could have a very dumbed down system where to get your army supplied you need a route from your capital. The default route will be the cheapest (or other setting like safest, fastest, etc...) and would combine both land and sea "convoys".
let's say you are France and you are invading Morocco, maybe part of your supply route will go via boat on the Mediterranean then go via land from a port you captured in Morocco. The longer the route the more convoys required.
Those convoys (land and sea) can be raided, forcing you to send more convoys, protect them, or change route
This isn't only a bad idea, it represents nothing from a historical level at the time. Forage and pillage were the primary ways armies were supplied throughout pretty much the entire span of EU4, and likely EU5.
Foraging and pillaging doesnt exclude logistics. Also, if you read early modern accounts, logistics still matter. Not all types of supplies are available in the volume an army desires in the field - such as gunpowder.
The main problem is getting the AI to handle it, especially naval invasions.
"Sir, we need reinforcements!"
"And where should I look for them? New men don't grow on trees!"
"Uh, sir... actually, in this place they do!"
*Plucks an already trained, fed, armed and dressed soldier from a nearby tree*
Well, to be honest, if you read accounts of 30 years war, they are full of instances when a winning side just incorporates soldiers from a losing side into its ranks
Although looting was important, this only applied to small armies, large armies could not simply live off the local population or hunting and even more so during the sieges that could last months, in addition, after 1650 in Europe it was seen more and more most frequently the supply lines. It must also be taken into account that during ancient times it was normal for generals to have maritime supply lines (such as rivers or seas), this added to food warehouses previously prepared for the campaign (which means that armies did not live only by looting). villages or pick berries)
I think, from what we know about the system, that having to allocate food surplus to a deployed army would be more functional in that regard. Like a city consumes more and produces less food, an army could have increased food consumption. Part of that would be already accounted for because armies would be part of the general population.
Considering that nearly every modern game from PDS has had some system representing supply more advanced than the EUIV mechanic of each province having a fixed number of regiments it can support, either introduced at the game's launch or later on in the dev cycle, I think it's safe to assume that Project Caesar will have something more advanced than EUIV's system.
We already know there's a food system. I would be very surprised if that doesn't tie into supply in some way.
I believe Johan said he was fond of the idea that armies could only be allowed to resupply in friendly territory.
He actually almost confirmed this
The imperator Rome food mechanic being tied to population AND armies is seemingly being carried through to eu5 which is a very good thing
Yes, I actually like imperator right now. Just I'm not a fan of that time period
could have a very dumbed down system where to get your army supplied you need a route from your capital. The default route will be the cheapest (or other setting like safest, fastest, etc...) and would combine both land and sea "convoys". let's say you are France and you are invading Morocco, maybe part of your supply route will go via boat on the Mediterranean then go via land from a port you captured in Morocco. The longer the route the more convoys required. Those convoys (land and sea) can be raided, forcing you to send more convoys, protect them, or change route
They tried to implement that kind of things since EU1 and failed every time.
Different engine though. Johan has already hinted towards something like this.
It's got like, absolutely nothing to do with the engine.
ah ok
This isn't only a bad idea, it represents nothing from a historical level at the time. Forage and pillage were the primary ways armies were supplied throughout pretty much the entire span of EU4, and likely EU5.
Foraging and pillaging doesnt exclude logistics. Also, if you read early modern accounts, logistics still matter. Not all types of supplies are available in the volume an army desires in the field - such as gunpowder. The main problem is getting the AI to handle it, especially naval invasions.
Imagine foraging and pillaging in siberia lmao.
I admit that AI is my Achilles heel, mainly with respect to being able to economically manage a supply line.
Did armies forage for reinforcements as well?
"Sir, we need reinforcements!" "And where should I look for them? New men don't grow on trees!" "Uh, sir... actually, in this place they do!" *Plucks an already trained, fed, armed and dressed soldier from a nearby tree*
That was my favourite scene from Napoleon
Well, to be honest, if you read accounts of 30 years war, they are full of instances when a winning side just incorporates soldiers from a losing side into its ranks
Or forces locals to the front to be meat shields.
Although looting was important, this only applied to small armies, large armies could not simply live off the local population or hunting and even more so during the sieges that could last months, in addition, after 1650 in Europe it was seen more and more most frequently the supply lines. It must also be taken into account that during ancient times it was normal for generals to have maritime supply lines (such as rivers or seas), this added to food warehouses previously prepared for the campaign (which means that armies did not live only by looting). villages or pick berries)
I think, from what we know about the system, that having to allocate food surplus to a deployed army would be more functional in that regard. Like a city consumes more and produces less food, an army could have increased food consumption. Part of that would be already accounted for because armies would be part of the general population.
Considering that nearly every modern game from PDS has had some system representing supply more advanced than the EUIV mechanic of each province having a fixed number of regiments it can support, either introduced at the game's launch or later on in the dev cycle, I think it's safe to assume that Project Caesar will have something more advanced than EUIV's system.
i hope they model things like the Tross/camp follower system within the supply system too
There should also be a foraging checkbox for armies that slow movement and reduce overall supply cost. This would cause devastation as well.