Reserve v Regular troops

[swilhelm73]

I find when money isn't really a huge impediment that I usually maintain about an equal number of reserves and regulars. I know that IRL, reserves came to dwarf standing army size by the end of the time period.

I'll usually keep a number of the reserve units as true reserves too - as being able to plunk down a division or two anywhere in your own territory when you need to is quite powerful.

So what percentages do most people maintain?

 

[Jerzy_I]

I usually have between 3-4 times my standing army in reserves. Reserves are cheap and are the best way to increase your strength.

 

[Lamprey]

Usually if I have 30 standing divisions, I'll have 100+ in reserve. The standing army's basically there to hold off any attackers till the reserves can mobilize and crush the opponent.

 

[unmerged(29181)]

I keep as many reserves as I possibly can.

 

[Darkrenown]

Assuming my population can support it I build up about 100 reserve divisions as soon as I can. I can't be bothered deploying more than that and I don't want my mobilizing to cut into my clerks and craftsmen. I prefer to rely on my standing army though so it's build up too and then I only mobilized when I really have to.

 

[berhaven]

Assuming my population can support it I build up about 100 reserve divisions as soon as I can. I can't be bothered deploying more than that and I don't want my mobilizing to cut into my clerks and craftsmen. I prefer to rely on my standing army though so it's build up too and then I only mobilized when I really have to.

I must assume you keep most of your divisions at minimum strenght. This is what I usually do: have about a hundred of reserves, a good number of understrength "cadre" divs and a few (usually only what I really need for small colonial warfare and/or revolt control) mobilized divs.
It gives the chane to balance your army maintenance and defence expenditure to make best possible use of current manpower.
In any case it has to be remembered that "real reserve" is made up by money and some national farmers pops to be converted into soldiers. Reserve mobilitation is really a "last ditch", since you are going to have second rank troops and you will deplete your high productivity pops, not to talk of the risk to remain stuck in some endless war, with your economy suffering heavily.
In most situation, I try to avoid mobilization.

 

[Darkrenown]

It depends on my army size and income. Certainly I don't keep divisions fully manned when at peace, but I like to keep them above the minimum if possible so they're useful for rebel stomping and quick reaction.

 

[Lamprey]

I don't see why so many people don't like to mobilize, really. I think the thing about pops coming back as laborers after mobilization is a myth, at least it never happened to me. Every time after I demobilize, all my factories are as well staffed as before the war.

 

[Darkrenown]

It takes farmers and labourers by default, only if your mob pool is large enough will your clerks/craftsmen be drafted, but they WILL come back as farmers. Besides, even when it only empties your RGOs losing Iron, coal and sulphur production is never fun.

 

[swilhelm73]

I don't see why so many people don't like to mobilize, really. I think the thing about pops coming back as laborers after mobilization is a myth, at least it never happened to me. Every time after I demobilize, all my factories are as well staffed as before the war.

AFAICT, mobilization will first take laborers. It will only take c/c's if it has to.

So, if you overindustrialize you will lose factory workers when you mobilize.

 

[Darkrenown]

Snap!

 

[Lamprey]

I really should play some armpit of the world country with 2 million total population before I go opening my mouth methinks o

 

[jpd]

Just a silly question, but what exactly do you mean by reserve divisions?

So far, I have only found two types of divisions. One that I build myself, and the other which come through mobilisation. The only time I have ever seen a reserve division, is when one is given to me through a random event.

Jan Peter

 

[Lamprey]

They mean a country's mobilization pool

 

[jpd]

Ah. I see.

Well, I don't bother with those. I only increase my mob pool for the increased military score, nothing else. My military force always consists of units I build myself, and I keep them at min. maintenance until needed.

Jan Peter

 

[swilhelm73]

Snap!

Curses, foiled again!

 

[Darkrenown]

:rofl:

 

[Shadow Reaper]

If a Division picks up enough experience levels is there any chance of it becoming more than regular or reserve?? I guess what i mean is is there a chance a division will turn elite, or do experience points do nothing? (just asking because once I had a cavalry division with 30exp points, and it didn't seem to do too much for it)

 

[unmerged(27727)]

I don't see why so many people don't like to mobilize, really. I think the thing about pops coming back...

Sometimes they don't come back to factories because...they're dead !
This is the second reason (the first being the loss of money while your people are under the flags) why a lot of us don't like to mobilize : losses on the battlefield make holes in factories !

 

[Darkrenown]

If a Division picks up enough experience levels is there any chance of it becoming more than regular or reserve?? I guess what i mean is is there a chance a division will turn elite, or do experience points do nothing? (just asking because once I had a cavalry division with 30exp points, and it didn't seem to do too much for it)

XP gives a bonus in combat, check the tooltip in that unit is fighting.