Victory determination?

[MarkShot]

I was corresponding with a friend about BoA's victory conditions.

There are two ways to win in BoA: take all your objectives or win on points. Winning on points requires kicking the sh*t out of the enemy. However, these two approaches are largely inconsistent. Taking your objectives generally requires dispersing and balancing your force across a large geographic area. Winning on points requires massing and defeating the enemy in detail.

This becomes a problem since the AI seems to attempt to win via objectives. As such it disperses and makes itself vulnerable to the player's massing to win on points. Now, massing and reducing the enemy's ability to resist is a valid military strategy. However, I think it might work better if there was no winning on points --- when all said and done, you still need to hold the required objectives.

Disclaimer: I have yet to really play the game extensively and until recently have been playing short scenarios.

What are other's perceptions about victory determination?

Thanks.

[BobB]

Markshot:

I downloaded the demo today. I played the tutorial several times to get the feel of the game. Then I played (several times) the recommended Carolina 1776 scenario.

To tell you the truth, I'm mystified by the victory conditions. Each and everytime I've played the scenario, I end up retaining my two objectives (Ninety-six and Augusta), taking at least Charlotte or Hillsboro and the ports of Wilmington (leaving a garrison) and also Georgetown. I also usually defeat in detail Moultrie's command (capturing his artillery in the process).

Yet my efforts always end up on the shortside of the victory point equation.

Maybe it's just the demo; I'm not sure. More than likely it's me and something key I'm missing in the manual or the way combat casualties accumulate. One thing I did notice though. If I go to F3 right after my initial move - but before I end the turn, I see:

Victory condition by VP accumulation:
Accumulated Victory Points: 0 (enemy: 10)

Why and how did the Americans get 10 VPs and nothing so far has been resolved?

I hope you'll forgive me. I'm not trying to highjack your thread. It's just that I saw it and knew victory conditions to be at the heart of my questions and concerns.

[MarkShot]

I've played that scenario quite a few times from both sides. You can definitely win from either side on points or objectives.

Look at this thread - it might give you a key to why you are not taking the objectives.

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=473

[MarkShot]

Well, I am playing a campaign now, 1778 Northern Campaign. I must say that I more favorably impressed than the smaller scenarios in regards to the AI.

The Americans have tempted me numerous times with the possibility of encircling them, but many slip away like a fish through your hands. Slowly my point lead (earned from early massed attacks) has been wilting. They got me so focused on crushing them that I did not take proper Winter precautions and really got battered.

What's it take in this game to encircle or pin the enemy? I have played Paradox's Victoria and I can tell you that it is much easier do this in Victoria despite the fact that the AI has no FOW. (It probably isn't all that hard to do in HOI2 either.)

[BobB]

MarkShot:

Thanks for the link. LIke I said, I had the feeling there was a nuance or two regarding VPs that I was just not seeing. I'll take a look at the link. Thanks again.

[Pocus]

Well, I am playing a campaign now, 1778 Northern Campaign. I must say that I more favorably impressed than the smaller scenarios in regards to the AI.

The Americans have tempted me numerous times with the possibility of encircling them, but many slip away like a fish through your hands. Slowly my point lead (earned from early massed attacks) has been wilting. They got me so focused on crushing them that I did not take proper Winter precautions and really got battered.

What's it take in this game to encircle or pin the enemy? I have played Paradox's Victoria and I can tell you that it is much easier do this in Victoria despite the fact that the AI has no FOW. (It probably isn't all that hard to do in HOI2 either.)

You don't have a front war, so encirclement is very difficult to achieve. Basically you have to corner your enemy in a region, where the surrounding regions have no military control (from its points of view). Also some leaders, like Washington have the skirmisher traits, giving him a 30% bonus to retreat, so as soon as he is in difficulty, he will try escaping (and often succeed).