EU4- What are Unit Pips? | Siege Mechanics & Carpet Siege Shortcuts | Combat Basic Part 2 | Tutorial

Part 2 of a 4 part series on basics of combat and combat related mechanics. In this part, we discuss what are unit pips and leader pips and how they affect combat. Learn about basics of siege mechanics in game and some nifty siege shortcuts for a quick carpet siege!
Part 1 - Combat Basics - • EU4 Basics - How Comba...
Part 3 - Army Composition - • EU4 - Ideal Army Compo...
EU4 wiki pages-
eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Land_war...
eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Military...
eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Land_units
Mods used - Graphical Map Improvements, Stellaris UI Font
Discord - discordapp.com/invite/hXkJTJA
Text guides - www.eu4guides.com
Patreon - / radiores
Follow me on Twitter- / theradiores
Follow me on Twitch- / radiores

[@caseycundiff3311]

I’m here because after 1,600 hours I finally decided to learn what the unit pips did. Neat.

[@Xunek.]

I asked myself: How does 1 pip compare to 10% combat ability? (e.g. Offensive vs Quality Ideas) So I did some math using the formulas from the wiki. Both modify casualties. 10% combat ability just multiplies casualties by 1.1. One pip adds 5 "base casualties". At 50 base casualties they break even, since 50+5=55 and 50x1.1=55. 50 base casualties with equal armies and no terrain modifiers requires a dice result of 7 (without the added pip in question). A 10 sided dice with numbers 0-9 rolls a 4.5 on average, resulting in only 37.5 base casualties. Equal armies: So with an extra pip we get 42.5 casualties, 13.33% more casulties. And with 10% combat ability we get 41.25 casualties, 10% obviously. Pip wins. Bonus round: Now let's say we have a 3 pip advantage (terrain, generals and/or unit pips), resulting in an average casualties of 52.5. With extra pip: 57.5 casualties, 9.52% more. With combat ability: 57.75 casualties, 10% more. 10% combat ability wins. And now a 3 pip disadvantage, resulting in 22.5 base casualties: With extra pip: 27.5 casualties, 22.22% more. With combat ability: 24.75 casualties, 10%. Pip wins hard. Edit: I forgot to mention that combat ability only increases the casualties we cause, but the pip also reduces the casualties we receive, making the pip even stronger. Great video, cheers!

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

nice mate

[@Vincrand]

The extra pips from the generals either increase your damage dealt or decrease your damage taken and not both at the same time. When your general would have the same or higher pips as the enemy, then it would increase damage. In the case you'd have less pips, then the extra pips lower your damage taken.

[@Holsp]

How to win battles: 1) have more units 2) don't attack ottomans That's it

[@KKsKrissvs121]

Holsp otto is only strongest nation until france gets Elan

[@zdhim2714]

Bluestrawberry You mean until Prussia steps in ?

[@JakubJestKurwaZajete]

You mean until britanny steps in?

[@derpyyoshi2730]

and Sweden

[@GrFat]

How to win ? 1) the winged hussars arrived

[@aleksa13579]

Shh, be more quiet, i dont want my family to know i dont understand morale damage

[@spartan4free]

"Dont be ashamed when you dont know about the pips - i just understood them 200 hrs in." Looking at my 600hrs... :/

[@user-nv1px1ob6g]

looking at me with 2000 hours...:/

[@joaovitoryoshio7339]

Looking at my 1200hrs

[@justaybp6921]

1600 ://

[@hanneslundin346]

I have wondered about what the de-select one army shortcut button is for my whole time on eu4! Thank you so much you have made my life easy

[@nickzillathefirst]

Those hotkey tips

[@efficiencytipsandtricks9354]

B, B-B, X is really good to know! I'll have to start using that from now on.

[@user-hx3hf4hm3j]

Great work!

[@ProWhitaker]

Thanks for the video

[@michaelvk2483]

1:24 Every game of mine: “Ignorance is bliss”.

[@klodpraisor]

Good video! Do you think you might do a mercenary guide any time soon?

[@Vincrand]

I've also just looked into the unit pips. I'd say that the important pips change over time, but there are a couple of general rules you can use to choose which is better for you at the time. Morale pips are better for winning battles, but at the cost of a bit more casualties. This should be your focus in 2 situations. You and/or your enemy is small and can be easily stack wiped by following the retreating army. You have enough manpower/month that you don't care about the extra losses. On infantry defensive shock is better than offensive shock. Offensive fire is better then defensive fire (very slightly). Fire is better than shock. On cavalry defensive fire is better than offensive fire. Offensive shock is better than defensive shock. Shock is better than fire. Reason why defensive shock is better than offensive shock for infantry As example I take the longbow (offensive shock 1) and men at arms (defensive shock 1) (western tech 5) Against eachother the pips will cancel eachother out. So a when those 2 fight against eachother there is 0 difference (morale pips are the same). However cavalry does the majority of it's damage in the early game. Having that defensive shock reduces that cavalry damage, while that offensive shock would increase your damage. The redutcion in the cav damage is bigger than the extra damage you could do. So negating damage with that defensive shock pip is better.

[@quma2590]

What will be the next country guide?

[@jamesmclay9075]

"I didn't understand it until about 200 hours in game" *checks* "Oh neat. 700 hours. I'm about a quarter as quick as he is and that's with him telling me."

[@Vincrand]

I'm now looking at it while I'm at 7k hours and have most of the hardest achievements XD. I also looked into it a bit deeper and have additional information about which type of unit to pick.

[@myrtasz1036]

Could you please link the last and the next part (once you record it) in the description?

[@wimmer3324]

to detach many siege stacks you can just hold down d instead of box selecting the army over and over again. much faster and easier imo

[@wutrax1]

the thing i have always been wondering about: do siege pips on admirals actually do anything?

[@14thbattlegroupcommander]

I think it helps blockades but i am not really sure

[@thesoupmills1426]

700 hours and I only now learn what these do

[@ryanmitchell5614]

Great video. A question about sieges; does the number of units matter for sieging a fort. For example, are 10 infantry units as effective at sieging a level 2 fort as 25 infantry units or is it that only artillery affects siege phases?

[@RadioRes]

only artillery affects siege progress

[@ryanmitchell5614]

Radio Res big thanks :D

[@male272]

Moarr DOTS!

[@Seagull512]

Hey Res, are you aware that forts with a fort garrison under 100 can be siged down instantly, with only 1k troops? (It's basically considerd mothballed by the game), if you do sry for wasteing your time, if not what can I say but you're welcome.

[@mikesnow285]

Pretty confused, you say defending and offensive is different on who's defending and attacking but then you say that they are combined in one battle, which is it?

[@archdukefranzferdinand567]

S-S-Click-S gives you 4 stacks for carpet seiges

[@chocolateorange]

Trying out the Prussian military for the first time...

[@prinsbebo]

SUNSET INVASION plz

[@linkluver_izn]

says no shame because didnt know at 200 hrs about pips... meanwhile me at 700 hrs learning about pips for the first time xd

[@iggitteggitt3187]

"I learned about Them, after 200 hours in Game. So there's No shame, If you still don't know about Them. Well is there any shame after 300 hours (asking for a friend)?

[@RadioRes]

no shame :)

[@liborkozak8938]

Instead of d box just hold d

[@EdoardoLusuardi]

This guide is inaccurate at best: for example the detach for units about carpet sieging is only viable when and if you have not full regiments, you only need 1 unit of a thousand men to siege a province with no fort, therefore having two thousand men is just a waste. Also, pips don't work for attack and defense, they work relatively to damage done and received, both in terms of men and of morale.

[@Crayzier]

If I understood him correctly the second unit is a safeguard against possible attrition losses (in which case you could fall under 1,000 soldiers with only one unit). "Attack" and "Defense" refer to units attacking and defending in a phase, not to which army in general is attacking or defending. It might be a bit confusing as the terms are similar, but it's directly taken from the formula in the EU4 wiki. eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Land_warfare#Dice_roll