Converting railways..

[gbs]

Having a hard time with this. I remember reading a thread about it but can't locate it anymore. Heres what I did. 1st Army moves into Belgium and takes Antwerp. I notice that the rail way sign in the area I just passed through with the Belgium flag on it which I take to mean that the rail has not been converted to German there. I detatch a corp give it convert order and send it back to the area with the Belgium rail sign. Should that convert the area the detatchment moves into or does it convert the one it is moving out of or both. They still show the belgium sign on the following turn. Sorry if this is unclear

[dougbush93]

For the rail conversion to work, an area has to meet several conditions:

-it has to be able to "connect" to the rail net you are converting it to, so an isolated region can't have its rail converted. In the example you cite, the Germans I Army cannot convert any areas in the interior of Belgium until there is a connection to the German rail net available (usually consists of the Liege area after the fort is elim and the area just to the East of Liege).

-a unit has to move into a space to convert it, a unit cannot convert "in place" (annoying, but how it is for now)

The bottom line is that this does take a lot of planning. In the West, the key issue for the Germans is creating rail-conversion detachments in GE I and GE II armies, and then ensuring that the rail line that runs south from Liege is converted as the German armies move forward. As long as it is, the supplies can keep up with the far right flank.

In the LGG boardgame, at the end of the Winter interphase each year, any unconverted rail lines "behind the front line" are automatically converted. Not the case in computer LGG though, so you have to do it space by space.

Hope that helps a bit.

Doug

[Nial]

For the rail conversion to work, an area has to meet several conditions:

In the LGG boardgame, at the end of the Winter interphase each year, any unconverted rail lines "behind the front line" are automatically converted. Not the case in computer LGG though, so you have to do it space by space.

Hope that helps a bit.

Doug

In the manual sections available it states that the railways are auto converted in the interphase. You are saying they do not convert in the interphase. Is this a typo, something that will be fixed? Or just miss-communication? Anyone?

Trying to get a handle on the rules before the game arrives.

Nial

[06 Maestro]

I have played through June of 15 in a carefully controlled game, with particular interest in RR repair. I have not noticed a single case of an auto repair taking place. I have had to assign units to that task every step of the way.

About the need to convert in line from existing friendly RR lines; I'm not so sure about that. I think that is how it should work, but IIRC, I was able to do it while not controlling a particular connecting line.

I have saves, and will check on that later.

[dougbush93]

In the manual sections available it states that the railways are auto converted in the interphase. You are saying they do not convert in the interphase. Is this a typo, something that will be fixed? Or just miss-communication? Anyone?

Nial

I haven't seen any auto-converting going on, even though it does say that in the draft manual.

Doug

[calvinus]

There's no automatic rail conversion during winter interphase.

[Nial]

Thanks for the quick clarification. I take it by the tone of your answer that it is something that will 'not' be introduced in the future? Might want to edit it out of the manual.

Nial

[calvinus]

Thanks for the quick clarification. I take it by the tone of your answer that it is something that will 'not' be introduced in the future? Might want to edit it out of the manual.

Nial

The tone comes from the fact I work on coding in the meanwhile, so sometimes I must be short.

For the manual, I have to proofread a lot of sections yet, the one concerning rails included...

[Nial]

I do appreciate your hard work on this.

I am just trying to assimilate as much info as possible before the game arrives. Hopefully by the time I go on Christmas vacation.

Nial

[Le Ricain]

For the rail conversion to work, an area has to meet several conditions:

-it has to be able to "connect" to the rail net you are converting it to, so an isolated region can't have its rail converted. In the example you cite, the Germans I Army cannot convert any areas in the interior of Belgium until there is a connection to the German rail net available (usually consists of the Liege area after the fort is elim and the area just to the East of Liege).

-a unit has to move into a space to convert it, a unit cannot convert "in place" (annoying, but how it is for now)

The bottom line is that this does take a lot of planning. In the West, the key issue for the Germans is creating rail-conversion detachments in GE I and GE II armies, and then ensuring that the rail line that runs south from Liege is converted as the German armies move forward. As long as it is, the supplies can keep up with the far right flank.

Hope that helps a bit.

Doug

I have been able to convert RR that is not connected to my network.

[calvinus]

Yes, it's right. I removed the rule that required the connection to home country in a very early stage of development, for two main reasons:
1) extremely difficult to implement (code)
2) difficult for players too! The rail system is already a bit though for you players, so I do not want to make your life even thougher!

[dougbush93]

Yes, it's right. I removed the rule that required the connection to home country in a very early stage of development...

Ok, I'm not losing my mind. I think this (this = don't have to have a space 'connect' to your network to convert it) is a reasonable compromise b/c it allows you to "work from both ends" on a rail conversion, which certainly speeds things up. Now I just need to get another German 343 at work in Belgium...

-Doug

[calvinus]

As said, I did it to make your life a bit easier...

[m_shane_perkins]

Calvinus...thanks for the hard work making the game better for all to enjoy. Specifically, thanks for tweaking the RR conversion to make it simpler. This was a topic that I did not understand from the manual.

[benpark]

I am still finding this critical feature tough to figure out. There are many variables that make it difficult to fully grasp, such as- can you select the "convert RR" tab prior to making an attack into a hex?

I would like to see this process simplified. Converting the RR in an area you are stationary in seems like it would help, especially if one doesn't have to select the tab, then simulate moving in the same area. Just hitting the tab should do it.

A few counters simulating RR auxiliary repair troops might be nice, though I don't think it would fit the scale of the game. But since it is such a large part of the way the game is set up, having an entire corps of combat troops repairing the rails seems a bit like overkill as well.

"In the LGG boardgame, at the end of the Winter interphase each year, any unconverted rail lines "behind the front line" are automatically converted. Not the case in computer LGG though, so you have to do it space by space."

I like that rule for the PC version.

[06 Maestro]

A few counters simulating RR auxiliary repair troops might be nice, though I don't think it would fit the scale of the game. But since it is such a large part of the way the game is set up, having an entire corps of combat troops repairing the rails seems a bit like overkill as well.

I like that idea too. I wanted to suggest that a few weeks ago, but there were "bigger fish to fry" at the time.

I think that RR Engineers could be abstracted to a corps or two for each major power and perhaps one for minors-or even none for some minors. RR Engineers could repair 2 hexes- all other units only one per turn. They can only move into a province that had already beeen conquered.

The engineers could cost as much as an average infantry corp, but be made available in less time. Also, they should have not combat power-destoyed if caught alone.

This might just be a little gold plating for down the road, but it sure would be shiney.

Using whole corps for RR repair just does not feel right.

[Tamas]

Well, the boardgame also used whole units for RR conversion. I like to think of it as not only literally repairing railroads but also "securing the rear". This mechanic does achieve that for important "hinterland", you do need to leave units behind for some time while the rest advances.

[Marquee]

I don't think special RR units are necessary, but I would like to see the moving-into-the-region requirement removed. Should be sufficient merely to expend a movement point in the region to convert. Also, you should have to control the region in order to convert.

[Tamas]

I don't think special RR units are necessary, but I would like to see the moving-into-the-region requirement removed. Should be sufficient merely to expend a movement point in the region to convert. Also, you should have to control the region in order to convert.

With these, I agree.