Attack factor question.

[stormbringer3]

After reading the posts, I concluded that Spanish Infantry with their attack factor of 1+bonus attacking a city is better than a unit with an attack factor of 2 without a bonus. I'm not quite as sure about combat in the field. My question is what type is best to use during combat in the field?
Thanks.

[anarchyintheuk]

I've always ranked attack strength in order from worst to first as 1, 1+, 2, 2+. Where the combat takes place shouldn't matter to the unit's relative effectiveness. The only exception would be elephants and cavalry attacking a city.

[nalivayko]

It's hard to say w/o knowing how much of a bonus Spanish (and other infantry) is getting and the formula used to calculate the results. Example:

Let's suppose a regular roll has a success chance of 1/6. 8 Gallic infantry units will roll 16 dice, so it's 16/6 (1/6 * 16, etc). If Spanish infantry has a success chance of 2/6, it's also 16/6 for 8 Spanish infantry units (2/6 * 8). However, if Spanish infantry bonus adds up to 3/6 then it's cumulative success is 24/6, which is way better than Gallic infantry. General's rating effects the dice rolls as well and we have no idea how. So, unless James spills his secrets, it's a guessing game.

My own infantry preference for city and open field battles (provided I have no particular unit shortage) is to mix of 3-5 Spaniards and Gauls, backed up by 1-2 African/Italian infantry to absorb losses. You need Gauls to create more chances, while you need Spaniards to capitalize on a few that you've got.

If I wanted to give a witty, but less helpful answer, I would have said Elite Macedons.

[mercenarius]

The original post is correct. Units with an attack factor of 1 with a bonus are more effective in city combat that those units which have an attack factor of 2 and no bonus. Remember that there are no command bonuses from superior commanders in a city battle.

It is very difficult to score a rout in city battles (against the defenders, that is). It is much easier to score a rout in a field battle. Attack bonuses (and command bonuses) help a unit score a hit. The probability for scoring a rout stays the same. And so a unit with an AF of 2 is more likely to score a rout than a unit with an AF of 1 - attack bonus or not.

How all of this works out in the field mostly depends on the command bonus. To make things easy, here a good general rule: If your commander has a positive difference of 3 or more (Hannibal versus Nero promoted, for example), then a unit with an AF of two (and no bonus) will be generally more effective than a unit with an AF of 1 and a bonus.

Otherwise, units with an AF of one and an attack bonus are more effective (on average) than units with an AF of 2 and no bonus.