AGEOD Forums

Hi, I've got some questions for experienced players:

1) I have not played any AGEOD games before, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me whether it is possible to build your own divisions/corps in PON and if so, how? I have seen buttons allowing you to split/attach units. I have also found out the hard way that buying whole corps is permanent (unless you want to lose 1000s of PP) and you can't split them up into their sub-units.

2) What is the significance of the HQ unit?

3) How can I turn of sudden death - I am playing as GB and I don't want the game to end around 1880.

4) Any advice about my post regarding 1.03 (http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?26748-PON-1-03b-quickfix)?

Thanks in advance.

few general points on 1 & 2.

Your units are set blocks, so can't as such be broken down. In general the Corps is the best thing to buy as it is the most efficient in terms of combat power, command points and comes with its own HQ formation (that gives a boost to the CPs available). You can combine combat formations with leaders (all you need is for the leader to be active). There is no reason not to do this and a few advantages so what I tend to do is to ensure each leader has a combat formation attached to him (usually the most powerful in a stack).

With your individual units you can combine into a stack. In effect each commander has a number of CPs and each unit costs a number. Try not to run up a malus of much more than 10% but I am finding that its ok up to that point. In the stack build a balanced force - your combat units (that will often have organic artillery and some cavalry etc), cavalry, specialist units (mountaineers, marines as needed), more artillery, supply wagons and don't overlook the specialist units. Balloons, signal units, engineers and hospitals (early-mid game which is all I have played) are all invaluable in boosting the effective power of a stack. Think of that conglomerate as an 'army'. To some extent tailor it to where it is likely to fight. PoN really rewards using the right specialists in the right place.

Those weak colonial brigades and divisions, with some high detect cavalry, are just the job for dealing with elusive rebels or taking military control in a poor terrain region. They will die pointlessly in a European war but then sending an elite Guards corps off into Africa to hunt rebels will see them die pointlessly.

Spend a bit of time checking over the detailed screens for each unit type and work out the advantages of the less obvious stuff. Equally pick through the unit types that make up a corps and see how well balanced that formation really is.

I think for #3, its in the setup screen?

1.03b is prob best handle with care. I started a completely fresh game (just pressed the turn command 15 times) and it was fine, but as in the CTD thread, I am having problems as a result with an existing save (but then clearly others are not so it is save compatible).

Thanks for the quick reply. The detail is much appreciated. I am in the habit of storing copies of my saves before applying patches so the only inconvenience of trying it would be if I had to re-install everything.

Egg Bub wrote:Thanks for the quick reply. The detail is much appreciated. I am in the habit of storing copies of my saves before applying patches so the only inconvenience of trying it would be if I had to re-install everything.

your question about 1.03. I think make the shift. I only have one game experience but crudely 1850-5/6, the world was marked by shortages, 1856-66, mostly by surpluses (you can buy what you need except a few luxury goods), as I play into the late 1860s what I'm seeing is the impact of population growth. I can still buy what I need but domestically I have 90% of my agriculture and all my factories open - the only loss makers are shipyards, my stocks are more or less static. In fact I am going back to fill in parts of my industrial chain (such as textiles) that I skipped early on in favour of luxury furniture etc.

So if population growth carries on (I'm finding sewers invaluable), then I will soon need to find some means to really expand my production (I am making a small profit on international trade, probably not doing this very efficiently but I want to lubricate the world economy) or I may face problems with either being able to sell enough (internationally) or meet their needs. So I wouldn't say the craftsman issue is that important.

If you are the UK you probably won't appreciate the regular 'our businessmen have bought ...." but if you are a country that struggles for gold and gems et al, then that is an invaluable bit of help