Battle of Alagon, late June 1808

Yes, the csv file can be used with both the restricted and non-restricted maps. Place the csv file in the KS Peninsula Mod\Maps folder.

Good. I've given those instructions in the first post of this thread.

WJPalmer wrote:Yes, the sprite ratio adjustment in the host/options panel. This does carry some impact on game play as it allows regiments to be aligned more closely together, but it seems a relatively small price to pay if it helps the game run smoothly.

Coming back to this, I've never played, I don't think, at anything other than the default setting. What effect does changing the sprite ratio to 1:8 do?

Does an 8-gun battery still have 8 models or does it now use only 4?

I can see that if it keeps 8 then you can potentially place double the infantry muskets along its frontage and shoot gunners down twice as fast.

Then what about artillery fire? This goes on a measured 'burst' radius doesn't it? So if a shell blast would cover 4 sprites, isn't it now endangering 32 men instead of 16?

Given the larger size of forces in use in this game and the map, and the variety of sprites and flags, we need to cut some corners so 1:6 is going to be essential, but we could go to 1:8 - I just wanted to understand the implications.

I can play Saturday.
Regards Stefan

Digby wrote:What effect does changing the sprite ratio to 1:8 do?

It changes the number of infantry and cavalry represented by 1 sprite. At 1:4 a 500 man battalion can be fully represented by 125 sprites. At 1:8 a 1000 men can be represented. Nearly all the nappy games I host are at 1:8. It does not affect artillery.

When I first tried a 1:8 sprite ratio in GCM games, comments were heard about how small the regiments seemed. I've since dialed it back to 1:6 in most games I host and almost nothing is said -- either players don't notice it, or have grown more accustomed to the adjusted look. There is gameplay impact in that more regiments can be concentrated in the same space than before, meaning there can potentially be some additional concentration of infantry firepower. IMO, this is both situational and not terribly significant.

As Kevin says, guns are not impacted: a six-gun battery still shows 6 guns.

I'm not sure whether to go for 6:1 or 8:1. We have some cavalry units with not much more than 100 men so they'd be just 13 sprites if we go to 8:1 but at 6:1 I am not sure we'd be saving that much computer strain.

Hmmm...

Mr. Digby wrote:I'm not sure whether to go for 6:1 or 8:1. We have some cavalry units with not much more than 100 men so they'd be just 13 sprites if we go to 8:1 but at 6:1 I am not sure we'd be saving that much computer strain.

Hmmm...

How large are the battalions on average? Use that as the guide. A maximum of 125 sprites are displayed in a formation. That means:
1:4 = 500,
1:5 = 625
1:6 = 750
1:7 = 875
1:8 = 1000

Make it so 90% of the battalions fit in one of the ratios.

I won't be able to play in this battle. Usually, I sell at the flea market on the weekends and, until I have saved enough for my Thailand trip in October, I won't be available ... well, except for battles involving my division. I expect to have that accomplished in several more weeks and I will then be available for battles.

Sorry fellas, I can't make this game on Saturday. It is my 1st Wedding Anniversary on this day so I have firm plans already. In fact, weekend games for the rest of the summer are gonna be very difficult due to holidays and work. Mid September may well be the earliest, unfortunately.

Have a GG

Mike

I’m doubtful for both days due to family commitments. It’s just possible that I might be able to extricate myself, but it’s unlikely and I won’t know until the last minute.

I know that's not very helpful. Sorry.

Martin (J)

Grog wrote:Sorry fellas, I can't make this game on Saturday. It is my 1st Wedding Anniversary on this day so I have firm plans already. In fact, weekend games for the rest of the summer are gonna be very difficult due to holidays and work. Mid September may well be the earliest, unfortunately.

Have a GG

Mike

Well I'll be damned - your 1st Wedding anniversary this weekend, and mine last weekend. Congratulations Sir, have an enjoyable evening!  

Alas I will also be unable to attend this one as I will be abroad. I haven't played for ages, I hope I can make one soon!

Have a good game everyone!

Sorry. I can't make this weekend either.

Sorry to hear that Niall, and everyone else, but its understandable that people are busy at this time of year.

Right now we have 4 Spanish players and only 2 French (3 if I play on their side which seems I will). With some adjusting of the OOB its possible for the Spanish side to be played with just 4 players though it'll be tough. The French however MUST have a minimum of 5 players and really for this to work, they need 6 because getting troops across bridges is plain difficult and you just cannot rely on the AI to do it.

So I'm looking for 3 more bodies. So far Andy and Mark haven't responded. If Mitra does, we have our six, but otherwise are you guys available Neal and Baldwin?

Sam - haven't heard from you in ages.

Barring that, we could really use someone from the GCM group, whoever the French players trust! (Nap playing experience a big benefit).

Uncle Billy wrote:How large are the battalions on average?  Use that as the guide.  A maximum of 125 sprites are displayed in a formation. That means:
1:4 = 500,
1:5 = 625
1:6 = 750
1:7 = 875
1:8 = 1000

Make it so 90% of the battalions fit in one of the ratios.

1:4 = 17.5%
1:5 = 60%
1:6 = 85%
1:7 = 95%
1:8 = 100%

1:6 looks like it'll get us lots of benefits. Cavalry varies from 102 men to over 200 but 71% of squadrons are under 160 men (26 sprites @ 1:6). Half the cavalry is under 130 men/sq so going to 1:7 would knock those down to 18 sprites or less which will start to look pretty wimpish.

I, of course, will be there.

Thanks Mark, reliable as ever.

We need 1 more player to make it just possible for the French side, preferably 2. I more Spaniard would also help. We have 5 campaign players who've not yet answered and I've e-mailed them all but silence means they might be away on vacation.

I'll try to round up a straggler or two from the GCM rabble this evening.

Robinson will probably play, and perhaps the venerable William the Chatty.

kg little mac wrote:I'll try to round up a straggler or two from the GCM rabble this evening.

Robinson will probably play, and perhaps the venerable William the Chatty.

Is William bringing the heifers?

IMHO there is no rush to have big campaign battles each weekend. I mean they are spectacular and a highlight, but if there are not enough people available, then why not just postpone the campaign until later.
We can still fill such gaps with ad-hoc games like Palmer produced some weeks ago or even Sandbox vs. AI.
The campaign scenarios are also quite a lot of work for Digby I guess. So they deserve being played by enough players
Or Digby would have to split larger battles into smaller portions that require fewer players. I would prefer not to do that as it reduces strategic/large movements.

I agree Stefan. I would though like to get Alagon done and then take a break over th erst of July and thru August so people can chill and do other things. Its the last battle of turn 2 and once its over, so is turn 2 and I can tidy up the turn, do all kinds of admin, give out the last info and reports to people and do some other projects (like reskinning buildings! Hint hint!), then we'll kick off again in September.

The scenarios are not that much work. Its making up the OOBs that takes the time. I'm doing them mostly from scratch and there's around 300,000 men in the campaign. I only create them when they have their first battle so many of the Spanish army OOBs haven't been started (the SoW ones I mean). I have all the French done now except for Duhesme up in sunny Barcelona.

I don't think splitting big battles into smaller sections is very workable, it just drags the whole thing out over more weeks and has all kinds of odd repercussions like "can my division march there or will that field be full of Frenchmen fighting the left wing of this battle next Saturday?" Things like that. Of course its only turn 2 and our battles are still small. If either side ever gets 2 or 3 corps/armies together I'll probably eat my words but I don't see that happening very often.

Mark - if Sharpe plays, and Muleskinner, we are going to be okay. I haven't had a reply from Sharpe though and I can't get Sam (Weathers) to answer my e-mails but if he's around on GCM he could join the Spanish side.

6 French players will be enough, William can play at your discretion

He's probably never played on a map with an uncrossable river though, so it could be more trouble than its worth? Try and do a Nap GCM test game Friday? I can come along if that happens.

I should be available.

That's good news.

Good news. Baldwin can probably play. If Muleskinner does, we have 5 Spanish vs 6 French which is perfect

Davide/Mitra has e-mailed me to say he can make a 20:30h start but not 19:30h, is the hour delay a problem for anyone? That would give the French 7, giving them more flexibility which as an attacker across that river they could use.

If the hour delay is a problem we'll go with 5 vs 6.

No problem for me.

The later start will be OK, provided we begin on time or close to it. If we end up actually launching the game an hour beyond the 20:30 time, I would need to bow out.