Extreme attrition losses

[Heldenkaiser]

OK. This is my first PBEM ever on BoA2. I am reasonably experienced on BoA1, so I don't think I am doing something fundamentally wrong. Nevertheless.

On my first move as the British in a FIW campaign scenario, I am experiencing extreme attrition losses, i.e. losses outside of combat situations. To wit: of three stacks that moved, two are practically wiped out, i.e. they haven't lost elements yet as far as I can tell, but almost all elements are nearly completely red. The third stack (Braddock) has some strength left in its regular elements, but the militia units are nearly gone. Heck, even the transport ships that did nothing but move from Boston to Albany lost some of their strength!

Now I realize most of these moves were partly, in one case entirely in winter weather, which seems even more of a no no in BoA2 than in BoA1, and most were for nearly the duration of the turn, which may mean stretching it a bit, or even more than just a bit. I also do see that for those reasons all my armies that moved have their cohesion reduced practically to zero, and I do understand from the manual that cohesion losses will also result in attrition losses. But still, if this it the way it's intended to work, then offensive moves would become next to impossible in this game. Which I don't believe. But then even accounting for severe conditions, losses like these (I would estimate them as exceeding 80% over the board, in all stacks that moved) would seem exceptionally high, would they not?

So, leaving aside that my opening moves may have been rather ill-considered, in excuse of which I can only offer my being un-acquainted with the obviously much harsher attrition formula of BoA2 to compared to BoA1, could some kind soul try to offer me an explanation, along the lines of either "this IS the way it's meant to work, learn to live with it" or "you ARE doing something fundamentally wrong" or "are you sure you're on the latest patch" (I am), or maybe "attrition losses DO seem to be extremely high in BoA2"--any comment will be most welcome. I am not despairing ... yet.

[lodilefty]

OK. This is my first PBEM ever on BoA2. I am reasonably experienced on BoA1, so I don't think I am doing something fundamentally wrong. Nevertheless.

On my first move as the British in a FIW campaign scenario, I am experiencing extreme attrition losses, i.e. losses outside of combat situations. To wit: of three stacks that moved, two are practically wiped out, i.e. they haven't lost elements yet as far as I can tell, but almost all elements are nearly completely red. The third stack (Braddock) has some strength left in its regular elements, but the militia units are nearly gone. Heck, even the transport ships that did nothing but move from Boston to Albany lost some of their strength!

Now I realize most of these moves were partly, in one case entirely in winter weather, which seems even more of a no no in BoA2 than in BoA1, and most were for nearly the duration of the turn, which may mean stretching it a bit, or even more than just a bit. I also do see that for those reasons all my armies that moved have their cohesion reduced practically to zero, and I do understand from the manual that cohesion losses will also result in attrition losses. But still, if this it the way it's intended to work, then offensive moves would become next to impossible in this game. Which I don't believe. But then even accounting for severe conditions, losses like these (I would estimate them as exceeding 80% over the board, in all stacks that moved) would seem exceptionally high, would they not?

So, leaving aside that my opening moves may have been rather ill-considered, in excuse of which I can only offer my being un-acquainted with the obviously much harsher attrition formula of BoA2 to compared to BoA1, could some kind soul try to offer me an explanation, along the lines of either "this IS the way it's meant to work, learn to live with it" or "you ARE doing something fundamentally wrong" or "are you sure you're on the latest patch" (I am), or maybe "attrition losses DO seem to be extremely high in BoA2"--any comment will be most welcome. I am not despairing ... yet.

This is WAD.

WIA really punishes winter movement [Snow, Frozen, Blizzard]
Rain will reduce your cohesion greatly simply because you lose cohesion every day you move, and rain slows movement.

WIA has many features that place a premium on management of logistics and movement.

[Heldenkaiser]

This is WAD.

WIA really punishes winter movement [Snow, Frozen, Blizzard]
Rain will reduce your cohesion greatly simply because you lose cohesion every day you move, and rain slows movement.

WIA has many features that place a premium on management of logistics and movement.

Thank you. So you do think these kind of extreme losses are realistic?

Is it then possible to move in winter at all?

And that ships also lose strength when moving, this is also the way it's meant to be?

Thanks!

[lodilefty]

Thank you. So you do think these kind of extreme losses are realistic?

Is it then possible to move in winter at all?

And that ships also lose strength when moving, this is also the way it's meant to be?

Thanks!

Yes. Ask Montgomerie and Arnold about Quebec in 1775
Yes. Just not far or often. Be sure to drag a supply wagon if you must move in winter to buffer the damage.
Yes, ships are also affected. Sailing ships, made out of wood.

[arsan]

Hi!
In winter (except on the south were it does not snow) you should be on winter quarters recovering strength and supplies.
And for anything but small garrisons or 1 or 2 regiment forces, by winter quarters i mean important towns and/or depots.
If you left a medium/big armies (6 regiments and up) during the winter on a fort, they will be sheltered form the weather hits but will probably not have enough supplies to be at 100% supply stocks (which is necessary to recover hits and put your elements out of the red.

On WIA the campaigns are highly seasonal.
You go back to base on October (beware to not get caught by the snow deep into enemy territory and far form your depots :bonk and on spring start to slowly gather your forces from your winter quarters to be ready to strike on may/june.
As you move into the wilderness enemy territory you will have to create/take depots and forts to use as a forward base. Because if you have to go from Albany to attack Montreal (for example) every summer you will spend half the campaigning game on the way
At least on the north, My winter movement are limited to finish to get the remaining units on adequate winter quarters and some small reorganizations between your forts/depots cities.
You an move them pretty safely from town to town as long as they start and end the movement on the same turn. Specially if they are adjacent
If they start a turn out in the open and with snow they will be hit hard.

Ships are also affected by the blizzard and snow. Let them at port in winter refitting and getting ready for the good weather.

On the south (at last out of the mountains), you have a wider campaigning season, but rain and mud can delay you a lot.

As Lodi explains, WIA is much more unforgiving/realistic in this than BoA. The lack of supply on the wild areas and the difficult weather/terrain will be an enemy as bitter as the French
Regards

PS: by the way, all this refers to playing with normal attrition. It you play with hardened attrition it will be... harder

Regards

[Heldenkaiser]

Thank you, Gentlemen ... I will ... ahh ... try to learn to fight under these conditions.