Telegraph

[ArmChairGeneral]

I think I am figuring this card out, finally. I played one on Charleston SC as soon as I could in my current game and when it completed the Civilization level went to Rich (80) from Civilized (75). The effect on the supply and ammo production shown in the region's supply tooltip was dramatic. I do not know the actual multipliers or any of that, but similar to AJE, going to Rich is making a big difference in supply production. So telegraph is useful in regions where the Civilization level is within 5 of the next level. This is the case for all Civilized regions on the map, upgrading the region to Rich (75 going to 80).

Does anyone know whether Rich gives a boost to resource production as well (WS, $, CN)? If anyone knows the exact effect of going up a level and where the cutoffs are between the levels, this would help us determine if any less developed regions would benefit from one, or if telegraph is best for making already good regions better. I think most regions are either 75 or less than 30, with nothing in between, implying that Telegraph is best applied to regions that are already at 75 (which is about half the map). The manual does not reference Rich at all, does not say anything about Civilization level affecting things other than movement and forage chances, nor document what number is needed to advance between levels. A more experienced AJE player might be able to help us on this, since the mechanic seems to be similar.

Short Version:
Play telegraph in Civilized regions for substantial increases in supply, ammo, and possibly resource production.

[fred zeppelin]

Excellent observation! I'll play the card now just to see what happens.

[minipol]

After this post, I tried it as well in Mobile.

[ArmChairGeneral]

Any results from your telegraphs yet?

[minipol]

I'm justing waiting for my turn to process, then the building should be finished and I can then watch the output of the arsenals and armories.

[minipol]

Nothing has changed to the output of Mobile, harbor, arsenal, shipyard, depot or armory.
Only thin changed is when I click on the garrison there, and then hover on the land, the number of days to enter the region
has been reduced from 67 to 33. That's it.
So a few telegraph lines act as a giant escalator, making troops move faster

[ArmChairGeneral]

Does Ctrl-click show the actual output or the base output of structures? I am having trouble determining exactly how much WS, CN and $ is actually produced in a region. The tooltips give an accurate number for supply and ammo, but I suspect the Ctrl-click values are the base, unmodified values, and might not reflect the true production of resources once blockades, NM, civilization level, etc are factored in.

I await your findings eagerly!

[ArmChairGeneral]

How about the supply and ammo reported in the tooltip? I saw big increases, but maybe I am confusing that with the lifting of the brown-block from Ft. Sumter which happened around the same time. In AJE, which uses the Civilization mechanic, supply and ammo production increase with Civ level, so I thought I was onto something.

Good to know about the movement effects. This also parallel the effects found in AJE.

BTW, according to the manual a track means that a unit will pay no more than 150% of the terrain cost to move in Clear terrrain, while Roads and marching along rail mean that they will pay no more than 100% of the Clear terrain cost. Weather effects are added separately. I wonder how telegraph affecting base movement applies here? Are you seeing faster movement times when giving orders? If not, (i.e. the 100% of Clear is better than the telegraph-modified base) then we are back to square one with the usefulness of Telegraphs outside of Civilized Clear regions.

Edit: Some cross posting going on here, sorry about any confusion.

[minipol]

The values I posted where obtained via Ctrl-click on Mobile, which then shows all structures in the region.
I then wrote down all numbers before the end of construction of the telegraphs, and then afterwards.
No change except for the number of days to enter the region.
I'm reloading to check the numbers on terrain and frontage too.

I do not know of another way to see what the region produces except for the Ctrl-click method.
Is there any other way I can compare the values?

Edit: the turn after I received less supply and ammo but that's probably because of the transports I have in the shipping lane that brought in less supplies.

[ArmChairGeneral]

I don't know of any other way, I was hoping you would know! I'm not even sure whether Ctrl-click is showing unmodified or modified numbers.

[minipol]

As expected, the numbers in the terrain overlay also changed

I've just put the numbers after each other

Before:
Move: 12/16/20
Offensiveness: 100/55/25/65
Defensiveness: 100/85/25/75
Frontage Elite: O 90 / D 120
Frontage Support: O 45 / D 60

After:
Move: 8/12/16
Offensiveness: 100/60/40/90
Defensiveness: 100/100/40/90
Frontage Elite: O 120 / D 120
Frontage Support: O 60 / D 60

The results of the telegraph line when going from Civilized (75) to Rich (80)
- easier movement
- increased offense and defense for regular, cavalry and artillery
- increased frontage for offense

To me, having just built it in Mobile, not so good.
Basically I've now allowed attackers to move more swiftly, attack me in greater numbers and with less penalties. Ouch.

[ArmChairGeneral]

Hmm, square one indeed. I can't wait to get back in town to do some more testing of this thing.

[John S. Mosby]

To me, having just built it in Mobile, not so good.
Basically I've now allowed attackers to move more swiftly, attack me in greater numbers and with less penalties. Ouch.

Well, that doesn't sound good at all.
Are we sure it will assist the attackers?

[fred zeppelin]

Since the game didn't design itself, I assume there's a human somewhere who knows what the actual effects are. We shouldn't have to guess.

[pgr]

Can't you see exact region output through the regions ledger? Us that to track any changes?

[Athena]

Since the game didn't design itself, I assume there's a human somewhere who knows what the actual effects are. We shouldn't have to guess.

Your lack of faith is disturbing.

[Ol' Choctaw]

Try the regular tool tip on supply and the f-8 screen checking the production of your city, like pgr says.

If you have the previous supply written down compare it to what is now produced and check your WS production on the regions ledger.

[minipol]

Haha, Athena answering a thread, cool

Ol' Choctaw, as I said before the tooltip reveals less supply and ammo after the telegraph line is built. But the surplus mainly comes from supplies
being transported and from my transport ships.
As for the ledger, good idea. I checked, numbers stayed the same, no change.

I think it actually won't change anything but the terrain numbers. In itself, that's already a big change.
Not the one we were looking for, but it does have an impact on the troops.

[Pocus]

Telegraph really does only two things: give +5 VP (yum!) and +5 dev level. A better dev level allows faster travel, slightly improved production and lower attrition. Also it can allow building a road over a track, if you reach a certain threshold. As for frontage, frontage is also calculated using the movement cost in the region so I guess it is a side effect: faster travel allows bigger frontage.

[minipol]

Yes that''s what I thought, so for Mobile in my game, that's not so good
Thanks for the clarification Pocus

[John S. Mosby]

Is there anywhere one can check to obtain where telegraphs, roads, etc have been built? A symbol on the map or place in the ledger?

[Ol' Choctaw]

no. You see when they are building but you must check the regions. Roads show but not telegraphs. It shows as a civilization level.

[Pocus]

You can play several times telegraphs in a region if the development level is still low enough.

[John S. Mosby]

You can play several times telegraphs in a region if the development level is still low enough.

I understand now. Thank you.
So the cards are used to enhance an attribute not to solely build an infrastructure a la "Sim-City". I would assume roads work in a similar fashion.