What difficilty level do you play at?

[Viking67]

I am playing at Major for the first time and my troops are getting slaughtered in HW. I have my troops dug-in on hilltops with Improved Springfields and 1 enemy unit can easily wipe three of my units off the hill.

[Hard Sarge]

Hmmm, interesting, which verison of the game are you playing ?
 
normally, the higher the level, the more staying power and agressiveness the AI has (there is a attack bonus, based on level played also, but, not really something to be too worried about)
 
but, depending on the weapon type and the morale level (and since you have Imp Springfields, would say it is middle of the war, so it may be a "Good" unit you were faced off with)
 
if, it is a standard, run of the mill, unit, I have not seen this happening, so it may just be bad luck, or something else

[Viking67]

The beta patch.

[Viking67]

My troops are consistantly getting whooped, their morale is good (4.5 to 6.5), and they have staying power. An average volly my tropps give out 100 to 200 in casualties, but the enemy is dishing out 200 to 400 in casualties.

Furthermore, the enemy is charging me out of my hasty entrenchments, dishing out 400 to 600 casualties, while taking less than 100.

Would brigade size play a significant role? I am still at 3000/unit and the enemy units appear much larger than mine.

The year is 1863.

[Walloc]

For me it differs, what level i play. I tried all from 1st Sgt to Major. Depending on if im trying to test some thing for my self or playing just for fun.

My experience is when you get up around major. Is that in HW, u some times get some funny results. I'd say i notice the difference in HW on the attack bonus.

I remember once. A case in late 61 or start 62 where i had pinned a US line with 1 of mine. Fired on it abit so lost its freshness status and should have lost a bit of its quality.
Moved a second line up behind it, stop for the turn. Its a fresh unit, combat moral 5.5 so prolly a quality 4.5 with muskets aka 200 damage at 1 in range. Fire next turn as said in its back. Got 275'is casulties for, 375'is in return. Was a run of the mill type of unit for all i saw. Not a LU.

okeey, those boys knows how to turn fast [:D]

When i play at those levels i adjust my play. Knowing i cant normally stand up in pure firefights and expect to give same damage as i recieve with similar units. Sorta point of higher levels. To surround, surround and surround units even more. Making up in captured units what i lose in firefights. I also pick my fights more carefully.

The post i made in the beta forum about captured casulties is played on captain level, IIRC.

Kind regards,

Rasmus

[Erik Rutins]

I'm going to move this to the beta forum, but you should turn on the Attack Report in the Advanced options to see what factors are affecting your fire.

Regards,

- Erik

[Viking67]

Thank you Erik. I have not run the Attack Reports before.

The biggest factors are:

1. The difficulty level "Major", adds 110 to 160 casualties
2. Gun power, usually "Richmond Muskets", adds 250 to 350 casualties

[Viking67]

Additionally, I receive "0" casualty bonus for difficulty and about one-tenthof the Gun Power bonus as the enemy.

Does this all seem correct?

[Viking67]

Furthermore, the terrian and entrenchment modifiers are very small into relation to the bonuses listed previously. IE: 70 for entrenchment and 20 for terrian.

[Drex]

Playing at major level. I am experiencing almost exactly as Viking67 describes although I haven't checked the attack reports.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Viking67
Additionally, I receive "0" casualty bonus for difficulty and about one-tenthof the Gun Power bonus as the enemy.

Difficulty bonus only applies to the AI, so yes you should not receive any.

As for gun power, that's not affected by anything but the gun's stats. Check the range and firepower ratings, the AI does try to get into a "sweet spot" for its firepower vs. yours if it can, from what I've seen.

[Viking67]

Erik, I agree with your comments but the "order of magnitude" seems too extreme when comparing the bonuses.

[Viking67]

I was actually playing at "Colonel".

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Viking67
Erik, I agree with your comments but the "order of magnitude" seems too extreme when comparing the bonuses.

If you have questions regarding a particular attack report, post a screenshot of the situation and the full report and we'll take a look.

[ericbabe]

You can decrease the amount of "difficulty bonus" by playing at a lower level.

[Mike13z50]

One thing I have noticed with the combat reports on is that cavalry recieves a negative modifier as a target. In otherwords cavalry takes less casulties when shot at then infantry. I guess this makes sense when dismounted, as there are actually fewer men there then represented due to "horse holders", but if that is the reason shouldn't the cavalry also recieve a negative modifier when firing?

And IMO cavalry ought to recieve a major target modifier increase when mounted, see "Kill"patricks action at Gettysburg.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Mike13z50
One thing I have noticed with the combat reports on is that cavalry recieves a negative modifier as a target. In otherwords cavalry takes less casulties when shot at then infantry. I guess this makes sense when dismounted, as there are actually fewer men there then represented due to "horse holders", but if that is the reason shouldn't the cavalry also recieve a negative modifier when firing? And IMO cavalry ought to recieve a major target modifier increase when mounted, see "Kill"patricks action at Gettysburg.

I believe cavalry are assumed to be "always skirmishing" which is what that modifier represents - I suppose they are also fairly fast-moving targets. Good question about them receiving the new penalty to fire modifier too. Apart from the "always skirmishing" aspect, I agree that they are bigger targets and your example is a good one of infantry whomping on cavalry. Perhaps the reduction should be adjusted to represent this? I'll leave it for Eric to consider.

[ericbabe]

I do consider it a sort of skirmish-style defensive bonus, and figured that cavalry skirmishing should be a bit better than infantry skirmishing (offensively speaking) as they can maneuver to better tactical locations faster (within the hex that they are in, abstractly, I mean). Be happy to change it if enough people think cavalry should fire with less power. Does anything think it's a game balance issue?