                               Command : ATTACK

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##] Command: attack <SECT> <move in?>

The  attack  command  is used to conquer sectors owned by other countries.  It
should not be used to take over unoccupied sectors (move does that more  effi-
ciently).   Also, attack will not let you attack your own sectors, or the sec-
tors of any country you are not at war with.  (See info relations)

To attack sector 12,-6 you would type:
   [##:##] Command: attack 12,-6
This will initiate the attack sequence against sector  12,-6  (note:  you  may
only attack one sector at a time).  Empire will then ask you if you would like
to move into the sector in the event you win.  You should reply with a y or n.

Then you will be informed of the sector's status, e.g.

   Sector 12,-6 is a 15% fortress with 40 military or so.

At  this  point  you will be asked how many military you wish to dedicate from
each sector of yours that adjoins the victim's sector.

                               Command : ATTACK

Note that both enemy fortresses, and enemy ships will fire at  your  attacking
troops, provided they're in range, and have supplies.

Troops  from  each  type  of sector normally fight with equal stamina, however
troops in fortresses fight especially hard, as do troops defending a  capital.
Troops  defending  forts at 100% efficiency have a 4-to-1 advantage over ordi-
nary troops and troops defending 100% efficient capitals have a 2-to-1  advan-
tage over ordinary attacking troops.  Troops attacking from forts have up to a
2-to-1 advantage over other types.  Troops attacking from or  defending  in  a
road  are  1/2 as good as normal troops.  Of course these effects are degraded
by lower efficiency; for instance the figures for defending  forts,  defending
capitals  and  attacking  forts  at  50% efficiency are 2.5-to-1, 1.5-to-1 and
1.5-to-1 respectively.

Before considering an attack on a sector one should weigh the possibilities of
that  sector  being defended by one or more guns!  The sector in question need
not be a fort to be defended since any forts within range will join  the  fray
at  the  least  provocation  (as  will  any enemy ships within range); however
attacking forts can be doubly deadly, for if the fort has a gun and is  within
the  defense  range  of  another  fort,  both  will  fire  at your troops with

                               Command : ATTACK

devastating effect.

The next big question - cost??

Attacking costs you in three ways:

1) BTU cost -- the cost of flying desks and telling the next of kin.
Each attack costs a number of BTU's equal to the total # of  troops  killed  *
0.15

2) Mobility cost -- gasoline, K-rations, etc
The cost in mobility to the attacking sector(s) depends on the terrain:

                               Command : ATTACK

                 Mobility Cost (Per Military) in Attacks

                         sector type being attacked

                         |  (+) |  (-) |  (^) |  (?) |
                     ----+------+------+------+------+
             Highway (+) | .125 | .291 | 21.3 | .208 |
      F              ----+------+------+------+------+
      R   Wilderness (-) | .208 | .375 | 21.4 | .291 |
      O              ----+------+------+------+------+
      M     Mountain (^) | 10.7 | 10.9 | 31.9 | 10.8 |
                     ----+------+------+------+------+
              others (?) | .167 | .333 | 21.3 | .250 |
                     ----+------+------+------+------+

The  cost in mobility to the defending sector is the same as for the attacking
sector if the attack is unsuccessful.  If the attack is successful the  mobil-
ity  in  the  conquered  sector  goes to 0, (the populace destroys the goodies

                               Command : ATTACK

before being captured).

3) Ill-will cost -- distrust from conscientious objectors and bleeding hearts
This is a cost that you can only learn from experience ...

The battle will rage until someone is wiped out, (the victim fights  with  all
of  his  troops).   Each time a soldier is killed a character is typed; ! if a
defending soldier got it, @ if an attacking soldier went down  and  *  if  the
last attacking soldier from a specific sector was nailed.

If  you  lose, tough!  However, if you win, and you have specified you wish to
move in after your victory, some of your surviving attacking forces will  move
into  the  victim's  sector.  For example, if three sectors were attacking one
quarter of the attack forces will occupy the conquered sector.

When planning an attack remember that overwhelming  forces  greatly  increases
your  odds;  i.e.,  attacking  10 men with 40 will result in your losing fewer
troops than if you had attacked with 20.

                               Command : ATTACK

If the SLOW_WAR option is enabled, you will not be able  to  attack  a  sector
owned  by  a  country you are not AT_WAR with, unless you are the old owner of
the sector.

If the SNEAK_ATTACK option is also enabled, you can attack ONE sector owned by
a  country  you  are  not  AT_WAR with, paying $5K for the privilege. Once the
sneak attack is done, you will automatically declare war  against  the  enemy,
and  go  through the normal SLOW_WAR sequence before you can attack again (see
info declare).

A few notes:

The deity (country 0) is believed  to  be  pacifistic  and  unlikely  to  help
attackers, (except in response to a large offering on the Religious Holidays).

If you successfully take the sector over, then the civilians  will  be  turned
into conquered populace (see info populace for details), unless the sector was
previously yours.

Finally, before initiating an attack you  should  consider  whether  the  real

                               Command : ATTACK

answer to your problem might lie in diplomacy (you heavy-handed clod!)

See also : assault, fire, move, prayers, telegram, relations

