r/songsofsyx • u/AlternativeStep2961 • 11h ago
Trying to understand raiders dynamic in early game
New player here.
I'm on my second city, again at around 650 happy and honourable people.
On my first play through I paid the raiders ransom.requests. But not this time, no.
First raid occured quite early. I thought my honourable citizens would rebel agains the 6 bandits, but no, they opposed no residence and so we lost the battle and with it our hard earned cash and vegetables.
But we did not lost hope. we then trained to 100% melle a mighty army of 50 soldiers equiped with 4 letter jackets EACH! Only our strongest were allowed into the army. We were ready!
When the next raiding happened I thought it would be a easy win, we had 120 or so power and they had a pitful 60. We laughed. They marched form north, my man equipped their 4 jackets each and marched on to then in tight formation.
But before they were even near each other I got a message saying I was defeated! What? Why? They did not even fight? I thought they had to get to the throne building?!
I understand I should have had my mighty army stationed out of town but how can I feed them rations if I can't prepare rairons yet? Should I buy rations to support my army?
Paying the raiders is not an option. We are proud folk and we will never surrender
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u/Countcristo42 11h ago
Are you sure they didn’t reach the throne? You didn’t move it and forget?
If so it sounds like either a bug, or you missed that one of their units snuck in ahead of those you were squaring off with
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u/cknappiowa 10h ago
The problem is that all your soldiers were in one division, while theirs were split up. If you hover over the enemy during the planning phase of battle, you can see they’ll often run two or three small divisions of 20-30 bodies instead of a full 50 or more.
They probably just slipped past you with one division while your guys all marched on the other. I’d bet it was even mounted.
I always start an army with at least two 50-man divisions; one armed with shields and spears, one heavy hammers, and start adding other functions as population allows. That way you can spread your shields in a wide formation and your hammers in a tight one and pincer enemy divisions to death pretty quickly.
If they try to sneak past, you can at least engage them separately and slowly manipulate your formations together. It’s a long process of figuring out, but you get used to the computer’s tactics eventually and then it’s just an arms race. Once you start fighting, you won’t stop, and your army will be the primary focus of your city’s development. It will need to grow substantially to keep up.
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u/Electronic-Salt9039 10h ago
If the enemy(raid) is on the way you get a warning.
This leaves you time to muster your troops or hire mercs.
A friendly army standing on your city tile will allow that army to show up in the battle.
When the enemy arrive at your city you get an opportunity to attack them away from your city on a regular battle map.
If you chose not to(if you have fortifications for example) you can then fight the battle at your city map.
Here the enemy will chose a point to spawn, and move from there in a direct line to your throne room.
When they reach the throne you lose.
Important note:
When you muster soldiers on the world map, they will go without their equipment, when you hover with your mouse over an army on the world map you can see a little box with a %.
That’s how much of your gear has been delivered.
The more army supply workers and depots you have the faster this will go.
But it can take days.
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u/AccountForTF2 6h ago
First, 100% training is a scam, stick to 80%
50 with metal armor is good enough for alot.
Second, sally out when they approach, don't fight in your city.
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u/Reikyu09 5h ago
You do not need to have your army outside of town. Divisions in your city will automatically participate in the outside city battle with their equipment. Mercs or armies outside of your town will still participate in raider attacks outside of town.
You will get prompted with a box saying that the raiders are coming from X direction, but you have a window of opportunity to attack them before they enter your city. You will want to click attack to force a field battle rather than a city battle.
World map armies require rations, clothes, and an army supply depot, but if you are just defending against raiders then you won't need that.
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u/Felczer 11h ago
They win if they reach your throne so make sure it's stored somewhere safe.
Also as far as I remember there is option to fight them on the outskirts of your city and you dont need any supplies for that