(07-28-2013, 12:00 AM)kevindusi Wrote: I officially protest the results of the combat, 4/2 GN/RE against 2RD brigades, in the mountains. GN attack at a 3, RD defend at a 1. GN wizards cast chaos, lightning, lightning... GN lost 5 brigades and the battle report lists the RD losses at "less than a dozen creatures". I am hoping the <12 is not correct (103 taught me that RD losses never read right), but if it is I certainly would take issue with the results of the combat.
This is, of course, an unofficial protest, as nothing has been received by Support@Alamaze.co, although I am expecting something given that group's attrition on the turn results.
I did actually update the loss descriptors last weekend, and have already reviewed this combat. With only 20 creatures in a RD brigade, less than a dozen can be half a RD brigade.
But let's take this opportunity to break down combat further, hopefully for everyone's benefit.
4GN/2RE in 1GN (12000 troops)
2RD in 2RD group (40 red dragons)
Leadership equal
Morale pretty equal
No Attrition (it's only turn 2!)
Combat bonuses:
RD has declared GN an enemy: RD +5%
RD issues defend order: RD +10%
1GN gets small morale bonus (The 1st group of each kingdom is highlighted in all kingdom setups)
GN loses 10% morale due to RD special combat impact
(also GN's recruits effectively nullify GN terrain bonus in Mtns)
All of these (except the Recruit's terrain impact) are in effect after/beyond the stated values on the turn results are examined. From the stated values on the turn results Kevin is likely expecting about a 2:1 advantage over the RD (he's played both positions, and knows alot).
However, after the bonuses applied (once battle starts), 1GN is actually at less than a 3:2 'point' advantage.
A minute on the tactic selection. Each kingdom has a % loss retreat level for each of their 3 tactical selections. The GN choose 3, the highest possible (takes the highest level of losses before attempting retreat), the RD chooses 1 (their lowest of the 3 options). HOWEVER, the GN's chaos spell means that the RD will not retreat, they will continue to fight until they are destroyed or their opponent retreats. The only effect of this in the battle is that at the end of each battle phase, as retreats are checked, they will not likely be met until a whole lot of damage has been sustained by either side.
Both GN P1s cast lighting, providing 1000 'points' of spell damage. Like all damage, this will be divided by the RD's defensive value and applied during the magic phases (for the spells, not all damage) of the battle.
The RD (the pre-eminent military power in Alamaze) has the highest defensive values of any kingdom. This means that all the damage done against them is going to be divided by the highest value as they take losses, i.e. 2000 'points' of damage will increase a RD group's attrition by less than 2000 'points' of damage dealt to any other kingdom. Also important to note, morale & leadership impact defensive value. The RD's +15% is also applied to their defensive values. The -10% dragon ability impact to the GN will also lower their defensive value by 10%.
Now, looking at the troop makeups of these two kingdoms, the GN is a little over 11% archers, a little over 8% cavalry and about 80% infantry. The RD as one would imagine, delivers most of its damage in the archery and cavalry phases of the battle.
These two factors mean
ALOT as the battle progresses. The RD is going to reduce the GN force before the bulk of the GN gets into combat. The GN is going to have more bodies falling, relative to the RD, since their defensive value is lower than that of the RD. A power 3 in the GN group's presence would have helped with the shield effect, or a shield spell cast by the GN would have increased the GN defensive value. The GN power 1s don't have many other choices in this combat, but 500pt lightnings just aren't going to do much to the RD.
So, the GN hits their retreat factor first, and they
attempt to retreat. There was a descriptor for this in the battle:
GNOME CASUALTIES HAD NOW EXCEEDED ACCEPTABLE LEVELS IN THE JUDGEMENT OF GENERAL I BLIKAS SO HE ORDERED THE
RETREAT BE SOUNDED. RETREAT PROVED DIFFICULT FOR THE GNOME: MANY MORE LOSSES WERE SUFFERED IN THE PROCESS.
This, like most of the information provided on turn results, is significant. The slower Gnome/Recruit mix lost 'many more' troops as they ran from the mightier, flying Red Dragons.
So, we have the GN losing 75-80% versus the RD losses less than 30%, even though the starting point values favored the GN. I'd like to put it in a little different light, however.
The 4GN/2RE mix is maybe equivalent to 80% of the starting GN military, whereas the 2RD is about 50% of the starting RD military. Without knowing anything else, what should the expectations be in a fight between ~3/4 of the GN starting military versus ~1/2 of the starting RD military?
I do think it's good news that we've now seen players of the dragon positions complaining that their groups aren't strong enough while players fighting the dragons complain that they are too strong.
