Automatic battles?

[Jimmer]

I want to lobby for a significant rule change: Stop having the computer pick chits for single corps. I just lost a major battle as GB because the idiot computer picked withdraw against the Turks, an option that would NEVER occur in a real game.

I also want to open a discussion on what happens when pre-selected chits are chosen. Does that selection stay with that corps forever (unless changed again)? How about if two such corps are in combat, and only one has the option chose? (And, don't tell me there's always human-chosen chits, because that's not correct.)

How about if you preselect a chit with your corps that has the leader that's the commander? THIS is what I thought preselecting chits was for, not to save phantom "time" by taking away the human interface of battle.

There has GOT to be an option "let me pick chits at time of combat". There's simply no excuse for having the computer pull a chit for 1/6 of the British army. No excuse whatsoever.

[Marshall Ellis]

Jimmer:
 
The battle was simply two MP corps? Tu vs Gbr?
I'll need to look back over the code because I thought this was explicitly vs minor corps units only???
Stupid question but your PBEM quick combat option is disabled?
 
Anybody else have an opinion?
 

[NeverMan]

I agree, it's way more trouble than it's worth.

I thought the "quick combat" option disabled got rid of this? Maybe I'm not sure what quick combat is.

[Marshall Ellis]

Quick combat simply puts the computer in control of combat for the defender. This prevents the round trip of battle files and quickens the game a bit. However, in battles against single minor corps units, the computer always assumes control of the minor to again quicken the pace.
 
 

[eske]

Using quick combat, could you preset a defensive chit, like in single corps battles ?
 
/eske

[Marshall Ellis]

I think it does but I'll have to check since I haven't touched that code in a while...
I'll let you know...
 

[Jimmer]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

Jimmer:

The battle was simply two MP corps? Tu vs Gbr?
I'll need to look back over the code because I thought this was explicitly vs minor corps units only???
Stupid question but your PBEM quick combat option is disabled?

Anybody else have an opinion?

It was an Ottoman corps against a British corps.

No, quick combat is not turned on (I'll double-check this when I get home).

[Jimmer]

By the way, I didn't get any chance to handle the combat (he attacked me). The defender in this case is a major power (GB). The attacker is a minor Ottoman corps controlled by Turkey.
 
Do you believe it should have generated a battle series?
 
Also, I haven't been able to find the rules on this. Can you give me a page number or rule number that covers this? Thanks.

[Marshall Ellis]

There is mention of this in the Starting A PBEM Game section but it does not specify whether it is only minor corps or not. It does sound like your battle would qualify.
 
 

[Jimmer]

But, if that's correct, why would I (as the one MP present) not get to see the battle screen? Does it apply when either power is a minor? Or, just when the defender is? If it is supposed to be the latter, it didn't work correctly.
 
Anyhow, my lobbying point is that I don't think ANY battle should ever be handled by the computer. Long movement phases do not matter to me nearly as much as having a computer pick the chit for me (which is somewhat predictable and almost always a bad choice in single-corps battles). What I would like to see is any battle that is not a trivial battle MUST be fought using battle files, unless an option is set to do otherwise.

[Marshall Ellis]

If you attack any defender that is a single minor corps then the PC will assume control of the defender only in PBEM games.
 
I hear what you are saying but this would certainly lengthen the game play and almost nobody wants that so I want way more feedback on this!
 
 
 
 

[Jimmer]

I agree on more feedback.
 
What I'm having trouble with is that the game didn't give me a chance to pick a chit. I was the defender and I had a MP corps present (1). From what I read above, I should have been asked what chit to pull. But, I wasn't. So, this could be either a bug or a rules deviation (not likely, since the rules seem to be non-existent ).

[Jimmer]

Oh, and it should be an option to disable this "feature", possibly tied to the "quick combat" option.

[Marshall Ellis]

FYI...The testers actually liked this not to be linked with the quick combat option because they liked the possiblity of them not being linked. Itwas a nice compromise.

[NeverMan]

I don't think the Quick Combat saves time and I, personally, just find it frustrating. JMO.

[Marshall Ellis]

How could you say that when it TOTALLY ELIMINATES battle file swapping???
 

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

How could you say that when it TOTALLY ELIMINATES battle file swapping???

I just don't like the idea of not knowing wtf is going on. Maybe I'm paranoid.

Let's say you "pre-select" a chit for that corps, are you using ESP to determine how many corps are attacking you and what leaders they are attacking you with? My chit for that corps might be different depending on how it is attacked and by whom/what. Also, 1PP might not seem like a lot, but it can be.

In all the games so far, combat has not really been a major slowdown factor like I thought it would be.

[Marshall Ellis]

ORIGINAL: NeverMan

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

How could you say that when it TOTALLY ELIMINATES battle file swapping???

I just don't like the idea of not knowing wtf is going on. Maybe I'm paranoid.

Let's say you "pre-select" a chit for that corps, are you using ESP to determine how many corps are attacking you and what leaders they are attacking you with?

In all the games so far, combat has not really been a major slowdown factor like I thought it would be.

I'll stand corrected if others agree??? I never would have guessed that but I'm open to correction.

Anybody else use the quick combat option?

[AGT4533]

I notice chit selection for corps can be done in the reinforcement phase, for when your opponent moves before you, and then again in your own land phase for those opponents who move after you. You just need to think of the possibilities and pick a chit so the program doesn't have to do it for you. It is a decent compromise to keep the game moving for the single corp combats.

[gwheelock]

As a compromise suggestion; add "Run as battle file exchange" to the list of "chits" that can
be preset for corp.  If this is selected; then the computer should generate battle files for the
combat whenever that corp is attacked instead of picking the chit.