curve at close range, while the upper trajectory isn't virtually straight up.
It'd be a bit more than a few Ologs when you've got a bunch of troops packed into a tight area, and a heck of a lot of bolts pouring into the general area (including misses).
All Archers are pulled down from the mountain and prepare to withdraw from the Dale. Orcs start to dig in the area just behind the wall, while others add more boulders to the heap behind the gate, and dig a trench around it.
Ah, it's up now.
*The oil is lit on fire, getting rid of it for the coming fight.* *Wet skins and cloths are draped over and pinned to most of the exposed wood on my artillery.* *After this is finished (which will take a little bit) my troops start advancing again.*
There's no point fighting you here; I've clearly lost.
*By now, the heap of rocks covers the gate and a decent segment of the wall around it. A trench prevents advance even if the dwarves manage to shift it. Orcs start to hew at the rocks on the cliff face, bringing boulders crashing down. They are piled around the Moria Gate, restricting access to five men at a time. All Archers are pulled back into the mountain.*
*The oil is lit on fire, getting rid of it for the coming fight.* *Wet skins and cloths are draped over and pinned to most of the exposed wood on my artillery.* *After this is finished (which will take a little bit) my troops start advancing again.*
There's no point fighting you here; I've clearly lost.
*By now, the heap of rocks covers the gate and a decent segment of the wall around it. A trench prevents advance even if the dwarves manage to shift it. Orcs start to hew at the rocks on the cliff face, bringing boulders crashing down. They are piled around the Moria Gate, restricting access to five men at a time. All Archers are pulled back into the mountain.*
Well, that makes things easier for me. So, who all is left here then?
*My army advances on the breach left in your wall (I don't recall you doing anything to block the some-hundred-foot-long collapse caused by my fireblades). They do not fire as of yet, but are ready to shoot anything that appears to want to mount a resistance (particularly Gotee's troops).*
There's no point fighting you here; I've clearly lost.
*By now, the heap of rocks covers the gate and a decent segment of the wall around it. A trench prevents advance even if the dwarves manage to shift it. Orcs start to hew at the rocks on the cliff face, bringing boulders crashing down. They are piled around the Moria Gate, restricting access to five men at a time. All Archers are pulled back into the mountain.*
Well, that makes things easier for me. So, who all is left here then?
*My army advances on the breach left in your wall (I don't recall you doing anything to block the some-hundred-foot-long collapse caused by my fireblades). They do not fire as of yet, but are ready to shoot anything that appears to want to mount a resistance (particularly Gotee's troops).*
That's what you're supposed to think. There's my...[insert number here once I've found my troop list] of Powered Infantry, you and Goat.
I have clearly missed a post somewhere; I had no idea you blasted a hole.
Well, that makes things easier for me. So, who all is left here then?
*My army advances on the breach left in your wall (I don't recall you doing anything to block the some-hundred-foot-long collapse caused by my fireblades). They do not fire as of yet, but are ready to shoot anything that appears to want to mount a resistance (particularly Gotee's troops).*
That's what you're supposed to think. There's my...[insert number here once I've found my troop list] of Powered Infantry, you and Goat.
I have clearly missed a post somewhere; I had no idea you blasted a hole.