Mission 3: The Last Stand

Mission 3: The Last Stand

Objectives: Defend the Fort, Defeat the French Army.

This mission plunges you into a desperate defensive stand against overwhelming French forces. Your primary goal is to protect your fort from relentless assaults, followed by a decisive counter-attack to eliminate the remaining enemy presence. Success hinges on meticulous preparation, strategic unit placement, and efficient resource management.

Starting Situation & Initial Setup

You begin with a fortified position, though it requires immediate attention. Your starting units typically include a mix of Musketeers, Pikemen, and a few Cannons, along with several Villagers. The map is characterized by a central fort, with multiple approach paths the French will utilize. Resources around your fort are limited, so efficient gathering is crucial.

Upon mission start, immediately pause the game and assess your defenses:

• Fortifications: Your fort walls will likely have weak points or be incomplete. Prioritize repairing and upgrading existing walls to Stone Walls if possible, and construct additional wall segments to fully enclose your base.
• Defensive Structures: Build 2-3 additional Outposts at key chokepoints leading to your fort. Upgrade them with Arrow Slits for increased damage. Place them strategically to cover multiple approach lanes.
• Resource Gathering: Assign all available Villagers to gather resources. Focus initially on Wood for defensive structures and then Food and Coin to train units and send Home City shipments. Establish a steady flow of resources.

Recommended Home City Cards

Your Home City shipments are vital for survival and turning the tide. Prioritize cards that provide immediate military strength, economic boosts, or defensive upgrades:

• Military Shipments:
  • 7 Musketeers / 8 Pikemen: Essential for bolstering your frontline.
  • 2 Falconets / 2 Heavy Cannons: Crucial for dealing with enemy siege units and massed infantry.
  • Advanced Arsenal / Advanced Barracks: Provides unit upgrades and faster training.
• Economic Shipments:
  • 3 Villagers: Accelerates your economy early on.
  • Resource Crates (700 Wood/Food/Coin): Provides quick injections of needed resources for unit training or building.
• Defensive Shipments:
  • Fort Wagon: Allows you to construct an additional Fort, creating a powerful forward defensive position or a secondary fallback point.
  • Advanced Defenses: Upgrades your Outposts and Walls.

Defending Against French Waves

The French will attack in waves from various directions. These waves typically consist of a balanced mix of unit types. Your defense must be adaptable.

Typical French Army Composition per Wave:

• Early Waves (Minutes 5-15): Primarily Cuirassiers (heavy cavalry), Musketeers, and a few Grenadiers. Expect 1-2 Culverins or Falconets to target your walls.
• Mid Waves (Minutes 15-30): Increased numbers of all unit types, often including Hussars (light cavalry), more Musketeers, and additional Heavy Cannons or Mortars.
• Late Waves (Minutes 30+): Large, diverse armies with significant siege support. Expect multiple Heavy Cannons, Mortars, and potentially Petards if your walls hold too well. Elite units like Imperial Musketeers may appear.

Defensive Strategy:

1. Unit Composition: Maintain a balanced army. A good ratio is roughly 40% Musketeers, 30% Pikemen, and 30% Cannons/Falconets.
2. Prioritize Targets:
   • Siege Units First: Always focus fire on enemy Cannons, Mortars, and Culverins with your own Cannons or cavalry. These are your walls' greatest threat.
   • Cavalry Second: Use Pikemen and massed Musketeers (in square formation) to counter Cuirassiers and Hussars.
   • Infantry Last: Musketeers are effective against enemy infantry. Use Cannons for area-of-effect damage against large groups.
3. Chokepoint Defense: Position your Pikemen at narrow entrances to your fort to absorb cavalry charges. Place Musketeers behind walls or on elevated terrain for maximum damage output.
4. Cannon Placement: Keep your Cannons slightly behind your main line of defense, protected by infantry. Use them to target enemy siege and large infantry formations.
5. Hero Management: Use your Explorer to scout incoming waves and collect treasures, but keep them close to the fort for defense if needed, especially against early raids.
6. Repair & Rebuild: Constantly repair damaged walls and defensive structures. Have Villagers on standby for this task.

The Counter-Attack

After successfully weathering several waves, you will receive an objective to counter-attack and eliminate the remaining French forces. By this point, you should have a strong, veteran army.

Counter-Attack Strategy:

1. Consolidate Forces: Gather all your military units into one powerful army. Ensure you have a good mix, especially several Cannons.
2. Push Forward with Cannons: Lead your assault with your Cannons. Use them to destroy any remaining enemy Outposts, Barracks, or Town Centers you encounter.
3. Infantry and Cavalry Support: Keep your Musketeers and Pikemen close to protect your Cannons from enemy counter-attacks, particularly cavalry.
4. Scout Ahead: Use your Explorer or a small group of cavalry to scout the path ahead and identify enemy concentrations.
5. Systematic Clearance: Work methodically across the map, clearing out enemy structures and units. The French will likely have scattered remnants rather than organized defenses at this point.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

• Neglecting Economy: Don't get so caught up in defense that you forget to train Villagers and gather resources. A strong economy fuels a strong army.
• Ignoring Siege: Allowing enemy siege units to operate unhindered will quickly dismantle your defenses. Prioritize them!
• Overextending: During the counter-attack, don't send small groups of units into enemy territory. Move as one cohesive force.
• Home City Shipments: Don't hoard your shipments. Use them as soon as they are available and beneficial.
• Hotkeys: Utilize hotkeys for unit groups and building production to manage the chaos of defense more effectively.