Artillery tactics

[Jonah]

How can you beat Artillery? I've tried counter battery fire, charges from the front and rear ect., but can't find a way. Any suggestions?

[Joram]

You will always get at least one huge blast if you approach a fresh artillery from the front.  Skirmishers reduce casualties from fire a fair amount.  You could let it wear itself out a little bit but of course you will still be taking casualties.  Otherwise, charging with fresh cav or infantry from the flanks usually does the trick. 
 
There's also a unit upgrade that helps you increase casualties when you fire on artillery.  Put it on some longer range weapons as muskets is a little pointless. 

[Anthropoid]

Have not played this game for a while but surrounding them seemed to be the only really good way to capture them on the intermediate difficulties.

[haruntaiwan]

How many players are converting infantry to artillery? I have never done this. In fact, I find buying the special bonuses to be more than I can afford. Maybe I need to work on my economy?

[Anthropoid]

I've paid to convert qujite a few IIRC. It is useful to have at least one if not a couple arty in every Division. Hard to build that many just from the Arty Forges.

[moose1999]

I convert a lot.
Especially when playing as the South where iron is scarce.
The morale hit the unit takes is quickly gained back as an artillery unit will often perform well - inflicting high casualties while suffering relatively few itself.

[Joram]

What Briny said, as the south that's the main way I get artillery pieces.  Not so necessary as the north though you could certainly afford to do so.

[meisterchow]

Actually, as the South, I find the North to be the best source of artillery. [:'(]
 
Regardless, if you can get an artillery piece at least partially surrounded in rough terrain (or with a river behind them) they will often surrender when they would otherwise try to retreat.  At least that's been my experience.

[Ingtar]

Umm - converting infantry to artillery?  Did I miss something again?

[morganbj]

I think they mean adding the brigade artiller attribute.
 

[haruntaiwan]

If you buy two brigade artillery attributes the unit becomes artillery but loses some morale. You can also buy two brigade cavalry and convert infantry to cavalry.

[Joram]

That is correct!

[haruntaiwan]

So, how many folks are creating cav units this way? I never buy them or make new ones as they seem to cost so much.

[Joram]

I find it's still the most economical way for the south to get cav as they usually have plenty of horses.  Of course quality suffers but the mobility is more important.

[jeffk3510]

I don't ever create cavlary or artillery brigades north or south.  I just muster units in a state that supports it, keep weapons at improvised, and purchase two brigade cavalry or artillery whichever one I wish to have.  I've never actually compared to see if its more that way, but its sure faster, so I don't complain.  [8D] 

[terje439]

I will actually buy my CAVs. Reason? As the South you need more brigades, so instead of converting INFs to CAVs and then buying new INFs, I buy the CAVs and let the INF stay INF and avoid the morale penalty.