To start in spoilers is a simplified outline of how the current mechanics work
Proposed changes to make battles/tactics more immersive, interesting, realistic.
1) Order Of Battle
2) Rules
3) Phases Of Battle
4) Battlefield Events
5) Tactics
6) Custom Army Setup
7) Examples & Comparisons
Battle
Battle grid
each tick a unit attacks another unit that is within its range.
Terrain bonus and commander bonuses applied to unit damage rolls.
If a unit dies/routed it is replaced with a unit in reserve, otherwise the units will move in together 1 square per tick.
Wing units start on sides but otherwise act as normal units in that they also asttack a unit in range and move closer to center to fill gaps each tick.
The army that kills or routs every enemy unit in these unit v unit engagements wins.
Tactics
Offers a bonus to certain units effectiveness if the tactic counters the enemy tactic. Vice versa for wrong tactic.
Units
Stats are relative to other units and can have modifiers eg less/more morale/damage taken
Battle grid
each tick a unit attacks another unit that is within its range.
Terrain bonus and commander bonuses applied to unit damage rolls.
If a unit dies/routed it is replaced with a unit in reserve, otherwise the units will move in together 1 square per tick.
Wing units start on sides but otherwise act as normal units in that they also asttack a unit in range and move closer to center to fill gaps each tick.
The army that kills or routs every enemy unit in these unit v unit engagements wins.
Tactics
Offers a bonus to certain units effectiveness if the tactic counters the enemy tactic. Vice versa for wrong tactic.
Units
Stats are relative to other units and can have modifiers eg less/more morale/damage taken
Proposed changes to make battles/tactics more immersive, interesting, realistic.
1) Order Of Battle
Army Structure
The army is divided into 4 groups
Skirmish - 1 row deep. Restricted to lighter unit types (LI, Archers, LC, Skirmish Cav, Chariots). Does not suffer breakthrough penalties.
Center - 2 rows deep
Left / Right Wings - 2 rows deep
The legate controls the center and each wing and the skirmish line is controlled by 1 of the tribunes, offering a minor morale modifier based on the characters skills/traits.
Each section of the army works as its own unit rather than blobbing all together and benefits from different modifiers throughout the battle.
- Each wing will fight the enemy wing until 1 wing is victorious before attacking the flank of the center
- Skirmish units that survive the positioning phase will reinforce the main line from the rear.
Combat Width
Not only is combat width variable but so is flank width. in mountainous terrain there may be no flank width and the flank units are simple used as reserves for the center. This results in the need for the army to switch tactics to the appropriate terrain.
The army is divided into 4 groups
Skirmish - 1 row deep. Restricted to lighter unit types (LI, Archers, LC, Skirmish Cav, Chariots). Does not suffer breakthrough penalties.
Center - 2 rows deep
Left / Right Wings - 2 rows deep
The legate controls the center and each wing and the skirmish line is controlled by 1 of the tribunes, offering a minor morale modifier based on the characters skills/traits.
Each section of the army works as its own unit rather than blobbing all together and benefits from different modifiers throughout the battle.
- Each wing will fight the enemy wing until 1 wing is victorious before attacking the flank of the center
- Skirmish units that survive the positioning phase will reinforce the main line from the rear.
Combat Width
Not only is combat width variable but so is flank width. in mountainous terrain there may be no flank width and the flank units are simple used as reserves for the center. This results in the need for the army to switch tactics to the appropriate terrain.
2) Rules
- If a unit is engaged with a unit in front of it, then it can not move other than to retreat. Units in the 2nd line can move horizontally to fill gaps that form.
- If the center of the army routs/dies then the army loses and must retreat as this resembles the general himself beign forced to retreat sending a mass morale drop throughout the rest of the army eg guagamela. This could be represented with a flag or something on the sqauare signifying its importance.
- If the center of the army routs/dies then the army loses and must retreat as this resembles the general himself beign forced to retreat sending a mass morale drop throughout the rest of the army eg guagamela. This could be represented with a flag or something on the sqauare signifying its importance.
3) Phases Of Battle
Positioning Phase
In this phase the skirmish lines will engage each other in low damage unit to unit engagements.
Terrain Advantage - During this phase the terrain advantage will be determined.
Tactic Success - During this phase the success chance of the tactic chosen will be decided.
The defender starts with the terrain advantage of the territory eg river crossing/mountain etc. etc.
The positioning phase has a set duration that can be modified by tactics and perhaps by military traditions or commander traits.
Every tick the attacker has the chance to reduce the advantage or the defender the chance to restore it.
The chance to change terrain advantage and tactic success would be dependent on:
- Commander skill
- Dice Roll of the phase
- Tactic chosen
- Units dying/routing
- Tactics could also take from the current system of counter play and use that as a modifier to tactic success in this phase.
Melee Phase
The two armies meet in full combat with normal damages applied
Retreat Phase
Routing army suffers casualties, attacking army doesn't.
Casualties are modified by maneuver differential of opposing units
In this phase the skirmish lines will engage each other in low damage unit to unit engagements.
Terrain Advantage - During this phase the terrain advantage will be determined.
Tactic Success - During this phase the success chance of the tactic chosen will be decided.
The defender starts with the terrain advantage of the territory eg river crossing/mountain etc. etc.
The positioning phase has a set duration that can be modified by tactics and perhaps by military traditions or commander traits.
Every tick the attacker has the chance to reduce the advantage or the defender the chance to restore it.
The chance to change terrain advantage and tactic success would be dependent on:
- Commander skill
- Dice Roll of the phase
- Tactic chosen
- Units dying/routing
- Tactics could also take from the current system of counter play and use that as a modifier to tactic success in this phase.
Melee Phase
The two armies meet in full combat with normal damages applied
Retreat Phase
Routing army suffers casualties, attacking army doesn't.
Casualties are modified by maneuver differential of opposing units
4) Battlefield Events
Depending on what happens on the battlefield certain modifiers can be obtained/inflicted
Army wide events
- Flanked - 1 wing lost the army gets a debuff to morale
- Enveloped - Both wings dead/routed = massive debuff to center. Extra damage dealt in retreat phase.
Inter Group Events
- Breakthrough - If a hole of 3 or more squares forms in the middle of a wing/center formation the whole formation will recieve a morale debuff
Situational Events
- No Skirmish units left in positioning phase -Increased chance to lose terrain bonus
- Eagle captured (as per rule description above) - massive army wide morale debuff
Army wide events
- Flanked - 1 wing lost the army gets a debuff to morale
- Enveloped - Both wings dead/routed = massive debuff to center. Extra damage dealt in retreat phase.
Inter Group Events
- Breakthrough - If a hole of 3 or more squares forms in the middle of a wing/center formation the whole formation will recieve a morale debuff
Situational Events
- No Skirmish units left in positioning phase -Increased chance to lose terrain bonus
- Eagle captured (as per rule description above) - massive army wide morale debuff
5) Tactics
Rather than the current counter tactic gameplay, tactics would instead put a focus on a specific behaviours in different battle phases. Only 1 tactic would succeed and would be determined in the positioning phase of the battle.
Using the existing tactic names as a base here are some examples of potential effects if successful:
Bottleneck - reduced combat width (can be reduced to such an extent so as to remove wings entirely eg in mountain terrain)
Deception - enemy get morale debuff
Envelopment - Reduced morale damage to center units (ie center buys time for flanks to surround by giving up ground)
Shock Action - Reduces positioning phase duration
Skirmishing - Increases positioning phase duration
Cavalry Skirmish - Reduced damage to wing units ie holds the wings longer
Hit and Run - Reduce time for retreat to be enabled (ie harder to stackwipe)
Padma Vyuha - Significant reduction to battlefield event penalties
Phalanx - Reduced morale/strength damage dealt/received to center
Triplex Acies - Increased maneuver of center units, small reduction in flanked debuff strength
Using the existing tactic names as a base here are some examples of potential effects if successful:
Bottleneck - reduced combat width (can be reduced to such an extent so as to remove wings entirely eg in mountain terrain)
Deception - enemy get morale debuff
Envelopment - Reduced morale damage to center units (ie center buys time for flanks to surround by giving up ground)
Shock Action - Reduces positioning phase duration
Skirmishing - Increases positioning phase duration
Cavalry Skirmish - Reduced damage to wing units ie holds the wings longer
Hit and Run - Reduce time for retreat to be enabled (ie harder to stackwipe)
Padma Vyuha - Significant reduction to battlefield event penalties
Phalanx - Reduced morale/strength damage dealt/received to center
Triplex Acies - Increased maneuver of center units, small reduction in flanked debuff strength
6) Custom Army Setup
As outlined above, the new battlefield events and that each group of the army acts independently until it wins its group v group engagement there is a greater importance on positioning of units on the battlefield and within each part of the army groups. As such a new mechanic would be added to enable a custom army positioning prior to the engagement. This further adds greater utility to more diverse army set ups as opposed to the encouraged 3 unit (skirm, main, flank) army set up.
Vanilla Battle Setup
New System Possibilities (center only)
Strong Flank - Attempt to gain an advantage on enemy flanks of the main line
Hammer - Attempt to break through the enemy center, with 2 lines of heavy infantry or elephants
Protected Flanks - Attempt to hold out for as long as possible against a wider stronger army by minimising the erosion of the flanks and using numbers to reinforce the middle
Hold The Line - heavy units in reserve line spread far enough apart to hold off a quick break through (3 empty squares).
Skirmish - Encourage a rout via brakthrough and use high maneuvre units to minimise casualties during retreat phase
These and many more variations open the means to attain victory or other goals for the savvy player.
Vanilla Battle Setup
New System Possibilities (center only)
Strong Flank - Attempt to gain an advantage on enemy flanks of the main line
Hammer - Attempt to break through the enemy center, with 2 lines of heavy infantry or elephants
Protected Flanks - Attempt to hold out for as long as possible against a wider stronger army by minimising the erosion of the flanks and using numbers to reinforce the middle
Hold The Line - heavy units in reserve line spread far enough apart to hold off a quick break through (3 empty squares).
Skirmish - Encourage a rout via brakthrough and use high maneuvre units to minimise casualties during retreat phase
These and many more variations open the means to attain victory or other goals for the savvy player.
7) Examples & Comparisons
You pick 1 same as now however the tactic has more an impact on how battles will play out, how many men you lose, how you set up your armies. Additionally the tactic for the whole battle will be determined at the start of a battle and not switched by gamey mechanics half way through a battle.
Examples:
1) Tactic / Terrain Considerations
Tactics
Attacker - Skirmishing
Defender - Bottleneck
Vanilla:
Skirmishing army gets bonus vs bottleneck and both sides take 25% less casualties for the entire fight. Attacker gets bouses to lighter units.
This method:
Terrain Mountain
Mountains give greater chance to bottlenecks success chance. Perhaps also get a bonus from being the defender. May result in bottleneck being the successful tactic.
If successful, the enemy will have no flank units ie its cavalry will be relatively useless. A heavy infantry army here would then be matched up against lighter units in terrain where their lack maneuverability will be less important. A center stacked, small to no wings army of heavier units would thus beat a lighter wing orientated army. The whole battle would occur for a much longer time as the wing units would all have to go through a narrow center with small combat width. Even a smaller defending heavy army here would hold larger armies at bay for quite some time and possibly win. Even the extended skirmish phase duration would have little benefit for reinforcing armies.
Terrain Plains
Plains would give a large malus to bottleneck tactic. The defending center stacked heavy unit army would then find its flanks overwhelmed and killed off quickly and thus suffer a heavy envelopment penalty and rout fairly quickly. This battle would not last long as the morale malus due to envelopment would force a quick rout of the center.
2) Potentially Faster Battles
Battles werent usually won when one side killed or routed each unit individually. Often the entire army would rout due to morale colapse caused by certain events eg Alexander in Gaugamela.
Battlefield event add the option for such morale crushing events to rout entire armies that are not prepared to fight the enemy appropriately.
Army 1: Small light infantry center
Army 2: Large Heavy infantry center
Vanilla:
Army 1 loses LI against HI and wind units trickle in to the center til they are also killed and routed.
This method:
Army 1 suffers a break through in the center and the morale debuff causes the wings to rout almost immediately or soon after.
3) Greater unit utility
Vanilla:
Unit utility determined by supply considerations, tactic of choice and expected enemy. Use 3 unit types. LI for low supply areas or sieging otherwise HI for center where possible.
This Method:
LI: Increased utility to fill holes and reduce breakthrough likelihood
Elephants: Used in center to try create a breakthrough rather than just 1 unit kill at a time
LC: Greater mobility allows them to mop up in retreat phase at end of battle.
4) Greater importance of commander ability
Just because someone decides to make an ambush against the right counter tactic doesnt mean its necessarily going to be successful. The ability of the commander should play a part in determining whether a tactic is successful not merely a scissors paper rock.
Example:
Alexander The Great (100 martial) vs John Smitherix (1 Martial)
Vanilla: John Smitherix has an equal chance to do a an ambush as alexander or to pull off any of the tactics despite being a blind deaf mute with 2 left feet and being one shy of a full deck as long as he happens to pick the right counter tactic.
This Method: Despite picking a good counter tactic, the significant different in ability would mean that Alexander would find a way to over come John Smitherix's tactics the vast majority of the time. eg his ambushes would discovered, his bottlenecks would have paths around, his padma vyuha would have weak spots, his triplex acies would have bad spacing etc etc etc.
The ability for an army to carry out a generals orders is considered in this method.
5) Greater Casualties Chance or tactical opportunity
Retreat phase add chance to kill off larger armies that you have routed as they are running away if you have the right unit types to do that. Alternatively the retreat phase can expose an enemies weakness in chasing down skirmishing units ie heavy infantry/elephant focused armies without light support will struggle to exploit a routing enemy.
Examples:
1) Tactic / Terrain Considerations
Tactics
Attacker - Skirmishing
Defender - Bottleneck
Vanilla:
Skirmishing army gets bonus vs bottleneck and both sides take 25% less casualties for the entire fight. Attacker gets bouses to lighter units.
This method:
Terrain Mountain
Mountains give greater chance to bottlenecks success chance. Perhaps also get a bonus from being the defender. May result in bottleneck being the successful tactic.
If successful, the enemy will have no flank units ie its cavalry will be relatively useless. A heavy infantry army here would then be matched up against lighter units in terrain where their lack maneuverability will be less important. A center stacked, small to no wings army of heavier units would thus beat a lighter wing orientated army. The whole battle would occur for a much longer time as the wing units would all have to go through a narrow center with small combat width. Even a smaller defending heavy army here would hold larger armies at bay for quite some time and possibly win. Even the extended skirmish phase duration would have little benefit for reinforcing armies.
Terrain Plains
Plains would give a large malus to bottleneck tactic. The defending center stacked heavy unit army would then find its flanks overwhelmed and killed off quickly and thus suffer a heavy envelopment penalty and rout fairly quickly. This battle would not last long as the morale malus due to envelopment would force a quick rout of the center.
2) Potentially Faster Battles
Battles werent usually won when one side killed or routed each unit individually. Often the entire army would rout due to morale colapse caused by certain events eg Alexander in Gaugamela.
Battlefield event add the option for such morale crushing events to rout entire armies that are not prepared to fight the enemy appropriately.
Army 1: Small light infantry center
Army 2: Large Heavy infantry center
Vanilla:
Army 1 loses LI against HI and wind units trickle in to the center til they are also killed and routed.
This method:
Army 1 suffers a break through in the center and the morale debuff causes the wings to rout almost immediately or soon after.
3) Greater unit utility
Vanilla:
Unit utility determined by supply considerations, tactic of choice and expected enemy. Use 3 unit types. LI for low supply areas or sieging otherwise HI for center where possible.
This Method:
LI: Increased utility to fill holes and reduce breakthrough likelihood
Elephants: Used in center to try create a breakthrough rather than just 1 unit kill at a time
LC: Greater mobility allows them to mop up in retreat phase at end of battle.
4) Greater importance of commander ability
Just because someone decides to make an ambush against the right counter tactic doesnt mean its necessarily going to be successful. The ability of the commander should play a part in determining whether a tactic is successful not merely a scissors paper rock.
Example:
Alexander The Great (100 martial) vs John Smitherix (1 Martial)
Vanilla: John Smitherix has an equal chance to do a an ambush as alexander or to pull off any of the tactics despite being a blind deaf mute with 2 left feet and being one shy of a full deck as long as he happens to pick the right counter tactic.
This Method: Despite picking a good counter tactic, the significant different in ability would mean that Alexander would find a way to over come John Smitherix's tactics the vast majority of the time. eg his ambushes would discovered, his bottlenecks would have paths around, his padma vyuha would have weak spots, his triplex acies would have bad spacing etc etc etc.
The ability for an army to carry out a generals orders is considered in this method.
5) Greater Casualties Chance or tactical opportunity
Retreat phase add chance to kill off larger armies that you have routed as they are running away if you have the right unit types to do that. Alternatively the retreat phase can expose an enemies weakness in chasing down skirmishing units ie heavy infantry/elephant focused armies without light support will struggle to exploit a routing enemy.
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