Modding Unit Morale

[hangarflying]

Hey all,

I think I have found the correct location/files to adjust unit morale. If I wanted to adjust morale to units that start a scenario, I would need to adjust the "morale" column in ACWStart.txt For units that were to be built later on, I would need to adjust the "Base Morale" column in ACWPlayers.txt Are these the only places I would need to make changes? What about those units that are conscripted?

Thanks for your help!

[ericbabe]

Those locations should be correct.  I don't think conscripted or mustered morale can be modded, however.

[hangarflying]

Eric, thanks for your reply!

I don't have the game on right now and I never paid attention to it before, but does anyone know off the top of their head what the morale values are for conscripted and mustered units?

Regarding the adjustment of morale, I am thinking of increasing the Union morale instead of decreasing the Confederate morale. I noticed alot of the Confederate morale was around 4.5. I am thinking of raising Union morale to the high 3 to 4.0.

I don't by into the Confederate soldier being the "better" soldier myth. So I don't think they should be given a large morale increase. I do think they should have some bump - off-set the vast Northern superiority in order to make it a playable game.

Anyone who has adjusted the morale, have you had any luck with it? Did it make it into a playable game or was it turned into a game that was not fun becasue it was too "easy" for the north?

Thanks,

James

[Randomizer]

I have modded the Union starting morale for units with 2.0 or less initial morale in a modified July 1861 scenario that I use but only in the field forces (not garrisons) and only to a maximum of 2.5, about same as some Confederate brigades' starting morale.  As far as balance goes, no major issues noted.  I also have a hard time accepting the Confederate Super-Soldier mythology but saying so around here might spark some flammable posts in reply.
 
I think the concept of disposition in the FoF system is really a good one since a unit can have good morale but a poor disposition and be fragile in early combats like many unblooded units on both sides were initially.  I submit that at least at first brigades were well motivated (good morale) but ill-lead, physically unfit, badly organized and poorly trained (poor disposition).
 
I also converted all Union 4-Star generals to 2-star which causes a major command hit and inhibits any early experiance from being passed on through the Army level container units and also facilitates a hit in the disposition.  When using the random leadership attributes it makes the problem of promoting two leaders to Army command (4-star) a bit of a crap shoot.  I think that this reflects the Union command problems better than the original scenario as written.  Four-star General Ben Butler was just too painful to contemplate...
 
Best Regards

[hangarflying]

Randomizer,

Thanks for the reply! I like your train of though and I think I will copy it. What file is needed to mod the starting General Ranks?

Also, did you just mod the starting units, or did you also adjust the morale of units that are purchased/built/raised/etc.?

Thanks again!

[Randomizer]

Glad to be of help.

I have set up a special July 1861 scenario that I use for modding experiments and save all original files in a special backup folder so the defaults can be restored and errors corrected.

What file is needed to mod the starting General Ranks?

In each individual Scenario folder there is a file named Commanders and the ranks are shown numbered 1 through 4. I use M$ Excel to edit and you will find the rank info in Column J.

Also, did you just mod the starting units, or did you also adjust the morale of units that are purchased/built/raised/etc.?

Starting units only get higher morale since the quality of follow-on forces can be adjusted by National Will and building certain buildings. By default, musters can yield effective troops and battlefield success improves their quality so I think this process works as designed. Once I get the War Department upgrade I purchase at least 1 brigade per turn at a cost of 30 Money per and I will no longer muster and conscript only seldom and in those states where it is supported by the Governor.

Best Regards