I was looking for a way to improve on the reliability of gaining (or losing) national morale. I think that in a lot of cases it is too hard to gain back, as even spectacular victories result in very little NM gained, while sometimes minor defeats result in lots of NM lost.
Anyway, here's the plan.
Every turn (15 days) your NM goes down 1 point automatically. Regardless of choices of draft or finances, battles, etc. Basically, the longer the war goes on, the more your NM declines (even while doing nothing). This means that the player must take an active role to stop this drain. (To let you know, I am not applying this to the AI, since it probably cannot handle it).
How do you regain this lost National Morale? Well, other than battles I plan for a few options, depending on who you are playing as...
--USA--
1. One way in gaining National Morale is to strike into the South and capture critical bases, depots and cities. If you attack and capture a city with a certain number of troops (to stop raiding parties from achieving this goal) you get a one time boost of national morale (if you lose the city, and recapture it you gain no extra boost).
However, this 'boost' changes over time. The longer that the game goes for, the less of a gain you get for the capture. For example, say you have the following territory of Fort Donelson (which is near the border of the USA-CSA).
1861 Capturing Fort Donelson gains the USA a net of 4 NM points.
1862 Capturing Fort Donelson gains the USA a net of 3 NM points.
1863 Capturing Fort Donelson gains the USA a net of 2 NM points.
1864+ Capturing Fort Donelson gains the USA a net of 1 NM point.
For a city that is futher in the CSA (say Atlanta) the decline would be a lot less, and indeed capturing it in 1861 would be a major victory and represented as such.
1861 Capturing Atlanta gives the USA a net of 15 NM points.
1862 Capturing Atlanta gives the USA a net of 12 NM points.
1863 Capturing Atlanta gives the USA a net of 10 NM points.
1864 Capturing Atlanta gives the USA a net of 8 NM points.
1865 Capturing Atlanta gives the USA a net of 4 NM points.
So, here you see that there is a drive for the USA to make an effort to attack Confederate objectives early and not just to wait for the best possible moment (i.e., when you have overwhelming numbers in late 1862 to start your attack).
2. Another way that National Morale affects the Union is by losing a critical city or region.
There are a few border or cities near border states that are critically important due to depots, rail links, or possibly inciting pro-southern sympathies (depending on the city).
Losing one of these cities to a concentrated CSA attack would be a heavy blow, especially as the war drags on. Take Baltimore MD.
1861 Losing Baltimore has the USA lose 4 NM
1862 Losing Baltimore has the USA lose 6 NM
1863 Losing Baltimore has the USA lose 8 NM
1864+ Losing Baltimore has the USA lose 10 NM
So, the longer the war goes on, the loss of a friendly city will have greater negative impact on the nation as a whole (symbolizing that the war must not be going well after all these years due to the loss of these cities). Hopefully this will keep the USA player interested in guarding their supply lines (as they historically were inclined to do).
3. 'Liberated Cities'
Losing a 'liberated city' (i.e., one where you gain NM points in situation #1) will be a major setback. Imagine if the CSA retook Vicksburg or Fort Donelson after the victories there?
This will encourage USA players to garrison the NM cities that they have taken from the CSA, otherwize they will lose any NM bonus that they gained in its capture.
Say the USA captured Fort Donelson in 1862, gaining 8 NM, and the CSA retook it, the USA would then lose 8 NM (even if they retook the fort, they would not be able to gain anymore NM, since the events will only trigger once).
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McNaughton
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McNaughton
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- Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:47 pm
- Location: Toronto, Canada
--CSA--
There are different options and events to be created for the CSA and their national morale.
#1. Confederate Invasions
There will be morale benefits for enacting invasions of the North throughout the war. Similar to the USA capture of CSA cities, these events give the CSA player a one time NM boost should they capture a border-state city or an important Northern city (depot, state capitol, etc.). Also, in Border states there would be a chance that the conscript pool raises (representing sympathetic enlistees to the army).
However, unlike the USA events, these events will have no penalty in the CSA losing these cities, as it is expected only to have temporary control anyway (so, when the city is recaptured there is no NM hit for the CSA).
Also, unlike the USA events, they can be triggered every campaign season (that means that you can capture a city in 1862 and gain NM, lose it, then recapture it in 1864 and gain more NM, but only once per campaign year).
1861 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA 2 NM
1862 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
1863 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
1864 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
1865 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
(so, even if you hold on to the city, with significant forces there, you will gain this NM).
This way the CSA is encouraged to attack Northern and Border State cities (Northern Cities will net more NM than Border Cities).
#2. Holding Cities
Every year you hold on to a city, without losing it once to a strong USA force, you gain NM. As the years go by, these increase, and depending on the city, you gain more or less NM (a border city will net you more NM per year than a city well within your borders).
Atlanta, which is well within the CSA borders is not much of a risk to lose in the first few years, but, holding it later on starts to give the CSA national morale (another reason for the USA player to attack, to deny the CSA national morale).
1861 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 0 NM
1862 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 0 NM
1863 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 1 NM
1864 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 2 NM
1865 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 3 NM
However, take Manassas. Every year the CSA keeps the USA from occupying the city they gain NM, yet, if they lose it once in 1862, they don't get the NM rating for that year, or any further year.
1861 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 1 NM
1862 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 2 NM
1863 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 3 NM
1864 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 4 NM
1865 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 5 NM
#3. Recapturing Cities
If a city is recaptured (say Vicksburg or Atlanta) which was occupied previously by the USA, there will be a one time boost of NM (representing a positive liberation. This would be contingent on losing the city in the first place, as well as having substantial force (X many land elements) to capture.
There are different options and events to be created for the CSA and their national morale.
#1. Confederate Invasions
There will be morale benefits for enacting invasions of the North throughout the war. Similar to the USA capture of CSA cities, these events give the CSA player a one time NM boost should they capture a border-state city or an important Northern city (depot, state capitol, etc.). Also, in Border states there would be a chance that the conscript pool raises (representing sympathetic enlistees to the army).
However, unlike the USA events, these events will have no penalty in the CSA losing these cities, as it is expected only to have temporary control anyway (so, when the city is recaptured there is no NM hit for the CSA).
Also, unlike the USA events, they can be triggered every campaign season (that means that you can capture a city in 1862 and gain NM, lose it, then recapture it in 1864 and gain more NM, but only once per campaign year).
1861 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA 2 NM
1862 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
1863 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
1864 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
1865 Capturing Harper's ferry nets the CSA another 2 NM
(so, even if you hold on to the city, with significant forces there, you will gain this NM).
This way the CSA is encouraged to attack Northern and Border State cities (Northern Cities will net more NM than Border Cities).
#2. Holding Cities
Every year you hold on to a city, without losing it once to a strong USA force, you gain NM. As the years go by, these increase, and depending on the city, you gain more or less NM (a border city will net you more NM per year than a city well within your borders).
Atlanta, which is well within the CSA borders is not much of a risk to lose in the first few years, but, holding it later on starts to give the CSA national morale (another reason for the USA player to attack, to deny the CSA national morale).
1861 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 0 NM
1862 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 0 NM
1863 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 1 NM
1864 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 2 NM
1865 Holding Atlanta nets the CSA 3 NM
However, take Manassas. Every year the CSA keeps the USA from occupying the city they gain NM, yet, if they lose it once in 1862, they don't get the NM rating for that year, or any further year.
1861 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 1 NM
1862 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 2 NM
1863 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 3 NM
1864 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 4 NM
1865 Holding Manassas nets the CSA 5 NM
#3. Recapturing Cities
If a city is recaptured (say Vicksburg or Atlanta) which was occupied previously by the USA, there will be a one time boost of NM (representing a positive liberation. This would be contingent on losing the city in the first place, as well as having substantial force (X many land elements) to capture.
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McNaughton
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- Location: Toronto, Canada
Here's a layout of how the events will work. Could someone check it over to see how/if everything makes sense? I cannot quite test the events yet.
The goal of the event is to offer the following..
#1. USA61 - If they capture Manassas with at least 6 units they recieve 4 NM points if done in 1861.
#2. CSA61 - If they hold Manassas (i.e., don't allow the USA event 61 to trigger) then they gain 1 NM in January 1862.
#3. USA62 - If they capture Manassas with at least 6 units, and did not capture it in 1861 they recieve 2 NM if done in 1862.
#4. CSA62 - If they hold Manassas (i.e., don't allow the USA event 61 or event 62 to trigger) they gain another 1 NM in January 1863 (points are cumulative, meaning if the CSA keeps the USA from Manassas this entire time they keep on getting NM).
#5. USA63 - If they capture Manassas with at least 6 units, and did not already capture it in 1861 or 1862, they revieve 1 NM points if done in 1863.
#6. CSA63 - If they hold Manassas (i.e., don't allow the USA event 61 or event 62 or event 63 to trigger) they gain another 1 NM in January 1864 (points are cumulative, meaning if the CSA keeps the USA from Manassas this entire time they keep on getting NM).
etc...
Basically, the event chain should end once the USA captures Manassas with at least 6 units. The USA event should only happen once (whenever they capture the county), while the CSA event should happen every year if the USA does not trigger any one of their events from 1861-1864 (i.e., cannot capture Manassas with at least 6 land units for any one moment).
If the CSA holds it until 1861, they get a cumulative gain of 4 NM points for keeping the USA out of Manassas.
If the USA captures it in 1861 they get 4 NM points (once they capture it), if they capture it in 1862 they get 2 NM points, and anytime beyond 1863 they just get 1 NM point.
So, it pays as the CSA to aggressively protect this county (as they have the chance at gaining 4 NM), while the USA would be interested in capturing it as soon as possible to gain the 4 NM points.
The quicker the city falls into USA hands, the better for them and the worse for the CSA. The longer the CSA holds it, the better for them and the worse for the USA. I plan to have a lot of these event cities floating around so it won't be quite easy for the CSA to adequately defend them all, but also encourage the USA to attack for specific objectives rather than whenever and wherever they want.
Once I have cleared this event style I will work on creating the CSA invasion of the North Events (similar, but want to make sure that this event chain works first, as it will be the basis for other events).
The goal of the event is to offer the following..
#1. USA61 - If they capture Manassas with at least 6 units they recieve 4 NM points if done in 1861.
#2. CSA61 - If they hold Manassas (i.e., don't allow the USA event 61 to trigger) then they gain 1 NM in January 1862.
#3. USA62 - If they capture Manassas with at least 6 units, and did not capture it in 1861 they recieve 2 NM if done in 1862.
#4. CSA62 - If they hold Manassas (i.e., don't allow the USA event 61 or event 62 to trigger) they gain another 1 NM in January 1863 (points are cumulative, meaning if the CSA keeps the USA from Manassas this entire time they keep on getting NM).
#5. USA63 - If they capture Manassas with at least 6 units, and did not already capture it in 1861 or 1862, they revieve 1 NM points if done in 1863.
#6. CSA63 - If they hold Manassas (i.e., don't allow the USA event 61 or event 62 or event 63 to trigger) they gain another 1 NM in January 1864 (points are cumulative, meaning if the CSA keeps the USA from Manassas this entire time they keep on getting NM).
etc...
Basically, the event chain should end once the USA captures Manassas with at least 6 units. The USA event should only happen once (whenever they capture the county), while the CSA event should happen every year if the USA does not trigger any one of their events from 1861-1864 (i.e., cannot capture Manassas with at least 6 land units for any one moment).
If the CSA holds it until 1861, they get a cumulative gain of 4 NM points for keeping the USA out of Manassas.
If the USA captures it in 1861 they get 4 NM points (once they capture it), if they capture it in 1862 they get 2 NM points, and anytime beyond 1863 they just get 1 NM point.
So, it pays as the CSA to aggressively protect this county (as they have the chance at gaining 4 NM), while the USA would be interested in capturing it as soon as possible to gain the 4 NM points.
The quicker the city falls into USA hands, the better for them and the worse for the CSA. The longer the CSA holds it, the better for them and the worse for the USA. I plan to have a lot of these event cities floating around so it won't be quite easy for the CSA to adequately defend them all, but also encourage the USA to attack for specific objectives rather than whenever and wherever they want.
Once I have cleared this event style I will work on creating the CSA invasion of the North Events (similar, but want to make sure that this event chain works first, as it will be the basis for other events).
Code: Select all
SelectFaction = $USA
SelectFaction = $USA
StartEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1861/01/01
MaxDate = 1861/12/31
CountUnits = $Fauquier, VA;1;$USA;-1;>=;6
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 4
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $CSA
SelectFaction = $CSA
StartEvent = evt_nam_CSA_HoldsManassas61|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1862/01/01
MaxDate = 1862/01/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 1
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $USA
SelectFaction = $USA
StartEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas62|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1862/01/01
MaxDate = 1862/12/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
CountUnits = $Fauquier, VA;1;$USA;-1;>=;6
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 2
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $CSA
SelectFaction = $CSA
StartEvent = evt_nam_CSA_HoldsManassas62|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1863/01/01
MaxDate = 1863/01/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas62;=;0
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 1
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $USA
SelectFaction = $USA
StartEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas63|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1863/01/01
MaxDate = 1863/12/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas62;=;0
CountUnits = $Fauquier, VA;1;$USA;-1;>=;6
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 1
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $CSA
SelectFaction = $CSA
StartEvent = evt_nam_CSA_HoldsManassas63|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1864/01/01
MaxDate = 1864/01/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas62;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas63;=;0
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 1
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $USA
SelectFaction = $USA
StartEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas64|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1864/01/01
MaxDate = 1864/12/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas62;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas63;=;0
CountUnits = $Fauquier, VA;1;$USA;-1;>=;6
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 1
EndEvent
SelectFaction = $CSA
SelectFaction = $CSA
StartEvent = evt_nam_CSA_HoldsManassas64|1|1|NULL|NULL|NULL|NULL
Conditions
MinDate = 1865/01/01
MaxDate = 1865/01/31
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas61;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas62;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas63;=;0
EvalEvent = evt_nam_USA_CapturesManassas64;=;0
EvalRgnOwned = $Fauquier, VA
Actions
ChangeFacMorale = 1
EndEvent
Love this idea. I don't know how the AI would react, but you could use this too kind of steer offensives into historical paths. Things like boosting the values for Eastern Tennessee for the Union since the politicos were incredibly anxious to get the pro-unionists back under the federal umbrella, along with the Mississippi area. Make Tennessee and Kentucky cities very valuable for the CSA later in the war to get the players to maybe attempt those attacks (Large scale raids) that the CSA was so fond of making. I'll be following this one closely. Seems like about a perfect idea to increase the offensives to historical levels.
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McNaughton
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Spharv2 wrote:Love this idea. I don't know how the AI would react, but you could use this too kind of steer offensives into historical paths. Things like boosting the values for Eastern Tennessee for the Union since the politicos were incredibly anxious to get the pro-unionists back under the federal umbrella, along with the Mississippi area. Make Tennessee and Kentucky cities very valuable for the CSA later in the war to get the players to maybe attempt those attacks (Large scale raids) that the CSA was so fond of making. I'll be following this one closely. Seems like about a perfect idea to increase the offensives to historical levels.
I am thinking about having some events based on certain cities trigger a manpower boost (slight, but still nice to get) based on conquest or 'liberation' of specific cities. East Tennessee will open up the US forces to new Units (East Tennessee did field many regiments for the US army). Basically the border states will be opportunities to gain NM and manpower via raids and invasions.
I am going to rework the Kentucky and Missouri event chains somewhat to reflect what would happen should one side gain effective military control (i.e., control specifc key cities). Having the state side with a faction is one thing, controlling the state is another. If a faction can control certain cities they basically 'occupy' the state, and gain manpower, resources, and units to be built. This will encourage specific invasions of liberation/conquest in Missouri and Kentucky, emulating the attacks in 1861, 1862 and 1863 to 1864.
For Missouri, I plan to expand the events based on if Price can conquer southern Missouri (take everything south of and including St. Louis and Lexington) the Missouri State Guard gets replaced (in whole) with 'regular' Confederate Volunteer Units (equalling about 5-6 Brigades), representing the capture of Federal arsenals and freeing up loyal manpower to serve (since the Missouri State Guard professed loyalty to the CSA after Lyon's invasion).
Kentucky will be more of an invasion for control (at least temporarily) for the CSA, resulting in an influx of manpower and buildable units (albiet, IMO the Orphan brigade should never form, given that it was formed and elite due to the concentration of all Kentucky veterans into one force, yet, I would rather have multiple Kentucky Brigades and manpower over one Kentucky Elite unit).
--PLAN--
I hope that this will encourage historic invasions, and raids, as with a turn by turn NM drain (of around 1 or 2 points) you have to be active in defending your frontier, as well as making raids or invading enemy territory (you should be able to hold NM where it is by keeing your borders solid, but in order to get more NM you have to either win spectacular battles, or actually try and invade/raid your opponent). The pressure on the USA should be greater, but, the CSA should face difficulty if they lose critical cities early, or are too passive in their defence (plus, the draw to raid Maryland to get extra manpower will hopefully be strong enough!).
The idea is for this to be for the player, not the AI. The penalties faced will be player penalties (in PBEM or vs the AI), while the AI will just play as normal (without the turn by turn drain, or losing or gaining NM through gaining or losing cities). I figure the AI plays historic enough as is.
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