Nelson, Wellington and.. er Warspite (God help us)

[ess1]

He would have voted with his heart and head. He is probably looking down on us and lamenting: "If I could command Britex..."
[:D]

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: ess1

He would have voted with his heart and head. He is probably looking down on us and lamenting: "If I could command Britex..."
[:D]

Hi [;)]

you do realise that is quite possible that not everyone following this thread agrees with your views on the UK and the EU? So making this point several times runs the risk of triggering a response and badly derailing the thread ... which would be a huge pity [8D]

[ess1]

Please all except my apology. I sometimes forget that not everyone has my sense of humour.

@loki100 - Thank you for reminding me.

I will not deviate from thread again.

[warspite1]

Right I think its time to get this game properly started. I think its clear that the learning curve is going to be steep, but I will try and make it easier than it otherwise could be by setting the options to the recommended default settings.

This means, amongst other things, that attrition will be less harsh, easy supply is on and the AI will purchase replacements. However, Fog of War is on so its not going to be a free ride!

EDIT: Under advice from Loki I also turn the Battle Planner on (Thanks)

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

One of the strange things is not have a set order for going about things. This makes learning the game that much more difficult, but I think the first thing I should do is to get some diplomacy going; after all, the British cannot defeat Napoleon without a lot of 'armed muscle' and the 'armed muscle' is going to need a lot of 'cashola' [:)]

The top left button allows entry to the Diplomacy screen

[loki100]

you might want to enable the battle plans. They are a fun bit of chrome for SP games, but do help show up the advantages of the really good generals in the game

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

you might want to enable the battle plans. They are a fun bit of chrome for SP games, but do help show up the advantages of the really good generals in the game

warspite1

Done - amended post above.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

The Prussians and the Austrians like me (well who wouldn't?) but the Russians are not hugely friendly (Neutral). So what can I do to smooth matter along?

I ask the Russians for a State visit (at the cost of one diplomat) and sent this off to await a reply. I do the same to Sweden, Egypt and the USA.

I have 44 Diplomats left.

I use 8 (4 for each) to try and get a coalition going with Austria and Prussia, both of whom like me (+100 rating).

These will no doubt take time to get to the various courts, so in the meantime, what else needs looking at?

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

The next screen is located by the button to the right of the Diplomacy Screen - The Military Recruitment Mode. Apart from the map going all orangey-red, a list of unit available appears at the bottom of the screen.

The units can be grouped into unit types - infantry, artillery etc

If I click on one of the units (in this case a Fusilier Brigade) I get the following information up:

- on map = 0
- available = 6
- overall combat strength = 63

Construction costs

- pounds = 315
- conscripts = 462
- war supplies =15
- days = 60

Double-clicking then confirms one or more regions where this unit is able to be built.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

At the top of the main screen I have the following numbers and symbols

- Victory Points, Pounds, Conscript Companies, Tons War Supplies, Horses and Engagement points.

I will purchase some units and see what this does to my overall situation (and how quickly (or not) that is replenished next turn.

The immediate thing that hits you is the lack of conscripts. I build a supply brigade* and place it in Belfast. This uses up all conscripts for this turn.

* As boring units go, a supply wagon is right up there. However, if the British Army are going to the Peninsular or Egypt or any other far flung place, I suspect I am going to need these to maintain the Thin Red Line in Tea and Crumpets... oh and ammunition.

There is a red stripe across it which no doubt means it is not available for a while yet.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

Continuing clockwise the next button in the top left hand corner is the decision mode.

Similar to the construction mode, the map goes all flame coloured, and this is used to separate the green regions where the various cards may be played.

There are a number of categories.

Loyalty
Economy
Development
Military Control
Military Action
Various

Lets look at Economy first as that seems a sensible place

The options presented are:

- Draft
- Volunteers
- Seize Horses
- Requisitions
- Plunder
- Smuggle Goods

Each come with a cost (of course) for which certain benefits are derived.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

I plump for the draft in Dublin, Volunteers in Liverpool, Requisitions in London, Smuggle Goods in Nantes. That is all I will do for now and see what happens.

These are not guaranteed to be successful and, in the case of overseas actions, can result in retaliation, and no doubt in the case of the home country, can result in an unhappy populace.....

The draft in Dublin could net 600 conscripts and will take 3 turns - cost 10 VP's, 20% Loyalty and 5 Development Points (maybe loyalty being tested is not a great decision in Dublin at Easter time [;)]). The chance of success is 85%

In Liverpool the prize is 150 conscripts over 3 turns, this time at a cost of 15 VP with a 75% chance.

In London the requisitions take 1 turn. I hope to raise £200,000 big one at a cost of 20% Loyalty, 20% Military Control, 1 Victory Point and 4 Development Points

In Nantes I am trying to obtain £300,000 from smuggled goods

[loki100]

great to see you going on with this.

Couple of general comments:

a) you can always go back to your settings later and twiddle them if you find its not working - a few of the AI bonuses (such as detection) really help it out. Also simple supply removes a key bit to the game system. Won't matter for a while but if you do get caught up in a war in say Spain you might want to revisit that one.

b) Diplomacy, there are a few missions that the recipient can't refuse but do improve relations. These are good for long term smooching of a potential ally who is a bit unsure about you at the start.

c) I wouldn't build anything at start. Its a long game and its no bad idea to play out 4-5 turns just to let the economy settle down, if I bought anything up front it would be replacements. You've left this to the AI (it does a good enough job) but you need to leave the resources for it to work. Once combat starts, the army that wins the longer campaign is the one that can replace its battle losses the quickest - ie has a decent stockpile of replacements.

d) some of the regional decision cards effectively circulate some assets (VP/cash/whatever) into other assets (morale/vp/cash/whatever) - sometimes at a trade off for development. Its worth thinking over which you have lots of us (guess with the UK cash) and which you need and basing your card strategy around this.

e) when you are using decisions that raise or lower the development levels its worth thinking of the cut off values. Civilised is >75, Developed >50, Cleared > 19 and wild below that. In turn these affect both production and unit speed. So its not a good idea to play a card that lowers development if it will drop the province from civilised to developed. But the cards that raise development can be used to push a resource rich province from wild to cleared and so on - with a real payback

ORIGINAL: warspite1

...

There is a red stripe across it which no doubt means it is not available for a while yet.

if you hover your mouse over the unit it will tell you how long it will be fixed for. It can be moved before its fully ready so that is a trade off with military units that you can fling them into battle with low cohesion etc or wait a few more turns for them to fully train up

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

great to see you going on with this.

Couple of general comments:

a) you can always go back to your settings later and twiddle them if you find its not working - a few of the AI bonuses (such as detection) really help it out. Also simple supply removes a key bit to the game system. Won't matter for a while but if you do get caught up in a war in say Spain you might want to revisit that one.

b) Diplomacy, there are a few missions that the recipient can't refuse but do improve relations. These are good for long term smooching of a potential ally who is a bit unsure about you at the start.

c) I wouldn't build anything at start. Its a long game and its no bad idea to play out 4-5 turns just to let the economy settle down, if I bought anything up front it would be replacements. You've left this to the AI (it does a good enough job) but you need to leave the resources for it to work. Once combat starts, the army that wins the longer campaign is the one that can replace its battle losses the quickest - ie has a decent stockpile of replacements.

d) some of the regional decision cards effectively circulate some assets (VP/cash/whatever) into other assets (morale/vp/cash/whatever) - sometimes at a trade off for development. Its worth thinking over which you have lots of us (guess with the UK cash) and which you need and basing your card strategy around this.

e) when you are using decisions that raise or lower the development levels its worth thinking of the cut off values. Civilised is >75, Developed >50, Cleared > 19 and wild below that. In turn these affect both production and unit speed. So its not a good idea to play a card that lowers development if it will drop the province from civilised to developed. But the cards that raise development can be used to push a resource rich province from wild to cleared and so on - with a real payback

ORIGINAL: warspite1

...

There is a red stripe across it which no doubt means it is not available for a while yet.

if you hover your mouse over the unit it will tell you how long it will be fixed for. It can be moved before its fully ready so that is a trade off with military units that you can fling them into battle with low cohesion etc or wait a few more turns for them to fully train up

warspite1

Okay thanks. I think the need to buy stuff is just to see what happens and what the mechanics are at this stage.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

The final button is the strategic atlas that we have looked at previously, and from where the various military units can be quickly accessed.

The main thing I want to do at this stage is ensure my units are sea are healthy - and maintained in a healthy state ready for any enemy activity.

I first click on our old friend Admiral Keith.

I see that he has the following Posture and Rules of Engagement symbols applied (to the left of Admiral Keith and from top to bottom):

Posture: Defensive. The stack won't engage but if attacked will defend (Note: this sounds a bit strange for a unit that is supposed to be on the look-out for an enemy invasion force! - however there does not seem to be an alternative)

ROE: The stack will conduct combat normally.

Supply looks good for the blockading forces I have checked - Keith off Dover, Calder off Finistere and Horatio off Cadiz.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

So with that done, I end my first turn of WON....

...and I get this [:@]

Well that was a waste of a morning - must have been the vast array of orders I gave the program...... [8|]

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

During the AI turn a Spanish fleet under Cordova sailed and attacked Admiral Calder. The result was a defeat for the Spanish

I am not sure what these numbers mean so will need to read up. To my mind this indicates the British have lost a ship but I cannot see which one.

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Right I think its time to get this game properly started. I think its clear that the learning curve is going to be steep, but I will try and make it easier than it otherwise could be by setting the options to the recommended default settings.

This means, amongst other things, that attrition will be less harsh, easy supply is on and the AI will purchase replacements. However, Fog of War is on so its not going to be a free ride!

EDIT: Under advice from Loki I also turn the Battle Planner on (Thanks)

Easy supply? Better to not have that. You'll pick up habits that will kill you in a PBEM

[Zorch]

See http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?43019-Crashes

[warspite1]

Turn 1
January 1-7 1805

I also call up the detailed summary to try and make further sense of what just happened. I will go through the manual tomorrow.