Attrition questions

[Gray Fox]

If I move a stack in harsh weather through a region that has no structure, does the stack take extra attrition hits? I ask because I was going to build a stockade in Chester PA to avoid this for that reason. I produce a lot of units in the NE as the Union and I want to reduce attrition when I move them to the front.

Also, would it further aid in reducing attrition to move a supply unit with large groups of new units when they rail down to the front lines?

If so, then these two tips might be a good course of action for all players that have attrition on.

[Captain_Orso]

Unless I've forgotten something, the only things which can reduce attrition losses while marching is having plenty of supplies, for which you will need a supply wagon, and MC in the regions in which you are marching. For each hit averted through supplies it costs 5 GS points. I believe that since subunits only carry 4 GS with them, those cannot traded vs a hit, hence the necessity for a supply wagon.

Also, the lower the MC in the regions through which you are moving, the higher the attrition. 0% MC increases attrition by 35%, while inversely decreasing this coefficient by the percentage of MC until 100% MC reduces the coefficient to 0.

Checking GameLogic.opt I see that marching on a track or road (railroad included I assume) reduces attrition by 20 and 30% respectively.

Troops inside a city, depot, fort or level-x entrenchments (I can't remember if there is a minimum level at the moment) there is a big difference, but then they can't be marching.

[Gray Fox]

Thanks! This is what I read in the AGEWiki under Attrition:

"Harsh Weather: A Force which lacks shelter (i.e. in a region without a structure) during Harsh weather (i.e. Snow, Frozen, and Blizzard) is subject to potentially severe attrition losses."

This is what made me wonder about moving through a region (being in it for less than 15 days) with no structure in harsh weather. I'm pretty sure that I get zapped for just moving through a desert.

[ArmChairGeneral]

Not 100% sure on the rules, but as far as I know "cover," which is provided by any structure, means that the units do not take weather/terrain attrition hits. I do not know exactly when or how this is applied, but I do know that moving from stockade to stockade in the (far) West keeps my troops in pretty good shape, even in harsh conditions. Cover definitely does not affect attrition losses from lack of supply, though. I THINK wagons burn supplies 1 for 1 to offset weather/ attrition hits, and am curious exactly how/when the hits are applied (i.e. everything you move through vs. just the region you end or start in).

[Captain_Orso]

Attrition is assessed daily--not per turn--so it depends on exactly where your unit is each day and what they are doing. AFAIK, but I'm not entirely sure, your troops have to be inside a structure to benefit from it, not just in the same region.