Manpower depletes too rapidly

[Byrd]

Playing several campaigns, SP and PBEM, as Entente and CP.

One thing I can say is, that usually by mid 1915, everyone is out of recruits. I know this is supposed to simulate lesser enthusiasm for the war, but it just goes over the top. Numbers don't match whatsoever imo.

[AndrewKurtz]

Playing several campaigns, SP and PBEM, as Entente and CP.

One thing I can say is, that usually by mid 1915, everyone is out of recruits. I know this is supposed to simulate lesser enthusiasm for the war, but it just goes over the top. Numbers don't match whatsoever imo.

Any chance you are using auto replacements?

[Byrd]

No. None of the three playing in the PBEM are. Neither am I using auto replacements in the SP Campaign; nor in the second PBEM game I'm currently playing.

The problem, as I see it, is that yanking out divisions in the beginning combined with the number of replacements neccessary due to the first years offensive and the offensives that usually take place in late 1915, early 1916 are not properly supported by the game. According to what I've read, recruitment wasn't an issue prior to 1917 if anything. I've maxed out production of troops and I am no where near where I should be historically and considering that I have to spend all of my 200-colliflower manpower on replacements now, I won't get to but maybe 60% of actual forces fielded historically at the high-tide.

All I'm saying. Recruitment is cut short way too soon. Casualties are simply too high. Keep in mind, that Germany relied heavily on reserve Infantry too and still the game enters manpower-savings-mode by mid-1915. Too soon I believe. Game becomes a crazy matter of attrition well before it should.

[Merlin]

Is this 1.01? 1.02 seems to have class conscription events which give 1,200.

[Altaris]

Yes, I'm curious about version too. 1.02 conscripts should be holding out pretty well. Eventually it does start to run thin, but all nations struggled with manpower as the war entered the later years, particularly 1917+.

[Pocus]

I would be in favor of always allowing drafting events but at a cost of NM. I know that Germany had to draft people from 19 to 48 in late 1917, if not mistaken. You always find men, but they are younger and younger or older and older.

[Byrd]

Sounds like an idea.

Although, if the events come at the cost of NM, they should be substantial in size. NM decreasing as a result of war weariness is, combined with huge penalties through battles, already a lot. But I guess it comes down to fine tuning.

We have to keep in mind, that multiple factions share one pool. I'd be in favor of increasing starting values, overall Manpower injunctions by turn while slightly lowering costs.

The numbers of men mobilized were enormous. Fortunately, the numbers are out for everyone to see. That should make calibration easier.

[Byrd]

Yes, I'm curious about version too. 1.02 conscripts should be holding out pretty well. Eventually it does start to run thin, but all nations struggled with manpower as the war entered the later years, particularly 1917+.

Well yes, they ran thin. As it should be.

But just take a look at the numbers of troops raised by the CP at different stages during the war and compare it with what you got on the field.

[Byrd]

These are the actual numbers of men mobilized

GB 5,704,000
Brit. India 1,440,000
Australia 413,000
New zealand 129,000
North Africa 260,000
South Africa 130,000
further engl. Colonies 135,000
Canada 629,000
Belgium 365,000
France 7,935,000
french colonies 215,000
Serbia 1,001,000
Romania 1,000,000
Russia 15,070,000
Montenegro 50,000
Japan 800,000
Portugal 100,000
Italy 5,615,000
Greece 355,000

Germany 13,250,000
Austria-Hungary 8,322,000
Bulgaria 400,000
Turkey 1,600,000

from zentner, C., Illustrierte Geschichte des 1. Weltkriegs, 1990.