Houserule around Amphib Invasions

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Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/20/2014 4:47:38 PM

Q-Ball

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I think the Union ability to amphib invade in-game, without any HR, is overpowered. Houserules are needed to prevent abuse by the Union player, IMO.

I had an idea, but wanted to solicit feedback.

I would propose a HR that prevents the Union from making amphibious landings on any region into which it would not normally be able to trace ocean or river supply.

This would prohibit sailing past any active batteries on a body of water which interdict normal supply flow over river/ocean. You can land ON the region with the batteries, but not PAST it. This forces you to clear forts in places like Head of the Passes, or Charleston Harbor, before landing on the city. This prevents the Union from sailing past Island No.10 and dropping an invasion force on, say, Little Rock.

In order to enforce without having to re-do turns in a PBEM, the only way to define that is for the CSA player to have to disclose the presence of active batteries on the water, and where they are (aside from the fixed forts of course). I think that's OK, since Union intel would know where the forts are anyway in almost every case.

This is an important concession for the Union player, and if you feel the Union is now a bit strong, would go a long way to balance it out

For the CSA player, you will need to defend your coastline, but you won't wake up one morning and find an army sitting in New Orleans, Little Rock, or Charleston. You'll have advance warning, as the Union reduces your forts.

Anyway, open to thoughts or modifications, but that's my idea.

1. Union cannot amphib land in any region that cannot trace normal river or ocean supply
2. CSA must disclose the presence of any active batteries that can interdict such supply (no need to disclose fixed forts, only those places in addition to); this is to avoid replays.

This also passes the reality test, as the Union would not drop invasion forces in places where they had to "run batteries" to get supplies through, and IRL they never did

< Message edited by Q-Ball -- 1/20/2014 5:48:41 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/20/2014 5:04:08 PM

TulliusDetritus

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A sound idea

The only problem is capturing New Orleans is problematic. The moment you are attacking the two forts at the mouth of the Mississippi, you are instantly telegraphing your opponent "yoohoo... anyone at homeee?... New Orleans, here we comeeeeee!". And of course a big army should be there when you arrive. In other words, hard to replicate history.

If wikipedia is correct, first New Orleans was captured then the two forts left behind.

In fact that was MY plan (I had PMed Lokki like one month ago asking for some tips). Attacking first the city and then investing the forts. And it looks like the Union did exactly that.

< Message edited by TulliusDetritus -- 1/20/2014 6:08:18 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/20/2014 5:22:02 PM

bbbwl

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I like it. I have been amassed at the unions ability to stage lands deep behind my lines and past my well defended forts. Whats the point of having a large number a Canons over looking the river if the invasion can just sail right by. Look at how hard the Union had to work to get past the batteries of Vicksburg. No invading force made it past there until the city and its forts had been taken by a long land campaign.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/20/2014 5:38:36 PM

Q-Ball

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

A sound idea

The only problem is capturing New Orleans is problematic. The moment you are attacking the two forts at the mouth of the Mississippi, you are instantly telegraphing your opponent "yoohoo... anyone at homeee?... New Orleans, here we comeeeeee!". And of course a big army should be there when you arrive. In other words, hard to replicate history.

If wikipedia is correct, first New Orleans was captured then the two forts left behind.

In fact that was MY plan (I had PMed Lokki like one month ago asking for some tips). Attacking first the city and then investing the forts. And it looks like the Union did exactly that.

Good question, it is a bit tricky with New Orleans, which is a unique case. IRL, Farragut beseiged the forts, but eventually sailed past, and forced the bloodless evacuation of New Orleans. But Butler's men didn't actually take possession until the forts surrendered, so maybe the RL still fits. By this HR, Farragut can still sail his warships past the forts, you just can't LAND there.

In-game, you are correct in that your move will be telegraphed. It's not optimal, but I still think it works. Because:
1. Once those forts fall, the CSA will be forced to keep a force sitting there, whether you are coming tomorrow or NOT. So, that serves a purpose.
2. IRL, Rebs had 15 days warning anyway; that's how long Farrgut was hung-up at the forts

An effective counter, however, is that the CSA player could lose the forts, but set-up a new battery on the river in that region just to the East of New Orleans, that has a rail-line there. By this rule, that would force the Union player to take that battery first. Is that OK?

I think it's an OK limitation; Union player could land on that Battery, and trace a supply line back to Ft. St. Phillip as well. If it's NOT ok, a reasonable limitation is that CSA can only set-up batteries in regions that have a town. (EDIT: Though the Rebs did have a weak battery in that hex, at Chalmette; it was abandoned after exchanging ineffective fire with Farragut's ships)

< Message edited by Q-Ball -- 1/20/2014 6:58:57 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 8:40:41 AM

veji1

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I agree, this is a very good houserule. It is simple yet quite clear. Leaves the Union the very historically feeling choice of either taking out the forts before landing on the city or landing beside the city and walking on it.

Let the Ironclads run all the forts they want, if they are enough of them they will withstand the fire, but make tall wooden ships pay the price.

Last thing, I would still look at having the Marine ability only apply to the element itself for amphibious assault. When amphibiously assaulting a position (well the term is wrong in that time period, but basically it means landing very near the target and attacking it directly) the Union should have to pick a sailor/marine division or suffer the consequences in terms of losse

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 1:39:51 PM

mmarquo

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"In order to enforce without having to re-do turns in a PBEM, the only way to define that is for the CSA player to have to disclose the presence of active batteries on the water, and where they are (aside from the fixed forts of course). I think that's OK, since Union intel would know where the forts are anyway in almost every case."

I like the concept but the execution in a game would be problematic. With this HR a CSA player could build a fort or place batteries in every region along major rivers like the Mississippi and cause the USA way to long to move south. In fact I would place batteries on both banks and cackle at the USA player's frustration.

"Farragut beseiged the forts, but eventually sailed past, and forced the bloodless evacuation of New Orleans. But Butler's men didn't actually take possession until the forts surrendered, so maybe the RL still fits. By this HR, Farragut can still sail his warships past the forts, you just can't LAND there."

I propose an alternative: the USA cannot amphibiously assault or land in any city/fort or region anywhere past a blocking fixed fort/bank-side city until the region containing the fort/cities contain USA forces with at least one artillery element. This rule allows a surprise assault on Charleston, but only if all the forts are simultaneously engaged/distracted. It would require more USA forces and would be a major undertaking.

I do not like applying this to fort/batteries the player may place for the reason I mentioned above.

< Message edited by Marquo -- 1/21/2014 2:40:05 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 4:27:33 PM

Ace1_slith

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C'mon guys, keep it simple, do not use marines, and everything will work fine. Modding maximum damage to ships by fort fire is also an option. It is currently capped at 40 hits.

Notyfing your opponent where you have put your batteries is not the way to go, IMO.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 4:31:00 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Ace1

C'mon guys, keep it simple, do not use marines, and everything will work fine. Modding maximum damage to ships by fort fire is also an option. It is currently capped at 40 hits.

Notyfing your opponent where you have put your batteries is not the way to go, IMO.

This. (I never use marines anyway. Or build them.)

I'm more concerned with the "Put everything in the east and steamroll north/south" play style.

< Message edited by Aurelian -- 1/21/2014 5:32:39 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 5:00:01 PM

Ace1_slith

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ace1

C'mon guys, keep it simple, do not use marines, and everything will work fine. Modding maximum damage to ships by fort fire is also an option. It is currently capped at 40 hits.

Notyfing your opponent where you have put your batteries is not the way to go, IMO.

This. (I never use marines anyway. Or build them.)

I'm more concerned with the "Put everything in the east and steamroll north/south" play style.

You have a point there. If both sides had more men, such strategy would not be good anymore. Flodding one Theater would not reap rewards due to frontage.

< Message edited by Ace1 -- 1/21/2014 6:01:01 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 5:03:26 PM

TulliusDetritus

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ace1

C'mon guys, keep it simple, do not use marines, and everything will work fine. Modding maximum damage to ships by fort fire is also an option. It is currently capped at 40 hits.

Notyfing your opponent where you have put your batteries is not the way to go, IMO.

This. (I never use marines anyway. Or build them.)

I'm more concerned with the "Put everything in the east and steamroll north/south" play style.

Agreed

Political constraints are there and cannot be neglected. Missouri, a push along the Mississippi River axis, amphibious landings to cripple the Confederacy economy, etc., you name it.

Everyone in the east and let's charge like a wild crazy rhinoceros is humm...

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 5:14:02 PM

bbbwl

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Let Combat ships sail freely past forts, taking their chances on being sunk by the forts guns, but no troop carrying ships may pass the fort unless it is besieged or captured. The siege of the fort must be started the turn before the troop ships may go by, so the commander of the forces knows the fort is occupied. If doing an amphibious assault on the first fort they come to, then no limits would apply to that landing. Works for me.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 6:18:34 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: 1962bbbwl228

Let Combat ships sail freely past forts, taking their chances on being sunk by the forts guns, but no troop carrying ships may pass the fort unless it is besieged or captured. The siege of the fort must be started the turn before the troop ships may go by, so the commander of the forces knows the fort is occupied. If doing an amphibious assault on the first fort they come to, then no limits would apply to that landing. Works for me.

Hmmmm, no.

And how do you define a siege? No fort on a river is truly under siege by land. (Siege of Sevastopol for example, Not on a river, but still.)

And if you say that "well, then combat ships have to sit next to the fort"? Then I'll say that the fort is so busy firing at those ships that the transports can just run right past. Between the cannon smoke and the engine smoke, the fort can't see what is behind those ships.

Wooden steamships could and did run past forts and batteries. They're not sticking around for a duel. And they could also run by at night if necessary

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 6:26:23 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ace1

C'mon guys, keep it simple, do not use marines, and everything will work fine. Modding maximum damage to ships by fort fire is also an option. It is currently capped at 40 hits.

Notyfing your opponent where you have put your batteries is not the way to go, IMO.

This. (I never use marines anyway. Or build them.)

I'm more concerned with the "Put everything in the east and steamroll north/south" play style.

Agreed Political constraints are there and cannot be neglected. Missouri, a push along the Mississippi River axis, amphibious landings to cripple the Confederacy economy, etc., you name it.

Everyone in the east and let's charge like a wild crazy rhinoceros is humm...

I dislike it so much that if I determine it's going on in any PBEM I'm playing I'll just stop playing.

It isn't even remotely plausible. Or realistic given the politics of the time.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 9:40:05 PM

mmarquo

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Aurelian,

As the CSA, MT eviscerated me with this strategy, yet somehow I feel there must be a counter to it; he drove right up to NYC and beyond. One issue permitting this is that when a large city falls, all of the supplies/ammo converts to the captor. He has no use to protect his supply lines because capturing let's say Philadelphia is a bounty. I wish there was the possibility to burn/scorch cities....

Marquo

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/21/2014 11:59:21 PM

Q-Ball

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It seems like everyone agrees on the Spirit of limiting amphib invasions, it's the application that is problematic. No easy solution. I proposed CSA alerting to batteries, but I acknowledge that is not perfect by any means.

Aurelian and Marquo have a point as well on the "ALL EAST" strategy. In my game vs. Gunnulf, we had a HR, that I proposed, keeping McClellan in charge in the east in 1862. I also decided that I was going to put enough men in the East to force him to commit a large army, but that I was ultimately not going to force a decision at Richmond until 1864 at the earliest. I did that, because "winning" is not as important as the journey.

The problem with having a HR is that you can't put a HR in place that "Union will not take Richmond before 1864". At that point, the AnV will be down to 20,000 men. But on the other hand, sending 250,000 men to Richmond and forgetting all other theaters is perhaps a "winning" strategy, but also pretty boring. It's a fine line. I think good Union opponents are going to put pressure on, and force a response, but try to simultaneously win the war elsewhere.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 6:13:49 AM

Ace1_slith

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You can burn depots, or use scorch earth rgds

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 12:57:47 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marquo

Aurelian,

As the CSA, MT eviscerated me with this strategy, yet somehow I feel there must be a counter to it; he drove right up to NYC and beyond. One issue permitting this is that when a large city falls, all of the supplies/ammo converts to the captor. He has no use to protect his supply lines because capturing let's say Philadelphia is a bounty. I wish there was the possibility to burn/scorch cities....

Marquo

The best way to stop it is simply refuse to play. Either don't play against someone who does it, or don't continue a game that it happens in.

As it stands now, either side will *have* to put everything east, if only to counter the other guy. It kills the game. It's a waste of time.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 1:51:36 PM

mmarquo

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Yes, but this takes a turn, and with fast movers like Jackson who can move through multiple regions simultaneously, it is a problem.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 2:17:36 PM

mmarquo

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

The best way to stop it is simply refuse to play. Either don't play against someone who does it, or don't continue a game that it happens in.

As it stands now, either side will *have* to put everything east, if only to counter the other guy. It kills the game. It's a waste of time.

It may be that CW2 is really only good for solitaire play. Here are the reasons why:

1. No way of really knowing what settings your opponent is using.
2. No way of preventing changes in the settings once the game is underway.
3. No way of preventing endless reloads - sorry, but it has to be said.
4. No way of preventing one's opponent from using the slider to allow unlimited recruitment of new units as opposed to the historical setting.
5. No way of preventing an all East approach; and no house rule can really stop this because players can always haggle over what is too much and what is too little. When I commented on what MT was doing on the ACWG forum, some responded that he was falling into a trap by capturing Annapolis and Baltimore; this is frankly very debatable since one can drag along 5 supply wagons and capture immense stocks of supplies so the concept of going out of supply and walking into a trap in highly debatable. Yet I still think there must be a way to counter this. One thing for sure is to launch distracting amphibious assaults like at Norfolk or even further South. This takes all of balls though - sail 2 divisions South while Philadelphia is threatened? You have to play with Easy Supply off, and also with historical attrition for both sides - and this to start.

It occurs to me that the lesion allowing this approach is the unfettered recruitment of new units in various states without consideration of time. Just because Virginia fielded let's say 100 regiments during the war, and the game allows 1000 to be raised, there needs to be a limit on how many can be raised per month or year. Surely this data is known from historical sources. This would prevent fielding Virginia's entire contribution to the war in the first year, instead of spread over 4 years - and this would make a huge difference and maybe solve the problem.

I never fault a player like MT for using the rules and game engine to his advantage; hopefully the developers will take heed, study and react to these observations.

Finally:

1. The manual is in desperate need of updating or the WIKI needs work; either will do. I am amazed at the pearls that experienced players like Ace always seem to know which are otherwise not documented.
2. This is a diamond in the rough which I really want to work - not ready to give up quite yet.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 3:03:35 PM

Ace1_slith

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About 1-4 of your posts:

I am afraid the only sollution I can think off is neutral host. I was thinking about suggesting a tournament in the near future where the third participant would host the game of other two participants. About, no. 5. I was thinking about raising recruitable units for both sides. Right now, it is easy to field 200.000 troops to the East, and little elsewhere. But, if both sides had the recources to field large armies boh East and West, and on the Coast, I think it would be less of a problem.

Last remark:

With all the changes being made as we speak, manual will always be out of date. At some point the devs called for volunteers to fill out Wiki. I think the call is still valid.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 3:20:21 PM

veji1

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marquo

It occurs to me that the lesion allowing this approach is the unfettered recruitment of new units in various states without consideration of time. Just because Virginia fielded let's say 100 regiments during the war, and the game allows 1000 to be raised, there needs to be a limit on how many can be raised per month or year. Surely this data is known from historical sources. This would prevent fielding Virginia's entire contribution to the war in the first year, instead of spread over 4 years - and this would make a huge difference and maybe solve the problem.

This really isn't hard to do, You can see it very well in the way the CSA builds unlock progressively as the states secede. Have it so the upper limits of troops to be recruited per state climbs slowly, say once every 5/6 turns. It would force the players to recruit in all states based on how much they actually built in history AND would mean that recruitment is a less brutal process, ie happening the turn after you got lots of conscripts through draft or bounties. It would ensure more linear growth of the armies. a good thing imo.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 3:22:31 PM

KamilS

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I genuinely think, that south is not as strong as it seems at first glace, but its advantage in mobility and better leaders is artificially maginified by very poor automatic distribution of supply.

I absolutely agree with Marquo, that ridiculously big piles of supply in frontal cities makes CSA offensive self-perpetuating to ceratin extend, but it is not win button.

Overall I think north still has unfair advantage - amphibious assault (by sea and rivers) is far to easy

< Message edited by Kamil -- 1/22/2014 4:23:39 PM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 8:02:30 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marquo

I never fault a player like MT for using the rules and game engine to his advantage; hopefully the developers will take heed, study and react to these observations.

I don't fault them either. But that doesn't mean I should accept it.

But anyone who ever studied the ACW knows there are reason why it was never done. General Scott never even proposed it. I would think that since the war was won using his plan as a guide, not by putting several hundred thousand men in one big blob, he knew what he was talking about.

Winning/losing doesn't play into it for me. I'm on the way to loss #27 after all. And I don't care. I don't care about losing if I enjoy myself.

And I'm not.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 8:08:47 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Ace1

About, no. 5. I was thinking about raising recruitable units for both sides. Right now, it is easy to field 200.000 troops to the East, and little elsewhere. But, if both sides had the recources to field large armies boh East and West, and on the Coast, I think it would be less of a problem.

I think it would be the same problem. Everything built gets sent east as it is.

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 10:22:50 PM

mmarquo

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"I am afraid the only solution I can think off is neutral host."

This does not solve anything but reloads; a player could play with whatever options he wanted, then change back before sending to the neutral host to advance the turn. Frankly the developers could spent a little time a program an easy fix to lock all the settings as setup by the first player; and as for reloads, some games have mechanisms to prevent this so why not this one?

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/22/2014 11:35:18 PM

Aurelian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marquo

"I am afraid the only solution I can think off is neutral host."

This does not solve anything but reloads; a player could play with whatever options he wanted, then change back before sending to the neutral host to advance the turn. Frankly the developers could spent a little time a program an easy fix to lock all the settings as setup by the first player; and as for reloads, some games have mechanisms to prevent this so why not this one?

Good question. I didn't even know this could be done

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/23/2014 5:58:11 AM

Ace1_slith

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Because, you can always erase game files, and put previous turn files from the windows explorer.

There was a discussion about it here:

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?31577-Pbem

< Message edited by Ace1 -- 1/23/2014 7:30:26 AM >

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RE: Houserule around Amphib Invasions - 1/26/2014 11:00:09 AM

Gunnulf

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marquo

"I am afraid the only solution I can think off is neutral host."

This does not solve anything but reloads; a player could play with whatever options he wanted, then change back before sending to the neutral host to advance the turn. Frankly the developers could spent a little time a program an easy fix to lock all the settings as setup by the first player; and as for reloads, some games have mechanisms to prevent this so why not this one?

Wouldn't the only settings that count be the ones of the neutral host when he executes the turn?

The easy solution of course is to pick a decent opponent who doesn't seem like the sort who wants to win at all costs. Psychometric testing? However I guess there is the risk we will all end up in the 'Little Napoleon' category... :)

I am quite surprised that there isn't a more robust PBEM mechanism given that its a 2nd version and that hasn't changed in 5/6 years.

As to the amphibious HR question I would for sure say that at least one fort should be captured before any attempt on the city its protecting is assaulted by sea. Of course New Orleans was a case against this but on balance it covers more historical cases where this wouldnt be possible than not. That that the New Orleans case could be excluded in that the forts there are far downstream and don't cover the city. The situation we had in mine and Q-Balls game was troopships running the charleston forts and then unloading directly onto the quay under the guns of 3 forts with an entrenched division in the city, and it worked, rather than the massacre it should have been.
As it is its too easy to roll up forts with an amphibious landing force landing and instantly storming a fort with minimal losses. I feel its a shame that you can do it without a breach quite easily without heavy losses. Maybe the marines is the issue though, not tested without. But overall our game, while fantastic fun and challenging hasn't really seen anything that would resemble a siege as you can just roll up, fix bayonets and almost guarantee an instant win, then load ships again and repeat against another target. I feel something needs to slow this tempo down.

(in reply to mmarquo)

Post #: 28