Idiot Couriers

[RebBugler]

As mentioned, I like the courier system...but they're so suicidal with TC2M. Will the new game couriers have any 'smarts'...maybe a little potion of AI.

[norb]

This will be something that will have to come out in testing.

[ironsight]

I just finished reading Gen Longstreet's book 'From Manassas to Appomattox' by Jeffery Wert and in the process of reading 'The Blue and the Gray' by Henry Commager which according to these books, there were many instances of couriers being captured or killed.

Still, i think in TC2M, the frequency of killed couriers is probably unrealistically and abnormally high as they tend to ride through 'known' enemy held ground.
Seems when the game's excellent AI was handed out to Army at game's start, the couriers were AWOL!

[norb]

The courier item was more of a game play aspect that I created that was not as obvious as some of the others. The point being that I wanted the player to realize how vitally important it was to keep the roads controlled. The result being that you can't get couriers through. The brains of the courier seems stupid, and it is. But the end result of having to control the roads is the more important aspect that I wanted to hold the player accountable for.

[estabu2]

norb wrote:

The courier item was more of a game play aspect that I created that was not as obvious as some of the others. The point being that I wanted the player to realize how vitally important it was to keep the roads controlled. The result being that you can't get couriers through. The brains of the courier seems stupid, and it is. But the end result of having to control the roads is the more important aspect that I wanted to hold the player accountable for.

Is that aspect of the game going to be the same or are you going to make the couriers able to go different routes to get to their destination? I mean, use the roads when open but be able to go through fields and whatnot to get where they need to go.

[norb]

We have not visited the courier changes as of yet. So I can't give a good answer.

[ironsight]

Norb wrote:
The point being that I wanted the player to realize how vitally important it was to keep the roads controlled. The result being that you can't get couriers through.

Yep, now we all know exactly why good interior lines along with its accompanying communications was so strategically important to commanding generals during battles.
I have to admit an occasional courier not reaching his intended destination now and then by being taken out by sharpshooters or just plain getting lost does add some realism to the game. That happened in the real battles and IMO should happen in the game also but more realistically.

It would still be great to at least give those couriers at least a little more AI to either:
-take a direct route rather than snaking all over the map's roads usually riding full gallup into enemy territory(maybe an option, though that could be messy)!
OR
-Maybe if a courier spots the enemy via LOS, they'll try an skeedaddle and rethink their route to at least have a 'chance' of not being killed? I think this is what a real flesh 'n blood courier would do if he spotted enemy forces in his path.

The one thing that impresses me at least with TC2M regardless of all these seemingly endless nitt-pickin sometimes trivial flaws we users come up with, is the game's realism! The proof of this? These perceived flaws, warts and all we comment on have not stopped us users from being dedicated even addicted to the game since its release. I have no doubt that you all created TC2M with the primary perfectionest goal of realism in mind cause thats how TC2M basically turned out.

Geuss what i'm trying to say, i would hope the suggestions and/or improvements posted in this here forum is regarded as brain storming and putting opinions on the table if you will in an effort to make the new game as perfect and yes successful as possible.
Even if the AI, toolbar, etc. in the new game remains basically the same as TC2M, you'll still have a definite winner IMO!

[norb]

What I want to do is try the road network a couple of times, then try the direct route.

[estabu2]

norb wrote:

What I want to do is try the road network a couple of times, then try the direct route.

How about, once you give an order, your engineers quickly cut you a road directly to your destination. B)

[Amish John]

I'd like to see the troops have enough smarts to march around a cornfield instead of through it and accumulate all that extra fatigue.

Any plans for waypoints? (in addition to the extra "smarts" mentioned above, not instead of).