RE: Best way to play each power

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RE: Best way to play each power

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Empires in Arms the Napoleonic Wars of 1805 - 1815 >> RE: Best way to play each power

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RE: Best way to play each power - 12/7/2007 7:56:40 PM

Jimmer

Posts: 1968
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Joisey

But I have seen plenty of Austrian and Prussian players fail to set up their armies near one another.� In fact, I've seen the Austrians mass in the Tyrol for the terrain advantage (and the Tyrolian Korps) more often than I've seen them set up on the Prussian frontier.

Agreed. In our early games (after the first one), Austria and Prussia thought it would be a very good idea to set up next to each other, so they can link up when France declares war (in this game, "big stacks beat little stacks").

There's only one problem: France does NOT have to declare war. Then where are they? They're sitting on each others' borders, waiting for war while France gobbles up Germany. Then, they get the brilliant idea that maybe THEY need to start the war, so they declare war on FRANCE! What could be better for France, I ask? France collects half of Germany, and then somehow his opponents decide to walk into the jaws of death.

It gets worse: Austria and Prussia have now started a war with an opponent they very likely cannot defeat (politically). Without bold action, that is (or, so they think). So, they eventually get tired of watching France gobble up small fry, and they bring both of their armies together (usually, 12 corps, mostly full, under Charles) and attack Napoleon. For France, it just doesn't get any better than that.

I've seen this same tactic (putting the Austrian and Prussian armies next to each other) used several times, usually played by people who are "too smart" to get caught with the Austrian and Prussian armies separated. They get crushed every time (in VP, that is) and can't figure out why:

France may be militarily weak at the beginning of the game, but they can still win most battles politically, while losing more troops (on average). But, the game is not won or lost on the field of battle. It is won or lost on the Political chart. I've seen at least two games where France surrendered in every major war, and yet claimed victory at the end of the game.

(in reply to Joisey)

Post #: 271

RE: Best way to play each power - 12/7/2007 9:16:19 PM

Jimmer

Posts: 1968
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: morvwilson

Yes, if I am AU/PR and BR wants to pay RU and it does not affect me, thats fine.
But, as BR you have to be careful who you give money to. As BR I would have a hard time giving money to RU since financially, they are in pretty good shape. PR on the other hand is not and you don't want them going to the dark side or allow FR to set up the two to three year cycle of defeat in detail for AU/PR that Yamma talked about. Now if RU is in a pickle and needs help then GB should help, especially if it is a pickle concerning the FR.

How do you keep a crab in a bucket? Put two other crabs in with the first. The two on the bottom will keep pulling the one on top down. This game seems to work in simular fashion. He who has the most PP needs to be jumped on by the others.

Not really. Because the game is well-balanced, a power has to REALLY stomp people before he becomes that much of a target.

The problem could appear bigger, though, if people are counting raw victory points. In this case, it depends on whether people are looking at "how many VP has so-and-so gained?" or "how many VP does so-and-so need for victory?" In either case, an unrealistic picture of "who is winning?" is given. The former tends to list France as the winning nation. The latter tends to look like France is losing (most points yet to gain).

The only good way of looking at "victory points" is as a percentage of the total needed. That normalizes everybody's current count, and gives the only true reading of the current "winning nation". In situations where this is done, the amount players are separated by is typically a very small number. It's usually not even possible to predict a winner (although, predicting a loser is more common).

(in reply to morvwilson)

Post #: 272

RE: Best way to play each power - 12/7/2007 9:53:02 PM

Jimmer

Posts: 1968
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: morvwilson

ps. It has been my experience that TU has to take risks that I normally would not take with any other power because their army does not have the moral to pull off an attack like probe or eschelon. They have to break their enemy fast or they are screwed!

I look at Turkey differently: Turkey is ALREADY screwed at the beginning of the game! They have pretty much the worst of anybody, with the possible exception of Prussia.

But, that huge "disadvantage" comes with some very big ADvantages. For instance, Turkey can fight a whole war caring absolutely nothing about troop losses. France has to concern herself with whether to build artillery or not for the free kills. Well, Turkey's army is going to do LOTS of "free kills", with no real budgetting involved. Yes, he's going to lose the battles, but who cares? If I recall correctly, Turkey can win the game with plain average Political status through the whole game. There are occasions when Turkey will gain some (after making some carefully-timed alliances, for example). In wars, he will lose. But, he is going to DECIMATE his opponents army.

Heck, even if he never fires a shot, he's going to be costly to attack, simply because of all the territory an enemy has to take just to get him to the bargaining table. Those depots cost a lot to maintain, and the supply costs even more. Plus, the enemy has to leave a small army guarding each of them towards the end of the year, or else some Turkish corps might just show up behind the enemy's ranks.

Turkey is the one power for whom a "devil may care" attitude actually reaps benefits.

Plus, every once in a while, Turkey will actually WIN a battle. When that happens, it is devastating to the opponent, because, by definition, Turkey didn't take much morale damage. The biggest one I ever saw was clearly lucky dice, but the opponents (Britain, Russia, and Austria) took a combined 80+ troop losses, including most of Russia's guard and artillery. The worst part was that Turkey was allied with the French, and thus moving last. So, after evaporating 2/3 of the enemies' troops, Turkey was poised to pull a "move last, then first again" maneuver on the allies. The allies negotiated a "mild" unconditional surrender prior to Turkey's land movement. Turkey agreed to take "only" the milder version of territories from Russia. Britian didn't accept the terms, but Turkey was hardly afraid of GB any more, even after agreeing to let Wellington leave as part of the "mild" unconditional terms to the other two nations.

The icing on the cake was that this was Turkey's one and only battle in that war. He had just allowed the three powers to walk, basically unfettered, through his territory. His intent was to leave Constantinople garrisoned, and have the army sitting outside, to fight one glorious-in-defeat battle. Then, take his lumps and wait until the enemies actually broke into Constantinople and won the battle. It was a dream come true to actually win the battle outside the gates, and frosting on the cake to get a HUGE cav pursuit.

(in reply to morvwilson)

Post #: 273

RE: Best way to play each power - 12/7/2007 9:59:56 PM

Jimmer

Posts: 1968
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: morvwilson

My mistake

Then stack the AU in Theresienstadt in Jan then first move into Dresden to join the PR. In march they move to Hanover then to Amsterdam.

How would the FR counter this?

Attack for Vienna. Make the allies come to him.

NOTE: This only works if there is a path through the minor powers that France can trace supply through. VERY early in the game, it won't work. But, after 6-10 months, it becomes trivial. Once in Vienna, the French can forage, but they have to move to get there, and that requires supply $.

(in reply to morvwilson)

Post #: 274

RE: Best way to play each power - Sweden - 12/7/2007 10:13:29 PM

Jimmer

Posts: 1968
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arinvald

Much talk about what Russia should/can demand for its cooperation, but what about Spain? If I were Spain, I would insist on getting Portugal. What would be the reaction of most British players? If Britain refuses, could Spain ally with France and have France help Spain gain Portugal? How much trouble can Britain cause Spain by cutting off the Treasure Fleet? How easy is it for Britain to hold Portugal against a French/Spanish alliance?

I agree. In fact, I don't even promise to be friends with GB. Just that I will not actively join the French for a year. GB will have to negotiate for any extra time. Spain makes a wonderful neutral. At least at the start of the game.

(in reply to sol_invictus)

Post #: 275