Slitherine

Is there a formula or rule of thumb or way to understand how casualties are calculated for any give impact or charge? I see the numbers popping up, but what determines that? Can someone help me out or provide a link to where this is answered? I do not see it in the manual. Thank you!

There is no simple way to describe how casualties are calculated, you would need to look at the code.

One of the advantages of computers over manually resolved board-games is that the calculations do not have to be kept simple enough for a player to resolve, because the computer does all the work. The disadvantage of using more complex and "computery" calculations with various intermediate stages is that it then become very difficult to describe the process in simple terms.

The game model is more about morale (cohesion) than casualties, so knowing exactly how casualties are calculated isn't important for decision making purposes.

What is worth saying is that the result of a round of close combat does not depend on the casualties, it is the other way round. The result of the combat is calculated first and then the casualties, with the loser of the combat suffering higher casualties, and the winner lower. This is based on the phenomenon that in Ancient battle casualties tended to be fairly low until one side gave way.