Raiding & Diplomacy:
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Written by Sanvone
-=Pillaging=-
Aspect which is often neglected and requires active behavior to be viable as
income source. But after reading so far, you will come to realization that it
is really lucrative. As you probably know razing single farmland gives you 50
coins. Not to shabby. But it also creates losses on whoever the owner of that
hex was he losses in short time 4-6 income from grain taxes and if it
creates food shortage additional 6 income from Salt Tax and People Contribution
which results in 10-12 coins per turn less. We arent even including aspect
of slowing down or resetting settlement development.
Now lets look at aggressor gains. You need unit to loot with and assuming you
wont do this with settlers you most likely will use either Militia/Tribesmen
or Noble unit as they lack recruitment cost. If you lose them it wont be as
big of a deal. Nobles are more expensive but can deal better with limited
attacks. After quick math you realize that single unit of tribesmen after
reducing their upkeep creates income of 35 coins per turn of raiding farmlands.
Thats equivalent of 8-9 farming population gold wise. So it really accelerates
your economy.
So you really should loot as much as possible to gain more of advantage.
But you must be also be smart when deciding on how much troops will you send
towards neutral/enemy settlements. If you send too many (especially on GC)
it will turn into loss as they will raze countryside to quickly and then will
have nothing to raid. Your objective is to spend the minimum amount of time
traveling and maximum amount of time looting. So spread your units across
several settlements. Dont divide them too much though as you will have to
defend against sallying out defenders.
-=Sacking Cities=-
Looting settlements is different subject. Actually it is my preferred way of
treatment towards newly contested cities. As it requires stronger military
force and is harder you definitely want to make sure it will be profitable.
City wealth depends on its size and structures inside it with Palaces/
Schools&Temples and income/trade generating buildings being the richest targets.
After calculating cost to reward, you will want to target cities for gold
in mid-late game rather than at the start. Capturing mid size city can grant
you around 2000 coins and valuable bargaining chip for future peace negotiations.
Money earned from conquest can be easily spent into your own huge construction
projects. And after youre done with city you can either keep it, leave it for
enemy to retake (so you can loot it in the future), ransom it for money or use
into persuading someone to become your vassal. Or anything else you want as
settlements are really valuable on diplomacy screen.
And you can be an a****ole if you want, by destroying all structures previously
build by owner so he will have to spend money again.
