Military Buildup

[unmerged(216824)]

Could someone explain how Mexico, with a military score of 45, can have 5 stacks of 19k+ units while the USA (me) with a military score of 38 is struggling to field 25k troops?

Reading the strategy guide didn't seem to help me grasp how to build a military that won't get whupped like a redheaded stepchild when the Mighty Mexico invades.

 

[unclemestor]

I believe that much of the Military score is based upon how many (how large?) soldier pops you have, rather than a direct representation of how many brigades you have in the field.

 

[Al. I. Cuza]

Just always max out your military slider. What should increase the POPs converting to soldiers pretty fast.

Also, if you beat Mexico in the first war and inherit Texas, they won't attack you (never did in my Demo-games).

 

[unmerged(216824)]

Ok, I'm getting frustrated. Restarted a game as S-P. Austria gets into a massive war with Prussia, so I decide to take the opportunity to attack Parma.

My 36k army (split into 3 groups of 12) quickly overruns Parma, and in _1839_ 100k Austrians come rushing out of nowhere.

I'm obviously missing the "create massive armies" strategy, because when I played as Austria I started with about 40k and didn't get above 50k.

Someone point out the button I'm missing here. I'm sure it's me, because nobody else seems to be complaining about it. So just tell me what I'm missing please.

 

[artemis667]

I'm obviously missing the "create massive armies" strategy, because when I played as Austria I started with about 40k and didn't get above 50k.

Someone point out the button I'm missing here. I'm sure it's me, because nobody else seems to be complaining about it. So just tell me what I'm missing please.

What happens is that if a country has high military spending, then it'll quickly gain new/grow existing soldier pops, and those can be used to build additional brigades. So you use the recruitment map, go to those provinces which are green (ie 'unallocated' soldier pops), then start recruiting armies there. Combine them together, and before you know it you've built 30, and you have a 90K army.. It's a pain to fund, but for a war-focused AI Austria they're going to happily stuff up their economy to do it.

 

[Tortuga Power]

Could someone explain how Mexico, with a military score of 45, can have 5 stacks of 19k+ units while the USA (me) with a military score of 38 is struggling to field 25k troops?

I'm only playing the demo, but I think the military score counts ships as part of your military too. So you could have a high military score with a lot of ships and less land forces (e.g. the US), or you could have a ton of land forces and almost no navy (e.g. Mexico).

Not sure, but that was my take on it. But don't get frustrated, the game will just take a while to learn. I have plenty of questions and have nearly been frustrated a few times myself

 

[unmerged(93086)]

The amount of leaders also contribute to mil score