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Alfred -> RE: Ground unit replacements - no ALF1 (10/6/2014 5:28:31 AM)
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The OP keeps on asserting that the "+" sign next to the device means that there is enough of each device in the pools. This is simply not true. The "+" sign only indicates that
(a) the device is not stockpiled in the pools, and
(b) there is at least a single device in the pools
Accordingly it is a very basic supply curve indicator and says absolutely nothing about the demand curve for the different devices.
Nor is the constant assertion that sufficient supply is present at the base necessarily correct. The screenshot only shows an estimate of required supply based on the just completed turn actions. It takes no account of the actual amount of supply which will be consumed in the following turn before the device replacement supply consumption routine.
Incorrect assessments always lead to incorrect answers.
The LCU device replacement routine is closely aligned with, but is also different from, the LCU device upgrade routine. I address below only the device replacement routine. A full understanding of the subject also needs to understand the device upgrades and overland supply movement routines which have been addressed in other threads.
Global Factors
1. Devices which are set to stockpile in the pools will not be distributed to LCUs.
2. LCU fragments cannot receive replacements.
3. Only LCUs which have toggled "Replacements On" will check to see if they meet the conditions to receive replacements.
4. There is a "replacement cycle" for each LCU which varies depending on the applicable conditions and random die rolls (see below for details).
5. At the purchase source there must be sufficient supply to purchase the devices. The purchase price reduces the supply amount held at the purchase source.
6. A valid supply path from base to LCU of >49 is required for the base to be the purchase source. If less, then the LCU itself becomes the purchase source.
7. Device replacements are distributed from the pools in the following order
starting with lowest number
Purchase Sources
Each turn, but subject to randomness, an LCU has a three step loop to determine which purchase sources are available.
1. The LCU's National Base qualifies if it has (supplies >2x base supplies required) + (100 supply), and the valid supply path to the LCU is >49
2. Friendly Base qualifies if it has (supplies >2x base supplies required) + (100 supply), and the valid supply path to the LCU is >49.
3. The LCU itself if it's organic supplies carried = 4x supplies required, and the LCU is not located at a friendly base
Almost always the purchase source will be a base, in particular the friendly base which is accommodating the LCU, as LCUs normally retain organically only a buffer of 10 supply above their "supplies required" listed total. Usually a LCU will only meet the third loop of above when
- it cannot trace a valid supply path back to a land base
- it is with an invasion fleet (with beaucoup of back up supplies) and is being landed on an enemy base (usually atoll)/non base hex
- it is the start of a scenario
4. Subject to meeting both the supply requirements and the valid supply path, there is no limitation as to the number of bases which can act as purchase sources.
Replacement Cycle
1. If the purchase source is a base, the replacement cycle is 7 days BUT note discussion in point 4 below.
2. If the purchase source is a base with 20k supply and the LCU is in "rest" mode at that base, the replacement cycle is 1 day.
3. If the purchase source is the LCU itself, the replacement cycle is 3 days.
4. It is important to note that all three steps in the "purchase sources" loop are checked. This means that even though the replacement cycle is 7 days (subject randomness) if the purchase source is a base (except when the LCU is in "rest mode" at a 20k supply base), because the last check is that of the LCU itself as the purchase source, the replacement cycle is reset to 3 days. Back in February 2011 michaelm speculated that the 7 day cycle specified in the code was originally in order to be consistent with the replacement cycle of air units but that at some point in time it was determined it was more appropriate to have a shorter replacement cycle for LCUs.
In practical terms, the LCU device replacement cycle is 3 days, or 1 day if the LCU is in "rest mode". However, this does not mean that replacement devices will be distributed so regularly due to randomness and the global factors listed above. To quote michaelm from 11 May 2014:
"The available supply at a base (in supply range) is the only requirement to take replacement devices at a base."
The rate at which this occurs is modified by certain factors but ultimately you get or do not get replacement devices based on supply availability.
As is usually the case, the above is put together from various dev posts. The following thread
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2713481&mpage=1&key=replacements�
is the best single dev source on the subject.
Alfred
Edit: Further clarified the replacement cycle for condition 2.
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