Sieges in the new Total War Game

Just a few pics for TMPer Lentulus, who was asking what the sieges were like in the new version of Medieval Total War.

(Click on the pics for a larger version)

Here we see English battering rams approaching a French Motte-and-Bailey castle.

Ow! That burns!

One ram reaches the gate.

Another has a crack at the walls.

Bingo!

Just a bit more and...

We're in!

Trebuchets in action.

Weeee!!!

Supposedly you can fling dead cows with them, but I haven't tried that yet.

A very big crossbow indeed launches a fiery bolt (the fire is optional, though Hollywood Producers will no doubt always use it).

The Mongols assault a small town with a rickety wooden wall, somewhere in the Middle East.

Hmmm. What can these be? Look like mobile wine racks. How thoughtful. Just what you want on a hot, thirsty battlefield. I'll have the Chilean Chardonnay, please .

Aha! They seem to be some sort of medieval rocket launcher. The latest thing from China, no doubt.

Hey, these things are fun. I think I'm gonna be the Mongols more often.

Much better than boring old canons...


Finally, below we see the French attacking a huge city of the Empire, somewhere in Germany...

O, Flower of Scotland

Now I'll take you through a castle assault from start to finish. I've opted for the "Late" period as you get all kinds of gunpowdery fun and cooler units.

(Click on pics for a larger version)

Here we see the beastly English, up to no good as usual. They are about to storm a massive Scottish castle, that is held with a reasonably-sized garrison. It won't be easy.

We warm up with a few shots from our mortars.

That's a promising start.

But we'd rather capture the place without damaging it too much, so we'll hold fire with the artillery and send in the siege towers.

The first one reaches the wall, and the English pour out of it.

A nasty sharp fight develops.

Hey! That's not cricket! Those cheating Scots have set fire to the second tower.

But the boys in the third tower manage to unload at an undefended section of wall.

Things aren't going well for the first tower, so we'll open up another front. Send in the ladders.

Push!

Up they go.

Rats! The lads from the first tower have had enough. The ladders came too late. It's all going pear-shaped.

And stood against him,

Proud Edward's Army,

And sent him homeward,

Tae think again...

So the escalade has failed. Bum.

Okay, so now the English general decides to stop worrying about capturing the castle intact and does what he should've done all along. Time for the heavy guns.

How'd ya like them apples, eh Jock?

Even the strongest castle walls aren't proof against modern artillery.

Soon we have three breaches.

And the Sassanachs come pouring through them.

The Scots decide not to try and hold the breaches, and withdraw to the next line of defence. The English take the outer works and advance further in.

The guns are brought up, and once again make short work of the Scottish walls.

Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!

The proud Scots seem to be losing heart.

Their defence of the second ring is nowhere near as tenacious as that of the first.

And soon all that remains is the inner ring and keep.

The Scots noble pikemen bizarrely plump for the "Butch and Sundance" option, and come charging out to face their foe.

O, Flower of Scotland,

When will we see your like again?

That fought and died for

Your wee bit hill and Glen?

Yet another breach...

And the end is a somewhat anti-climactic massacre.

The Hills are bare now,

And Autumn leaves

Lie thick and still,

O'er land that is lost now,

Which those so dearly held.

O Flower of Scotland,

When we will see your like again?