Battle log

[fdapra]

I have been reading the battle logs in the last few turns of a CG and I must say It is really interesting to understand what happens in battles.

I have a few questions, commitments rolls seems to be very important, since a Division or Corp cannot partecipate in the fight if it fails to commit.

Ive seen more than one battle go very bad based on these rolls.
Normally commitment ranges are from 20% to 80% or more, first question is what modifiers are used? Strategic rating, terrain....

I have seen a battle where I had Lee with 5-6 division, one of them cavalry get decimated by a defending division becose only the cavalry division was committed to battle and after 1 round the enemy retreated.

Also sometimes it seems that having many corps in the same space is very bad, my opponent had all corps retreat from a battle after 2 round of combat exept one that fought on and was slaughtered by my confederate.

The procedure is very nice and I like it, I only would like to know a little more about it.

There are alot of post on division composition, frontage and so on but little on commitment and retreat.

Also what are the modifiers to units to hit chance?

[Gray Fox]

This is what I refer to for combat questions:

http://www.ageod.net/agewiki/Combat_Explained

I don't trust cavalry Divisions in a stack and instead have 2-3 cavalry per infantry Division. Stacks really only need them to pursue/screen after a battle.

[ArmChairGeneral]

fdapra,

Those are some pretty insightful questions you are asking. Gray Fox's link is canon for the formulas and mechanisms of both the commitment rules and the combat engine's process and modifiers. The rules are there and in the game files they refer to, but it takes some work to unpack.

You have already discovered in your play (and your attention to the battle logs) the most important takeaway about the commitment rules and the combat engine: always concentrate your forces in battle. A single stack performs better than multiple stacks and divisions perform better than loose units.

The actual rules that underlie the combat engine and the commitment rules are moderately complex but documented, and based on my readings of them, extensive forum discussions, some sandboxing and plenty of in-game experience, the golden rule to maximize both mechanics in your favor is: concentrate your forces. If you want to geek out (I certainly did ) the info is there to fill in the details of why, but following this simple rule will optimize your force structure in all but edge cases. (For the special Army commitment rules, see this post by Captain_Orso)

As you discovered by looking at the battle logs, multiple stacks don't always commit, so minimizing the number of stacks you have in battle (one is best) maximizes commitment.*

Because of the combat resolution rules, small units (less than division sized) are dramatically more survivable and effective when combined into divisions than when loose. (Hits are spread roughly evenly across the elements in a unit, so small units are more likely to have elements eliminated in combat than larger units.) Form everything you can into divisions as soon as they are allowed, and be careful not to get loose brigades involved in battles with divisions. (Loose artillery elements are not in extra danger like combat elements, but they get bonuses by being combined into dedicated artillery (optimal) or combined arms divisions.)




*A small stack in the structure is fine, even recommended, if only to maintain entrenchments. Stacks in structures only participate in combat if the enemy is in Assault (Red) posture. If you know you might lose a city, evacuate the garrison beforehand so they do not later surrender in a siege for a NM loss.