The mod has been tested to a reasonable extent, at this point. The overall feel is that of uncertain but more dangerous engagements, as well as more challenging logistics/management of your armies.
HARDE
Harsher Attrition Realism and Decisive Engagements by Numahr
V beta 0.5
Download Link
If you use this mod, please provide feedback and suggestions!
Installation
- Back up files in your Settings folder
- Copy zipped Settings folder, replacing existing files
Additional scenario module for Hannibal -219 by rominet
Rominet has tweaked the Hannibal -219 scenario to adapt the scenario to the new rules and a wealth of other tweaks. I recommend his optional files for this scenario.
See his postpage 3 of this thread.
Change Log
0.1: Initial release
0.1b: Fix on number of rounds properly coded for postures
0.2: Long battles slightly more lethal for the defeated side and return to normal replacement rule (primus Pilus edition kept the modded rule)
0.2b: Inclusion of an interface fix by Bohémond to produce reports on all 8 battle rounds
0.3: Alternative replacement rule re-instated, rout is more dangerous, commanders’ statistics are more decisive and malus to besiegers is toned down.
0.4: Random factor in sieges increased.
0.5: Lethality of standard melee further decreased (50% Vanilla value instead of 70%) and Coefficient to losses in retreat tweaked down from 900 to 600 (Vanilla is 250).
Objective
Improve combat and logistics mechanics to give a harsher feeling of warfare
Overview of features
- Limits easy replacement of losses.
- Regular fight is slightly less lethal, but rout and pursuit may result in much higher casualties for the losing side, resulting in potentially steeper casualty imbalance between winner and loser, and, potentially, in total destruction of the loosing side.
- Determined attack and defense postures are more decisive but also more dangerous, while defensive defense postures are more “evasive”.
- Changes are significant but not extreme and limited to a few factors: it is more an evolution from Vanilla than a revolution, to avoid unintended imbalance.
In details
Logistics:
- Replacement of partial elements only takes place in a depot, using available extra supply and ammunition. Partial elements receive replenishments in proportion of extra supply and ammunition, and receive no replenishment if units in a given region still lack supply or ammunition.
Hint: Large armies with many affected elements need to be split up in several cities with high depot levels to recover quickly.
- Regions with Loyalty under 75% for your faction will have a supply penalty.
- More attrition for besieging armies.
- Sieges are less predictable with slightly more randomization (using dice 14 instead of dice 12).
Battles:
- Hit Coefficient for ranged attacks decreased from 4% to 3%;
- Hit Coefficient for melee attacks decreased from 0.5% to 0.25% (see Narwal’s in depth analysis of battle mechanics for more info on these metrics);
- Battles last 8 rounds a day instead of 6 to compensate for less lethal rounds;
- Commander bonus granted by the stack commander increased from 10% to 20% for each point of stat;
- Significant malus to besiegers in assaults against structures.
Retreat:
- You now need at least 5% Military Control to be able to retreat to a given province;
- Coefficient to losses in retreat applied when routed is increased from 250 to 600 – the most drastic change. Be prepared to see whole armies encircled and destroyed! should happen sometimes but not too often, hopefully;
- Retreat damage increase per round after the first is increased from 15% to 35%.
- “Disrupter” units such as Elephants have their damage on retreating units x3 instead of x2
Offensive Postures:
- All-out attack gives you an advantage in combat efficiency that decreases over time and considerably decreases your commander’s retreat will – making the battle last longer and increasing the risk of uncontrolled rout (-70% on round 3);
- Offensive posture significantly reduces your commander retreat will – making the battle last longer and increasing the risk of uncontrolled rout (-30% on round 3);
- No change to Conservative Attack posture;
- No change to Feint Attack posture.
Defensive Postures:
- Defend at all costs gives you an advantage in combat efficiency over your enemy that decreases over time;
- No change to Standard defense posture;
- Defend & Retreat posture reduces losses on both sides by 20%;
- Retreat if engaged posture reduces losses on both sides by 40%.
All changes are easy to find by looking for Numahr in the two files, with a reminder of the vanilla value for reference.
Credit
RSR Mod by HanBarca for some of the tweaks
Bohémond for the interface fix that covers 8 rounds per day
Rominet for insightful feedback and for the updated Hannibal Scenarios
