Forced March

[GenJackson]

I recently have seen the "Forced March" button appear on some of my stacks. Can someone define what this does? Thanks!

[John Sedgwick]

Forced March, if successful, makes a force move faster, but at the cost of losing more cohesion. Not sure exactly how much faster, but I know it works better for light units (cavalry, raiders, etc.)

[Mickey3D]

You'll see the success percentage of forced march by moving your mouse over the button.

[John Sedgwick]

As an added note, "Forced March" should be used sparingly if at all. The only time I use this order is when I want my cavalry scouts behind enemy lines to skedaddle back to friendly territory ASAP in the face of impending danger. Due to the loss of cohesion, I never issue this order to troops if there's any possibility they'll come into contact with the enemy - no point shaving a couple days off their travel time if they're going to be routed when they get there. The only exception would be if a forced march was the only way to be certain of getting my forces to a strategically indispensible, tactically defensible position (e.g behind a river) BEFORE the enemy arrives, but this sort of situation has not yet come up in any of my games.

[Cromagnonman]

Forced March is only available for an activated commander. If you take an activated stack and issue a movement order, it will show how many days are necessary for this move. If you then click Forced March, it will re-estimate the number of days required. I think you may have to deselect the stack or something before re-selecting to see the new times.

PS I also use FM during Winter to move forces from town to town.

[John Sedgwick]

Thanks for the handy tips Cromagnon, that's good to know. I've been wondering if there was any way to see the difference in movement times.

PS: forced march through snow, that sounds like a good time. I can picture them being lured with promises of hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows when they get to town

[Cromagnonman]

PS: forced march through snow, that sounds like a good time. I can picture them being lured with promises of hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows when they get to town

It's that or freeze; I doubt they'd say "or else spend a supply phase out here in the cold, which would cause us to take several hits." Also the rear guard knows which way to by following the trail of bloody snow.

[John Sedgwick]

Also the rear guard knows which way to by following the trail of bloody snow.

Heh, that and the misplaced frostbitten toes? I'd laugh, but that sort of thing actually happened - they really would leave a trail of bloody snow for a lack of proper footwear. Grisly stuff. I'm not sure if I'd rather freeze to death or die of heatstroke though...

[Cromagnonman]

I'm not sure if I'd rather freeze to death or die of heatstroke though...

Freeze. Heatstroke is pretty miserable; freezing is mostly cold and unconsciousness.

[John Sedgwick]

freezing is mostly cold and unconsciousness.

I used to think so, until I experienced second-degree frostbite - it burns like hell! You're right though, based on what I know of heatstroke, I still think I'd rather freeze to death.

[GraniteStater]

I used to think so, until I experienced second-degree frostbite - it burns like hell! You're right though, based on what I know of heatstroke, I still think I'd rather freeze to death.

Definitely poll material.

[Cromagnonman]

I used to think so, until I experienced second-degree frostbite - it burns like hell! You're right though, based on what I know of heatstroke, I still think I'd rather freeze to death.

Well, you survived. If you'd just frozen straight to death like a sensible conscript, you wouldn't have had to deal with the pain. To die from heat stroke, you have to deal with thirst and delirium.

Having anatomized some folk, I'd say that those who retrieve your body would prefer it be frozen versus baked. When was the last time your freezer smelled like much of anything?

[Chaplain Lovejoy]

A Revolutionary War reenactor tells me that marching in weather that's "too cold" is preferable to marching in weather that's "too hot."

[Jim-NC]

Well, you survived. If you'd just frozen straight to death like a sensible conscript, you wouldn't have had to deal with the pain. To die from heat stroke, you have to deal with thirst and delirium.

Having anatomized some folk, I'd say that those who retrieve your body would prefer it be frozen versus baked. When was the last time your freezer smelled like much of anything?

This thread has definitely taken a wrong turn, and should be allowed to cool down before it gets too hot.

[Sieben]

In winter I can always put on enough clothing to stay warm. In summer I can't always take off enough to stay cool.

The Devil make me post this.

[John Sedgwick]

When was the last time your freezer smelled like much of anything?

When we lost power for two days and forgot about a heap of venison in the basement freezer! Point taken

It seems the general consensus is that being too cold is preferable to being too hot. I must say I agree wholeheartedly, but then I'm practically cold-blooded - anything over 20 degrees celsius is too hot for me! I can't imagine what it must have been like for some northerners in the deep south. I would've died of sunstroke for sure, if the dysentery didn't get me first

[Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne]

I hate the cold. Give me Heatstroke. Everyone else would have liquefied from the supernova before I get heatstroke anyway. Judging from most of the internet conversations I've seen I'm in the minority, but I love 100 degree days. I can't imagine marching 10 miles in the snow with no shoes. I'd be on the first ambulance to the rear.

[Mickey3D]

Despite my avatar image I prefer warm weather (around 25 degree Celsius) : building snowman in winter is just fun if you have a warm place nearby.

My army experience of the cold is that it is no fun to have to wait hours in the cold (you know this stupid guard duty...) and you really suffer when you forget your gloves or are ill equipped and have to work in the snow

I Agree with Jim-NC, this thread is definitively going out of control

[GraniteStater]

Tryng to conduct operations in pronounced cold is a royal pain, speaking from experience. In hot places, you can strip down to skivvies & your rifle, if need be (monsoons and sandstorms aside). I hated February drill, everything's all messed up, you can't read instruments, all you want to do is stay warm, you can't leave anything in the snow, it's just a royal pain. January drill was inside in the armory (civil disturbance training, aka Knocking Heads on Command).

[Fingolfin]

Well, since I work in a refrigerated warehouse... I'd say cold is good as long as you don't stand still

[Ethan]

I hate the cold. Give me Heatstroke. Everyone else would have liquefied from the supernova before I get heatstroke anyway. Judging from most of the internet conversations I've seen I'm in the minority, but I love 100 degree days. I can't imagine marching 10 miles in the snow with no shoes. I'd be on the first ambulance to the rear.

Pat, if you like the heat try visiting southern Spain, Andalucia, Sevilla specifically, in the month of July at 1 p.m. and maybe change your mind... You'll want to be the snowman of Mickey3D´s avatar

PS: Does anyone know what was this thread?

[John Sedgwick]

PS: Does anyone know what was this thread?

I think it was about being forced to do something... forced to stay on topic? No, clearly it wasn't that... forced to volunteer? No, that's an oxymoron... forced to eat snow cones? I think that was the one. Something about crushed-ice treats.

[Redeemer]

As an added note, "Forced March" should be used sparingly if at all. The only time I use this order is when I want my cavalry scouts behind enemy lines to skedaddle back to friendly territory ASAP in the face of impending danger. Due to the loss of cohesion, I never issue this order to troops if there's any possibility they'll come into contact with the enemy - no point shaving a couple days off their travel time if they're going to be routed when they get there. The only exception would be if a forced march was the only way to be certain of getting my forces to a strategically indispensible, tactically defensible position (e.g behind a river) BEFORE the enemy arrives, but this sort of situation has not yet come up in any of my games.

I have use it for an unexpected dash to a capital or other strategic target when an opponent thought it unreachable normally and left it ripe for the picking.

[Cromagnonman]

I have use it for an unexpected dash to a capital or other strategic target when an opponent thought it unreachable normally and left it ripe for the picking.

Yeah, there are certain situations where you just gotta get there first