British EP in '75 under 1.06

[squarian]

I'm still formulating an opinion regarding the effect of the 1.06 changes on play balance, but in the meantime came up with these questions.

1) Can the additional EP by event only be gained in the turn the event appears?

2) Do the events appear at regular intervals or randomly? (I could have counted but I didn't think about and now I'm too lazy to go back through saved turns).

3) Given that the overall EP income is lower, what effect do additional merchant ships have? Has the proportional contribution of a single merchant ship been calibrated to the new lower total EP income? The cost/benefit analysis of buying additional merchants may have changed pretty drastically depending on how this works.

[arsan]

Hi

I don't get what events are you asking about
Regarding the merchants you can buy with EPs, yes i guess they must be less effective now. Arodun 40% as they were, as IIRC thats the EP generaion reduction applied to the boxes (not counting the new port control evenst developed by Lodi
Probably before they were too much effective .

In any case, i woudl take the EP part of the game more as a flavor thing that gives you a little control on what reinforcement you want to ask for than as a full production system like in AACW on which you should analyze cost/benefit and the like.
I think the results of the EP buys will never have a decisive effect on a campaign. Can give your side a gentle push, but will not make or break a strategy.
Cheers

[squarian]

Hi

I don't get what events are you asking about
Regarding the merchants you can buy with EPs, yes i guess they must be less effective now. Arodun 40% as they were, as IIRC thats the EP generaion reduction applied to the boxes (not counting the new port control evenst developed by Lodi
Probably before they were too much effective .

Yes, the new port control events are what I had in mind. So I'm right in assuming the extra EPs bestowed by these events only occur on turns the event occurs? The obvious answer is yes, but I'm still wondering.

I agree they were too effective - under 1.05 if the Brits were doing well they would often have little to spend the EPs on by mid-game. With 1.06, I rarely have enough, and I'm usually forced to spend what I have on replacements and diplomatic options. With the reduction in auto-replacements, it's hard to keep regiments up to strength - which of course is as it should be.

If Lodi fixes the American build location problem, it'll be even rougher for the British - as it is, I usually don't have to buy new supply units because by mid-game the new American supply units often appear at cities I already control!

I don't follow what you mean about 40% generation reduction, though - can you explain that a bit more?

In any case, i woudl take the EP part of the game more as a flavor thing that gives you a little control on what reinforcement you want to ask for than as a full production system like in AACW on which you should analyze cost/benefit and the like.
I think the results of the EP buys will never have a decisive effect on a campaign. Can give your side a gentle push, but will not make or break a strategy.
Cheers

I agree it's not as crucial as in AACW, but still - telling a grognard not to analyse a part of a game is like telling a kid there's no Santa Claus

Lodi, when you get a chance can you tell me about the frequency of the port events - random or on set schedule? As far as I can tell, they appear regularly every three months - is that right?

[arsan]

Hi!

Lodi should know all the details, but meanwhile...
I think the "EP for port control" events checks every 3 turns to see who controls the ports.
But the increased EP's are gained every turn the conditions are meet (of course after the control check happens).
My comments about the 40% is because IIRC thats the reduction made on the merchants EP earnings on the boxes.
Now the brits gets 40% or what they made before. I guess roundings up or down can also make some difference.

Cheers