Sieges: A Tactical Overview

Reconnaissance: Preliminary Planning

Halt! Before beginning a Civil War Quest that involves attacking a fortification, you may wish to employ some smart reconnaissance, visiting the any fort you’ll be assaulting later in the Civil War and inspecting the exterior battlements, learning where the stairs and upper crenellations are. However, remember the following advice and caveats:

• Once you’ve accepted the quest that sends you to a Hold, a reconnaissance is too late; enemy soldiers attack if you approach the fort. However, if you arrive before you receive the particular quest to assault the fort, you can walk around. The soldiers will call you out as a trespasser, but they probably won’t attack you on sight. For best results, sneak.
• You can visit any or all of the forts before the Civil War starts. This will give you a chance to inspect them and collect some loot from the enemies (usually warlocks or bandits) who occupy them before the soldiers move in.
• Finally, the “real” attack on the fortification doesn’t start until the specific quest is running. If you arrived here earlier and tried to take out the garrison all by yourself, the enemy will be back up to full strength when the proper attack begins.

Attacking Forts: A Fighting Chance

Whenever you’re outside a fortified structure, attempting to get in, raze the place, and cut down the enemy guards inside, there are a few general strategies you should employ:

• Your main goal is to lead and support your soldiers. While you can attack from another entrance, you risk getting overwhelmed. You’re likely better off if you stay with your men unless you’re trying to achieve some tactical goal.
• Don’t head into an interior part of the structure. Stay with your allies and give yourself room to maneuver.
• There’s usually more than one entrance. Check the exterior walls for gaps, fallen sections you can leap over, or other debris for infiltration purposes.
• Move carefully and deliberately. If you get out too far ahead of your troops, the enemy may surround you.
• You have two basic choices: you can move through the fort and fight soldiers as you go, or find and secure one position and let the enemy come to you.
• Most entrances to strongholds are bolstered by barricades. Destroy these with magic or melee weapons if you want your allies to storm the area.
• Need a rest? Then back away and administer magic or potions before returning into the fray.
• Gain height. It is always advantageous to gain the highest ground, whether it is a turret or battlements section.
• Use any walls as cover, and attack foes grouped together with area-of-effect weapons. However, these same area-of-effect weapons can damage your own forces. Be very aware of who you’re fighting!
• Stormcloaks are clad in dark blue. Those folks in red? Imperials! Make sure you know which side you’re on!
• You can fight with long-range arrows or magic, or rush in with a melee or a combination of both. As long as you’re killing foes, you aren’t penalized for the way you’re dispatching them.
• (Melee) Keep an eye out for archers on the walls. If you see one of your men fighting the enemy, help them—the enemy can’t block both of your attacks at once.
• (Ranged) Find a good sniping spot, somewhere you can maximize your damage and have good sight lines. Ideally, shadow some of your soldiers so if your position is attacked, they can deal with the enemy while you back away and continue to strike from range.

Your mission is complete when the enemy garrison is all but wiped out. A few stragglers may remain, but these are optional kills.