Clarifications about Siege mechanics

[Lord Telor]

Hi everybody,

I am trying to understand exactly what the rules are regarding siege. Can you please help clarify the following:

1. When an army is using the Siege (190) order, how do they defend against attacks mounted by other armies?
   
2. I learned that attacking the pop center prevents the Siege (190) order. If I attack or defend against an opposing group that is also in the Sieged location, will that likewise prevent the Siege from issuing or continuing?
   
3. How effective is Barrage Attack? Dwarves are able to issue this as a TAC 6 attack vs the Pop Center.  It grants the attacker a 150% bonus on Long and Short range missile attacks and then a standard retreat. It requires the Siege Engineering trait, a Veteran+ War Marchine, and a Marshal+ leader. When would I want to use this tactic instead of sieging or attacking a city?
   
4. If the mages in my army issue orders against an opposing army, will those activate if I'm attacked (such as shield, chaos, and so forth)?
   

My I'm in the tense late stages of a game where my 300k+ dwarven stack is trying to take a rival's Cap.  I am confused by the interactions and want to plot the best course to battle my very skilled opponent, who has deftly kept me at bay for awhile. I made a mistake with my orders this past turn and am worried that I will fumble at the end if I don't have sufficient understanding.


Thank you for your help!

[Pine Needle]

1. When an army is using the Siege (190) order, how do they defend against attacks mounted by other armies?
   Need to defend as normal. If you retreat from a battle, the siege is broken, but if you are attacked, and win, the siege continues.You should defend against specific groups to avoid being surprised. Or attack them preemptively- if you win the siege continues.
2. I learned that attacking the pop center prevents the Siege (190) order. If I attack or defend against an opposing group that is also in the Sieged location, will that likewise prevent the Siege from issuing or continuing?
   

No.

1. How effective is Barrage Attack? Dwarves are able to issue this as a TAC 6 attack vs the Pop Center.  It grants the attacker a 150% bonus on Long and Short range missile attacks and then a standard retreat. It requires the Siege Engineering trait, a Veteran+ War Marchine, and a Marshal+ leader. When would I want to use this tactic instead of sieging or attacking a city?                                         It's effective, but your retreat threshold is less than a determined attack. A real good tool against PCs is windstorm, which takes 25% of the strength away, versus 10% of your arrows. PCs' defense is 50% missles (I read this somewhere), so windstorm takes away 25% of a PCs total strength.If the mages in my army issue orders against an opposing army, will those activate if I'm attacked (such as shield, chaos, and so forth)?

Yes.

You're welcome! Have fun with the game. I haven't seiged very often... so the above is maybe wrong.

[Clueless]

Hi everybody,

I am trying to understand exactly what the rules are regarding siege. Can you please help clarify the following:

1. When an army is using the Siege (190) order, how do they defend against attacks mounted by other armies?
   
2. I learned that attacking the pop center prevents the Siege (190) order. If I attack or defend against an opposing group that is also in the Sieged location, will that likewise prevent the Siege from issuing or continuing?
   
3. How effective is Barrage Attack? Dwarves are able to issue this as a TAC 6 attack vs the Pop Center.  It grants the attacker a 150% bonus on Long and Short range missile attacks and then a standard retreat. It requires the Siege Engineering trait, a Veteran+ War Marchine, and a Marshal+ leader. When would I want to use this tactic instead of sieging or attacking a city?
   
4. If the mages in my army issue orders against an opposing army, will those activate if I'm attacked (such as shield, chaos, and so forth)?
   

My I'm in the tense late stages of a game where my 300k+ dwarven stack is trying to take a rival's Cap.  I am confused by the interactions and want to plot the best course to battle my very skilled opponent, who has deftly kept me at bay for awhile. I made a mistake with my orders this past turn and am worried that I will fumble at the end if I don't have sufficient understanding.


Thank you for your help!

1. Definitely either attack or defend against other groups at the siege location. You have to attack the groups that are of the same kingdom as the PC because that group(s) have to retreat for the attack/siege on the PC to activate (I believe). For other kingdom groups at the PC that are not the owner of the PC, you may defend but do so on TAC 3 or your group may retreat from their attacks and that will ruin your siege.

2. I think attacking/defending against groups are separate from PC-related orders.

3. Can't help you there with Barrage Attack but like Pine Needle says, those special maneuvers have a lower retreat threshold than a standard TAC 3.

4. Wizard spells only activate against the specified target. So, for combat-related spells, they are only active for that particular battle. Not others. Certain spells like Self Invisible remain throughout the turn, no matter how many battles your group has or with whom (PC or other group).

Other note: the PC-owner may increase the PC defenses to break your siege with the standard Improve Popcenter order, or Strengthen Walls spells, or even make a fortification. There's also that Lesser Angel order that can increase PC defenses.

[Strongwill]

If I remember if a kingdom has evade as a kingdom trait, and they and PC is in the proper terrain, I believe he can evade without moving and stop a siege?

[VballMichael]

If I remember if a kingdom has evade as a kingdom trait, and they and PC is in the proper terrain, I believe he can evade without moving and stop a siege?

Yes, and the AN can stop the battle so his group does not retreat and siege is stopped.

[Lord Telor]

Thank you for the helpful replies, everyone.