How to take Castle Drakenhof by turn 2 as Von Carstein

[Dionysus 🐭]

I have to siege the castle, and yet with melee only, it seems that my only choice is to wait and build siege equipment. Otherwise, won't the fort towers simply obliterate my troops? What do I do here to take Drakenhof by turn 2?

[Chrysalis]

Why do you need to take Castle Drakenhof by turn 2?

I would just wait and build the siege equipment, although there are some monster units that can destroy gates without a battering ram.

But I don't know if Von Carstein has these kinds of beasts in his army at the start of a campaign.

[Xaphnir]

Originally posted by Chrysalis:

But I don't know if Von Carstein has these kinds of beasts in his army at the start of a campaign.

Isabella doesn't. And I don't think Vlad starts with them, either.

Originally posted by aaronth07:

Otherwise, won't the fort towers simply obliterate my troops?

Castle Drakenhof's towers aren't the army killing machines of death at the start of the game that they become at T4/T5.

[Toad]

Doesnt vlad get siege attacker trait? He gets varghiests and bats to attack the walls. They have no missiles so you can just stand infront of one tower and tank it with some zombies while the varghiests do the work. Batter the door with vlad and spam healing.

[Teh_Diplomat]

The only units for Vampires Counts that have Siege Attacker attribute: Crypt Horrors, Vargheists and Terrorghiests.

That being said, Vlad does has siege attacker, so you're able to immediately launch an attack on a walled settlements provided he initiates the attack.

[SamtheCossack]

Are you playing Vlad or Isabella? Vlad can attack immediately, Isabella needs to wait a turn to build a ram.

Due to this, you are generally better off destroying Manfreds army before trying it with Isabella

[Vlad von Carstein]

Immediately recruit isabella, raise dead in home province and in east sylvania in vlads army, recruit units in isabellas army, siege on turn 2 while reinforcing with isabella, use flying units to destroy the enemy's flying because you outnumber them then cycle charge them into the enemy units on the walls, unless enemy flying units are hanging back with their lord at the capture point in which case just cycle charge into the walls first.

[EvilVictor]

It's faster to rush the walls with skeletons/zombies and let them put up ladders than it is to wait for Vlad to break down the gate. Zombies can take some hits so start with them up front and run past them with the Skeletons. Vlad can usually kill everything by himself in that Garrison early in the game anyway, the AI won't rush him and overpower him, just let the garrison get bogged down on your trash units while you clean up. It's not the fastest fight so bring a snack :)

If you have Izzy you'll end up waiting until turn 3 at the earliest since you'll need a ram. But, just like with Vlad you don't really need to break down the gate but your dogs will only get to watch the fight if you don't. If Izzy goes in with both of the starting vamps imbeded plus her bats it's a pretty easy fight.

That said... you don't really NEED it that early. Sometimes it's more fun to do something crazy, like wait for turn 2, hire Vlad, dismantle the starting buildings for some extra cash and then go take Altdorf and start from there (raise dead, sack, raid on the way) Come back and take Sylvania later.

[VGreyloc]

Probably the worst possible review I've seen, I've not had any issues, Don't feel that the AI cheats etc etc... Clearly this person just needs to git gud and learn the ways of Total War

[Dionysus 🐭]

I am playing as Vlad, and I managed to take it at turn 2 by simply brute forcing with Vlad and another Vampire hero, with trash zombies/skeletons to support. I ended up just destroying one gate, and in the battle I lost one vargheist unfortunately, and had to merge several zombie units (not that much of a loss there). The battle was against basic tier one settlement along with the starting Mannfred army.

[valky]

Id chose Isabella - let alone for the bonus; in turn 2 you can 'recruit' Vlad as lord, while building up your army near the boarder to Drakenhof.
Worst/best case scenario is Mannfred moving towards *uhm* the other city (for spam-recruiting Black Knights).
Vlad is king of the hill in every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ aspect (sry - I assume some of my language will be blackened out); you need him to instantly attack Drakenhof (siege attacker-trait).
Else it's just the use of proper tactic and stuff....and some luck; but Isabella + Vlad are serious business....


No one really pressures you in taking it in turn 2....so...

[it's nigh impossible on VH+ on turn 2...who ever says otherwise is using mods or just lies...edit: because ladders & defensive forces; will shred you]

[Wyvern]

Not sure whether or not its doable t2, since isabella is the stronger start lord, but rushing drakenhof should be pretty easy. Just go besiege it, bait the enemy out to fight you. Snipe out mannfred and his varghulf, which leaves the garrison a weak mess that you can grind down with your heroes/attritious melee.

[valky]

Manni should move..for his desire is to recruit Knights....else it's a crappy hard fight....
And in Turn 3 or 4 you have some serious cannon fodder + Vlad or Isabella

[Humble]

Isabella couldn't but she is stronger in long term, I think, while vlad can attack right way, with blood knight counter Mannfred's Varghulf, Isabella don't had that counter. One thing I don't like is mannfred's reward trails as vampire fighting vampire. 50% immure to vampire att? What's? my vampire is 100% immure to vampire, I don't need that, I wish something like wound vs assassinate attack or good chance gave assassinate to army fail to assassinate since Mannfred is backstabing, beat him, and assassinate is much harder to assassinate your army or something like that.

[Teh_Diplomat]

Either way (Vlad or Isabella) the same objective and means of accomplishing it.

Starting as Vlad you immediately raise dead, move up into Mannfred's territory and raise the dead from his province. Once you've recruited Isabella - as she's quickly made available; she reinforces for the buffs for that initial siege battle.

However, Isabella with her buffs to Vampire's damage, and the fact that Vlad still retains his siege attacker attribute means the roles are simply reversed.


Typically, I keep Vlad as the Skele guy - then Grave Guard guy; and have Isabella hold the monsters, but as stated before her factional buffs are kind of better.


I

[fgalkin]

Just wait for Mannfred to come relieve the castle and beat both armies in the field. It's doable with Isabella and her extra vampires, probably also with Vlad