Total War

[aprezto]

Have you found yourself using it?

[Mus]

Ive used it as France in singleplayer games.

[Anthropoid]

Not a single time.

[aprezto]

I have seen the AI surrender the moment another nation goes to war with them, in order to keep the impact down, so I suppose that is the reason for the setting. Still, it is a hard row to hoe with all the penalties or bonuses to the enemy.
 
You'd need to be sublimely confident in your army's ability.

[IronWarrior]

Using it for the first time in the "Another Pbem" game as France actually. I just declared total war on Austria this past turn. Prussia has a large lead and Austria is still concentrating her efforts against France in that game (not to mention allying with Prussia). Seems to be the only option in that situation, so I like it and consider it a necessary feature. [:)]

[barbarossa2]

Oh! I will be interested to hear on how that goes for you IronWarrior! Keep me posted!

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: IronWarrior

Using it for the first time in the "Another Pbem" game as France actually. I just declared total war on Austria this past turn. Prussia has a large lead and Austria is still concentrating her efforts against France in that game (not to mention allying with Prussia). Seems to be the only option in that situation, so I like it and consider it a necessary feature. [:)]

If only France could see that the boot is to be colored white on the map...
But come on, march on Vienna and see what happens. You have yet to fight a successful battle against my armies [;)]

Terje

[aprezto]

Oh, I just posted in your AAR Terje.
 
IW, so you now have to take all of his provinces to beat him (Terje). That seems a very tall order, especially if he is allied with Prussia. I know an alliance does not mean an automatic DOW in defence of alliance members, but he will be likely to watch for openings I'd imagine.
 
Terje, I'd have thought manoeuver and destruction of supply routes the best tactic - wear him down and strike when you have superiority (such as that is) - the Capital is no longer as important as it usually is. Although National Morale could become an issue, and with double the amount available if you win battles, holding off indefinately doesn't seem like the right strategy either.
 
I imagine National Morale is still lost of having you capital occupied?
 
Most interesting!

[IronWarrior]

Hehe very true, but the game is all but lost at this point if I don't take Austria's army out. It is the only option left in that game, if successful I can then focus on Prussia and at least try to keep them from winning. Even then it will be a race to try to keep Prussia from achieving the 2000 GP's by then. The game has been bitten by some pre-patch bugs as well, so another reason to try it. [:D]

It was a perfect opportunity, I had just surrendered to the Britain-Prussian alliance giving me a ton of time to wage war while having an enforced peace with Britain/Prussia (divide and conquer [;)]). If this was 1803 or 1805 scenario, I could try to take them all on at the same time, but not in the 1796 scenario. Both armies have upgrades since the last battles, but France has a very expensive one which I want to find out if it is any good in Instant Battles...

[aprezto]

Excellent. As you say: nothing to lose. How you negotiate the obsticals will indeed be interesting.
 
Q tho. At this point, is Austria happy to play Prussia's puppy dog? Wouldn't a concerted effort against the Prussians be what you were all aiming at?
 
I suppose in such situations this hands it to the English or someone else... hmm. No, maybe your course is the best, at least your destiny is in your hands.
 
Nice work getting peace treaties with the obvious defenders of the Austrians.
 
I love the diplomatic wranglings this game has the opportunity to throw at you.

[IronWarrior]

Yeah I was really surprised when Austria declined my proposal to ally against Prussia. She countered with a nasty proposal that would force France to liberate important Italian provinces in Italy (which would end up costing France around 10 GP's per turn). Then Austria turned around and allied with Prussia.

The ace up my sleeve is my ally Turkey (the only other nation not allied with Prussia lol). Matto knows the game well, and I expect Turkey will help me out with Austria, because that would also open up a path for Turkey to reach Prussia.

On top of all of that another benefit to hitting Austria is that there are Austrian territories, such as Tyrol, that would give France a couple more GP's per turn.

Will be interesting for sure. [;)]

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: IronWarrior

Yeah I was really surprised when Austria declined my proposal to ally against Prussia. She countered with a nasty proposal that would force France to liberate important Italian provinces in Italy (which would end up costing France around 10 GP's per turn). Then Austria turned around and allied with Prussia.

The ace up my sleeve is my ally Turkey (the only other nation not allied with Prussia lol). Matto knows the game well, and I expect Turkey will help me out with Austria, because that would also open up a path for Turkey to reach Prussia.

On top of all of that another benefit to hitting Austria is that there are Austrian territories, such as Tyrol, that would give France a couple more GP's per turn.

Will be interesting for sure. [;)]

Well, I've been saying for a loooong time that French presence in Italy is not acceptable. The Preussian territories will do me no good, but the French ones will. Oh well, my men never get tired of target practice (aka the shooting of French troopers).

Sure, Turkey could join in, but unless the previous wars, now I have the advantage of inferior lines. Come one come all, doom is awaiting! [;)]

Terje

[barbarossa2]

"interior lines" :)

[IronWarrior]

important Italian provinces in Italy...

Did I really just type that? sheesh! [8|]

inferior lines...

[:D] that's my hope at least, we'll see if Double Line Formation actually does anything I guess. [;)]

[terje439]

lol @ me
That is what lack of sleep does to you [:D]
Well considering the Austrian economy and food income they are truely inferior [:)]

[Anthropoid]

Should be interesting. Whoever said Russia was "allied" with Prussia?!?

[aprezto]

IW, so far it is hard to know whether the military upgrade or the Austrian's terrible NM is having the most influence.

[Mus]

ORIGINAL: aprezto

IW, so far it is hard to know whether the military upgrade or the Austrian's terrible NM is having the most influence.

Superior doctrine upgrades and a more universally adopted Corps system for the French is the difference IMO.

Numbers and morale quality started relatively even, although France had an advantage in the artillery arm.

[IronWarrior]

ORIGINAL: aprezto

IW, so far it is hard to know whether the military upgrade or the Austrian's terrible NM is having the most influence.

Your guess is as good as mine. [:D]

I think Mus has the gist of it though, and I would also add France is an empire, Austria isn't (every little bit counts). I can't see the Austrian army, so not sure how it is organized, but one of the most important things you can do in Instant Battles is organize all of your divisions into corps (IMO). This gives your divisions the benefit of receiving the mods from your army commanders and corps commanders. Of course I currently don't have enough corps commanders and some of my corps arent receiving all that they could, but nothing I can do about it.

Gotta hand it to Terje though, he's certainly not made this easy by any means! [;)]

[aprezto]

There you go Terje, you're better than the AI [:'(]