                               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.

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

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.  Of course these effects are degraded by
lower efficiency; for instance the figures for defending forts, defending cap-
itals  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; 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 devastating effect.

                               Command : ATTACK

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

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

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

