Choosing who defends?

mimi · November 3, 2003, 15:36

I thought I saw something about this awhile ago but can't find it or haven't remembered it correctly. Is there a way to choose who defends when you're attacked or does it always default the the one elite that you're trying to save up for an offensive? Nothing bugs me much more than having a reg pike and an elite knight together and knight ends up defending when it's supposed to be an offensive thing. Pike should defend, regardless of it's reg status, since that's what it's for. It's certainly not there to attack anything... so my pike ends up unharmed but knight doesn't have enough health left to attack... go figure.

Jaybe · November 3, 2003, 15:55

Whoever has the best defense ability after terrain, hit points and fortification status are considered, will defend.
So yes, if you come up with your tank army and you don't want it to defend, have an infantry army of sufficient strength in the same square (fortified, perhaps).

Sarxis · November 3, 2003, 16:54

You can choose your defenders in Alpha Centauri, however.

spy14 · November 3, 2003, 17:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Jaybe
Whoever has the best defense ability after terrain, hit points and fortification status are considered, will defend.
So yes, if you come up with your tank army and you don't want it to defend, have an infantry army of sufficient strength in the same square (fortified, perhaps).

That should slow up your advance nicely. Most of the time being able to choose isnt an issue, but there are times when your potential counterattacking unit gets the c**p kicked out of it in defense.

TechWins · November 3, 2003, 18:36

Whenever you have 2 units with the same defensive capability being attacked usually the unit that is classified as 'defensive' will be the defender. In fact, I don't ever recall seeing where the 'defensive' unit doesn't take predication.

G'Kar · November 3, 2003, 20:11

Quote:

Originally posted by TechWins
Whenever you have 2 units with the same defensive capability being attacked usually the unit that is classified as 'defensive' will be the defender.

Yes, if the defensive stats are the same after all modifiers. But Mimi is talking about the situation where you have an offensive unit with more HPs than the defender and the off units winds up defending. It some situations it would be nice to chose. But, those situations are relatively few so I'm not that bothered.

Kuciwalker · November 3, 2003, 20:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Anun Ik Oba
You can choose your defenders in Alpha Centauri, however.

IIRC, Civ3 isn't SMAC

Jaybe · November 3, 2003, 20:41

Thank you TechWins, for the reminder. All other things being equal, the defense-type unit will defend.
A carrier or transport, especially IF they are carrying something, will also not defend. If not loaded, I have seen a carrier showing above a destroyer, but the destroyer switches to the top if a plane is put into the carrier.

GhengisFarb™ · November 3, 2003, 20:50

Yeah, there have been many times I wished I could choose the unit to defend.

zorbop · November 3, 2003, 22:25

The only time I find this being a problem is when i have a cavalry army, and it defends instead of rifle men.
btw, you can find who defends by multiplying the modified defence (units defence with fortification bonus's, ect) by the remaining hit points of a unit. the unit with the hightest score defends...

Sarxis · November 4, 2003, 01:34

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker

IIRC, Civ3 isn't SMAC

Didn't I say "however"? But it seemed as if mimi was thinking of the AC ability to choose defenders.

bongo · November 4, 2003, 05:52

When there is a tie in defensive value, I have always believed that the cheapest unit defends. An empty transport are cheaper than a destroyer and will defend first but a loaded transport is more expensive and will defend last.

grappleman · November 4, 2003, 07:27

to me it has always seemed like the last unit left on the top of the stack is the first to defend, and then it goes through and selects the best defender. But thats just what i have noticed.

mimi · November 4, 2003, 07:49

Nope... you're all incorrect... I've figured it out. Whichever unit I need most to attack the final defender in an AI town is the one that defends first. Yep... can have rifleman sitting there but if I need my calv intact to attack the remaining defender, that's what ends up defending. So then I'm left with a 1 HP calv and a full strength rifleman - yee-haw!

(I gotta get to playing Conquests... I'm a bit miffed at this silly game...)

grappleman · November 4, 2003, 08:14

Yes i believe you may be right mimi, the computer does pick the most inappropriate unit to defend for you. Have fun with conquests. i need to wait till this afternoon

Mad Bomber · November 4, 2003, 08:51

Defender's are chosen by its total defensive power; this can be calculated by adding the defensive value and the number of hp's the unit has . If there is a tie then the tie goes to a unit listed as a defender. Also a transport unit, (or any unit in a transport unit) excluding armies, will not defend unless transport units are the only units defending.