Military Structure

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

The only problem with that is that there were certainly officers whose abilities didn't match the rank. Particularly since commands could be purchased.

[ULC]

Yes, but we would still have traits I am sure, which would mean we could have Majors who are superior to our Generals. Generalship and Admiralship would be appointed, or it could be determined based on governement, so in absolute monarchies, your General might be your most loyal rather then most able. Think of it like the College of Cardinals, but like your Pool of Majors/Colonels/Commodores instead.

[Incongruous]

Yes, but we would still have traits I am sure, which would mean we could have Majors who are superior to our Generals. Generalship and Admiralship would be appointed, or it could be determined based on governement, so in absolute monarchies, your General might be your most loyal rather then most able. Think of it like the College of Cardinals, but like your Pool of Majors/Colonels/Commodores instead.

It would desirably be more along the lines of court or Parliamentary favour, overtime a certain family via the players choics (eg. conquering certain areas, imposing certain acts) could become the most prominent and therefore have a greater chance of getting one of their own or a favourite, appointed to the army or admiralty.

[Celtic_Punk]

The only problem with that is that there were certainly officers whose abilities didn't match the rank. Particularly since commands could be purchased.

*cough cough* monty *cough cough*


I do like the idea of a rank structure tho

[Polemists]

Regardless of how you spin it. Yes certain people did get ranks because of authority, yes families did play a role, yes politics plays a role, yes command skill does not equal rank .

However I would personally prefer to look down on a battlefield and see Lieutant so and so, by captain so and so, go to battle. Rather then Captain Smith, Captain bob, Captain fred all go to war. I mean it just gets to the stage where I have to many captains and not one thing that differentiates them from other captains until they become general.

I'd like to see my captains actually climb to general not just

One Battle, One Victory, next turn your a general.

Talk about battlefield promotion

[Samurai Waki]

Well for immersion, if this type of system were to be implemented, CA could take a few notes from Hearts of Iron. Where you could have Lieutenants/Captains/Generals/Admirals etc. start with a fixed "tactical value" at the beginning of their careers, however depending on experience and overall set abilities (like the fixed personality traits in EB) would determine how successful of a commander they are and/or could become.

The Hearts of Iron type system could also add a level of complexity, where you might have a Highly Skilled and decorated Captain whose good at commanding two or three units, but would suffer severe command bonuses when leading a bigger army. However, if the situation demanded a field promotion so that this skilled Captain could lead a bigger army, the disadvantage is that it would take time for the Captain turned Maj. General to learn the necessary skills required to command such an army, although over time, and through experience he will probably become just as effective as he was before the promotion, You might suffer a bit in the beginning, but the advantages would probably pay off, or you might have just wasted your efforts on a perfectly good Captain. But thats just my two cents.