LloydBrown
Legionary
posted 06 November 2007 23:17 EDT (US)
It only recently really solidly hit me that you wipe out an enemy by killing all family members, not by taking all of its cities. I've been basing my wipeout strategies on the Civ-style eradication rather than taking advantage of this subtle but fundamental difference.
Has anyone attempted a strategy of using assassins to destroy an entire faction? I'm working on leveling up some assassins against Egypt in my Parthian campaign, but I've been having *terrible* luck with my assassins getting whacked on even the simplest missions.
Militarily, I'm concentrating my attacks on armies with family members and continuing to play even after the computer has offered me victory if I have a chance to kill a surviving family member. Hopefully, this means that when I take the last couple of cities along the Nile, I'll be fighting rebels.
The faction leader is freakin' hard to kill by assassination, though. He's gonna have to die with chariot reins in hand.
LloydBrown
Legionary
posted 07 November 2007 10:45
EDT (US)
5 / 13
I did try to experience up my assassins on enemy diplomats, captains, etc. I'm only in the relatively early stages of the plan. I've made about 10 assassins, but like I said--they've been dropping like flies. Mental picture: the big pirate fight at the end of the movie Yellowbeard (if you haven't seen it, in "pretending" to die in battle, many gave themselves lethal wounds.)
It doesn't seem like a very viable strategy based on my modest experience and your feedback so far. I think I'll give it another shot, though, before I stick with spies. I do like the odd victories.
nikhilm92
Legionary
posted 07 November 2007 10:57
EDT (US)
6 / 13
I normally bribe my way to victory. I bribe nearly all armies.
Assassins however effective in killing captains...they do not kill entire stacks.
BastWorshiper
Sensei
posted 07 November 2007 11:12
EDT (US)
7 / 13
You'll have to kill the last several family members on the same turn, because, as Terikel said, if the faction has too few family members when its turn begins a captain will be promoted. It's possible, but extremely difficult and generally requires a lot of reloading to succeed. Good luck!
mikecz
Legionary
posted 07 November 2007 12:13
EDT (US)
8 / 13
BastWorshiper has it right - I had several instances of taking the next to last city of an enemy faction & knew (from spies) there was only one enemy family member left in the last city. If you don't also capture that last city in the same turn, it will commonly gain 2 or 3 new family members on the end of turn.
IMO, assassins are more likely to succeed in their missions if you can spy on the target first (whether a man or building to sabotage). Beginning assassins are really "tender". My favorite target for them is rebel captains. Spy on the rebs & then hit them with the assassin. I've often parked a newbie assassin & spy near a rebel army & had them spy/whack the rebel captain for several turns in a row. Pretty soon you've got a 7 or 8 eye assassin. The other "easy" early target for assassins is sabotage, especially if you've gotten a spy into the target city. With a spy already in there, you'll see the % chance to succeed for all buildings. Unless there are enemy spies, assassins, or a family member with espionage credentials in the target city, you'll usually get at least 1 building with a 95% chance to sabotage. Sabotage several turns in a row to crank up your assassin's espionage rating.
As others have pointed out, though, enemy faction leaders & heirs tend to be tough targets, even for 9 & 10 eye assassins.
Crusiminator
Legionary
posted 07 November 2007 14:48
EDT (US)
9 / 13
i dont know but even my 8 "eye" assasins have hot 5% chance of killing the leader of a fraction
Emperor Augustus
Legionary
posted 07 November 2007 19:48
EDT (US)
10 / 13
*scratches head*
My memory must be shot. It's been 2 years or so since I played that particular game. Normal family members get easier with experience...
nicklebee
Legionary
posted 08 November 2007 11:47
EDT (US)
12 / 13
A recent little tactic I have experimented with recently may be relevant here.
When playing as a roman faction i leave some assassins around the other roman factions major italian settlements. With the help of spies I keep an eye out for new faction members to arrive. I usually remove these fairly swiftly. This at least maintains weaker roman factions as they rarely get the faction member into the field to build up a command rating which I may be on the receiving end of later.
Also if the attempt fails it can lead to an early civil war which can be very useful for building a strong factionless roman empire, and making sure you are the only person with post marius units.
rvtende
Legionary
posted 10 November 2007 11:17
EDT (US)
13 / 13
well i managed to wipe out the gauls while they had 10 cities by killing all their family members (no reloading) so it is possible but it does take a while.