Timing Question: Norther Papers Howl

[DaemoneIsos]

As usual, I am learning a lot from PBEM that never came up against the AI.

I encountered another surprise on timing within a single turn, and I would like to ask if anyone else has confirmation on the way this works.

In specific, as you probably know, the Union player has an early ultimatum that it must capture Manassas by September 1861. Against a prepared CSA player, this is quite challenging, and the stakes are extremely high: minus 10 National morale for failing. I acknowledge that this creates the intended pressure on the Union player to make a premature play for Manassas (as McDowell was directed to do).

My first surprise was that I successfully captured Manassas on the first day of the Late September turn. My unhappy surprise was that at the end of that turn, the bastard journalists howled anyway, and took away my 10 morale.

I hope you will forgive my disappointment: this is the most severe event in the entire game (matched later with similar demands from the press). 10 morale is otherwise impossible to gain or lose without capturing an enemy capital (and virtually impossible against a human, who will move his capital cheaply in advance).

As you will see from the attachment, the howling occurs at the end of the turn, day 15 (September 30). The victory at Manassas was accomplished day one with a successful assault (September 16, two weeks earlier). I have to conclude from this that the event itself must ignore whatever occurs during the turn. This ends up requiring success by Early September, rather than Late September.

Is this interpretation correct? Is that what was intended? Is there an engine limitation that places the results a turn behind the deadline?

Many thanks for your information and clarification, -D

[gchristie]

IIRC, the event calls for the Union to threaten Richmond. In my current PBEM game I tried the roundabout measure of attacking up the James peninsula and captured the region adjacent to Richmond. This must have satisfied the event requirement, as it is Jan '62 and the drop in NM has not occurred.

Not sure if taking Manassas alone will satisfy the event, I think you need to progress closer to Richmond.

[Mickey3D]

If I remember well you have to move in a region 1 or 2 afar from Richmond. So Manassas is too distant.

[richfed]

I think, actually, in 1.14 that there are two events. In 1861 there is a Manassas event. In 1862 there is a Richmond event.

[slimey.rock]

The event is satisfied if you have 100% military control of Manassas. Is it possible that you didn't have 100% at the end of the turn?

[Gray_Lensman]

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[enf91]

Wait, the army has to move or take a 10 NM hit AND "threaten Richmond" or take ANOTHER 10 NM hit? Wow. What a penalty. Of course, for a Union player to sit for 3 months during decent campaigning season is pretty ridiculous in and of itself.
Now that I think of it, where does the player have to move to in order not to take the first hit? Because threatening Richmond for 2 consecutive turns is for the second event.

[Gray_Lensman]

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[DaemoneIsos]

In 1861, the CloseToRichmond event was replaced with the ArmyInManassas. To satisfy the ArmyInManassas event it is necessary to gain MC (Military Control >26 of Fauquier, VA (Manassas) by 1861/09/15. (not 100) as posted above. The reason for the flexibility in the "satisfaction" date is to allow the player/gamers some latitude in the timing of when they might wish to conduct their 1861 offensive.

If the event is not "satisfied" by 1861/09/15. There a secondary event that fires on 1861/09/30 and assesses a -10 NM hit for the USA and McClellan is placed in command of the Army of the Potomac.

If the event is "satisfied" there is no NM hit and McClellan retains command.

most likely, DaemoneIsos did not take or remain in Fauquier, VA (Manassas) long enough to shift the Military Control to greater than 26 by 1861/09/15.

Thank you so much, Gray; this was exactly what I needed to know.

My one remaining question is on the details of the 9/15 check for MC:

By 9/15, I had eliminated all defenders outside the town of Manassas; the rebel militia was still inside. (I came in on offensive, not assault). The MC was 95%, which I gather is the maximum until you clear out the town.

Can you confirm whether the event requires control of the town itself? It might be implicit in the goal (i.e. "control Manassas" as opposed to "control Fauquier"). That would explain the gap: that 95% MC would not be enough if the town itself were explicitly required.

Many Thanks Again, -D

[Gray_Lensman]

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[WhoCares]

What does qualify as a move here for the Richmond event?! Would a small cavalry raid already qualify (I'd assume no)?
Or is it bound to have an army command there?!
Or is it again required to gain a certain level of military control of one of these regions?

And is it just checked at the end of the turn, or would it also qualify if one reached the condition sometime during the turn but would be kicked out subsequently until the end of the turn?!