Matrix Games Forums

I see some of my generals are activated and some are not. What does it take to activate a general for offensive action?

Activation depends on his rating in an algorithm the game performs each turn; you have no hand in it.

Is it a check every turn or once he is activated, he is activated for remainder of game?

It is checked each turn. It can produce some interesting results when your well planned, coordinated operation is brought to a helt due to a lazy corps commander.

Ben,

All of these items are covered in the tutorials and http://www.youtube.com/user/charlesonmission. I grant you the manual could be more helpful.

The manual appears to have been written by a committee of 20 different nationalities... none of whom spoke each other's language or English. [:D]

I believe the chance of being activated is the general's Strategic rating (1 to 6) divided by 6. General Grant is always activated since his Strategic Rating (the first number in his rating) is a 6 (at least in my game). A Corps commander can have his strategic rating modified due to the rating of his Army Commander. An Army Commander with a Strategic Rating of 3 has no effect. Someone like McClellan (1) will cause his corps commanders to have 2 subtracted from their ratings. Grant will add 3 (I think) to the Corps commanders of his Army. It's amazing how important this is during a game.