CK2+ Tactics Modifications

[PNW_Odin]

What do people think about the changed tactics? I actually kind of like the changed retinues. But the difference between tactics seems to much less than before. A few troop types get good bonuses, but the quality of the tactic seems to matter more. This is good in that it makes combat more predictable but bad in that it makes huge upsets less likely.

That said, anything that removes Berserker Charge from the game can't be all bad.

 

[Aliksander]

You know I have to ask: How do you take battle tactics into account? I mean can you actually control the tactics used? can you do anything other than putting certain commanders in charge of certain flanks? I've never understood how people seem to talk about controlling a battle outside of troop composition and commanders. Can someone please elaborate?

 

[zeress]

You know I have to ask: How do you take battle tactics into account? I mean can you actually control the tactics used? can you do anything other than putting certain commanders in charge of certain flanks? I've never understood how people seem to talk about controlling a battle outside of troop composition and commanders. Can someone please elaborate?

You don't, it's all dice rolls based on traits, martial skill, terrain, troop comp, flank leader etc

 

[PNW_Odin]

You don't, it's all dice rolls based on traits, martial skill, terrain, troop comp, flank leader etc

Exactly.

What CK2+ did was change it so they they matter less. In vanilla CK2, it is possible to get a penalty to some troop types and a large bonus to others. In this version the bonus is smaller (massive longbow is about 150% instead of 350%). They also have a chance for high martial to give a flat 25% bonus (or penalty).

It solves some odd problems that the old system had, like horse archers firing tactics that penalized them. But it also makes combat less swingy, which is less fun.

On the other hand, troop monotypes are less advantaged. You can no longer use 100% of X retinues to mostly fire tactics with huge bonuses for that troop type.

So I am very mixed about it as an improvement.

 

[Internetviking]

My playstyle is usually to have a diverse army even though that puts you at a disadvantage in vanilla. Since it doesn't as much here, I like it. It lets me use war elephants and not feel like I should have taken my horde to Europe for heavy cavalry instead. That said, my tactics don't really go much beyond getting lots of troops and putting my highest score commanders to lead them.

 

[PNW_Odin]

My playstyle is usually to have a diverse army even though that puts you at a disadvantage in vanilla. Since it doesn't as much here, I like it. It lets me use war elephants and not feel like I should have taken my horde to Europe for heavy cavalry instead. That said, my tactics don't really go much beyond getting lots of troops and putting my highest score commanders to lead them.

That is a good point.

The main issue with CK2+ tactics is that they make wildly unlikely swing battles less likely. I like the uncertainty where every battle is a risk, no matter how great. But removing the huge advantage of troop monotype is a feature.

It is not that uniform troop composition was unknown, but it was not necessarily a decisive advantage. Can you imagine a pike commander turning away light cavalry because it would complicate tactics?

 

[zeress]

That is a good point.

The main issue with CK2+ tactics is that they make wildly unlikely swing battles less likely. I like the uncertainty where every battle is a risk, no matter how great. But removing the huge advantage of troop monotype is a feature.

It is not that uniform troop composition was unknown, but it was not necessarily a decisive advantage. Can you imagine a pike commander turning away light cavalry because it would complicate tactics?

There's always potential to add rules to make it more "swingy", as far as I understand the tactics file. Personally big swings should rarely happen but choice is never a bad thing.

 

[PNW_Odin]

There's always potential to add rules to make it more "swingy", as far as I understand the tactics file. Personally big swings should rarely happen but choice is never a bad thing.

Yes, the moddability of CK2 is a real bright spot — look at CK2+ in general. I really like the changes overall, which makes me look at the pieces with a critical eye.

And the file is easy to edit.