Alternate Dominant Powers

[pzgndr]

I responded to a comment yesterday and I want to follow up with this.

One major deficit had been the inability for France or GB to lose Major Power status, or for other nations to gain it. This was a significant game feature that provided incentives that would drive play towards historical emnities and alliances, as well as give all powers a chance at leveling the playing field. I never understood why this was never implemented. While goal-achievement was rare, it always featured prominently in gameplay. I haven't caught up on years away from the forums, so I apologize if this has been answered, but what had been the technical and / or gameplay issues in not having included Major Power Status attainment / loss?

I think you mean optional rule 11.8, Alternate Dominant Powers? I can't speak for Marshall Ellis's original decisions, but looking at it I'll say it's problematic to code all of the logic for gaining/losing Dominant Power status and also to code the morale, combat, and income modifiers. Not impossible, but a lot of work and a lot of opportunity to get something wrong. Perhaps some simplified effects based on being in the Dominant zone or not could be considered? If France or Great Britain are not in the Dominant zone then they lose the ability to change move order and infantry morale is reduced by "-1". If the others get into the Dominant zone then their infantry morale is increased by "+1". I think I could code those changes. Let me think about it and I'll start a separate discussion for a proposed rule change, to see what other think.

I've had a chance to draft a proposed optional rule that I think I can implement:

ALTERNATE DOMINANT POWERS: In EMPIRES IN ARMS, as with the historical events portrayed, France and Great Britain have obvious and constant qualitative advantages over the other five Major Powers and, although anyone can still win, they are the "dominant" powers in the gate and the centers of diplomatic activity. For example, if Prussia does very well early in a campaign game, it is still the rather puny Prussia of the Napoleonic period in terms of army factor morale, with the addition of some minor country corps for help. It is certainly not the dangerous Prussia of Frederick the Great less than 50 years earlier or the dominant Prussia (the basis of modem Germany) of 50 years later and will have trouble maintaining any early gains. Every one of the Major Powers in the game has the capability to become a dominant European power and, during. the previous 200 years or during the next century, every one of them was or would be a dominant power. This option allows players, as the rulers of their respective Major Powers to alter the historical balance.

ACHEIVING OR LOSING DOMINANT POWER STATUS: In order for Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey to become a dominant power, they must reach the Dominant Zone on the Political Status Display during the New Political Combinations Step of an Economic Phase. In order for France or Great Britain or any other Major Power that earlier achieved dominant power status to lose their dominant power status, they must fall back to the Neutral Zone on the Political Status Display during the New Political Combinations Step of an Economic Phase. Any changes in dominant power status must be announced during a New Political Combinations Step.

EFFECTS ACHEIVING OR LOSING DOMINANT POWER STATUS:
- MORALE: If Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey become dominant powers, the morale value of the dominant power's regular infantry is increased by "+1.0" and, for Spanish and Turkish regular cavalry, morale is also increased by "+1.0" and Turkish dominant power feudal infantry and feudal cavalry have their morale increased by "+0.5." If France or Great Britain lose their dominant status, the morale of the diminished status Major Power's regular infantry is reduced by "-1.0."

- CHANGED NAVAL ADVANTAGES: For Great Britain, the loss of dominant status also means that their fleets lose their "+1" die roll modifier in naval combats and they must always take the first sequence in a Naval Phase. If Austria and/or Prussia become dominant powers their fleets lose their "-1" die roll modifier in naval combats.

- CHANGED LAND PHASE SEQUENCE: If Austria, Prussia, Austria, Spain and/or Turkey becomes a dominant power while France remains a dominant power, France no longer gets to choose its spot in the sequence but must always take the first sequence in a Land Phase. For France, the loss of dominant status also means they must always take the first sequence in a Land Phase.

- INCOME CHANGES: For Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey, their total Major Power income is automatically increased by $10 on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of every Economic Phase while a dominant power. For France or Great Britain, their total Major Power income is automatically reduced by -$10 on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of every Economic Phase while not a dominant power.

I enjoy hearing from veteran players, so when I see a comment like "it always featured prominently in gameplay" it makes me pause and consider Why Not? As I mentioned in my response above, the logics in the original rule 11.8 for territory required for gain or loss of dominant status are complicated. For simplicity, being in or out of the Dominant Zone on the Political Status Display should be sufficient for implementing the dominant power effects. Maybe not perfect, but close enough? As a game option. I'd be interested to hear from players if this is acceptable. I'm also curious if the +/-1.0 morale changes are OK as is or if we should consider more modest +/-0.5 morale changes. But I have to agree with the statement "Every one of the Major Powers in the game has the capability to become a dominant European power." Why Not?

So I will first look at implementing a new game option, and if I can get that to work OK then I can code the option and its effects. I'll see what I can do this week.

[pzgndr]

Alright, I managed to create a new game option for Alternate Dominant Powers. This was not trivial. And I had to shrink the rows just a tad to get the new option to fit. I think it's ready to go, so I can proceed with coding the option. And we'll see how that goes.

adp.jpg (189.85 KiB) Viewed 1561 times

[Orm]

I'm also curious if the +/-1.0 morale changes are OK as is or if we should consider more modest +/-0.5 morale changes

I find it weird that the ability of the French, and British, armies would drop that much so I think a drop of -0.5 seems reasonable.

I further think that the British Fleet would have kept some of their superiority so perhaps they should keep their +1 die naval modifier? Why would the aggressiveness, and skill, of the Royal Navy evaporate so much just because their army got mauled?

[pzgndr]

Good feedback. Thanks. I'd like to hear more from veteran players who actually used the Alternate Dominant Powers optional rule.

I could maybe start off with +/-0.5 morale changes and we'll see how it goes? And maybe allow the British to keep their +1 modifier IF Nelson is present?

I am also reconsidering if I should bite the bullet and try coding all of those nation-specific criteria for gaining/losing Dominant status rather than simply using the Dominant Zone. Using the Dominant Zone would make it much easier for France and Great Britain to lose status and others to gain status. Being in the Dominant Zone is fleeting for most of the others but perhaps it would be good for Russia or Austria to have some bonuses when they can get them? I'm wondering if anyone has tried this approach as a house rule in previous games.

More comments are welcome. Please share your thoughts and ideas.

[Orm]

I am also reconsidering if I should bite the bullet and try coding all of those nation-specific criteria for gaining/losing Dominant status rather than simply using the Dominant Zone.

I like the idea that it is territories gained/lost that is the main, or preferably the only, reason for gaining/losing Dominant status.

Only once, that I recall, in the games that I played has another nation gained Dominant power, and that was Prussia. I had other games that some nation was close but couldn't quite close the deal. And one were Austria probably would have made Dominant power in already in 1806. France was about to be crushed. Austria had managed to get all nations allied against France. Bah. I played France. I was saved the humiliation because the Spanish player was unable to continue so that was that for that game.

[pzgndr]

What if we did both? Use Dominant Zone for partial +/-0.5 morale adjustments. Use territory-based Dominant status for the other full effects. That way, players could have something to look forward to, or worry about as the case may be.

[pzgndr]

Here is a revised draft of the Alternate Dominant Powers optional rule, as I have coded now:

4.1.1 Game Options
Alternate Dominant Powers: Allows players to alter the historical balance.


13.10 Alternate Dominant Powers (Optional)

In Empires In Arms, as with the historical events portrayed, France and Great Britain have obvious and constant qualitative advantages over the other five Major Powers and, although anyone can still win, they are the "dominant" powers in the gate and the centers of diplomatic activity. For example, if Prussia does very well early in a campaign game, it is still the rather puny Prussia of the Napoleonic period in terms of army factor morale, with the addition of some minor country corps for help. It is certainly not the dangerous Prussia of Frederick the Great less than 50 years earlier or the dominant Prussia (the basis of modern Germany) of 50 years later and will have trouble maintaining any early gains. Every one of the Major Powers in the game has the capability to become a dominant European power and, during the previous 200 years or during the next century, every one of them was or would be a Dominant Power. This option allows players, as the rulers of their respective Major Powers to alter the historical balance.

13.10.1 Achieving or Losing Dominant Power Status

In order for Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey to become a Dominant Power, they must reach the New Political Combinations Step of an Economic Phase at peace with all other Major Powers and in control of certain territories. In order for France or Great Britain or any other Major Power that earlier achieved Dominant Power status to lose their Dominant Power status, they must reach the New Political Combinations Step of an Economic Phase at peace with all other Major Powers and not in control of the territories necessary to maintain their Dominant Power status. A France or Great Britain that earlier lost Dominant Power status may regain Dominant Power status if they reach a New Political Combinations Step at peace with all other Major Powers and in control of the territories needed to avoid the loss of Dominant Power status. Any changes in Dominant Power status must be announced during a New Political Combinations Step.

13.10.1.1 Effects of Achieving or Losing Dominant Power Status

Morale: If Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey become Dominant Powers, the morale value of the Dominant Power's infantry is increased by "+1.0" and, for Spanish and Turkish cavalry, morale is also increased by "+1.0." If France or Great Britain lose their Dominant Power status, the morale of the diminished Major Power's infantry is reduced by "-1.0".

Changed Naval Advantages: For Great Britain, the loss of Dominant Power status also means that their fleets lose their "+1" die roll modifier in naval combats and they must always take the first sequence in a Naval Phase. If Austria and/or Prussia become Dominant Powers their fleets lose their "-1" die roll modifier in naval combats.

Changed Land Phase Sequence: For France, the loss of Dominant Power status also means that they no longer get to choose its spot in the sequence but must always take the first sequence in a Land Phase.

Income Changes: For Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey, their total Major Power income is automatically increased by $10 on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of every Economic Phase while a Dominant Power. For France or Great Britain, their total Major Power income is automatically reduced by $10 on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of every Economic Phase while not a Dominant Power.

13.10.1.2 Controlled Territory Required to Gain or Lose Dominant Power Status

France and Great Britain start as Dominant Powers and, to lose Dominant Power status, must lose the control of the following territories:

France: Must lose control of any 6 of the following 7 territories: the Flanders minor country, the Holland minor country, the Lombardy minor country, the Alsace province, the Palatinate minor country, the Piedmont minor country, and the Switzerland minor country.

Great Britain: Must lose control of any 6 of the following 7 territories: the Gibraltar minor country, the Hanover minor country (already lost at the start of every campaign game), the Ireland province, the Malta minor country, the Portugal minor country (neutral and not controlled by Great Britain in campaign games starting in 1805), the Scotland province, and the Wales province.

The following territories must be controlled by the other Major Powers in order to achieve Dominant Power status:

Austria: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 5 of the following 7 territories: the Bosnia province, the Confederation of the Rhine (even if reduced after creation, or, Austria must control at least 5 out of Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse, Saxony or Wurttemberg, which count together as one territory), Lombardy, Papacy and Venetia (which count together as one territory), the Piedmont minor country, the Serbia province, the Silesia province, and the Switzerland minor country.

Prussia: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 4 of the following 6 territories: the Confederation of the Rhine (even if reduced after creation, or, Prussia must control at least 5 out of Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse, Saxony or Wurttemberg, which count together as one territory), the Denmark minor country (with or without Norway), the Alsace province, the Palatinate minor country, the Moravia province, and Poland (must be created).

Russia: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 6 of the following 7 territories: Armenia province, Bessarabia province, East Galicia province, Moldavia province, Poland (must be created), the minor country of Sweden (must include Finland), and West Galicia.

Spain: Must control all home nation provinces plus all 5 of the following territories: the minor country of Gibraltar, Lombardy, Papacy and Venetia (which count together as one territory), Naples and Sicily (which count together as one territory), the minor country of Morocco, and the minor country of Portugal.

Turkey: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 5 of the following 6 territories: the Crimea province, the Georgia province, the Military Border province, the Ottoman Empire (even if reduced after creation, or, Turkey must control at least 5 out of Algeria, Cyrenaica, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Tripolitania or Tunisia, which count together as one territory), the Podolia province, and the Transylvania province.


13.10.2 Achieving or Losing Dominant Zone Status

Achieving or losing Dominant Power status according to the rules above is likely to be a rare event in most games. It is more likely that the Major Powers will periodically gain and lose Dominant Zone status on the Political Status Display as they gain and lose political points. This will not alter the historical balance, but there may be some qualitative adjustments that could lead to achieving or losing Dominant Power status.

13.10.2.1 Effects of Achieving or Losing Dominant Zone Status

Morale: If Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey achieve Dominant Zone status, the morale value of the Major Power's infantry is increased by "+0.5" and, for Spanish and Turkish cavalry, morale is also increased by "+0.5." If France or Great Britain lose their Dominant Zone status, the morale of the diminished Major Power's infantry is reduced by "-0.5".

Income Changes: For Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey, their total Major Power income is automatically increased by $5 on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of every Economic Phase while in Dominant Zone. For France or Great Britain, their total Major Power income is automatically reduced by $5 on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of every Economic Phase while not in Dominant Zone.

Please note that there are some changes from the original optional rule 11.8 (changed land phase sequence, leader improvement, and province changes) plus the addition of Dominant Zone status with reduced effects. I think this is a more interesting option now with the transient Dominant Zone status effects. Players will be more likely to see some of the effects, for better or worse, without the rare and more severe effects of Dominant Power status. Comments are welcome. I can make adjustments.

At this point, I've coded most all of the changes I wanted to make for AI grand strategy options plus this latest Alternate Dominant Powers optional rule. I'll playtest some next week and hopefully get v1.26.02 Beta out by the end of next week.