Capturing.....?

[PBI]

I always thought it would be nice if units could have individual names and earn honours and attributes in the same way as generals. So, units could earn specific honours for being first into the breach in a siege, for capturing enemy cannons or standards, or being present at a famous victory. This would do things like increase their morale and experience, and maybe even give them abilities such as "frightens enemies" or "reassures nearby troops". They could also get less honourable traits that would lower morale and prestige for say, routing during a battle, cruel treatment of prisoners, or excessive looting and pillaging.

Units who have served under a successful general for a long time might also gain a particular affiliation for the general, gaining a hefty morale bonus when he is in charge but a morale penalty or possibly even a risk of outright desertion or mutiny if the general is replaced. Napoleon's Old Guard is an example I can think of of a unit which might acquire this trait.

Of course, it would pretty much be eye candy and might not add much to the game, but I think it would be nice.

[batemonkey]

That PBI is wehat i like to call - a bloody good idea

[Matt_Lane]

Great idea PBI. As Generals currently have traits units could have battle honors that could effect their experience and professionalism under fire. Victory, capturing an enemy's colours or even failing to rout during a massacre would inspire them whilst lack of action, fleeing the battlefield or loosing your colours would be a black mark.

To this end Artillary's standards would be there pieces, the loss of which would have similar moral penalties. I also think it should be possible to absorb a percentage of captureed guns into your own artillary park. It was the norm during this period for any captured guns of the correct caliber to be employed by the victor whilst the rest would be spiked. This was particularly true of the British army that seems to have waged many campaigns wanting for artillery so the opportunity to add to their numbers would not have been missed.

For me the limiting factor here is not so much the problem of variable calibers or even training troops, rather more it is the lack of trained officers needed to lead such units. British Infantry and Cavalry commissions could be bought by anyone but Artillary (and Engineers) Officers had to pass out of Woolich this meant that they were always in short supply. It might be more realistic therefore that captured artillery might be used to replace your own loss's but it could not be used to create new units. This would however limit the introduction of captured technology into your own ranks.

[Sir Beane]

Fantastic ideas PBI! It's a damn shame the game is so far along in development. If CA haven't implemented your idea by now then I doubt we will see it. If it had been earlier then maybe they might have included it.

The idea of traits for units is something that would add tremendously to the rople playing value of the game. Building up a super-elite unit from humble beginnings across an entire campaign wold be fantastic. Having the name of your unit known and feared across the entire world, having enemies rout just because they came up against them in battle, inspiring your own side to great acts of bravery, all of these are awesome.

[Robespierre]

Personally I think it will be really good if you can capture their cannon in TW, or rustle their horses, even steal their bicycles. I hope there will be some kind of esprit de corps system so that units that have fought together gain some common identity. this could be a bit like "legionary name", except that groups of units could be "brigaded" together, sharing a name and gaining the sharing of new traits.