21.14 Specific information on the multi-purpose siege.
There are three main comamnds dealing with the most permanently destructive elements of warfare: besieging, plundering and razing. Besieging is the first stage and directs a legion about the destruction/removal of the target/defences set up in the destination location. It is necessary to successfully carry out all appropriate besieging on a target location before you can move onto plundering (looting the contents of the besieged locale) and then razing (final destruction of the plundered location). See HELP BATTLEFIELD for details on engagement on the battlefield and HELP PLUNDER or HELP RAZING for instructions on the post-siege stages.
Syntax: ... BESIEGE <target>/EVERYTHING <direction>/HERE.
Laying siege sets your legion the task of breaking the resistance (in whatever form that might be) of the specified target. It requires the use of the battering ram (or axes if directed against roused trees or huorns) to besiege in-location targets or the catapult/mortar-bombs for longer distance sieges. It uses, primarily, the specialist skill of "besieging" and - for close quarter attack - "meleeweapons". Any fortified target must first have the fortifications destroyed first before any damage can be undertaken against the well-defended object of the siege. Besieging in adjacent (or distant via line-of-sight) locations requires catapult and mortar, while laying siege in your locale requires the battering ram.
Be careful to direct your besieging against your foes rather than mistakenly send your loyal fellows against your own defences. Size of legion, potency and size of defences and quality of any manning of defences; these, and terrain/environmental modifiers, all play a part in the speed and potential costs of the siege. Manned fortified defensive positions or fortifications may strike back and thus cause injury (and potential fatalties) to the besieger. You will find the potency of your besieging against animated targets like huorns (the forest at war) determined in part by equipment, such as how many axes your legion has in its inventory, or how many catapults/mortar-bombs; and the number of legionnaires available and deployed to man the offensive weaponry.
Targets are:
FORTIFICATIONS - the main form of location/regional defence, generally built up over important passes (like gatehouses) or as bulwarks protecting significant areas (like outside guildhouses). Fortifications are the only form of permanent defence that strike back agaist besiegers within range, with or without the need for specific orders or being manned by defensive soldiers.
SIEGETOWER - the siegetower is the multipurpose offesive shield/vantage point and defensive augmentation (when attached to, for instance, a trench entrance or a fortification).
BARRICADES - used to create blockages within a location, to raise obstacles, to augment defensive positions, etc.
DOORS/GATES - found throughout the land protecting buildings, guildhouses, storerooms, shops, private homes, government buildings - stronger doors will resist siege for longer.
HUORNS - the awakened trees of semi-intelligent nature, often led by an ent-shepherd and roused to an aggressive state: generally marshalled by a member of the ranger profession to attack legions or fortifications/defences with a supernatural power. Huorns can only be besieged in-location or in adjacent locations. See HELP HUORNS and HELP FELLING for further info.
OILCAULDRONS - the scaffold-rigged oilcauldrons used for pouring burning oil on besiegers (from defensive positions) or from higher positions against lower (into trenches, for instance).
TUNNELS - all tunnels have a starting point, the basis of the scaffold-fortified tunnel. Besieging the tunnel can be done anywhere but if successful at the startpoint can collapse much of the tunnel (including its all-important entrance/exit).
TRENCHES - the trench is a fortified defensive or pre-offensive position dug into a location. Laying siege to a trench removes it as a threatening tactical location, chasing out whatever is within.
The rest of this helpfil contains a specific summary of besiege setup and the various stages/method required to carry it out, along with any idiosyncracies relating to each of the possible targets: i.e. it is slightly different besieging an angry, aggressive group of trees to destroying a fortified trench.
ONE: Setting your legion to 'action' mode.
You will need to ensure your legion is in ACTIONS mode to inform the legionnaires you expect a besieging to take place. This is distinct to MELEE or passive states, and is documented fully in HELP DEPLOY. The command is ACTIONS followed by a percentage, up to 100%, to tell your legion how many of its number to devote to the tasks appropriate to the legion skills deployed (see below). You will find MELEE takes precedence over ACTIONS so be warned to check your LEGION INFO to ensure sufficient men are set to act/be deployed to carry out whatever besieging you require.
TWO: Deploying legion skills appropriately.
It is important to deploy your legionnaires to use the appropriate skills, to carry out whatever task you wish them to complete. The central legion skill for BESIEGE is "Besieging" and so after setting up their ACTIONS percentage, you command DEPLOY BESIEGING followed - again - by the percentage of your legionnaires you wish to deploy specifically to the siege. You may wish to augment the "Besieging" (which should always hold the majority of men) with some secondary legion skills: this is for you to experiment with.
THREE: Commencing, carrying out and ending the siege itself.
To commence your siege you will use the BESIEGE command. This is fully documented in HELP BATTLEFIELD but, in simplest form, it is BESIEGE followed by your target, followed by - if appropriate - the direction of the location in which your target can be found; or HERE to lay siege to a target in your legion's location. Two examples: COM <legion-name> BESIEGE FORTIFICATIONS SOUTH to lay siege to fortifications in a location southwards, or COM <legion-name> BESIEGE HUORNS HERE to attack roused trees in your location. The former require catapult and mortar bombs and the latter axes (though more usually battering ram). Both would be augmented in effectiveness by facing the right way: see HELP FORMATION for info on legion 'direction facing', 'formation' and 'movement approach'.
FOUR: Targets for BESIEGE.
You can target fortifications, siegetowers, oilcauldrons, and barricades using the standard techniques of the battering ram for close-in siege and catapult plus mortar bomb for longer distance offensive. Legion skills used are "Besieging" and either "Projectiles" for ranged attack, or "Projectiles" and "Fieldequipment" for close-in besieging with the battering ram.
You are able to besiege doors and gates, to break them down in order that your legions may pass through or may plunder locations they protect. To lay siege to a door you must place your legion in the localepoint closest to the door/gate and ensure it is facing the door/gate. You can only use the battering ram for this task, and the legion skills involved are "Besieging" and "Fieldequipment".
Sometimes the forests themselves are roused to action - awakened by those with deep woodland lore to take on an aggressive, violent approach. These aroused trees are called 'huorns' and can be deadly enemies: slaughtering large legions or smashing fortifications/city defences. They are besieged in-location using axes (not battering rams) or in adjacent locations using catapults plus mortar bombs. The "Besieging" and "Fieldequipment" legion skills are used. You will need three legionnaires per catapult, or two legionnaires per axe, and then sufficient mortar bombs and/or unbroken axes to carry out the task. The more "Besieging" you deploy, the larger your legion, the more equipment: more chance of felling a greater number of huorns each attack round. It is important to be speedy as the war-like trees slay legionnaires with alarming ease. See HELP HUORNS and HELP FELLING for further info.
You can besiege trenches and tunnels - effectively turning your legion's catapult and mortar bombs to the task of destroying the trench as a cohesive whole, or collapsing a tunnel in on itself. The legion skills of "Besieging", "Fieldequipment" and "Projectiles" are used for this type of BESIEGE, along with "Trenches" or "Tunnelling" depending which you are attempting to destroy. The larger your legion, the more deployment on "Besieging" and the more catapults/mortar-bombs you have at your disposal the faster and more sure will be the attack.
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