Feudal Level

[Anthropoid]

Yeah, Russia is under DRIFTS of snow most of the frickin' year . . . makes attacking my neighbors a real hassle. Forager promotion should reduce march attrition.

[06 Maestro]

I thought the Russian Army had the polar bear (or whatever it is) traits already. Maybe those are just for combat and not marching through the woods butt deep in snow.

[Mus]

ORIGINAL: Anthropoid

Yeah, Russia is under DRIFTS of snow most of the frickin' year . . . makes attacking my neighbors a real hassle. Forager promotion should reduce march attrition.

That is the price you pay for being basically impervious to invasion.

[Anthropoid]

Nope you gotta pay for polar bear, and as far as I can tell, that doesn't have any impact on march attrition. Neither does the forager promotion. Almost my entire army has the Forager and Polar bear and it didn't prevent any march attrition at all it seems. This is what really irks me: a promotion that prevents (totally) forager attrition, and another promotion that accentuates ability to move in and cope with adverse weather have no effect whatsoever on marching attrition or the extra effect of marching attrition in adverse weather.

I just don't like what I consider to be cheesy "difficulty" factors. If a game needs handicaps against players then there is something wrong with the basic design. Any good game should be fun and challenging (until you master it) on "normal" or one notch above normal "difficult" or whatever.

And no Mus, I have not played a PBEM in which the difficulty level was set lower. Have you?

However, I do have a match against the AI on difficult setting (as Russia) and it is plenty challenging IMHO without the extra handicaps.

*grumble, grumble* [:'(] Ah well, just a game [;)]

[Mus]

ORIGINAL: Anthropoid

I just don't like what I consider to be cheesy "difficulty" factors. If a game needs handicaps against players then there is something wrong with the basic design.

March attrition happened in reality. The highest level in the game is around or slightly below historical results of march attrition according to Eric Babe from WCS.

Also in PBEM all the major powers ARE players, so nonsense about handicapping doesn't factor into it.

The March Attrition is there to force EVERYONE to move their forces intelligently and realistically. You can still Force March in an emergency, you just pay the proper price.

ORIGINAL: Anthropoid

And no Mus, I have not played a PBEM in which the difficulty level was set lower. Have you?

Yeah I have. And it was completely absurd to watch these 100% strength armies force march full speed all over Europe and back without any realistic ill effects.

Most people who saw it agreed, so the concensus since then has been for high levels of March attrition to prevent the cheese. Every game I have been in since then has been proposed from the beginning as either Wellington (10%) or Bonaparte (15%) March attrition.

From the general strength of units in the middle of campaigning, observed thus far it seems like you can maintain around 70% strength between casualties in battle and march attrition. This is if you are properly managing your draft/replacement rates, not making reckless force marches, keeping in supply well, etc.

This seems plausible. I am sold on high (approaching realistic) levels of March Attrition and wouldn't play a PBEM without it. Have seen the other side of the coin and it is very cheesy.

PS. Maestro06, sorry about the threadjack man. I feel compelled to defend march attrition when it is brought up.

[:D]

[evwalt]

I'll make 1 more post about march attrition (add my apologies to Mus).

The upgrade BAGGAGE TRAIN reduces march attrition per the rulebook (2.6.5 March Attrition) <looks like it reduces losses by 1/3>