Are generals too influentials?

[econ21]

I am just wondering if the influence of a general's command rating on a units battlefields stats is too great in MTW? If I understand it right, an 8 star general adds 4 levels of valour to a unit. This seems excessive to me - halving it would be better. Instead, I wonder if the general's quality could be reflected in other ways - such as influencing starting positions in a game (a good defending general gets better terrain; a good attacking one may start close to the enemy, as with an ambush) or affecting the lag between sending orders and a unit acting on them. If they change the strategic map, it might also affect speed of strategic movement. Any thoughts?

[PS: post title should be influential, not influentials. ] http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wall.gif

[[DnC]]

I think I've read that general commandstar bonusses do not increase valor in RTW anymore. They will only give moral bonusses if I'm correct. Though your general can also give other bonusses/penalties with vices & virtues.

I think I've read it in the official FAQ.

[Ludens]

I recall that the 'command rating' of the general would NOT influence valour anymore. There would be only four 'command' levels, and these would influence morale and discipline.

I could not find this in the FAQ, so my guess is I must have read this on this forum.

[Sir Moody]

it was in one of the many interviews

[Nowake]

As to affecting the speed on the strategic map, I don't think this would be very good. You can have talented but lazzy generals, no matter what.

Each march depends principaly on the situation and not on the individual.

[masp_82]

i agree. I also have read in a game magazine that generals in RTW only influence the morale and not the fighting skills of their troops. So this is the end of the "elite killing peasants" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

[Catiline]

I think the speed of order idea was in regard to the tactical battlemap and not the strategic map. I've always thought thatthat should be applied, but then I wanted to see a general and his staff wiht messangers buzzing back and forth... Fortunately for hte rest of the world who want a playable game I don't always get what I want. It would sort the me nfrom the boysthough if instead of merely reacting , or even seizing the initiative you had to give order based on anticipation and best judgement of what would happen as well as awhat needed to be done.

[Ashen]

I think the horror factor of high gens should be toned down versus other competant generals - I had a 6star HRE army leg it in fear of a 9star Byzantine General. They got into combat, great position, surrounded the Byzantine king, decided they left the kettle on and my whole army routed inside 5 seconds. Despite a numiercal, equipment, terrain and tactical advantage http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wall.gif

[RisingSun]

Yes, I heard it would only affect discipline, like formation and stuff...

[Nelson]

I agree that valor bonuses to the whole army have been too easy to come by in Medieval.



Quote[/b] (Catiline @ Feb. 23 2004,17:45)]I think the speed of order idea was in regard to the tactical battlemap and not the strategic map. I've always thought thatthat should be applied, but then I wanted to see a general and his staff wiht messangers buzzing back and forth... Fortunately for hte rest of the world who want a playable game I don't always get what I want. It would sort the me nfrom the boysthough if instead of merely reacting , or even seizing the initiative you had to give order based on anticipation and best judgement of what would happen as well as awhat needed to be done.

Catiline and I want the same game. If I had it my way it would be a lot easier to lose control of a battle. As it stands we get to pull every string whenever we like.

[Sniya]

What about forced marches,some generals eg Julius Ceasar were perticullary adept at moving their units asses when needed.Mabey "Master Forced marcher +2 movment points"
It probably wouldnt be too useful as you still have to beat him.

[Nelson]

I mentioned this a while back. With the variable rate movement system as I understand it leaders could be allowed to influence speed.

[MiniKiller]

i think it should be like a scale instead of a set virtue. they also need to work on the stupid random ones that make ur gen weaker.

make is flexable so u can go back and fourth.

like u have a gen who as 10 on the scale for dread but over the years lets more and more prisoners go, lowering him to a 3. and it could say sumthing like

This general was fierce is his time, letting none escape but with age comes wisdom and he lets more go to appease the masses.

[Beelzebub]

Generals were extremely important though in reality. Alexander beat a far superior persian army multiple times cuz he got their cowardly king to run away, and the rest of the army routed upon seeing this. There's plenty of other examples in history with cases like this and how just the name of a famous roman general like constantine or whoever being in the area could subdue the warlike nature of barbarian nations or even civilized ones like persia.

[Nowake]

"This general was fierce is his time, letting none escape but with age comes wisdom and he lets more go to appease the masses."


Now that's too relative MiniKiller http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Old and fast, now that a nice virtue though.

[bighairyman]

IF the emperor is the commander, then it should give ALOT of moral to the soldiers. think of it, if you were a soldier, won't you be cheering if your emperor is actually in command of the army? Most ancient people actually never even saw their king/emperor and don't even know what he looks like. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-gossip.gif

[BobTheTerrible]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-clown.gif

Minikiller, I actually like the random ones. In reality, this could be a real problem. A great general could suddenly have been found to have a bad habit, such as avarice or whatever. Maybe there should be an option to turn these on or off.

/ http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-clown.gif