attack

Olympia: The Age of Gods PBEM (Oct 4 2000)

## `attack`

      attack direction or target [...] [flag]
      * time: varies
      * priority: 3

Engage two stacks in combat. Only the top most noble in a stack may initiate combat.

target may be another unit, a ship, a building, or a location. Compass points may be abbreviated: ``n`', ``s`', ``e`', ``w`'. Units may also `attack out` of a sublocation to the surrounding province or location.

A unit may attack any unit or location directly accessible from its current location: units in the location, sublocations, or adjacent locations. As a special case, a stack on a ship can attack another ship in the same province, but in general a stack cannot attack from a ship into an adjacent province (or sublocation). So to attack an island, you must first sail to the island and then attack.

Attacking a building or location is really an attack against the controlling unit in that location. The controlling unit for buildings and other sublocations is the first unit in the location. The controlling unit for a province is the garrison. Attacking an empty or unguarded location is the same as moving into the location (see move).

If flag is 1, the attacker will not attempt to move into the defender's position. Note that in the case of multiple targets or directions, the flag must be the final argument.

For example, one would use the order ```attack` jg99`' to attack this castle:

      Inner locations:
         Castle [jg99], castle, defense 20, owner:
            Law Netexus [2020], with three peasants

Do not use ```attack` 2020`', as Law Netexus is not in the same location as nobles outside the castle. If successful, the attackers will move into the castle.

A unit may not attack another member of its own faction. Two units in the same stack may not engage in combat.

Prisoners may not be attacked. To attack the stack holding a prisoner, issue an `attack` order for another member of the stack (such as the top unit in the stack).

Multiple targets or directions may be given as arguments to the `attack` order. If the first fails, the next will be tried, until a target is found, or `attack` runs out of arguments. Note that only one target will be attacked with each `attack` order.

The `attack` order takes one day plus any necessary travel time. Attacking a stack in the same location takes one day. Attacking a location that is 8 days away (i.e., attacking the garrison guarding an adjacent province) takes 9 days -- 8 days travel time plus one day for the attack itself. An attack against an empty or unguarded location also requires one day plus travel time, even though it will not result in a battle.

A moving stack does not leave its current location until the day it completes the move. This means that the stack can be attacked until its move completes, e.g., on an eight day move the stack could be attacked for eight days after it begins the move.

For details on the resolution of battles, see Battles.