Bringing FOG2 Battles More In Line With Empires

[w_michael]

The two main problems with the transfer of battles to FOG2 are frontage and leader bonuses. I think that FOG2 could be modified a little to better accommodate the game system differences.

Frontage is basically a limit on how much of your army can engage the enemy at one time due to terrain constraints. FOG2 already has mechanics for mid-battle reinforcements, so why not limit the starting forces for armies in close terrain? As your forces rout and disperse in FOG2, the AI creates off-map reinforcements if you have unallocated troops.

In FOG2 each side can have up to four generals. You can roughly simulate the leadership ability of an army by varying the number of FOG2 generals. No Empires leader = 1 FOG2 general. Add an additional FOG2 general for having an Empires leader and one additional general for each appropriate offensive/defensive value. For example a Empires army with a 2-0 leader would have 4 FOG2 generals if attacking, and 2 FOG2 generals if defending. Allied Empires armies would generate one allied FOG2 general.

The above work around isn't perfect, and doesn't account for other Empires leader's abilities on the battlefield, but I think that it would be an improvement to the current system.

[rbodleyscott]

The main priority of the FOG2 export system was not to replicate the simplified FOGE internal battle system but to make interesting tactical battles. Hence we made a conscious decision not to attempt to replicate the FOGE frontage system.

Yes, it can be gamed, but the export option is only available in SP, so it is up to you whether you choose to game it or not, and whether or not you increase the Empires difficulty setting to compensate.

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As to the question of leadership ratings, these are already simulated by significantly altering the quality of the troops to reflect the effects of the opposing generals' pre-battle maneouvres. This has far more effect than altering the number of generals would.

[w_michael]

At least you can have the best of both worlds. You can fight interesting battles in FOG2 and just not import the results into the Empires game. You just pick up at the battle again and let Empires internal system resolve it.