Water as defensible moats?

[SomeAirplane]

Does water work now as an actual defence or is it just visual?
For example, does the width and depth of a moat actually make a defensible point? Or is it just visual and i would have to work around it, otherwise.

[Kaelroth]

Water is a traversable part of the terrain. Settlers, merchants and raiders can just swim through it to reach the opposite shore. They will be slower while swimming through it and unable to attack/defend, but otherwise it does not cause a big impediment to raiders.

In order to have an effective moat, you will need to have the water at least one elevation level below the dirt/rock/wall. Basically, water as a defensible moat is for visual purposes and not really a practical one.

[SomeAirplane]

ahh, so a dry moat is in fact, better. was not sure if they factored weight into the game when they did the updates on water

[Jem]

water should be unswimmable if its X amount deep/wide. i doubt many people could swim back then well enough and with weapons on them etc

[Jambie Lionheart]

It's actually pretty useful to create a moat at around the same range crossbows become effective. Forces them to get closer and prevents them firing at max range >: ] It would be pretty op if it didn't take so long to build.

[Jacknm2]

Originally posted by Jem:

water should be unswimmable if its X amount deep/wide. i doubt many people could swim back then well enough and with weapons on them etc

I agree with this as it would make you consider more where you position your final castle or take the time to build a 2 deep 8 wide moat which i would do lol.

[Jambie Lionheart]

Originally posted by Jacknm2:

Originally posted by Jem:

water should be unswimmable if its X amount deep/wide. i doubt many people could swim back then well enough and with weapons on them etc

I agree with this as it would make you consider more where you position your final castle or take the time to build a 2 deep 8 wide moat which i would do lol.

I'd say it should be a trainable skill for some settlers but not all.

[Jacknm2]

Originally posted by Jambie Lionheart:

Originally posted by Jacknm2:

I agree with this as it would make you consider more where you position your final castle or take the time to build a 2 deep 8 wide moat which i would do lol.

I'd say it should be a trainable skill for some settlers but not all.

100% and have weight limits, people in full mail/plate armour can't swim etc...

[bv116]

I've started using a long moat as the cornerstone of my defensive scheme. The moat is narrow (4 - 5 squares wide) but long (30 -40 squares long). There is one soil square right in front of the door otherwise the raiders will hesitate to attack and they end up milling around at the entrance of the moat and not attack. What I found is that enemy archers are unable to fire at my defenders that are standing above the door because they are swimming while my archers are able to pick them off.