What to do when fighting an overwhelming enemy?

[Gagamehl]

I am one of the three kingdoms but between the others. So I am fighting on 2 sides and a guy from coalition just becomes vassalized be the enemy. There are to many enemy armies for me to fight. Is there a way out? Even if it is a bit cheesy I would still like to know and continue my playthrough since I took me 15 Hours to get me to where I am now.

[Vandinar]

Utilize Ambush Stance and Night Battles (unlocked by General skills) until you can force peace while continuously strengthening your economy to field more armies. Also being in between 2 enemies, sounds like a Cao Cao campaign against the northern Song and the southern Wu.

[Gagamehl]

Liu Bei but yeah

[Fanest]

Yea as Vandianar pointed out use night battles to single out battles vs only one army. To manuver your army faster use force march and use cities, and their towers which just mow down everything.

[Replicant Six]

Well the best thing you can do in situations like that is try to take up a really defensible position like a hill or between rocks. You can funnel the enemy into your line infantry and depending on which units you're using can hold for quite awhile. If you have cavalry their first goal should be to wipe out enemy archers. Once the baddies infantry is engaged with yours, flank with your archers and your cavalry. Avoid any duels if you're in romance because you don't want to risk losing your generals unless you are FOR SURE your general will win the duel.

[pin]

fight in a town or city and just abuse towers and calv. When they are bunched up at the entrace/chokepoint hit them from behind usually results in a mass rout.

If you put your army in ambush stance behind the city when they attack you'll be able to bait them into attacking, and use calv to finish off every last unit to destroy the whole army.

[identity]

You can generally get the AI to agree to peace if you trade them some territory or pay them off. If you look like you're going to lose a fight against a stronger opponent, I would recommend trying to buy them off instead of losing everything trying to keep what you have. You can then look at other options for expansion instead that will be easier for you. You can also negotiate vassalization yourself, with granted autonomy if possible. Not the best solution, but better than losing I guess. It will keep you safe in the mean time from your most powerful enemy.

Liu Bei is in a particularly bad spot, since Yuan Shao and Cao Cao end up being the two factions that vassalize a lot, so unless you're quick on getting rid of them or expanding at the beginning, you will fall behind really quick. Liu Bei also has the unique option to confederate other Liu's, Liu Zhang being the best choice, because his area and provinces are on the edge of the fighting and typically don't get too much action, plus it's a great place to setup home base with its varying choke points and abundant resources.

In general, the south west part of the map is relatively untouched in most games, while all the action tends to be mostly in the center and to the north east. People who figure this out tend to rush down there as soon as possible to start expanding in a relatively safe environment.

All in all, late game if you're getting ganged up on by the other big factions, you might just have to start a new game and prepare for that eventuality with the above recommendations.

[Gagamehl]

Originally posted by id:

You can generally get the AI to agree to peace if you trade them some territory or pay them off. If you look like you're going to lose a fight against a stronger opponent, I would recommend trying to buy them off instead of losing everything trying to keep what you have. You can then look at other options for expansion instead that will be easier for you. You can also negotiate vassalization yourself, with granted autonomy if possible. Not the best solution, but better than losing I guess. It will keep you safe in the mean time from your most powerful enemy.

Liu Bei is in a particularly bad spot, since Yuan Shao and Cao Cao end up being the two factions that vassalize a lot, so unless you're quick on getting rid of them or expanding at the beginning, you will fall behind really quick. Liu Bei also has the unique option to confederate other Liu's, Liu Zhang being the best choice, because his area and provinces are on the edge of the fighting and typically don't get too much action, plus it's a great place to setup home base with its varying choke points and abundant resources.

In general, the south west part of the map is relatively untouched in most games, while all the action tends to be mostly in the center and to the north east. People who figure this out tend to rush down there as soon as possible to start expanding in a relatively safe environment.

All in all, late game if you're getting ganged up on by the other big factions, you might just have to start a new game and prepare for that eventuality with the above recommendations.

Thanks alot. This and the other responses are the insight I have been looking for!

[Leanora]

Get out of the sandwich and let them make direct contact.
Trade area's,
conquer towards a side, ideally get 2 sides. E.g. North and east.

I play as the bandit queen and my only ally is Liu bei with 5 area's. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao have almost been obliterated. It only took about 80 turns of war with them and yeah I have been in constant war since day 1.

[Marcel Soares]

I suggest you to watch LOTR The Two towers, you will get the ideia

[Primarch Timmy]

Fabian Strategy, keep on the move and try to get ambushes. Sack their weak cities and keep doing it until their stability is utterly out of control and revolts start rise. It's important not to occupy it, if you are vastly out numbered and against overwhelming odds. IT'll cost more to defend. Just avoid large battles and you'll out last them.

[Silence Suzuka]

A cavalry with wedge formation could easily kill over 300 in one battle. I had once got one killed over 800.

All you need is to have about 10 melee infantry to hold the line, and then use your cavalry charge their back. I often bring 6 lance cavalry, and can easily fight two army at once.

[Emopanther]

Mostly retreat and night battle, My current palythrough is with Zheng Jiang, and I've basically been fighting for the last 120 Turns, First it was Gongsun and Yuan Shao (And his veritable horde of vassals) then it was Cao Cao (And HIS horde of Vassals) Just nonstop fighting along the Yellow River, with only three armies to defend atm. Good Times. But yeah, anyway, Nightbattles are your best friend, And If your resource points are being attacked, they generally can kill off a stack of enemies as long as youre using the towers. Cities seem to be the soft spots with no garrison X_X