Shifting MC Question

[Straight Arrow]

In a current game with Buckeye, (Federal player), he had Fort Donelson under siege. The only field force I had was 1/2 the size of Grant's army. But as the tool tip showed I had 100% MC in Humhrey TN, I moved the army of Tennessee into the area on green/green orders. This was supposed to break the siege without attacking Grant. I knew Grant might be on assault orders, but I figured if the Federals did attack my field force, it would be a defensive battle and they would back pedal after a few rounds. Either way it went, I thought Fort Donelson would be relieved and the siege broken.

Well now, that's not how it went down. Buckeye went ahead and launched an assault and Johnson's army switched over to orange when they entered Humhrey and attacked; it was messy, very messy.

Now here’s the question - Why did my orders switch? Did the MC flip during the time my boys were moving? Maybe what the tool tip showed me was the MC for Late Nov and not Early Dec when I plotted the move? Or did Johnson just take it in his head to tilt at windmills?

[Captain_Orso]

What patch level is the game at?

[FightingBuckeye]

Are you sure you were hovering over the right territory? Because I'm pretty sure you goofed on the MC percentage. Humphreys is below Stewart which is the region Ft Donelson is at. Grant landed in Stewart on turn 16 sometime around the middle of the turn, 3 divisions would've spent the rest of that turn on O/B. Turn 17 would've been spent completely resting on B/O while waiting to see if I'd stirred up a hornet's nest. Then I ordered the assault for turn 18, I had 96% MC in the region after 3 divisions spent 1.5 turns moving that MC needle. I remember because I checked to see what the MC was before ordering the assault. I was concerned whether you could still rail in a force from Nashville. (I was certain you had more than just Polk's division in the area) That percentage would've likely gone up to 100% after taking out Donelson, especially as your force didn't come in till day 8-9 or so.

[Straight Arrow]

Okay, it's driver error.

I wondered about the MC being so high, but I guessed it was a fort effect, shrugged and went on - Big mistake.

[charlesonmission]

Forts allow you to maintain some MC (5% minimum I believe). But definitely not 100%.

Okay, it's driver error.

I wondered about the MC being so high, but I guessed it was a fort effect, shrugged and went on - Big mistake.

[Captain_Orso]

I think the first issue obviously that Straight Arrow was looking at the wrong region.

But beyond that, you cannot "sneak" into a region and gain an advantage. The expectation that a stack in Passive Posture would affect MC in any way is wrong. Units in PP basically only recover cohesion and hits --depending on Attrition settings and locality--. I do not believe they will lift a siege, but I've never actually tried it.

At patch level 1.06RC3+, if they move in DP into the region, they will be automatically changed to OP and receive 5% MC and attempt to attack the enemy in the region. If you move them in PP into the region, they will gain no MC, but after that, because they have <5% MC, once changed to DP they will automatically be changed to OP and attack at that point.

A stack in PP fights with a penalty if a battle develops, but they will have a greater chance at retreating from the battle, after the first two battle rounds I believe.