Division vs brigade level combat - which do you prefer?

[Stormbinder]

Hi guys!

Just got this game recently, currently I am having a lot of fun with it.

Quick question - when choosing between different types of battle, which one do you usually prefer? Detailed? Brigade? Perhaps quick/instant? Could you explain pros and cons?

Also choosing between two detailed modes (division and bridage), which one do you think is more challenging to play vs AI? (I like challenging games)

Thanks a lot!

[terje439]

Welcome to the forum, and gratz on picking up this gem of a game.

My personal favorite would be
-detailed battle
-divisional

After a while if you want challenging (apart from going over to pbem ofc[;)]) I would recommend quick or instant battles as you will eventually be able to beat off the AI in most battles in detailed.
I chose divisional because my armies tend to contain some 200.000 men+, so more than enough units with divisions.

Terje

[Stormbinder]

I see, thank you.


Semi-unrelated question: For such huge battles you always need to build chains of depots, right? (I've just started to play COGEE as France, so far I was trying to keep my armies under 40K, since money are tight and manual said that depots are very expensive. )

[arras]

For anything bigger than rebel fighting you need depot. Units will suffer forage looses if provincial supply capacity is exceeded and depots also help to reinforce units which sustained looses in battle. Since average 3 corps army have 20 divisions and more, you can't fight effectively without depots.

As a France, you are in unique position at the start of game. You start in war with Austria, Britain, Russia and Sweden. Prusia is at peace with you now but they dislike you strongly. You can defeat Austria very quickly, it is just matter of concentrating some of your armies at Viena and wining one or two major battles there. If you kick Austria out of war quickly, other powers will not be in position to defeat you plus you can make up your looses by imposing tribute payment on defeated Austria. Then you can quickly defeat Prussians, they will clash with you sooner or later anyway, it is better to strike first while they still have weak army. Then perhaps you can finish Swedes. After that, only Russians and Brits remain. Russians can be annoying if they send their armies across Austria but not really a danger. British are in no position to threaten you on continent alone. Just stay away from their fleets for time. You may want to persuade Denmark in to protectorate in which case you will get quit sizeable Danish fleet to help you with Brits.