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Hi Pocus,

I was wondering, can you build forts in any region you choose to cover strategic places like rivers and stuff ?, or are they always linked to cities? also what different levels (strenghts) of forts are there?

The highest level of fortifications for infantry and artillery is considered permanent (like around petersburg), do these remain intact after you move your forces somewhere else ? or do they dissappear?.

I read that you can build coastal batteries, can you also build river batteries? or do you simulate that by entrenching an artillery unit up to the highest level ?

Do forts have inherent garrisons and artillery? or do you have to station infantry and artillery units inside?.

Thanks

I was wondering, can you build forts in any region you choose to cover strategic places like rivers and stuff ?,

Yes

also what different levels (strenghts) of forts are there?

Two types: pre-war forts (level 1) and "modern" forts (level 2, the ones you can build).
There are several benefits you gain from a fort:
- shelter against bad weather
- defensive bonus
- blocking enemy movement
- defending nearby rivers/sea zones
You need to put units in your fort to defend it and block enemy movement. Some artillery is always present in a level 2 fort but you can put more in it, this is especially useful if you are besieged (but it this case it is also important to have enough supply in stock...). So the actual strength of a fort is determined by the units inside and of course their commander.

I read that you can build coastal batteries, can you also build river batteries?

A fort will defend nearby rivers: attack passing ships and prevent enemy supply transport

or do you simulate that by entrenching an artillery unit up to the highest level ?

You can do this too.

right on the spot. Only precision: when you build a permanent fortification (this is not a single fort, see it more like the works done around Washington), you don't get free guns. This is a game simplification (and limitation)... This then become a whole new structure, which can be besieged and is truely permanent.
You can't build brick forts (pre-war forts and such).

Is there any way to upgrade a level 1 fort to a level 2 fort? (like the historical enhancements of Island number 10 for instance).

not really, the only levels 1 forts are pre-war coastal forts and Island 10. When you build a fortification it is level 2. But the frontier is blurry between a fortification and a high level entranchment with artillery, as both can fire on passing ships and provide much protection... so in essence stationning a garrison with artillery on Island 10 equals to a very well fortified defence able to resist anything but the most determined assault. To get to level 6+ level of earthworks, it can asks for several months...

Sorry to get back on the subject of forts but i have to have to ask since i still don't understand the difference between the four fort icons.

I have been looking at various screenshots and in one shot washington was depited with the wooden fort icon without the guns while richmond had the wooden fort icon with guns. In another screenshot both washington and richmond now had the stone fort icon with guns icon. What is the difference between these icons? it seems to imply upgraded fort levels? but i am uncertain does, anyone know?

Furthermore, say that you decide to build a fort (by expending 2 supply units and 4 artillery units) in a region that has no city or anything, which icon will appear on map to depict this new fort ?

Thanks

no problems, here is the summary, and things are simpler than it seems.

There is 2 forts levels, which are a structure. If level 1, you see a wooden fort, or if alone the pre-war brick fort (which is not constructible). If level 2, you see the stone fort in city. You can't build forts outside cities, and when you build one, it is level 2 right off the bat.

We call that 'Permanent fortifications'.

Now you have trenches. 8 levels, but level 5-8 only benefits to the artillery. The sand bags, crates, etc. are just the cosmetic meaning to show these levels, but they are all trenches. If you see a gun, then it means you have an artillery in the stack.

If you are in a fort, or in a level 5+ trench, you artillery can fire on passing ships.

Ok now i understand how this works, thanks

Will there be any limits as to the maximum size of a forts garrison? or can you just put as many units in there as you want

Will entrenching be done on a per unit basis? like if you have one division in a region (4 brigades and on artillery battery) will these 5 units entrench individually with the infantry units stopping at level 4 and the artillery unit continuing up to 8. Or does the whole stack entrench together?

That leads to another question, will a new unit arriving in a region with entrenched units benefit from those trenches? or must it construct it's own trenches?

I was just reading the rules about blocking enemy movement, it states that forts greatly enhance patrol values thereby often preventing enemy movement. Now since you can't build forts outside cities, if you want to defend a strategic position on the map that has no city (say a strategic river ford) you can only defend this by entrenching a few units there. Say for arguments sake that you entrench one artillery unit and one infantry unit there (maximum trench levels), won't the enemy be able to simply bypass your position (since you have no fort to enhance your patrol value) or will the high trench level enhance patrol value just like a fort would ?

daidojisan wrote:Will there be any limits as to the maximum size of a forts garrison? or can you just put as many units in there as you want

Will entrenching be done on a per unit basis? like if you have one division in a region (4 brigades and on artillery battery) will these 5 units entrench individually with the infantry units stopping at level 4 and the artillery unit continuing up to 8. Or does the whole stack entrench together?

That leads to another question, will a new unit arriving in a region with entrenched units benefit from those trenches? or must it construct it's own trenches?

We decided (a long time ago) to not put such hard constraint. If you want to gather 10.000 men in a fort, then so be it, but good luck to you if you are besieged (more supply consumption and more losses by siege). Also, as we have a frontage rule, you can never fight with more than a part of your army at a given time, so number is important, but quality is a major factor. And you are never spared from a bad dice roll where all your garrison surrender.

No, trenches are built on a stack basis. If you have an artillery battery, you can reach the higher levels (a battery in an artillery counter, not a battery in a division), but infantry never get the benefits from a higher level entrenchment anyway.

We will surely improve that with trenches able to stay (and decay) even if no one is around.

daidojisan wrote:I was just reading the rules about blocking enemy movement, it states that forts greatly enhance patrol values thereby often preventing enemy movement. Now since you can't build forts outside cities, if you want to defend a strategic position on the map that has no city (say a strategic river ford) you can only defend this by entrenching a few units there. Say for arguments sake that you entrench one artillery unit and one infantry unit there (maximum trench levels), won't the enemy be able to simply bypass your position (since you have no fort to enhance your patrol value) or will the high trench level enhance patrol value just like a fort would ?

trenches do improve your patrol value (must be seen as the fixation/ zone of control value) of the region you are in.

Thanks for answering all my questions

I am sure i am going to enjoy this game

When you have both a garrisoned fort in a city and entrenched units in the region but outside of the city will the forts artillery be able to support those entrenched units when they are attacked?

Another question: forts block movements of enemy stacks. I know that cavalry,support units will sneak by forts; divisions, corps will be stopped. But what about VERY BIG stacks? If I gather a big army or corps stack, full with big (500 strentgh) divisions, so it is maxed out to, I don't know, 2000 points strength, what then? Can it "negotiate" the fortifications and continue on its road to Annapolis or will it be stuck in Washington countryside?
Thx

You can always get past forts in passive mode - if brave or foolish enough.

http://ageod.nsen.ch/aacwwiki/Manual:Orders#Blocking_movement

It's a question of mazimising your evasion value compared the enemy's patrol value (including the fort's patrol value), compared to your military control of the region in question. Don't have any example calculations, though.