Walls

[Chrenergros]

Hi all! I've bought the game today and I'm really happy about his current state (for an early acces).
What I'm not understanding his the utility to build walls on fortress, does someone knows?

[Ddraig Lleuad]

On some maps they can unlock additional routes, as terrain features get overwritten by walls. The main thing tho is that they change the battle maps considerably. Without walls a defender gets a few stakes as obstacles and two bits of elevated ground, with walls you get considerably more elevated ground, enough to actually block the enemy from getting at your troops except through a 'gatehouse' of three middle hexes.

[Chrenergros]

Originally posted by Ddraig Lleuad:

On some maps they can unlock additional routes, as terrain features get overwritten by walls. The main thing tho is that they change the battle maps considerably. Without walls a defender gets a few stakes as obstacles and two bits of elevated ground, with walls you get considerably more elevated ground, enough to actually block the enemy from getting at your troops except through a 'gatehouse' of three middle hexes.

Oh, thank you! I've red in the road map that they are planning to improve siege, so I think that we will see more use of walls in the future.

[Toni 'Bō' Jones]

Originally posted by Ddraig Lleuad:

On some maps they can unlock additional routes, as terrain features get overwritten by walls. The main thing tho is that they change the battle maps considerably. Without walls a defender gets a few stakes as obstacles and two bits of elevated ground, with walls you get considerably more elevated ground, enough to actually block the enemy from getting at your troops except through a 'gatehouse' of three middle hexes.

By unlocking additional routes do you mean some hidden features/secrets? And what maps in particular, if you remember?

[Crystal]

Also, if you fight nearby the walls, I've had it where the map has been cut in 'half' as if you're fighting and the wall is diving the playable space into two. It's quite cool actually and makes fights notably different

[Toni 'Bō' Jones]

Originally posted by Crystal:

Also, if you fight nearby the walls, I've had it where the map has been cut in 'half' as if you're fighting and the wall is diving the playable space into two. It's quite cool actually and makes fights notably different

Honestly, one of my fav things to see lil details during the fight, when terrain been affected by the map - for the first time I fought during the fog today, and also noticed two cool dragon statues. This just adds massive immersion and if you will distract yourself from the fight for a bit - you will bless your eyes.

[Ddraig Lleuad]

Originally posted by Toni 'Bō' Jones:

By unlocking additional routes do you mean some hidden features/secrets? And what maps in particular, if you remember?

I don't know the specifics, I'm going off secondhand info here.

[Toni 'Bō' Jones]

Originally posted by Ddraig Lleuad:

I don't know the specifics, I'm going off secondhand info here.

Ah, I see. Thanks for the heads up anyway!

[Chrenergros]

I have another question: does defending a town with a wielder, gives the defender wielder some bonus? Like the bonus you get when occupying a fortress.

[Toni 'Bō' Jones]

Originally posted by Chrenergros:

I have another question: does defending a town with a wielder, gives the defender wielder some bonus? Like the bonus you get when occupying a fortress.

Stats-wise? I don't think so. The only benefit as far as I can see it is physical - the ability to shield your units and to be able to protect them better. The only times I've defeated Worthy (and possibly Challenging?) labeled AI were me defending my city behind my walls. With smart play (and good spells) you can win even with small army of units. Especially if you play for Rana or have your creation essence - to place the constant bombs at the entrance.

[Chrenergros]

Thank you! This is what i was looking for.

[brainless]

from what i remember, placing a wielder into the city ALSO gives that wielder's stats/equipment boosts to any defending units, (purchased by defend or towers). so a camp with 5 slots, 2 stacks of ballistae, and 2 militia stacks is basically one wielder with 2 full armies.

[Chrenergros]

Originally posted by brainless:

from what i remember, placing a wielder into the city ALSO gives that wielder's stats/equipment boosts to any defending units, (purchased by defend or towers). so a camp with 5 slots, 2 stacks of ballistae, and 2 militia stacks is basically one wielder with 2 full armies.

This is nice to know because yeah, it improves massively every unit

[Toni 'Bō' Jones]

Yes, IF you will build Guard Towers (and improve them) it will provide additional units and ballistae and you can also place units into the castle slots AND have units with you and all of them gonna be present. Still not sure about the stats boost tho. And again, you need to build Towers for that, not just walls.

I'm curious if anyone tried to defend the castle with 3-4 towers? How powerful is that or 2 are usually enough? is it even necessary?

[Crystal]

Originally posted by Toni 'Bō' Jones:

Yes, IF you will build Guard Towers (and improve them) it will provide additional units and ballistae and you can also place units into the castle slots AND have units with you and all of them gonna be present. Still not sure about the stats boost tho. And again, you need to build Towers for that, not just walls.

I'm curious if anyone tried to defend the castle with 3-4 towers? How powerful is that or 2 are usually enough? is it even necessary?

I've done this. You only ever have a maximum of 2 stacks of ballistae, and each additional tower adds another unit to one of the stacks. 3 towers gives you 2 stacks, one of 1 and the other of 2.

Honestly, I played with AI and it does help, but I think it depends on a few things:
A: Availability of troops
B: Defending wielder spell utilities (example: do they just get lots of essence by default to give you a head start)
C: Walls
D: Frequency and intensity of enemy attacks

If you have infrequent attacks and you have time to put at least some defenders of your own there, then the ballistae could be the edge you need to deal with the extra units. However, ballistae on their own aren't very useful, they're more like an advantage which excel when left unchecked (I play vs AI, don't quote me for PVP).

On their own though with just the generated defenders... it can be a little rough depending on how powerful your wielder's spells are.

Personally, I'd love it if the 'gate' to the castle was actually a barricade that the enemy had to destroy before they can pass. Defenders should be able to place units outside or inside the castle and have a barricade to buy them time, since otherwise it's very important to have units blocking those tiles and you kind of need to draft new units to fulfil the role (or the dps role and use the defenders). Defenders on their own are good as meat shields but you need more than just ballistae to win.

Hopefully that gives a bit of insight! I personally love automated defenses in games, like I love turtling with turrets and if there was research that allowed me to spend time fortifying my bases then I would love it. I think an attacker would also love to crack open my base and make the siege more special, so that's the kind of thing I'm hoping for!

[Toni 'Bō' Jones]

Originally posted by Crystal:

Hopefully that gives a bit of insight! I personally love automated defenses in games, like I love turtling with turrets and if there was research that allowed me to spend time fortifying my bases then I would love it. I think an attacker would also love to crack open my base and make the siege more special, so that's the kind of thing I'm hoping for!

Thank you for the detailed feedback! It feels like 2 towers are basically the essential and more than that will be rather unnecessary (I was hoping for another ballistae or two :D), unless you want to go full defender hardcore mode.

I do agree on having actual gate you have to break in order to get in and don't use your troops as one. As for research, based on fortifying your castle - that's a neat idea. Should be treated carefully tho, but I would loved to see even some basics, maybe some stats improvement or choosing your style of walls?