New Patch and Supply

[Jagger]

I did some tests on food/water supply useage after the new supply changes in yesterdays patch.

My tests were on English/German/Loyalists infantry stacks

For every 4 strength points, approximately one supply point is consumed each month. So one average line unit, (with 4 companies of 10 strength each-40 strength points), requires "approximately" 10 food supply points per month.

Both a basic and full supply chit each contains 5 food/water supply points per supply level. So a region with supply level of 2 produces 10 food/water supply points per month.

Which means the above single line unit of 40 strength points will require a minimum supply level of 2 within a region to maintain its food/water requirements without eventually starving.

Is it your intention that a single average infantry unit would require a 2 supply level to meet its minimal food/water needs?

Just wondering as from first glance, it appears a bit high.

As an example, I have a 1 strength commander, a 40 strength English line unit, a 32 strength American loyalist militia unit and a 8 strength wagon train located in Pittsburg. Total strength is 81 strength points. Total supply needs are 20 food supply points per turn.

Pittsburgh is a level two city with a harbor and no fort located in the wilderness. The region has a total supply level of three with the countryside contribution. This region will produce 15 food supply points per turn.

Those units have a total deficit of 5 food/supply points per month. Pittsburgh cannot support these two infantry units and an empty supply wagon as they are now starving.

I don't know how many troops you feel Pittsburgh should be able to support. So I am wondering if the supply system is working as designed or not?

[Jagger]

Actually after looking at some scenarios, I think the supply rules work fine with the new patch.

My problem is that I have never built supply depots. As a newbie, I have never had to build depots and didn't.

Yet a supply depot provides 10 full supply chits or 50 food/supply points per month. That means each supply depot will support 5 regiments.

I just need to start building supply depots....

[lightsfantastic]

I started a new F & I War Campaign today w/ 1.12 and have found the Supply rules changing the style of game I play. Example: I took Fort Duquesne in November of 1756 with one supply at 50% at time of assault, 2 Reg, 1 Militia, 1 Artillery, and 1 Ranger. In January I get a Penn. Militia added. Without a depot the command is losing strength points though the winter (supply of 7 in region.) Loss recovery is affected so much that I am forced back to my depots or larger cities (10+ supply) to gain effective recovery rates for non-company sized replacements (the trickle back ones.)
Definitely an improvement.

[PhilThib]

Then a side question: do you feel you have enough supply units in the game ?

[lightsfantastic]

If Pocus did not tweak down the number of supply units from 1.11 then it is a question of proper planning in the early going as you cannot do everything at once. As of February 1757, I have a force in Oswego who just built a Depot and has 1 supply wagon left, a force in Boston with three supply (one Captured), Ft. Duq with one depleted supply, one in Norwich, one supply on the Carolina/Virginia border, and one supply in Nova Scotia. I think I have enough, but proper planning is essential and it slows down the British player from blitzing every which way in 1757. My force at Oswego is limited to holding the site and raiding now that I have built the Depot until I reinforce it with more supply. Now I must choose where my main thrust is every year and supply it properly. In my own areas with large cities, my supply wagons are not needed as I can pull supply from the larger cities, but on the wilderness the lack of properly supplied forces IS having an impact.

As an aside, I feel Oswego SHOULD NOT start the game with a Fort in the F & I 1755 Scenario. Everything I have read says the 'Forts' there were not sited in anyway to support each other and would be more aptly be described as unfinished earthworks with a separate stockade.

[Pocus]

back when supply worked, and even before that (some 6 motnhs ago), several people complained that there was too many wagons, so the alt campaign had them cut by 1/3 (no change in the others files).

Don't forget that a city can draw from the surrounding too, so the usage has been calibrated with that in mind. Boston can supports a sizable British force too, because depot + open harbor provide much.

The consumption is not per strengh point, but per unit, there is a parameter regulating that.

[Jagger]

In the Montcalm 56 scenario, the Brits have more supply than they know what to do with. However the French have either just the right amount of supply or may need one or two additional supply trains. The French must build one depot either in Oswego or in the Crown Point area if they hope to mass enough troops to threaten the Albany area/depot. Once those two supply wagons are gone, the French are very limited in mobile supply. Although if lucky, the French can capture some wagons from the Brits.

I think the Brits have enough wagons in the alt campaign, long ARW campaign. However the Americans might need some additional supply wagons. If the Americans lose the Albany depot, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Also all of the major supply centers, except Albany, are along the coast. So much will depend on how well the Americans are able to retain vulnerable supply centers along the coast. I think supply might be an exaggerated weak point of the Americans. A few extra mobile supply wagons might reduce this vulnerability.

A few games and time will tell.

[cleveland]

In regards to French supply in the French & Indian War- historically New France was teetering on the edge of starvation throughout the war. They couldn't grow enough food on their own, couldn't trade with the colonies and relied on convoys from France for flour/ammo etc. so that may be why there aren't alot of supply wagons. In the game as the French I've been able to capture some British supply wagons that kept me going. Although I still lost to the AI.

[lightsfantastic]

From my re-education about the F&I war, until Pitt took over in 1758 and basically ran up the UK national debt by promising to repay the debts the colonies incurred in fighting the war, a lot of Colonial merchants still dealt with the French as it was quite lucrative. Maybe a yearly event that gives them one supply unit in Montreal in 56, 57, and 58.