Logistics makes no sense

A complete overhaul and re-development of Gary Grigsby's War in the East, with a focus on improvements to historical accuracy, realism, user interface and AI.

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ElizabethWizard
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:45 am

Logistics makes no sense

Post by ElizabethWizard »

Please help me understand *any* of what's happening because it feels like the logistics system simply does not exist in my game? Or at least that I have literally no influence over it at all. What do I mean? Well let's consider this little spot next to Odessa:

Image

There's 6k worth of freight there. It is turn 3. On turn 1 I set that depot's priority to 0. On turn 2, since it didn't send it away from this WAY FORWARD DEPOT that I CANNOT HOLD and I wanted to preserve 6k freight (for some reason), I disbanded the depot.

On turn 3, it's still sitting here? With that green rail line. Ok.

Image
See that level 1 depot northwest of Rzhev? Half the rail hexes between Peno and Torzhok are reporting 5k freight. Two of them are reporting 10k, because apparently half the freight just got off the line 20 miles east of Peno and walked for 10 miles before getting back on the rail line? Ok.

Velikie Luki has reported receiving 4k freight and sending out 7k. I am *assuming* that the send-out was to units but I don't know how to check that. But again, Peno got a whopping 600 tons, none of it went south to Velikie Luki, so where did the 10k freight that passed through that line go? Did they just like, send a train down there for funzies and then be like "WHOOPS ACTUALLY WRONG WAY" and send it back up? And why do like half the rail hexes show 5k usage and the other half 10k?

Oh, and as a bonus, the system sent up 600 tons of freight from Saratov. Kherson, which lies on the mouth of the Dnepr, received 2k from Moscow.

It feels like I try to set up depots and the AI looks at that and is just kinda like, "I dunno, I guess, we'll just start sending freight places maybe if you're lucky."
AlbertN
Posts: 4280
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:44 pm
Location: Italy

Re: Logistics makes no sense

Post by AlbertN »

I've tried to understand it to some levels - but I'll let others help you out.

I've pointed out in the past that logistics follow a logic that allows Berlin sends to Kiel, Kiel embarks to Talinn via ship, Talinn rails via train to Rostov.
That because there is no logic (and thus no sense) besides 'Depot priority.x sends freight to Depot priority.X' where X > x.

Math subsequently are ever relative to me.
DarkHorse2
Posts: 1070
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2022 12:08 pm

Re: Logistics makes no sense

Post by DarkHorse2 »

@Elizabeth

You are a very funny guy. I like you. I think I'm going to let you date my sister. :lol:

One thing that will help sort some of this out is to get familiar with using the '8' key when in logistics mode. This is what it looks like from one of my turns:
WiTE2_logistics.JPG
WiTE2_logistics.JPG (266.33 KiB) Viewed 454 times

The Red Lines are going to units, the White Lines are Depot->Depot deliveries.

Here is another, more zoomed-out view:
WiTE2_logistics2.JPG
WiTE2_logistics2.JPG (617.28 KiB) Viewed 454 times
because apparently half the freight just got off the line 20 miles east of Peno and walked for 10 miles before getting back on the rail line?
Yeah, I know. Try not to look too closely at this. It will make you nuts. Pretend this doesn't happen.

Keep in mind that the Soviet are woefully under strength in a lot of their units. Unit reinforcements / replacements will compete with supplies along those same rail lines.

I will try to help you out some more, but at least start looking at this. Logistics involves a lot of moving pieces and, you only have direct control of just a fraction of them. Over time, you will get a better feel for it.
DarkHorse2
Posts: 1070
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2022 12:08 pm

Re: Logistics makes no sense

Post by DarkHorse2 »

The following view (from Commander's Report) is one you probably will want to become familiar with. The far right column shows the number of units supplied from the depot.

This also tends to have an influence on how freight is routed. The AI tries to factor in supply demand into its algorithms.
WiTE2_CR_DepotView.JPG
WiTE2_CR_DepotView.JPG (164.47 KiB) Viewed 448 times
DarkHorse2
Posts: 1070
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2022 12:08 pm

Re: Logistics makes no sense

Post by DarkHorse2 »

Keep an eye on your vehicles. Definitely don't want them to get too low.
WiTE2_Trucks.JPG
WiTE2_Trucks.JPG (186.97 KiB) Viewed 442 times

You may find you don't have much control over this, outside of demobilizing some of your units.

In those instances, keeping up with this will still be helpful as the lack of a large motor pool may help explain why your units are starving.
DarkHorse2
Posts: 1070
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2022 12:08 pm

Re: Logistics makes no sense

Post by DarkHorse2 »

Regarding depot management.... after review, I realized that I need to drop the circled depots down to a 3 at the end of this turn.

Level 4 depots do not forward any freight to another depot. My front line will advance further this turn and I don't want those circled depots hogging the freight.


WiTE2_logistics2.JPG
WiTE2_logistics2.JPG (1 MiB) Viewed 437 times
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