Basic Channel Mistake! AAR

[Marshall Ellis]

Hey guys:

I wanted to share a very interesting situation my play testing came up with. While playing GBR in a solo game, I made a very basic mistake and left the channel open while I was chasing the Swedish fleets around in the baltic. I only did this for one month but as you can see, it was long enough for the whole French army to move across. Thinking I could recover from this quickly, I moved Nelson down to seal off the channel and trapped the French army (Or so I thought). I quickly moved Wellington from Holland down to defeat Davout who was next to Lille (I could not come down and go across the channel in the same turn). Davout and his one corps fell victim to Wellington (I even captured Davout) BUT the damage was done. Not being able to cross the channel thus delaying my army by a month then forced me to sue for peace the next turn since there was no physical way to recapture London!

After looking at this a little further, I realized that my ships in the channel were keeping the French army from getting into France so when I did cross the channel in the next turn and actually did defeat Napoleon, he simply retreated back to London further sealing my fate (and the game). Almost a no win???

Just wanted to give you a piece of advice: Don't let Nelson go ADD on you

[Mardonius]

Very savvy AI to figure to leave a delaying corps to cost you the month's move. That is a very welcome subtlety.

[Ursa MAior]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH a screenshot finally!

[YohanTM2]

Glad someone is playing the game!

[yammahoper]

This is a perfect example of how handy an instant save is. After making a minor mistake and losing your entire NATION, you can reload and do over, with a lesson learned about just how aware the AI is.

Hope ya had a save, lol.

Still, AI looks good. Certain mistakes should be jumped on. One the french sometimes make is to leave fleets in a garrisoned port, or with one corp, and the rest of the army gets so far away the brits can jump a quick corp down and try to seize the port/city. With a little luck, the result is scuttled french navies. If the french come screaming over to attack, the brit can pull out in the next naval phase.

yamma

[jamo262]

Nice screen shot Marshall! The Map looks really good as does the lettering and numbers.

I was wondering though if you dont agree that the depot and garrison counters couldnt be better represented.

With colour coding, the depots need be merely square shaped without the flag or writing (or writing in a corner if its imperative for ID).

Similary, the garrisons seem to overwhelm the map. Im not sure what would be best here. Do they contain any information for an oposing player such as being a small /medium or /large sized garrison?

If not then perhaps just the square national flag is enough?

I imagine that it would take too much proramming time to animate the flag and make it wave-like mine to the right

I imagine not- but I submit it to you as an idea.

What are your thoughts?

[iamspamus]

Great, thanks Marshall.

As a defensive player (of every country I play), I place a 1 inf or mil garrison in EACH city that I own...at least. This would not have prevented the loss of London, probably, but would allow or a somewhat ready reserve of infantry. But to be honest Nap with his whole army in London is a bad thing.

One question. Why did you surrender after one turn of London being taken? (This asked from a Russian player's point of view?) If Nap is in England, what's in France? Straight to Paris, matey!

Jason

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

Hey guys:

I wanted to share a very interesting situation my play testing came up with. While playing GBR in a solo game, I made a very basic mistake and left the channel open while I was chasing the Swedish fleets around in the baltic. I only did this for one month but as you can see, it was long enough for the whole French army to move across. Thinking I could recover from this quickly, I moved Nelson down to seal off the channel and trapped the French army (Or so I thought). I quickly moved Wellington from Holland down to defeat Davout who was next to Lille (I could not come down and go across the channel in the same turn). Davout and his one corps fell victim to Wellington (I even captured Davout) BUT the damage was done. Not being able to cross the channel thus delaying my army by a month then forced me to sue for peace the next turn since there was no physical way to recapture London!

After looking at this a little further, I realized that my ships in the channel were keeping the French army from getting into France so when I did cross the channel in the next turn and actually did defeat Napoleon, he simply retreated back to London further sealing my fate (and the game). Almost a no win???

Just wanted to give you a piece of advice: Don't let Nelson go ADD on you

[Rosen]

Just one thing about the garrisons size, for me it would be enough removing the tower and just keep the flag...

[Monadman]

ORIGINAL: Rosen

Just one thing about the garrisons size, for me it would be enough removing the tower and just keep the flag...

Side by side comparison per your request.

Richard

[Rosen]

Looks very nice to me [:)]

[jamo262]

Thanks for the comparison

Hmmm still not right though. Help me here.

We don't need the writing on the garrison because its already self evident where it is located.

This is harder-but, could a small animated triangular flag fly from on of the spires to indicate garrison? A sprite?

If an approximation of strength is needed there could be 2 options.

1) the height of the flag or a colour bar on the flag pole.

2) for each unit <5 another small triangular waving flag from a spire.

Probably too much time to implement but a possibility for the future to experiment with?

[Monadman]

Agree that the name is redundant. However, I’m having a hard enough time trying to get the garrison downsizing proposal thru - don’t hold your breath for animation.

Latest concept below . . .

Richard

[yammahoper]

I don't know if I would enjoy 100 waving flags cluttering my screen. Good, crisp and clean pictures for me!

yamma

[JodiSP]

I have to agree with yammahoper, a 100 waving flags on a single screen may drive me mad.
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The small tower on the Edinburgh city would work fine, as the large&nbsp;towers does tend to&nbsp;make&nbsp;the map appear&nbsp;a bit to cluttered for me
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[j-s]

ORIGINAL: Rosen

Looks very nice to me [:)]

Yes, I like it a much more. Why to add tower, it's not needed. Let's keep it simple, folks. And let's keep map clear.

[carnifex]

I'm just pissed that the army corps counters aren't square &nbsp; I really wanted to look at something like this:



I'm hoping to be able to mod the graphics files.

[Will_L_OLD]

ORIGINAL: carnifex

I'm just pissed that the army corps counters aren't square I really wanted to look at something like this:



I'm hoping to be able to mod the graphics files.


Don't forget to put morale misprints on the back of the counters [:D]

[iamspamus]

To be honest, I agree. I am just used to seeing them at this size.
Jason

ORIGINAL: carnifex

I'm just pissed that the army corps counters aren't square   I really wanted to look at something like this:



I'm hoping to be able to mod the graphics files.

[j-s]

ORIGINAL: carnifex

I'm just pissed that the army corps counters aren't square   I really wanted to look at something like this:



I'm hoping to be able to mod the graphics files.

Me too...
But what the hell are those turkish corps doing in Moscow... [8D]

[Marshall Ellis]

Hey guys:
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I'm afraid the counters that you see are the ones that will be in Version 1.00. I tend to agree with the sq shapes but keep in mind that what you're asking could potentially delay a release since an entire counter redesign will go back to the graphics department and force more testing to ensure stack spacing is OK (i.e. too much stack overlap can wreak havoc on the engine trying to determine which stack you're clicking). I would rather look at this post release.
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