Cataohracts and Layering

Hey, just starting to get into large # Cataphracts on my server, but haven't really had an opportunity to play around with small scale battle results to figure this out myself yet. Was hoping someone here could answer.

I've read that Cataphracts can be layered with Calvary and Scouts only, because these are the only two troop types faster. However, since ranged units always target other ranged units first, wouldn't archers be a valid layer?

I understand this would greatly slow down the attack speed, so often times wouldnt be worth it, but for short distance attacks it seems like it should work. Or do the cataphracts cover too much ground before the archers get into range? Thanks for replies.

Pretty sure it's the last part that gets you as well as the speed issue. Your cav/cataph will be victorious/dead with the archer-layer still at 3k range. Might work if there are no trap/abatis, who knows.

Yea, thats what I was thinking, great to hear from someone who's tried it with and without the 5k range battle start distance.

If the range is at 5k and there are no enemy rainbows:
Send scouts/ponies to layer as well as ranged units. The ranged units might catch up in time to give your HBs an extra round or two of safety, but don't rely on it.

If there range is at 5k and there is an enemy rainbow:
Jus' send scouts/ponies; the archers won't ever reach the AT range in time to be any use

If the range is AT range:
Send archers, b'listers, catas, scouts, ponies to layer up; they'll all take the hits before your 'phracts do and give you as much time as you need

By "Ponies" do you mean Cavs or Cats? Layer with scouts and ponies...how many scouts?

ponies = cavarlys
phracts = cataphracts

A related question... Range attacks range first, but Ranged will also attack when something is in range.

So defending archers will start shooting cataphracts once they are in range, but will they stop and start shooting at attacking archers once the archers move into range? Or do they stick with the first troop type (cataphracts in this case) they make contact with?

At each round a unit will check it's target and attack the primary target. If that changes, they'll switch their target.

In other words, they'll attack ponies while they're in range, but when archers come into range, then from the next turn onwards they'll attack the archers.
Once all the arcehrs are dead, they'll re-asses their targets again.

If there's not 5k range start there's no point in sending anything other than ponies really. 100k cavs can take out 600k archers if there's no fortifications.

Gotcha, answers my question, thanks Drakbrady. Happen to know a thread link to each units primary target?

Ok...

City has 17k AT's, 1000 traps, 500 abatis

Level 10 walls

300k archers

5000 of each other type of troops/mechs

All research 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have 100k Cav, 100k Cats, 100k archers (and many misc types of troops/mechs)

War Ensign (44)

Lvl 10 archery, 9 hbr, 9 compass

How should I attack the above city?

With what you have I would start with splitting your archers into two armies and filling the rest with heavy rainbow, like 10k of each foot troop. The archers would be the primary target in the first rounds so the foot troops have a chance to advance and meet the opposing foot. Your 10k pikes, swords, warriors would hit the opposing rainbow troops and your only real chance is if you outnumber them enough to knock out the rainbow.

I have had 100k cavalry hit 250k archers with 2500 swords left from a rainbow, and I won with 27k cav losses and 73k cavalry left. You should be able to hit 300k archers and win with just the cavalry if the rainbow is gone.

The dodgy part of this is clearing the rainbow defence to start, I would rather have 3 or 4 archer armies of around 70k with 10k of each foot troops but you aren't describing that much troops available. But you also have a full phract army to follow the cavalry, so thinking you might lose the first cavalry charge, it will still clear the remaining rainbow and the phracts should clean up.