Jagger wrote:I think it is randomized generals as I always play with slight random leader stats. Also I don't see anything that allows adjustment of seniority in events or within models/units.
Personally I think promotion is way too slow. I actually have a game now into mid 64. Grant promoted to army commander in 63. Sherman finally promoted in to corps commander in mid-64 but I seriously doubt he will make army commander by the end of the game. By mid-64, very, very few generals have achieved the 4 battle promotion events required for promotion. Most promotions have been due to generals arriving in the game instantly available for promotion or automatic promotion through events.
I could focus on specific generals for promotion if I were willing to jump a general from expected battle to expected battle or use him strictly to capture towns guarded by a single militia unit. Although it would feel gamey as hell.
I agree with you about the slow promotions. I've never had Sherman as a 3*** before. I don't know what was the idea of the developers when putting the 4 battle promotion events, since it was already discussed (or done without discussion) way before i heard about the game.
But, as a matter of fact, as the Union for instance, you are always desperate for generals with 2 and 3 stars, and i gotta wait for promotion events or some battles to have anyone promoted. I get the idea behind this, it prevents us making gamey tactics, such as having Sherman being promoted to 2 or 3 stars as soon as he arrives.
But, on the other hand, Sherman may not be lucky to find the necessary battles to earn a promotion easily since it doesn't depend on him to fight or not, it is up to the player to create the necessary battle. I also find it highly unrealistic to send the generals with good stats to easy fights other than their original theatre to earn easy promotions (such as assaulting a city with one militia with a single brigade anywhere on the map). Also, in a recent PBEM, many battles in the Kentucky-Tennessee theatre were fought in the period between the entries of Grant and Sherman, leaving generals like Mansfield, Keyes with lots of experience stars, and even though they are promotable, i don't promote them, because they don't become formidable corps or army commanders, no matter how good they fought.
I think it would be better to be able to promote a general even without having the 1st or 2nd seniority, or gaining 4 battle promotions, as long as i am willing to face the NM and VP loss. With the historical ratings, i know which general is good and which not, so i gotta play on them as soon as they enter the game.
I couldn't think about any exploits this situation can create though. I'm open to any suggestions. I would like to hear opinions.