Why did a battle occur here?

[bob.]

I was under the impression previously that two fleets in defensive posture will NEVER attack each other.

However, here it happened:
http://abload.de/img/navalbattlelrqoz.png
Can someone explain to me how it really works? Is there a certain chance that two defensive posture navies will attack each other, or is it if both sides have large fleets or something else?

[Hobbes]

As far as I know there is no reason for two fleets in defensive posture to attack each other. There is no control in sea areas is there - nothing to change a posture? I think the forum needs a visit from Pocus

[bob.]

That is what I always thought as well...
the more I play this game, the more I realise how much of the game mechanics is just... fog of war!
It's a bit of a shame if you ask me, I like to have everything explained beforehand. Then again, that may just be because I am used to boardgames where you can read the rules and know literally everything.

[Hobbes]

You seem like me bob. I have to understand every rule before I can play a game - almost OCD like. Then when I know them all and get to know the game well I forget most of them and for some reason don't care about that - I just get a feel for the game. I also have a boardgame background - maybe that is the reason for it. At the moment I'm learning how to play the Lock and Load PC game - even though I'm trying to get every line of the manual into my head I'm really grateful that the PC takes care of most of it. Getting too old for boargames I think. How do people remember all these rules? (I do like a good odds chart though ). I certainly don't think a lot of the AGEOD game mechanics are hidden in a fog. Occasionally something comes up that is frustrating to understand but I find that rare and normally somebody can explain on the forum if there is some confusion like this (and if there is a genuine problem it is normally fixed in a patch).

Cheers,
Chris

[Bohémond]

Hello,

A save game will be needed as maybe one of the enemy fleet was in Offensive Posture.

Regards

[bob.]

Don't have a save anymore unfortunately. But then why would it say in the combat report that both are in defensive posture? Can commanders change posture without the player?

[Bohémond]

In sea zone, leader does not change posture during turn resolution

Regards

[bob.]

Well, then my question still stands because as you can see both navies are on defensive posture.

[Bohémond]

I agree, that why we need a savegame.


Regards

[bob.]

OK, I found the explanation. The navy of my enemy was on naval interception.

However, there's still one thing I don't understand, though this time not about the engine but about play style: having a fleet under attack stance means the readiness goes down every day, when I can just put my fleet on naval interception + defensive stance, why would I EVER have my fleet in offensive stance?

[Kensai]

Naval interception should not put your fleet in attack mode. Navy Interception means, afaik, that it will try to attack ships passing or being in adjacent sea regions.

What might have happened here is that a rival ship or fleet was passing nearby or through the region of your defensive ships and triggered the battle. Obviously once the battle is triggered all ships are joining unless in passive. By the end of the battle the rival offender fleet might have moved out of range so you could not pinpoint it.