The Battle for Skogul

[BoneDancer-SiN]

This weekened I was a part of a siege that for me defines Darkfall. The fight for the bridge west of Hamlet 121 was everything I could have hoped for in organized combat. Sinister and the Deceit alliance moved out form defensive postures of Sunthrone, Rhenegar, and Khunark 1 hour prior to Skogul's vulnerability point. The forces of Hyperion met the Sunthrone offensive force head on at a bridge choke point imeediately to the west of Skogul and a pitched battle began. At one point it looked like we (Deceit) were going to be routed as the Hyperion army charged across the bridge on horseback like calvary. Players were in full on sprint away from the battle and the lines were broken, that is until the second division of our forces slammed into the Hyperion flank.

This fight was the most epic thing I've seen in the game. Beach heads were won and lost, flanks and counter flanks were employeed it was really just awesome. The lag was present but not game breaking and I honestly think had we lost the siege I would have still be very happy with the experience. In a world where lines are drawn now between all of the alliances I predict most encounters to be pitched battles like this where no step is taken without blood and tears being spilt.

From a tactical standpoint I believe Hyperion forces errored in charging past the bridge they could have held that point for a VERY long time. By extending outside of Skogul and into the fields the rear flank of our second division was able to smash them one by one from the rear. Mannus and his troops should have kept their original positions 80-100 man strong north east of Skogul and only after our troops had to fight through Skogul's 40-60 rooftop and building defenders should they have entered the frey. Stamina of our troops would have been lower, cohesion of force would have been weaker and the initiative would have been theirs to take.

Destroying a clanstone in this game takes even a large force about 15 minutes of unoccupied time, during which any AE on or near the stone hits massive amounts of players. There SHOULD be lots of time for reactionary combat where players either come off the stone or die for it.

In short, by giving up the natural defensive postures of Skogul, and by not focusing on its defense, they lost the battle.

Still, was about the most fun I've had in Darfkall yet and I salute all involved.

-gg

-Bone

[Furion Storm]

Good sportmanship.

Even numbers also ? I heard Hyperion didn't really bring all of their men or at least didn't turn it into a zergfest.

Props for that. And props for your post. Love these siege stories.

[splixx]

Sounds like fun... Be interesting to see if Hyperion responds...

It also sounds like whoever was organizing your teams did a good job..

[Furion Storm]

I think Hyperion doesn't really care much for losing a chunk of the already wide border they have to defend. But we'll see if they retaliate.

Skogul is a nice Hamlet for death, both territorial and due to a lot of resource buildings at the hamlet. Best move for their alliance, and maybe better for Hyperion also to have lost it. Bit less pressure perhaps from one of the several alliances knocking at their doors.

[BigCountry]

Very nice Bone.

[BoneDancer-SiN]

Originally Posted by Furion Storm

I think Hyperion doesn't really care much for losing a chunk of the already wide border they have to defend. But we'll see if they retaliate.

Skogul is a nice Hamlet for death, both territorial and due to a lot of resource buildings at the hamlet. Best move for their alliance, and maybe better for Hyperion also to have lost it. Bit less pressure perhaps from one of the several alliances knocking at their doors.

To be honest I expect the King looked at this with an eye to slowing enemies advance to his doorstep, rather than protecting HIS assets. I frankly expected less participation from him given its regional distance from his base.

[Alphabeta]

yah we had that hamlet in beta, it's awesome, hot spot for pvp, we had to defend against SA, with only 10 ppl, we fought like warrior poets and kept that hamlet! hope you do the same cause your gonna have to

[Slaker]

Nice post.

[Zarithas]

Sucks that we came a few minutes too late and missed the battle. We got there with all our bows drawn and saw that the hamlet was only full of friendlies.

[rainfinale]

I have to say, bone, that I completely agree with your tactical analysis of the battle. Though outnumbered, the battle was lost on our end not due to less numbers (they were pretty close to even anyway) but due to tactical blunder.

Our [Agony] scout estimated 150-200 people leaving Sunstone to attack Skogul. He estimated around 50 on foot and another 100+ mounted. He saw the 50 on foot running east to the hamlet and the mounted force riding south. When the ~50 on foot attacked Skogul and the Hyperion army said they were pushing them back across the river to the west of Skogul, a few of us knew something was wrong. We were trying to figure out where the main force was and warn the Hyperion general of it. Too late. The main force arrived from the south as the Hyperion army were at/crossing the river bridge. At that point, the ~50 turned around and fought the Hyperion army as they were slammed from the back with the ~100+ main force of LoD. Caught in a crossfire, they Hyperion army of ~120 had lost the battle.

all numbers are best estimations

One of the oldest tactical battle maneuvers and carried out very well. Not that its expected that people study historical real world military formation tactics for playing a video game but it really shows that, in Darkfall, flanking and other tactical troop manuevers really make all the difference when you're going into battle with a large number of people.

[Draxonicar]

I don't know about you, but I had 3.8k ping and some unseen enemy killed me and I didnt bleed out


wasnt fun at all

[BoneDancer-SiN]

Originally Posted by Draxonicar

I don't know about you, but I had 3.8k ping and some unseen enemy killed me and I didnt bleed out


wasnt fun at all

I never really leave 130 ping in this game. I do notice really big fights a lag in sound/animations but people die when i shoot at them so whatever.

[DaddyNasty]

Originally Posted by Draxonicar

I don't know about you, but I had 3.8k ping and some unseen enemy killed me and I didnt bleed out


wasnt fun at all

You should give your account to someone with a better computer/connection.

[Dostum]

Originally Posted by Draxonicar

I don't know about you, but I had 3.8k ping and some unseen enemy killed me and I didnt bleed out


wasnt fun at all

Same in big fights, which is strange because I've been in big fights but since the last patches any big fight or situation where zergs and closing on eachother I've just hit a lag wall and been unable to move or do anything and then just been completly frozen and killed by unseen enemies.

My specs easily handle DF also, connection the same.

[Martacus]

Originally Posted by BoneDancer-SiN

our second division was able to smash them one by one from the rear.

-Bone

Hyperion got "Boned"