T3 CoAF - Operational planning: the Indian and French Wars

[zyxy]

Status 280AD

The Dutch War has progressed smoothly. Thanks to excellent tactical footwork by the DP, the Dutch defenses were completely played apart, and our forces reached their objectives one turn earlier than planned. The cities of Auchtermuchty, Sebadoh and Middelburg have (re-)joined our empire, and the Dutch have only two cities left, far away in the northeast.

We are at war with France, and will soon declare on India.

Here is our empire. It has grown so big, I need two maps . The western half:

And the eastern half:

Plan

Our Indian and French targets are shown in purple squares on the maps. For convenience, I have also highlighted all Indian troops we can see. The purple disks indicate preferred attack points for Bangalore and Delhi

Here is how I propose to proceed. Army Group Southwest (Blue) will attack Delhi, after that Karachi. Army Group Northwest (Red) will attack Bangalore. Army Group East (Pink) will take Kolhapur, after that Jaipur, Bengal. Army Group North (Dark Blue) will attack Hyderabad, Marseilles and Avignon. All Groups will first deal with Indian forces roaming through our lands. Most likely Groups Southwest and North can handle this.

After taking their objectives, Army Groups Northwest and Southwest will move to the east to reinforce the other two Army Groups. If galleys are spotted, some of these forces should return to deal with potential threats. Any that are not needed as reinforcements can move towards China, the most likely next target.

Peace negotiations with the Dutch are ongoing, but they are expected to be concluded soon. It is likely that the Dutch will teach us new weapons technology that will enable us to upgrade our swordsmen. The Dutch say that swinging a ball with spikes on a chain is more effective than swaying a sword, although they have never really tried it....

I would suggest to upgrade the two veteran swords in Army Group North to MDI's. Marseilles is a large city and we could use some extra attack power. We should not upgrade any elites or regulars.

 

[GenMarshall]

I do plan on creating troop movement maps for this one, if you dont mind that is .

 

[Furiey]

Regarding the preferred attack point for Delhi. If we use Horses for the attack (we only have 1 Sword there and that regular) they can attack from Bently's Iron, across the grassland and hit Delhi on the same turn. If they go across the hill and the preferred attack point they will end up sat exposed next to the city for 1 turn. Attacking with Horses across the grass means we should be able to take Delhi on the first turn of the War.

 

[zyxy]

CG: I'll still be there tomorrow and post instructions for the TC. If need arises, you can amend as you think fit. OK?

Furiey: good point. I am thinking that we can declare on the next turn. We'll need the present turn to move the last sword of Group North into position and to move the horses in Roosting Tree and Ela Springs towards the nearby archers.
An all horse attack on Delhi sounds like a good idea. We can heal the ones near Auchtermuchty, then swing them around to Bentley, join up with the horses from RT and Ela, that gives 6-7 horse for the attack.

 

[Bertie]

I am thinking that we can declare on the next turn. We'll need the present turn to move the last sword of Group North into position and to move the horses in Roosting Tree and Ela Springs towards the nearby archers.

I agree: next turn, no later than the one after that. After glancing at the save, I see what you mean when you said in the chat that we have Indian archers all over our territory! I agree we need to make immediate plans to target them first.

 

[Furiey]

Why next turn?

I know we can take move in on the main Indian cities next turn, but what about the rest? it's a long march with no roads so there could be a long gap between the first cities and the Northern ones. It would draw all their units out though and allow us to pick them off as they come South.....

 

[zyxy]

I estimate the war will start between 300AD and 320AD (turn 2 - 4, counting the present turn as 0).

I think we should attack India as soon as reasonably possible, because Auchter, Bentley and Nijmegen are under cultural pressure from India, with fairly high flip risk:

This must be due to Bangalore and Delhi.

There is an Indian stack WNW of Bengal. Three archers, 2 spears and a warrior. Nothing to worry about, but it might be a good idea to give these guys some time to move a bit futher away from us.

There are Indian archers wandering through our lightly defended core region. I prefer to get them on flat land for minimum risk in taking them out.
Look at the archer S2 of Husborne. Assume the Indians move generally NE, he can only move onto hills or mountains next turn. We can try to guide him onto flat land the turn after that (by blocking the mountains SE and SSE of Husborne). The other 2 archers can be guided onto flat land more easily. This means we should not declare before turn 2.

Assuming that we build ST on turn 0, and that the "upgrade all" trick for upgrading units without movement points still works. Then all Army Groups can launch their attacks on turn 4 (or sooner):

• Army Group Northwest is ready to enter Bangalore lands on turn 1 (290AD), and can attack 2 turns later.
• Army Group Southwest is ready for Delhi on turn 4 (on turn 1 move wounded horses to New London or Auchter, on turn 2 heal, on turn 3 move to Bentley Iron, on turn 4 enter Delhi lands and attack). If we want to use the sword at Bentley then we need to enter and declare on turn 3.
• except for 1 elite sword, Army Group North can reach the mountain W2 of Hyderabad on turn 3, and enter their land on turn 4. This is assuming the 2 vet swords will be upgraded and thus healed on turn 2. The elite sword can be used on the nearby archer, and catch up later. Two MDI, 2 elite sword and a horse should be more than enough for Hyderabad.
• It's impossible to say how long Army Group East will need to stop the resistance in Sebadoh, but we can move some spears in and start moving on turn 1. Then they can enter Kolhapur lands and attack on turn 3. If we want to add the sword it needs to enter 1 turn earlier.
• We should be able to guide all Indian archers to unsafe locations (for them ) in 2 or more turns.

For a simultaneous advance on 4 targets: declare war on turn 4.
Kolhapur: falls in turn 4 (or 5 with sword)
Delhi: turn 4 (or 5 using the sword).
Hyderabad: turn 5
Bangalore: turn 6

For earliest takeover of cities: declare war on turn 2.
Kolhapur: turn 3 (with or without sword)
Delhi: turn 4 (with or without sword)
Bangalore: turn 4
Hyderabad: turn 5

Compromise: declare on turn 3.
Kolhapur: turn 3 (or 4 with sword)
Delhi: turn 4 (with or without sword)
Hyderabad: turn 5
Bangalore: turn 5

What shall we do?

 

[GenMarshall]

CG: I'll still be there tomorrow and post instructions for the TC. If need arises, you can amend as you think fit. OK?

Well, I was hoping to lend a hand in helping with the troop movement maps (IE. Posting movement suggestions on a map in this thread)

 

[zyxy]

CG: sorry, I misunderstood. Please make the map if you want.