the combat model

[Devin]

1) Are there plans to release a written summary of how advances in military technology affect your armies' and fleets' quality in terms of the quality factors (mobility, firepower, close combat, siege, etc.)? Do different advances affect different quality factors or does the name of the advance have no real significance? Are there certain technologies that are considered major breakthroughs or do they all have the same incremental effect?

2) How is combat resolved? Is it phased somehow? Specifically, does one side get the initiative based on its mobility or the presence of cavalry? Then does that side get to shoot first and do damage based on its firepower rating?

I'm just wondering what is important to keep in mind when putting an army together.
I never know how much cavalry is right, whether artillery ever does any good in a normal battle, whether I should speed up research in muskets for my army before going to war because that particular advance would give me a significant edge, whether there are certain technologies that make galleys more effective relative to normal warships, etc.

 

[unmerged(349)]

Great questions! I hope someone finds the time to answer these. In the meantime, I have observed some things about it: There seem to be two phases in land combat, the Fire phase and the Melee phase. In Melee it appears that large armies have more of an advantage (it could be that there is a bonus for armies with cavalry). In Fire phase, more technologically advanced armies seem to have an advantage. During the different phases, small icons appear on the picture of the battle, and next to those icons are numbers which appear to indicate the effectiveness of the two armies in that current phase.

I have been playing Austria, so I really can't say anything about naval warfare.

[This message has been edited by von Curow (edited 28-10-2000).]

 

[unmerged(13)]

Pitched battles and Naval battles.

Naval

A naval battle will occur when two or more enemy fleets receive orders to stop in the same sea zone, or when an attempted naval interception has succeeded.

The battle will consequently come about when two or more enemy fleets are in the same sea zone. You will see two battling sailing ships, symbolizing the two sides in the battle. Each ship will have a narrow rectangle. The color of the rectangle shows the level of morale and how it changes during the course of the battle. The length of the rectangle shows the size of the fleet compared to the enemy fleet, and how the relative size of the fleets change as they suffer losses in the battle. The battle is divided into a number of phases that will continue until one side loses the battle. Note that you can’t influence what happens during the various phases; this is the duty of the fleet’s commander.


What determines the outcome of a naval battle? Firstly the odds, i.e. e the relative difference in strength between the fleets, are immensely important. Secondly, the difference in naval technology levels is very important. Thirdly the commander is important, as his skill value in maneuvering, firing and boarding will influence the phases of the battle. Fourthly the outcome of the battle is influenced by who has utilized the wind conditions most efficiently, which your commander takes care of. You can’t influence this, but note that only one side will get the bonus for wind conditions.


Pitched battles,

What determines the outcome of the battle? Firstly, the odds, i.e. the relative strength between the army units carry tremendous importance. Secondly, the difference in level of military technology is very important. Thirdly, the commander is important since his skills of movement, fire and shock effect will influence the phases of the battle. Furthermore, the outcome of the battle is affected by which side that has cavalry superiority. This will give the commander scouting information that he may use while commanding the battle and an effective force to send against retiring enemies. Note that cavalry superiority loses its importance in provinces with forests, swamps and mountains. Fifthly, the invader will receive a negative bonus when attacking in a mountain province, over a river and when disembarking in a province containing a hostile army unit.

Sapura

 

[unmerged(349)]

Thanks, Sapura! That helps a lot, especially understanding how cavalry influences a battle. Just proves how great this game is, since the influence of cavalry seems to jive with how it was used during this period of warfare.



------------------
'Therefore take heed how you impawn our person,
How you awake our sleeping sword of war.
We charge you in the name of God, take heed;
For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood...'
Henry V (a la Shakespeare)

 

[unmerged(158)]

Sapura's answer does not really answer the initial question. He is just quoting the rule book. I am still interested in an answer of the initial question.

 

[unmerged(28)]

Originally posted by Devin:
1) Are there plans to release a written summary of how advances in military technology affect your armies' and fleets' quality in terms of the quality factors (mobility, firepower, close combat, siege, etc.)?

If Johan doesn't say anything differently the current situation makes me say no. You can see all that by looking into the land military and the naval military logs above the information window.

Do different advances affect different quality factors or does the name of the advance have no real significance? Are there certain technologies that are considered major breakthroughs or do they all have the same incremental effect?

No some of them are different and some aren't. though its pretty complex.

2) How is combat resolved? Is it phased somehow? Specifically, does one side get the initiative based on its mobility or the presence of cavalry? Then does that side get to shoot first and do damage based on its firepower rating?

It is EXTREMELY complicated. But I'll give you a light version. There are cycles of phases. Fire phase (both sides takes losses), then morale loss is calculated, and then a shock phase (both sides takes losses. And it goes round and around until one side is annihilated or forced to retreat. I think that Maneuver and Cavalry gives extra losses. Cav though depending on terrain. I'm not sure about initiative though. Only Johan (IlMaestro of EU) knows this.

I'm just wondering what is important to keep in mind when putting an army together.
I never know how much cavalry is right, whether artillery ever does any good in a normal battle, whether I should speed up research in muskets for my army before going to war because that particular advance would give me a significant edge, whether there are certain technologies that make galleys more effective relative to normal warships, etc.

Basically morale increases with increased tech levels. Tech levels are very important. Leaders are even more important. Cavalry superiority is very very important as your army will be virtually slaughtered without any in combat with a combined force. I always use the ratio 2inf:1cav when playing safe. Artillery are extremely good when besieging. Sieges go much faster with a lot of artillery. However beware to put these expensive toys in a lowly supplied province if you want to keep them.

There is though no sure thing no perfect plan. Every choice is a trade off. Cavalry is very good, but it is also very expensive.

/Greven

 

[unmerged(158)]

Thank you for the detailed answer.