commander casualty question in KS mod games

Hi.

I've been playing some of the SOW Waterloo KS mod scenarios solo (thanks to the designers) and notice brigade and division commanders usually die if they get anywhere near the front line.

Is this part of the KS mod, or just bad luck?

This doesn't happen often in the stock game.

Cheers, CJ.

This is a new addition in version 1.18, basically, if a Commander goes too far away from friendly units and too close to an enemy unit without the support of a friendly unit, the commander will die. This is to prevent forward scouting and raiding alone.

Its just another tactic by Kevin to pilfer saddlebags of valuables from leaders. He used to just ride his horse real close to you, lean over, and swipe things. Or send an armed courier to do his dirty work. Now he just kills you automatically and salvages anything valuable from the wreckage. Its a Napoleonic version of cyber-theft, that's all

Hi.

Thanks for the reply.

A follow up question.

When a division or brigade commander is killed, does the game automatically assign the next officer in the chain of command as a replacement?

If not, is it a change being considered?

A replacement commander is spawned immediately but he usually spawns some distance away. I think it is div CO for brigadiers and corps CO for division commanders but I haven't studied the game's logic on exactly where it spawns new officers.

You raise a fair point however in that this change was implemented to deal with some issues arising from MP games. It would not be a problem in SP. For SP you may be best sticking with version 117, or at least keep the SowAiInf.dll file from v117 which is in the Modules folder of the mod.

The leader casualty mod made our MP game on Wednesday night almost unplayable.  Uncle Billy and Scauispo can provide their forensic perspectives as more experienced players, but dying repeatedly while standing ~50 yards behind a formed brigade was not a lot of fun and really damaged the continuity of the game.

I don't think something loaded properly in the game Weds. For instance, the corps commander wasn't in the courier list. Also, Tom did not get the end of game screen when we finished. No previous game showed this behavior, including Sunday's, so I don't think it is overly worrisome. However, I can shorten the distance to enemy to 250 yd. and we can try that today.

Mike

Are you trying to sweet talk me into joining the ranks of the Allies?

I am trying to save you from the megalomaniac Marching Thru Spain, his death is imminent.  

MTG = Marching Through Galicia.

Kevin, what about a non-dying generals .dll file for SP players?

Galicia is yet unspoiled, a condition I plan to rectify in short order.

When I changed the enemy distance, I also put in the provision that this would be for MP games only.

Interesting, so the .dll file is able to differentiate SP and MP play? That's cunning.

Of the 3 KS games I took part in last wed. my avatar died 7 times in total. Only once was he out in front of his troops asking for it. Otherwise he was behind his lines. There may be some unforeseen ramifications to tweeking avatar behaviour in 118.

I have seen subordinate commanders under AI control die as well, because the AI doesn't seem to know the new death rule.

Maybe when it's tweaked a bit it will help/stop.

You able to join us today Steve?

This only affects player avatars, not AI controlled commanders. They still die the old fashioned way.

Where can I download the 1.17 version?

I would like to avoid this dead commander situation.

I'm a newby and only have 1.18.

Thanks.

This is the v117 AI .dll file. I have named it so it won't overwrite the v118 one. Unzip and move it into your KS Napoleon Mod II 118/Modules folder. Rename the existing one to back it up then rename this one to SowAiInf.dll

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xtoke4f7pvswyof/v117_SowAiInf.rar?dl=0

How were the leader casualties during the Astorga game?

Thanks Mr. Digby.

Hi.

That fix didn't work for me, probably because I am not very good at dealing with files.

If the mod designers are planning a future update (1.19?), perhaps they could consider amending the officer casualty system to make it less lethal.

It would be helpful if the officers could be close enough to their troops to benefit from their leadership.

Another suggestion would be for replacement officers to spawn closer to their formation when a commander is killed.

Thanks again for the KS mod. It's my go-to version of the game now even though I play solo.

You're welcome.

How were the leader casualties during the Astorga game?

I died twice, once by being caught up in hand to hand fighting and once because I was standing about 150 yds ahead of my gun line and presumably too close to the enemy (200 yds? Not sure).

I think both Spanish cavalry generals died but its quite likely they too were involved in melees.

If you keep tight behind your own lines and near friends there seems to be no risk which is what I did after my first death. Later on I was in the thick of it with enemy cavalry charges all around my squares and such and was okay other than the obvious enemy dragoon sword through the ribs.

As to other players I saw the French cavalry commander die at 09:17 but he was far too close to our lines and away from friends so that was okay.

Hi.

Just a follow up comment.

While playing a scenario as the British player units from my two infantry brigades were fighting a French infantry brigade.

No artillery.

Within minutes both my brigade commanders were killed even though they were:

1) well behind the firing line.

2) were outside of musket range. About 250 yards.

If my units can't fire at that range, and the enemy units can't fire at that range, it doesn't make sense that the commanders should die at that range.

The brigade commanders must have been TC'd. If they are 300 yd. or less from the enemy and more than 300 yd from a friendly unit they will die. Use the dll Digby put up and you won't have to worry about any of that. The next version of the mod will change the enemy distance to 250 yd and remove the effect completely for SP.