Forming Historical Corps commands

[Philippe]

I'm trying to get a better handle on how this game works by trying to re-enact the opening moves of WW I.

So far I'm pleased with what I've seen. The French AI seems to be abandoning Plan XVII a little earlier than they actually did, but that doesn't bother me very much (and if it did, all I would have to do is play head-to-head against myself and give them their historical orders).

What I'm curious about (and it probably stems from a lack of knowledge of the game system on my part) is how to form the subordinate corps headquarters that the Germans used.

From what I've seen so far the OOB checks out as far as the divisions go, but some of the corps are independant commands and others have their divisions attached to their army headquarters.

My understanding was that corps in WW I (for the French and the Germans) were often more rigid than in other periods. Divisions were often paired together on a relatively permanent basis.

So in the invasion of Belgium I want to send the III Reserve Corps and eventually the IX Reserve Corps off to mask Antwerp. The divisions are happily and correctly a part of the I Army - but since I can't find their corps hq units, I would have to send the individual divisions off on their mission.

Am I missing something, or is this a design decision?

I'm also curious as to how to go about putting a brigade-strength garrison into an important town (e.g. Brussels). A division or a corps seems a waste.

[Shri]

French AI is fond of METZ suicide attacks, beware of them, i have seen 2 or even 3 armies attacking at once, but if you have the 5th army dug in with the 6th army and 2 corps to support you can survive.

The ARMY-CORPS relation doesn't work in this game, a trick many use in 1914 is the "DOUBLE CORPS SYSTEM (DC)", 2 corps i.e. 4 divisions + artillery + supply truck is a strong formation to hold a line.
The armies can charge into the Franco-British lines and these DC can form on the flanks to help and capture area.
Militia can hold your rear lines for some time, but if there is a front then better to not use militia.

[ifailmore]

So instead of using corps to attack you put them in a line of 3 or4 proince wide and send the Army unit to attack and the crops will MTSG?

[Shri]

Well say you have the 1st army and have charged into Lilee, then having a corps at say- Douai or Tournai or Mons or Ypres will allow your corps to MTSG,
remember as far as possible do not let corps attack as first attacker loses a lot of men and corps tend to get wiped out in 1914's big battles,
Armies usually have 3+ corps i.e. 6-7 divisions against the 1-4 divisions in corps, so Army loses get balanced.