Matrix Games Forums

Is leader death entirely random? I had two battle in succession where mid-battle the leaders were killed (D'Avout, and the other high ranking general). In both cases I had overwhelming superiority, was inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, and not even getting fired on much by the enemy, let alone taking casualties. In one case both forces were on their starting lines and no one was in contact, and all the enemy artillery had been destroyed. Must have been a cheeky sniper.

I like random punishments in games as much as the next gamer, but it would be nice to know the mechanism in case it is not entirely random.

I hear you there. I was fighting a battle last night with Napoleon's army against a combined Prussian/Russian army. I was wiping them out easily as they came at my line, I had not suffered any casualties yet, and then BAM, Lannes goes down for no apparent reason. I was flabbergasted.

ORIGINAL: Ostwindflak
I was flabbergasted.

Indeed. Mine happened during an invasion of Spain. First I got hit with Foraging (random punishment 1), then D'Avout dies of gout mid-battle (2), then André Masséna (? It was an 8 leader) horse rears at a mouse and falls off and breaks his neck (3). On the same turn. "FFS" thrice was heard in my house, each one louder than the previous. I conquered Spain that turn though: the only casualties I took were in fact from the card and the two leaders rolling "00".

Who knows how the Angel of Death chooses?

Leader death during the battle proper is random. When this happens in the game to Lannes (or Moore) I always think: a stray cannonball.

Of course, leader casualties during pursuit, which are much more likely to occur, are based on odds calculated according to losses and only happen to the losing side.

Instead of leader casualties always being death, it would be more realistic to allow for them, in some instances, being only wounded and recovering after a few turns and returning to the game. Of course this will not mitigate the effect of losing them mid battle. Perhaps a generic general can be promoted to army commander if that happens so that the army is not leaderless.

We simplified the system and assumed the wounds happened and were just not reported to the player. We could add wounding. Might be fun.

I lost Davout also he was in a 17 (reserve) stack fighting the Russian 25 stack. I wasn't so disappointed when Wellington was killed in another battle a few turns later...

Another leader issue.
I think moving a single leader should not use up an activation point, especially under the current rather slow moving system.

ORIGINAL: Erik Nygaard

Another leader issue.
I think moving a single leader should not use up an activation point, especially under the current rather slow moving system.

+1 That makes sense.

ORIGINAL: gdrover

We simplified the system and assumed the wounds happened and were just not reported to the player. We could add wounding. Might be fun.

Yes, the intent would be that the wounded leader would possibly recover from the wounds and return to duty.

We are going to try to add free movement for leaders moving by themselves in an update.

ORIGINAL: gdrover

We are going to try to add free movement for leaders moving by themselves in an update.

That is good news. +1

ORIGINAL: gdrover
We simplified the system and assumed the wounds happened and were just not reported to the player. We could add wounding. Might be fun.

I think it would be not only be fun but add a bit more Napoleonic flavor to the game.

You would have to test the return of the General to active service as he would probably come back into the game at Paris and therefore "might" give the player too many generals running around scooping up reserves.