This article provides you with a guide to fighting land battles in Napoleon: Total War and looks at some of the tactics you could employ to ensure a successful fight.
An eye for battle! Try pressing the ‘insert’ key during a battle to get a first-person view from one of your soldiers on the battlefield. Use the mouse wheel in this mode to scroll through available cameras.
Eye in the sky – Use the minimap to quickly assess the battlefield. Cavalry is represented by a triangle, infantry by a square, artillery by a cross and your general by a star.
Square up! – Be sure to form an infantry square in the face of cavalry. This will protect your men as much as possible, while providing many angles to fire from.
Form an infantry square in the face of cavalry.
Orders, sir! – Know your shortcuts. Set up hotkeys and use them effectively. It is extremely effective to form groups and use hotkeys to cycle through them.
They’re routing! – Keep an eye on the flag above enemy units. When this turns from green to orange or red, consider moving in quickly to break their spirit!
Rearguard action – Remember to keep an eye on enemy units that have routed. They could rally, leaving your flanks potentially threatened.
Rally troops, rally! – Rallying (see generals) also works on allied units. You can use your general to perk up friendly armies.
Incoming! – Artillery is as important as ever, so when deploying, pick your high ground wisely. Use targeted fire and barrage abilities to your advantage. Also consider using carcass shot and explosive shells where possible. Rockets can help to cause confusion amongst enemy units. Howitzers and canister shot can fire over your units, but don’t have them stand too close to the business end of the guns!
Form up! – Don’t be afraid to give your lines some depth. Thin lines can be broken through easily.
He’s fallen! – Consider taking out the enemy general as soon as possible. This will affect enemy morale substantially. The same hold true for your general: keep him alive, or suffer similar consequences.
Numbers, men, numbers! – When attacking in siege battles, ensure you have a mix of artillery, cavalry and infantry units. Try to outnumber your enemy’s infantry numbers. If you’re defending, deploying a few rockets is a good idea to reduce the number of attackers before they reach you.
Hole up – Place sharpshooter units in buildings if you can. Their excellent line of sight and range means you’ll be making the most of them shooting from windows.
You can visit: www.totalwar.com/napoleon for more information on the game.
Tags: battles, combat, Napolean: Total War, Napoleon: Total War
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