Armoured Train observation.

[stormbringer3]

I have been really been enjoying this game and it's a real challenge playing the Central Powers. I find that The Russian Armoured Trains can just roll in behind your lines and can capture all sorts of cities way away from any front lines. I find it very unrealistic that a Russian train can just roll into Vienna, Berlin, etc. and capture them. Maybe WWI was different but in WWII games the Axis has to convert rail gauges since Axis and Soviet RR's didn't match. If they didn't match in WWI perhaps the Russians should have to control a Central power hex for a number of turns before the trains can use them.

[Myrddraal]

Currently armoured trains get a very heavy movement penalty if moving through hexes controlled by the enemy. They move much, much faster within their own territory. This doesn't only simulate gauge differences, but also the fact that an armoured train can't race through enemy territory at full speed without the certainty of being derailed or ambushed.

Perhaps the movement penalty should be increased?

[stormbringer3]

Thank you for the quick response. Yes, I think you should increase the movement penalty. I'm having my best start yet vs. the Russians in 1914 but I have this train running around capturing cities behind my lines. It was 1 hex from Vienna so I had to pull a unit from the front to garrison the city. Right now it's sitting in Posen quite aways from the front and I had to move a unit, again from the front, because if I didn't Berlin would fall the next turn.
Thanks again.

[Lukas]

remember that they are also quite vulnerable. Cut the rails on both ends with a unit and they have no where to escape. Then close in and kill it when its without supply.

[stormbringer3]

Yes that is an excellent tactic. What the drawback IMO is that your forces are so thin already, having to pull troops from the front or create troops to cut off a train is a problem that should only rarely occur. However, if that's the way it is so be it.

[Blubel]

Actually, if you can get it out of an city and close both rail lines, you can just watch it die, without taking casualties. You will however need 2 Garrion units.
I played one campaign until the end and the (AI) Russians did never build another one...

[IainMcNeil]

Letting them capture cities is definitely odd so upping the movement penalty in enemy territory seems sensible or even only letting them move to friendly hexes though that may be too limiting.

[wodin]

Maybe armoured trains at this sort of scale seems abit too tactical..also not sure if you should make i that an armoured train can't capture cities.

[Tophat1815]

I'd opt for the armoured trains being unable to capture cities myself,it's an infantryman's task not a special units role. Likewise tanks shouldn't be able to capture cities in this time-frame either. Just my 2 cents,haven't bought the game yet but its only a matter of time,probably today in fact.

[IainMcNeil]

Yes good point - I guess it represents an army with armoured train support not just the train. Same for tanks - its infantry with tank support as there was no such think as an armoured division.