Pillaging Armies should start battles scattered, not as a blob

[Michael Gladius]

In the original game, an army that came under attack whilst pillaging a province feature would start the battle like a normal battle, with their units in a big blob. Basically, no different from a regular field battle.

 

Yet, intuition would suggest that the pillagers would be spread out, to cover more ground and not waste time over-pillaging a single peasant hut. This starting condition would also make tactical battles under such conditions more interesting, since they'd be a race between the pillagers to concentrate and their counterattackers trying to destroy them in detail.

[Lighthope]

7 minutes ago, Michael Gladius said:

Yet, intuition would suggest that the pillagers would be spread out, to cover more ground and not waste time over-pillaging a single peasant hut.

That would suggest that the pillaging army didn't see the defenders coming to the rescue.

Sure, they can be taken by surprise.  On the other hand, they may have time to rally forces and prepare for the counterattack.

Would you accept a compromise?  Sometimes they are ready and sometimes they are caught off guard?  The percentage affected by their stats?

[Michael Gladius]

3 hours ago, Lighthope said:

That would suggest that the pillaging army didn't see the defenders coming to the rescue.

Sure, they can be taken by surprise.  On the other hand, they may have time to rally forces and prepare for the counterattack.

Would you accept a compromise?  Sometimes they are ready and sometimes they are caught off guard?  The percentage affected by their stats?

 

I'd absolutely accept a compromise. Lots of Armies were surprised because they failed to perform reconnaissance or pull security, and plenty of armies didn't make this mistake. The dispersed units in attentive armies could also be marching back towards the camp when the battle starts, rather than moving away or standing still.

 

Experience could be a factor in readiness, as well as camp/column organization. Leadership traits/skills should also be a factor, since medieval armies were personal rather than professional. Attrition/fatigue/low food supply should also be a way to ensure every player doesn't just toggle on the "attentive" setting- tired armies are more interested in rest/eating than vigilance.