Promotions

[Jagger]

How exactly do promotions work?

I have noticed that periodically I get a chance to promote. Typically I will have the opportunity to promote two or three commanders. But I can only promote one.

What determines when I have an opportunity to promote? It seems out of the blue. Is it automatic every 6 months-a fixed time schedule? Or when someone is congratulated and meets that magic promotion marker?

[AndrewKurtz]

How exactly do promotions work?

I have noticed that periodically I get a chance to promote. Typically I will have the opportunity to promote two or three commanders. But I can only promote one.

What determines when I have an opportunity to promote? It seems out of the blue. Is it automatic every 6 months-a fixed time schedule? Or when someone is congratulated and meets that magic promotion marker?

I believe it is based on seniority gains.

[Pocus]

Someone does not remember the manual


edit: ok the manual don't give the specifics, I will and post them in the wiki, see:

http://ageod.nsen.ch/aacwwiki/Manual:Army_organization#Promoting_and_relieving_leaders

[DaemoneIsos]

ok the manual don't give the specifics, I will and post them in the wiki, see:

http://ageod.nsen.ch/aacwwiki/Manual:Army_organization#Promoting_and_relieving_leaders

Regarding that notation in the wiki (above):

What makes a general "potentially promotable" in historical terms? Are there congressional limitations to the commissions of certain generals?

The reason I ask is that I have played several games where I have (unpromotable) generals gaining lots of seniority, indicating that they were the superstars of my version of the war. Why would my Lincoln and my Congress not promote them?

In fact, even though I sign Lincoln's name on political and diplomatic orders, the electronic Lincoln promotes (undistinguished) generals to 2-star status during events. There appears do be no political, vp, or morale impact to those events. It would be nice for the player to have that authority, rather than trigger an event.

One other awkward cost (not directly mentioned in the wiki reference) is that my highest seniority general is penalized when a lower seniority general is elevated for merit. While I appreciate the piqant effect of this trade-off, it does not always work out as stated. For instance, new generals are occasionally added to the board, and are often quite senior (perhaps they are veterans called out of retirement?). Since they enter before orders are implemented, this new general takes a seniority deficit immediately, when another general is being promoted.

Whether intentional or not, the senior-most general is ironically the hardest to promote, since he takes hits as if he had failed in battle. Does this reflect military practice of the time? I would have expected it to be simple to promote the most senior!

Thanks,

-D

[jhdeerslayer]

Someone does not remember the manual


edit: ok the manual don't give the specifics, I will and post them in the wiki, see:

http://ageod.nsen.ch/aacwwiki/Manual:Army_organization#Promoting_and_relieving_leaders

I have noticed also that if you do not promote soon after it is offered, the chance to promote goes away for a leader? There are some generals that are not good to promote so this is how I noticed this.

Is this WAD?

[AndrewKurtz]

I have noticed also that if you do not promote soon after it is offered, the chance to promote goes away for a leader? There are some generals that are not good to promote so this is how I noticed this.

Is this WAD?

I'll bet they have been in a battle and their seniority has changed in these cases.

[Pocus]

I have noticed also that if you do not promote soon after it is offered, the chance to promote goes away for a leader? There are some generals that are not good to promote so this is how I noticed this.

Is this WAD?

Yes, they lose 1 seniority point. Either you promote them after a success, or you don't and they are frustrated (and get the penalty).

[Pocus]

Regarding that notation in the wiki (above):

What makes a general "potentially promotable" in historical terms? Are there congressional limitations to the commissions of certain generals?

The reason I ask is that I have played several games where I have (unpromotable) generals gaining lots of seniority, indicating that they were the superstars of my version of the war. Why would my Lincoln and my Congress not promote them?

In fact, even though I sign Lincoln's name on political and diplomatic orders, the electronic Lincoln promotes (undistinguished) generals to 2-star status during events. There appears do be no political, vp, or morale impact to those events. It would be nice for the player to have that authority, rather than trigger an event.

One other awkward cost (not directly mentioned in the wiki reference) is that my highest seniority general is penalized when a lower seniority general is elevated for merit. While I appreciate the piqant effect of this trade-off, it does not always work out as stated. For instance, new generals are occasionally added to the board, and are often quite senior (perhaps they are veterans called out of retirement?). Since they enter before orders are implemented, this new general takes a seniority deficit immediately, when another general is being promoted.

Whether intentional or not, the senior-most general is ironically the hardest to promote, since he takes hits as if he had failed in battle. Does this reflect military practice of the time? I would have expected it to be simple to promote the most senior!

Thanks,

-D

You have some points... But these things can't be addressed that easily. About the most senior taking hits when a younger is promoted, this is normal. You have the rule preventing him from being promoted until he achieves success, but for him, personnally, he judges as being injust that a younger general is promoted before him, so goes his seniority. (sorry if my sentence is awkward).

[jhdeerslayer]

Yes, they lose 1 seniority point. Either you promote them after a success, or you don't and they are frustrated (and get the penalty).

Good to know I wasn't losing my mind. Thanks to the the Leader Trait file some member put together, I will always check that before doing some promotion.

[DaemoneIsos]

Pocus,

You have done a magnificent job with this game, and your continuing support is even more amazing. It continues to fascinate me deeply.

My questions about the promotion mechanism are mostly to help me understand the subtleties of managing staff. I recognize that the 19th century was a completely different universe in many ways, and the dynamic between merit and seniority is an important dilemma in military leadership throughout history. I am curious to learn more about it.

I think the political / morale costs are a very effective reason for the player to take this element of the game seriously. I have been experimenting with different approaches, some of which I would have to describe as "gamey," such as sending McClellan and his HQ staff to peaceful Illinois for the duration of the war. I realize that Lincoln probably could not have done that in reality, so I am looking for ways to stick closer to the spirit of the simulation.

-D

[AndrewKurtz]

I'll bet they have been in a battle and their seniority has changed in these cases.

I'll bet I was wrong

[jhdeerslayer]

I'll bet I was wrong

I had my doubts too and glad Pocus cleared this up.

[tagwyn]

AK: Lincoln would have promoted the water-boy if he thought it would move the Army any closer to the enemy forces. He tried all the available generals he had thought worthy only to discover that they were inept in some regards. They were a well-meaning group and were patriots in so far as they as they understood that concept. Absolute power corrupts ablsoutely. LOL. L3

[Capt Henry]

Enjoying the discussion on this issue. I saw the qeustion asked earlier, and must admit I wondered the same thing. I sometimes find it frustrating that a general with a seniority of 3 is the senior general on the board of that grade but cannot be promoted because the generals with 1 and 2 seniority will be appearing on the board in six months or more. Is there any for a player to mod seniority or is that hard-wired into the game? Or would it be possible to slightly increase the number of generals eligible for promotion based on seniority? Or even allow promotions to apply to the two senior officers already in the game?

Overall, I'm really enjoying the game. I figure if this issue is the most frustrating thing for me to date, the game must be pretty good!!

CH