Matrix Games Forums

Okay, due to an advance Christmas present arriving in enough time, my wife authorized me to purchase CoG and don't ya know, it arrived this morning.

After firing up this game and messing around with various features for several hours, I'm confident that I must read the manual about 20 times before I will have a clue as to how to play the darn game. (not a bad thing, but there's a LOT to do each turn!)

I first tried a 1805 game at normal difficulty, just to see how movement and unit/leader attachment worked. Well, luckily I wasn't starting a SERIOUS game because I expect the AI took advantage of my hesitant movements after 2 turns. On the third turn I (as France, of course) was invaded by England, Spain, Austria, and Prussia. Turkey declared war on one of my protectorates.

Uh, not that I am an expert on the geopolitical climate of 1805, but does the AI do this every time during a normal difficulty 1805 scenario? France did have it's political problems before Napoleon began the Ulm/Austerlitz campaign (or at least what became that campaign) but imminent invasion by Spain and Prussia didn't seem to be one of them.

I quickly quit out of this scenario and scanned the manual for the first time.

I then started a 1796 scenario at easier difficulty. This time I wanted to actually try to improve some provincial stats as well as recruit new units. Again about turn 2 or 3 I get invaded by England and Austria. I win all my battles over the course of the next 4 turns. All but one were quick battles and I pulled out a victory in the one detailed battle I optioned. However, during one of my quick battles, I lost over 13000 men during the pursuit?!!! There wasn't a casualty report for my enemy's army for the pursuit...so I have no idea how badly I beat them.

Where can I get casualty reports for both sides after a battle?

I'm sure there's a lot of info in the manual, but with 5 kids running around during the day, my ability to concentrate while reading is severely impaired.

Has anyone put together an illustrated beginners guide. I know there's a friendly guide in addition to the manual, but I'd rather an illustrated guide to the first 3 turns of a game. Such a guide, pointing out how to use each feature of the game over the course of 3 turns would be great for time challenged gamers as myself.

At any rate, I think the game will be great to play and I do want to play it TCP/IP once I get the basics down. I've dl'd the latest beta patch so I can be as up to date as possible and I like the change/fixes listed in the patch notes.

I have xfire (lordofkhorne), for anyone interested in schooling me online.

Khornish

If you click on option in the bottom left hand corner you can select an icon called something like "events folder" and make it pop up each turn. It will tell you of all battles and all casualties as well as political and seige stuff...and whether your trade proposals were accepted.

Alternately, you can click on the small icons at the bottom of the map called "economy", "battles", "political" etc.

You'll love this game. And don't expect too much from the manual...I think it was written by a very dry lawyer. Best way to do it is just to get in there and click on things and get rolling.

Uh, not that I am an expert on the geopolitical climate of 1805, but does the AI do this every time during a normal difficulty 1805 scenario?

Generally you'll find that the current top dog will looked upon with wary eye's in this game by the AI. Balance of power politics is effect and whoever has the highest glory will be somewhat of a target by the others. This doesn't mean you can't maintain alliances of course, but they won't just let you 'run away' with the game as your score gets higher.

Where can I get casualty reports for both sides after a battle?

As mentioned, after each turn you will be presented with an Events report. Scroll down and look for the battles portion where it will detail the losses for both sides. If you feel the need to recheck the report, click on events report.

Has anyone put together an illustrated beginners guide.

You can find a thread above titled Ralegh's tips on starting a new game or you can click on this link: tm.asp?m=890493

It's not an illustrated guide but it's pretty short and to the point.

I also suggest the following from ralegh: http://www.rosesolutions.com/Docs/raleg ... %201.0.pdf

Most importantly, just play the game. Don't worry about results for now, just play, watch what happens, fight detailed and quick battles, try to build a couple infantry, and improve a province or two. Trying to understand the ins and outs of every move right away is futile in my opinion. Worry about the big picture and ignore the little details until your familiarity rises.

Also, one other tip, don't worry about losing or having everyone gang up on you at first. You can learn things about the game by losing just as well by winning.

Thanks for the advice. I'd already read all the Ralegh guides as I bided my time for when I would be able to get the game.


I've tried twice more to do the 1796 scenario at easier difficulty. Both times Austria made a direct advance on Paris with a force larger than anything I had in central germany and italy. I beat them in every battle on the border, but they were able to get into France in a province where I didn't have troops to stop them.

I'm sure there's a way to defeat them, but I'm only getting to turn 4 or 5 here and Paris is under siege, by 130,000 or more troops.

ORIGINAL: Khornish

Thanks for the advice. I'd already read all the Ralegh guides as I bided my time for when I would be able to get the game.


I've tried twice more to do the 1796 scenario at easier difficulty. Both times Austria made a direct advance on Paris with a force larger than anything I had in central germany and italy. I beat them in every battle on the border, but they were able to get into France in a province where I didn't have troops to stop them.

I'm sure there's a way to defeat them, but I'm only getting to turn 4 or 5 here and Paris is under siege, by 130,000 or more troops.

Park your troops in paris, detail battle the austrians, win, and then start pushing them back or divert 1 army to head towards his capitol.

Reiryc is right. If you move on Austria and besiege Styria the Austrian Army should fall back to relieve their capital. At least they did when I played. In this game sometimes the best defense is an offensive. But also remember that losing a campiagn is not losing the game. In fact you can offer a limited surrender before paris falls. The enemy has to accept the surrender. You will lose some glory and maybe a province. But it will buy you time by implementing enforced peace, knocking you down the glory ladder so you are no longer the target, thus giving you time to build your economy and your army.

Think big picture and long term. This is not RTS style game where an early rush on your settlement takes you out early. You can survive a lost campaign and come back to fight again.

Park your troops in paris, detail battle the austrians, win, and then start pushing them back or divert 1 army to head towards his capitol.

Good advice. Remember you are not Napoleon even though you get to boss his little leader unit around Lighting strokes and bold moves probably won't pay off in the early game for the French (especially in the 92 scenario). Concentrate, defend, and bleed the enemy first.