Fortification

[runyan99]

What's the deal with fortification? If I read the battle report correctly, the modifier for being in a fortified region is a whopping -1. Minus one! So, if an infantry rolls 7 attack dice, they then subtract one point from the total? Big deal. That's nothing. In reality, being on the tactical defensive was very strong in the civil war, and infanty in a decent earthen embankment or fort position were awfully hard to hit. Even the modest fortifications and stone wall at Fredericksburg were sufficient to give great protection to the defending infantry, to say nothing of the better coastal forts. In this game, the forts are worth nothing.

It would make a lot more sense to me if the forts modifier was -1 DIE, instead of minus one point. As is, I suspect the forts are currently not worth building, unless to block movement along a river line.

[Joel Billings]

There are forts, and entrenchments, and each has an effect. Later in the war you can build double entrenchments. -1 may not seem like much, but it actually adds up. We think the combined impact of these rules lead to fairly realistic loss rates.

[runyan99]

Adds up? In the early war, it still adds up to a grand total of -1. So, I cannot escape the conclusion that the early war forts are all but useless. The modifier is equal to the smallest bonus for the worst brigade commanders in the game. Aside from a few terrible forts like Fort Henry, that's really short-changing the historical power of the tactical defensive in the Civil War.

[Joel Billings]

Are you talking about entrenchments or forts. Forts have certain benefits beyond just their combat modifier. Also, if you have a fort and are entrenched, you're getting multiple bonuses, so that's what I mean by adding up. They also add into the values for determining retreat value, IIRC, so it helps determine the which side retreats after combat. Forts are especially good if you have heavy artillery, since they commit to the battle for free.

[runyan99]

Forts. The title of the thread is Fortification. I'm talking about the forts. Early in the war, in the 1861-1862 period the chances for entrenchment are slim to none, so it almost never happens. Therefore, I am not discussing entrenchment at this time. I'm questioning the value of forts. The ones you build. They are almost worthless. Minus one point on an attack roll. The forts, I mean.

I do see the manual says you get a bonus to retreat calculation in a fort. In practice I haven't yet seen that come into play, since my force in the fort gets mauled, and they retreat regardless.

I perused through the files to see if the fort bonus is moddable, but I don't think it is.

[Joel Billings]

Forts have an impact on combat, especially in the retreat calculations, but they can be negated by a leadership advantage. Leaders are the number one most important part of WBTS combat and movement. All things being equal though, the force in a fort will win almost every time, and will take less losses. Forts are especially important for naval combat between heavy artillery and ships. A fort level 2 area is almost impossible to take by land if well defended, and heavy artillery in a fort 2 will punish ships unless they greatly outnumber the guns.

[runyan99]

I agree the forts are good for artillery versus riverine combat.