Another idea: Prompt for unchosen chits by corps

[Jimmer]

There's a problem that we have noticed in the past: The computer picks a chit for every corps that is attacked and is alone. There is always a single best choice to make when playing against a player using any unweighted randomizing to choose chits, which is what the computer does (possibly -- I haven't done the analysis). It would be better if the player were allowed to choose.

On the other hand, having battle files for every 1-corps army that gets attacked can get pretty tedius. One workaround might be to implement the "5-to-1 troop ratio means automatic trivial combat" rule, but that has proven unpalatable to some players. For now, since the 5:1 rule doesn't exist, or later for players who don't use it:

Another workaround would be to add a player option to prompt during reinforcement for every corps they have on the map (including minors) that does not have a chit chosen for it.

If the player chose to use this option, then the computer would never choose the chit for them because they would always have already assigned a chit to that corps.

As an enhancement to the above, add a second option as a sub-option to the first to re-prompt if that corps has been in combat since the last time the player personally chose a chit. This would prevent an army from making a second attack on a corps, already knowing which chit the player chose.

[bresh]

I would prefer removal of the "quick-1.corps" battles.
Its very unbalanced, since One would chose 1 chit vs 1 cps attacking, and often another when fighting a stack, sometimes it matters about doing damage, othertimes its about doing morale, and last it can be to reduce own looses.

Also the trivial combat-rules, witch i dont favor, should require corps+garrisoned depots to be able withdraw into city to..


Regards
Bresh

[obsidiandrag]

I agree with Bresh, I also am not a fan of the auto combat with one corps as not only might you choose differently one vs several enemy corps but also based on who you are fighting - Turkey has low morale England/France high on turkey there are alot of other options that might break them in the first round, also based on the resolution modifiers there are some options you would not want verses certain enemies that you would against others.  I know it takes alot longer but I like controlling each combat...
 
Maybe thats why I still prefer to take on the AI..  even though its alot easier to conquer what you want - the game can be done in a day so you can start another one.. not one turn of the game taken over the course of a month or 2..
 
(its why I still secretly want IP)
 
OD

[obsidiandrag]

Over a dedicated server of course..  log in and out etc..
 
and people can log into see how the game is going etc.
 
hey, I can dream

[Jimmer]

I agree with both of you, and on all counts (oddly enough). I came up with this idea because it seemed the other (better) solutions weren't coming any time soon. This would be a "quick and dirty" kind of workaround. It could also stick around after the other ideas were implemented, because you might still want to pre-pick chits, even with full control, just to speed things up. If the "hide your die rolls" idea comes to fruition, this idea would still work.

[Jimmer]

Marshall, did you notice this idea?

[MarshallEllis]

Yea and it seems like it might work BUT maybe a button selection in a few phases??? I say this because the reinf phase is getting skipped more and more so this may tick a few folks off if it skips and leaves a unit blank BUT this is doable.

[Jimmer]

I agree on that, Marshall. I would make the button "always on", so it can be changed any time. Obviously, it won't have any immediate effect in some situations, but at least it would be there.
 
I wouldn't have it prompt except during land movement and reinforcement, though. The prompts are to help the player remember that he A) decided to put values in, and B) Hasn't yet done one of the corps.
 
So, there would be a master option to turn this feature on in the first place. Then, IF it is on, corps warnings would show up in reinforcement and in land movement (naval movement doesn't need this). The button to make changes, though, could be available at all times.

[Dancing Bear]

One thing that is missing from the list of defensive chits is the "allow the AI to make the decision for me" option. Sometimes us players can't see in the future, and the AI will do a better job than we can do.

[Jimmer]

That would be a good addition, DB. As long as it could be tailored (do not pick withdraw or outflank, for example).

[MarshallEllis]

The AI is already somewhat making intelligent CHIT choices BUT this is largely only based on major powers that get bonuses from certain CHIT selections i.e. Turkey, Russia.

[Jimmer]

If this gets into the product, it probably should allow the player some granularity. Specifically, the size of the attacking army might encourage a different chit selection. For example, a 1-corps army attacking my full corps would get me to fight, but 10 corps with Nappy on them would elicit a "withdraw" option from me. It might also be different depending on which nation is attacking me.

[Jimmer]

By the way, the "pick a chit" option could even be made to allow ATTACKING corps to use it. THIS would greatly speed up games: If the attacker chose his chit at the time of movement, instead of waiting for the combat phase. It also makes things a bit more secure: The attackers choices are built into the PBM file for land movement, rather than being part of the initial land combat phase.
 
Think on this one a bit, Marshall.

[MarshallEllis]

Jimmer:

BTW: The PC does tend to wimper an withdraw if the odds look to be overwhelming.

[Dancing Bear]

It would be good if us players could select to let the PC decide for us, as even if the decision making process is not good, the PC is making the decision with more information than we have (i.e. at least it knows how many corps are attacking). The option to let the PC decide the chit should be on the list of chit choices.