Another fairly quiet couple of months see the naval conflict remain quiet, our enemy's aggression has been tempered by the losses that were dealt in the first four months of war. A check of their coastlines however sees a signs of naval construction activity.
The Diplomatic war continues as we try to influence our usual targets, France keeps targeting Mecklemburg. Our prestige keeps going down as a result. So we can only wish for a victory, or force France to use more diplomacy. Otherwise we must regain prestige. Which can be done most efficiently by winning battles and winning conflicts.
Monthly Highlights:
1 September
More diplomatic activity provides predictable results as we increase our relations with our prospective coalition partners. Prussia is by far the most likely to join our coalition with the highest score.
- Prussia: 140 (+5)
- Austria: 85 (+5)
- Sweden: 60 (+5)
2 September
The fifteen new depots ordered a few months gao are now all constructed and ready for use. The extra manpower they will bring may be small, but these additions per month will add up. Afterall Manpower cannot be purchased elsewhere or through other means.
However looking at the tooltip for Development Status/Level in the Province window we can see that upgrading this aspect will also increase manpower production. Probably more so than depots. However the cost of such upgrades is significantly higher: 50 ducats for depots and (IIRC) 500 ducats for infrastructure. We shall have to look at this more closely once we pay off one of our loans.
3 September
The siege of Odense by the British Liberation army under the command of General Sir Wellesley begins. With only 1000 defenders against 1900 cavalry, 5600 artillery and 26,000 infantry we should consider a pre-emptive assault, rather than waiting for the siege to take effect.
4 September
Just as we can have important historical events occur, these can also trigger for A.I. controlled countries. In this case that little despot Napoleon declares himself King of Italy. Maybe its time to ask the Sicilians what they think of that?
5 September
A day later we begin our assault on Odense. With commanders assigned and tactics set, this should be over sooner rather than later. You can see the Cannot Retreat icon (where the battle title is) in the Battle window. Its the white flag with the red line through it. When this is displayed in a Battle window, neither side can retreat the stacks involved in that engagement. After a number of hours though (1 day I believe), this will disappear and retreat becomes possible.
Lets take a close look at the separate phases of combat. You should be able to see four short black arrows pertruding from the flank icon representations. These black arrows show that combat is in the primary, or Bombardment phase. There are three phases and the arrows change colour:
- Black – Bombardment
- Orange – Combat
- Blue - Pursuit
In the screenshot below we can also see action taking place in reserve flank (with the gold ball and arrow pointing upwards). The Army leader (shown by the portrait above the flanks) uses his manoeuvre skill to determine such movement between the active battle flanks and the reserves. Where the gold arrow shows depicts the flank the action is taking place in.
On this occasion the centre flank is having a number of brigades removed to the reserves area. Likely because the combined frontage value of the brigades engaged in combat there is more than the terrain (fortress) allows for.
Likewise the best units to be involved during the Combat phase are infantry and its many types.
If the arrow had been point down, then the movement of troops would have been reversed. Brigades from the reserves would have been moving to the centre flank of the frontline.
In the final phase of battle the side of with the most cavalry takes charge. The Pursuit phase occurs after combat. As you can see below highlighting a flank's arrow will show the expected casualties it will cause against the enemy during each of the phases.
It would be good to note that a battle does not take place over three phases only. These phases re-occur until one side is forced to withdraw through the destruction of morale or through the destruction of its fighting men.
7 September
The Siege of Odense is over. Another GB victory for the loss of a few thousand soliders. Mainly due to the smaller sized enemy force, and probably the quality of the troops faced. Better troops equals worse casualties taken. A close look at the Siege of Copenhagen tells a different story.
This location is very well defended. A sizeable force likely to include frontline troops as well as garrison brigades and a sizeable navy, mean an assault will likely result in our force taking massive casualties and the attempt result in failure.
For now we resolve to render the siege active until the enemy fortress is Breached (terrain type). This will reduce the aspects combat in the enemy's favour to a more neutral level and allow the battle to be fought on a fairer footing. We will resolve to watch the progress of the siege in the outliner until a breach occurs.
20 September
Bavaria and Russia both pledge War subsides to Brundswick. I suspect that this is because Prussia looks like it is about to wage war on it. So Prussia's natural rivals will look to send aid to the beleagured state. If we needed to weaken Prussia, we would do the same. But since we do not see it as a threat, we do not.
October
Economically our budget is bearing up to the strain of recruitment and infrastructure upgrades. Our budget this month is down 200 ducats. However we have enough Treasury reserves (450 ducats) to cover this. Though any further spending will have to curtailed somewhat.
We should look to augment out transport fleets of 48 squadrons. For when we finally launch our great endeavour on the continent we will need to move most of our army in one attempt, or at least two at the maximum. Especially if the area of operations is far away.
Monthly Highlights:
2 October
With Hessen and Wuttenburg providing more subsidies to Brundswick we go back to check on the situation that Prussia & Brundswick find themselves in. It seems they are now at war. Prussia must be looking to expand here sphere of influence while we quabble with France, as we see it has taken over control of one of its dominance objectives.
Around the same time another important event triggers providing a dilemma. An agreement to bring the Elgin Marbles to Britain would provide some extra resources, if we choose to acquire them. At a cost of course. The options are:
- Display them to the British Museum = (-50 ducats, Monthly Prestige + 10%, Monthly Idea Points, +1) OR
- Dont remove them = +10 Prestige
21 October
It is perhaps a good thing that our fleet block the route to Odense from the mainland. Dont you think? It at least allows us to focus our thoughts on the siege at Copenhagen. This unfortunately is taking, will take, a lot longer to win than a straight out assault. Though against a defending force of 10 thousand men, it is the better option.
However it should be noted that this tactic would not be quite so readily possible if the enemy had its navy more intact. We are stretched as it is covering the areas of:
- Gibraltar
- English Channel
- the straits to Odense
- and the Danish fleet moored in Copenhagen.
25 October
The Dutch will not be pegged in and we must continue to rotate our fleets guarding their force. Ought they feel brazen with of a certain type courage... (named after them of course
) and venture forth from their moorings.
28 October
Prussia wins its limited conflict with Brundswick. It also seems that it has been amassing its own coalition of minor powers. Perhaps it sees the day when it too will be a rival to the two greatest powers. Or at least when one if not both of these will turn on it.
A look further afield reveals the plight of The Ottoman Empire. Soon to join Persia it seems, as a satellite perhaps!? At the very least stripped of its own satellites of Wallachia and Moldovia, or to have its territory spilt up. Mayhap have the potential nations of Greece or Serbia created by one of the victors.
29 October
So it proved to be that the Dutch fleet moored in Amsterdam came out to try to breakthrough the blockade of the Atlantic fleet. Unlike land battles there are only two phases. Bombardment and Combat. As we can see in the following screenshot, Combat is better suited to galley's and First rate Ships of the Line. Bombardment to frigate and Second rate ships of the Line (IIRC).
More exciting news very soon...
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