Is There a Way to Specify That a Unit Attack a Specific Enemy Unit?

[Thales]

Can you have a unit (or a group) focus on attacking a particular enemy unit?

In more specific terms, the enemy had three battering rams which were destroying my structures with virtual impunity. Part of the problem, I had a bad mix of units myself, so I was not inflicting much damage on the battering rams. Anyway, a "solution", (if it is available) would be to have units (swordsman) with high hacking attack points specifically target the battering rams..  Can that be done?

[Old Roman]

Double right click a swordsman (selects all swordsman), Right click 1st ram,  Shift Right click 2nd ram, Shift Right click 3rd ram (creates order que).  They will attempt to finish off the 3 rams in that order.  This has always worked for me, but I think that adding ctrl to key mix may have some advantage, but I am generally fumble fingered under that kind of stress.

I tend to keep garrisionable defensive buildings filled with swordsman.  In which case I select the building (preferably before the ram reaches it), right click the ram, then click the icon to empty the building.

For weakened rams sicking a CC full or women on them is sometimes sufficient.

[Thales]

18 minutes ago, Old Roman said:

I tend to keep garrisionable defensive buildings filled with swordsman.  In which case I select the building (preferably before the ram reaches it), right click the ram, then click the icon to empty the building.

I have favored archers, I think that is turning out to have been a mistake. Based on my recent experience, going with swordsman will be more appropriate.

I also made two other mistakes. One, I forgot to use my champion. Second, I neglected have a supply of horse cavalry.

19 minutes ago, Old Roman said:

For weakened rams sicking a CC full or women on them is sometimes sufficient.

I'm also pretty fumble fingered with the stress of RTS games. (I forgot to use my champion) I attempted to get the women into the CC, but I bungled that.

[Joseph87]

If you play the Iberian faction, their horse javelin unit with flaming javelin enabled work wonders against siege units and buildings.

20 of those in a group can take care of 3 to 4 battering rams in seconds. I also do away with siege units completely when playing this faction and just use them for razing buildings. They are much faster and more flexible than battering rams, and can defend themselves effectively and not requiring escorts.

Best of all if they are in real danger you can always stick them in the safely of a temple. Have two rotating groups of flaming javelinist doing their work and with the temple itself covered by arrows from garrisoned civic centres and fortress (20 units max each) pretty much sums up my late-game gameplay.

 

You can fill the civic centre and fortress with cheap skirmisher units and it will shoot the same arrow as more expensive ones, they can be put to work when the complex is not under attack, save the metals just for the fire javelinist and replace lost units here and there. I strike here and there with the horse units, taking down a couple of buildings and retreat, drawing in the enemy units  to be whittled down by my base defense, then switch to my other group to strike out again while the first group heals. If the enemy comes with siege units take those out first while they are still on their way then withdraw back to the temple. Set the horse units on defensive mode so they only attack what you tell them to and don't stick around absorbing unnecessary damage and losses.

 

Good and effective game play boils down to a plan consisting of a simple number of steps that you just repeat over and over again. Building up and surviving until you can put the plan to work is the key. Preferably getting everything in place before their escorted siege units arrive.

 

(If you are playing another faction champion sword cavalry units in groups of at least 20 is still your best counter against siege units. Try to save and reuse champion units as they are too valuable and expensive to be used up in one battle. Infantry champion units are too slow and will be overwhelmed while they try to destroy siege units. Lump your units with ctrl+number keys to better control them in the mess of men during battle and set attack mode to defensive so they don't act out on their own. Bolt crossbows will work against battering rams and catapults but they are a pain to pack/unpack and hard to defend against other enemy units.)

Edited January 16, 2022 by Joseph87