Supply Calculation

[Mark Breed]

I am hoping that this is a stupid question. Is supply an automated process or will players retain full control?

Will players have the choice of what units to pay for and from what depots? Or, will the program tell players that here is the most economical (cheapest) supply costs and the following units had to forage? I would sure hate to find that because my guard, artillery and cavalry were the farthest from any depots that the program expected them to forage. I have had units sitting on a depot forage while using that depot to pay for units three areas away.

From my experience with the game, calculating supply could be as important as determining what battles to fight, especially when on a budget. I am all in favor of the program making it easier to calculate, but leary of it deciding who gets fed and who must dine out.

Regards,
Mark

[NeverMan]

Good Question because in another post I believe Marshall Ellis stated that supply was done automatically, but maybe he meant that just the calculations were done auto and that then you were given a choice as to what units to forage or pay for. Great Question!

[crenfrow]

bravo...

[Marshall Ellis]

Hey guys:

Great question indeed!

When you're in the land phase and you click on a unit then your forage chances will popup as well as the area with the closest depot in a valid supply chain. You have the option of foraging or you can simply not forage on the unit after which when you end the game phase, any corps that did not forage will attempt to get its supply from the closest depot in a valid supply chain. That part of the supply chain is automatic!

Another interesting thing is that if you end your move phase and the calculated supply costs are more than 1/2 of the money you have in the bank then the game will prompt you and let you know that your supply cost are excessive so are you sure you want to continue? This is to help prevent some guys from forgetting to forage some units. A must for nations such as Turkey!

Hope that helps!

Thank you

To summarize, you can forage the units you want and use depot supply for the rest!

Hope that helps!

[Mark Breed]

Marshall Ellis,

Do I understand this right?

In the current computer version, two forces: "A" of four corps and "B" of eight corps, are determining supply.

Force "A" is one hex from depot "1"; two hexes from depot "2"; and, three hexes from depot "3".

Force "B" is two hexes away from depot "1", three hexes away from depot "2" and out of range of "3".

Per your answer, "A" will draw from depot "1" and half of "B" from "2" with the other half foraging. Total cost is $16 plus four corps foraging from "B". Depot "3" goes unused.

Otherwise, players in the board version can designate the depots that provide supply. "B" could draw all of the supply from depots "1" and "2" for a cost of $20 ($8 + $12) and "A" would draw from depot "3" at a cost of $12. Total cost $32.

Is this second version possible with the computer game?

This could be very important if "B" is your main army with the guard, artillery, and cavalry invading Russia.

If the board version of supply determination is not possible, we can live with that. Keep going forward with the game development. We will just have to learn to plan more thoroughly.

Regards,
Mark

[Hoche]

What about supply from allied depots?

How will it be handled with the AI and in PBEM?

[Marshall Ellis]

Hey guys:

Mark:

I'm not sure I can figure that question out ??? If I do understand then this may answer your question...
You cannot pick the depot, the PC will do this for you. whatever units do not forage, the PC will find the closest depot (allied depots are available as well, Hoche).

Hope that helps!

Thank you

[Mark Breed]

Let me see if I can simplify the question.

Will a force ALWAYS use the closest depot to the point of making the depot unavailable to forces further away?

This means that there may be sufficient depots available to supply all of your forces on the map, but due to proximity, a force could be forced to forage as the only depot in range was used by a force that is closer to that depot than another.

Or, will the program attempt to find the cheapest way to supply EVERYONE that is not designated to forage by the player based on the depots available?

Regards,
Mark

[Hoche]

I think you should have the option to "auto" supply or "manual" supply

[carnifex]

Will a force ALWAYS use the closest depot to the point of making the depot unavailable to forces further away?

I think what Mark is referring to is the optional rule 12.3.1: ( Full Rules Here )

SUPPLY LIMITS PER DEPOT: Each individual depot that is a supply source or part of a valid supply chain may only be used to supply a maximum of four corps and/or besieged garrisons.

If this rule is not used, then any number of corps can be supplied from one depot. I assume from M. Ellis' reply that this optional rule is not available [:(]

[Mark Breed]

You are correct. I forgot that it is an optional rule as the group I had played with always used it.

Thanks,
Mark

[carnifex]

Yes, I was always a big fan of that rule. One of the more gamey strategies in EiA is the Monster Stack, where you can put 500,000 troops in one province and supply them on the cheap if you had close depot. Rule 12.3.1 did not prohibit the Monster Stack, but it made provisioning it a big headache for the owning players.

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: Mark Breed

You are correct. I forgot that it is an optional rule as the group I had played with always used it.

Thanks,
Mark

Me too. If this optional rule is not in play and one depot can supply your entire army, this will eliminate the need to pick the depot for each corp and also you won't need to keep your real army close to a depot, which will allow strategic long attacks.

[YohanTM2]

ORIGINAL: NeverMan
Me too. If this optional rule is not in play and one depot can supply your entire army, this will eliminate the need to pick the depot for each corp and also you won't need to keep your real army close to a depot, which will allow strategic long attacks.

Well yes, except a monster stack that has its depots cut out from under it because it advanced too far is in a world of hurt, especially if the season changes.

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: Yohan

ORIGINAL: NeverMan
Me too. If this optional rule is not in play and one depot can supply your entire army, this will eliminate the need to pick the depot for each corp and also you won't need to keep your real army close to a depot, which will allow strategic long attacks.

Well yes, except a monster stack that has its depots cut out from under it because it advanced too far is in a world of hurt, especially if the season changes.

Sure, of course. But that can happen in the boardgame, I was referring to the port (boardgame to PC) possible situations.

[YohanTM2]

ORIGINAL: NeverMan

Sure, of course. But that can happen in the boardgame, I was referring to the port (boardgame to PC) possible situations.

why would there be a difference?

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: Yohan

ORIGINAL: NeverMan

Sure, of course. But that can happen in the boardgame, I was referring to the port (boardgame to PC) possible situations.

why would there be a difference?

The scenario can happen in both, yes.

I think we are missing each other or something here, I was refering to the way supply is going to be dealt with in the PC game.

[YohanTM2]

Ah, thanks NeverMan