Thoughts on Battle... ponder these two questions.

[[GG] Lord Ashram]

Hey folks.

Thought I would start off a piece about some strategy and the like.

Wanted to keep it short and sweet as a beginning, so here are two thoughts for discussion:

ONE

High Valour vs High Numbers

So, you have a choice; either an army made up of 16 units of decent (2) valour, or a smaller army made up of 12 units of better (3 and 4) valour. Which do you take? Why?

TWO

To Hit An Exposed Flank You Have to Expose Your Own

True? Not true? Is presenting a target and then taking it away a viable option to open up the end of an enemy line?

What do you all think? I'll post my own ideas under a seperate post in this thread, so as to keep my own ideas disconnected from the original questions.

Take care,

[gg]Ash

[SaxonWarlord]

High Valour vs High Numbers

Well this is my thought, the high valour idea can be a good choice if your fighting in constricted territory where the enemy cannot use all his troops at one time. Best example from history off the top of my head is the Battle of Thermopolaye between the Greeks and the Persians. Leonidas and his Spartan hoplites only had 300 men against the numerous masses of the Persians. But these 300 men were handpicked from the 10,000 strong Spartan army, basically the cream of the crop in the ancient world. The other factor and just as important was the pass at Thermopolaye, it was so narrow that the 300 Spartans could hold it and prevent the Persians from enveloping them and therefore using their numbers effectively.

Well thats the historical backup, but in the game iteself these situations do not always present them self. On average I tend to get a good sized army of good quality. Maybe not cream of the crop, but if you can initiate superior manuever and support it usually wins the day.

To Hit An Exposed Flank You Have to Expose Your Own

Best way to lure units out of line is with skirmishers. If the enemy doesn't have their own skirmishers there is little they can do but press the attack, and if they are on defense with a position they must hold, they are not going to fair well. They could use cavalry, but I can protect my skirmishers with cavalry as well. They can also use artillery, but several skirmishers in loose can overcome that as well, and in the meantime my team could counter-battery if in the right position.

I am not sure I follow your statement that you must expose your own flank to hit an enemies exposed flank? Please provide some input there if you do not mind. Good questions though .

[[GG]Remi]

In reply to topic one.

My choice would depend on the money situation. If there is to little cash to give my army the needed upgrades to spread to 16 units.I will take fewer units with what i consider the needed advances in either valour or weapons/defence.

A high valour army can be more valuable then a larger, less trained army in the proper situation. Variables like the one Saxon mention, constricted terrain, gives the advantage of the valour army. Since in a 1:1 battle a higher valour army will win. But what can a general do on open field against a larger army?

[[GG]ThinRedLine]

Gentlemen,

Here is my two cents on this question. Based on the realities of this game and the +/- morale issues on the battlefield, it is always best to take a full or as close to full as possible compliment.

The morale of even the highest valour units is affected drastically by being flanked and that morale deficit is only compounded when faced with a double out-flank.

If at all possible fill out to 15 and 16 units, but if you are concerned with better quality or you have a terrain situation as at Ligny or Austerlitz or even the Great Redoubt to some degree, you can allow for a few very powerful valour units to be supported by the rest of your full compliment of 0-1 valour units.

The total fire power of 16 full units is still significantly superior to the fire power of 8 valour 4 units. Especially initially! Of course factors like position and the presence of Cavalry can adversely effect this balance, but I will usually beat an army of 8 valour 4 Guards with an army of 16 valour 2 guards...

Good Thread Ashram!

Cheers,

Gentlemen

S!

[GG]TRL