Fatal Years for 1.03

[Chilperic]

Opening a new thread for the mod because the precedent thread is now too long.

Fatal Years is a mod for Revolution Under Siege. Its 2 main features are better gameplay thanks to a reworking of player options and an improved AI.

The only scenario currently modded is the Great Campaign from June 1918.

All three factions (Red, Southern and Siberian Whites) are playable.

Fatal Years may be played in PBEM or against AI.

Best options for AI are:



Note: the +2 bonus for Fog of war may be discarded or reduced to +1. The AI will remain a worthy opponent.

Fatal Years rules are available here, in pdf format:

http://moddercorner.com/2011/07/31/just-for-pleasure/

Among the main changes, the option system has been reworked to give player choice between enforcing a land reform or stick with the historical doctrine made by each side, more diplomatic options, the possibility to recruit units of opposing factions, and an Allied Intervention Level determining the size and the actions of Western Allied Units during the Civil War.

Beyond the 3 main playable factions, the Grand Campaign features several minor factions, Ai driven only: Ukrainians, Poles, Anarchists, Freikorps and Greens. Don't neglect them [;)] AI being rather smart [:)]

please do not neglect Clovis' mod...it really makes you actually want to play the game, and think about strategy for the Reds.

the more I play this the more I become convinced that RUS is one of the best strategy games I have ever played... and I have played many since the mid 80's. The AI in this mod is at level with Sid Meier's best efforts.

Note for Russian players: I've seen some of you are considering greatly Fatal Years. Thanks first[:)]. Please don't forget I'm French, not Russian. I've tried to be as fair and as historical than possible between the different sides. Certainly there are errors or misconceptions. Don't waver to post your critics, I will read them and if the engine allows I will modify Fatal Years.

Last point: I've seen some of you are using pirated version of RUS. I'm not a moralist, and to say the least I've no real praise for SEPRUS patch policy and for the game design ideas put in the official campaign. BUT they deserve the price of their work and piracy is the best way to destroy any new game of this sort. So, if ever I get the feeling someone uses a pirated version of RUS, I will just ignore him. [:-] I will never support pirated games.

Fatal Years is available here:

http://moddercorner.com/2011/07/31/just-for-pleasure/

Enjoy, post remarks and AAR [:)]

[Chilperic]

as a side note, the last version of Fatal Years is the most downloaded until now.[:)]

[Chilperic]

New version of the rules available on my blog ( see my sig).

[Chilperic]

Collecting movies of my last test game. I'm playing Southern WHites against Red AI and Siberian AI.

The first movie is the replay of the early September 18 turn, when the Red launched an attack against Azov in the back of my main forces trying to capture Ekaterinodar...I was expecting a Red advance along the railroad


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIIMmBNcaFQ


The late September turn:

Next turn: situation remains tense... I couldn't send back Denikin 'sArmy because of rainy weather and broken railroad, but my provisional group hasn't reduced the Reds, just saved Azov. Denikin assault on Ekaterinodar, necessary considering the importance of the region for Whites, has been a bloody success...Yet a few more battles like this and Southern Whites are gone


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo7vMvFrLio

The early October turn:

I've at last captured Ekaterinodar, but The Krasnov Army is insufficient to fight the Red forces in the vicinity, too strong. Wrangel is commanding units in formation and can't do much. Red isn't fortunately exploiting the situation, critical for me, but the appearence of Stalin's force is an ominous sign of a possible large scale offensive before winter.

Around Tzaritsyn, my weak Cossack column is no match for the strong Red garrison.

The Volga front is showing Red and Siberian AIs fighting, resulting in a balanced and rzather close to reality frontline. Red AI has reduced much of the revolts in his rear during the last turns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91GcTNQFFfU

[JJKettunen]

I have a good game going. On early April 1919 I spend 20 EPs to raise Allied Intervention Level to 13. It did happen but French and Greek forces are still stuck.[:@] Should I go back a turn, and spend my money to raise more money (which I really need) instead?

[JJKettunen]

Ok, I just noticed that 3 French divisions are actually free, although there was a mutiny. I won't go back...

[JJKettunen]

Woah, on May 1919 Stalin attacked from Tsaritsyn with a mighty force (stack strength over 1000) against my well entrenched Cossacks (approx. strength 700). The battle lasted for a month, causing high casualties, but the Red spring attack was eventually repulsed!

[Chilperic]

ORIGINAL: Keke

Ok, I just noticed that 3 French divisions are actually free, although there was a mutiny. I won't go back...

WAD indeed. You may buy French and Greek full commitment in the war, but the ranks remain prone to refuse to participate in a new war after the WW1 experience, and the influence of socialist ideas which were especially strong in France in 1919.

One of my few essential design guidelines is to never create a bonus for a player without at least some ransomness or better side effects. This way eradicates most of the risk of the no brainer feature and it adds tension in gameplay. [:)] Just imagine your Powerful French divisions blocked when you need them to stop an ongoing Red offensive [:D]

[Chilperic]

ORIGINAL: Keke

I have a good game going. On early April 1919 I spend 20 EPs to raise Allied Intervention Level to 13. It did happen but French and Greek forces are still stuck.[:@] Should I go back a turn, and spend my money to raise more money (which I really need) instead?

Normally they should be released at worst a few turns after.

[Chilperic]

I've forgotten to precise mutinery doesn't affect ALL French and Greek units, only a random part. So anything is WAD

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Keke

Woah, on May 1919 Stalin attacked from Tsaritsyn with a mighty force (stack strength over 1000) against my well entrenched Cossacks (approx. strength 700). The battle lasted for a month, causing high casualties, but the Red spring attack was eventually repulsed!

I spoke too soon. Stalin didn't retreat but came immediately back for more. He's gone berserk. The battle at the Orlovski depot has raged for another month. I can't afford these sort of victories!

[Nikel]

But what happened in that battle? 9 cavalry lost due to ranged fire

Did your cossacks charged the red cannons like the light brigade? [;)]

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Nikel

But what happened in that battle? 9 cavalry lost due to ranged fire

Did your cossacks charged the red cannons like the light brigade? [;)]

Most likely they were just out of strength after 2 months of continuous battle.

[Chilperic]

I've made no change to the combat routines of the official game. Maybe a cavalry division separated from the Krasnov's Army?

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

I've made no change to the combat routines of the official game. Maybe a cavalry division separated from the Krasnov's Army?

No, but absolutely worn out units dissolving in artillery fire.

[Chilperic]

Next turn of my current test game: October 18

I was expecting a Red attack against Novocherkass or Tikhorest. I've positioned Denikin in this last region to block the way to Ekaterinodar, whose loss would be a catastroph.

If Stalin hasn't advanced this turn, the Reds have indeed targeted Tikhorest in a very indirect way. Poor Mamontov was unfortunately for Cossacks in their path:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxJ5vREV7Y

On the bright side, Red morale is under 90. So I've used one of the new FY option: the possibility to recruit among enemy soldiers, ie creating desertions.

In FY, prisoner recruitment has been automaticized,as any faction routinely enrolled prisoners. The new desertion options are the game recreation of frequent desertions occuring during the Civil War, some Red units turning Whites during the Yudenich offensive when Bashkirs and some Komuch units joined Reds at the end of 1918. The option works best when the enemy NM is under 100 and yet better under 90. The targeted faction will lose some units when you will gain some conscript points.

The AI knows how to use these options [:)]

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

I've forgotten to precise mutinery doesn't affect ALL French and Greek units, only a random part. So anything is WAD

Gamingwise I'm having time of my life playing through the summer of 1919... but I haven't seen the Odessa troops in any of my games, apart from the 3 divisions freed by 20 EPs (now locked and partly unsupplied), been free for even 1 turn. They are in constant mutiny all the time. Especially with high/max AIL it just feels wrong.

[Chilperic]

ORIGINAL: Keke

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

I've forgotten to precise mutinery doesn't affect ALL French and Greek units, only a random part. So anything is WAD

Gamingwise I'm having time of my life playing through the summer of 1919... but I haven't seen the Odessa troops in any of my games, apart from the 3 divisions freed by 20 EPs (now locked and partly unsupplied), been free for even 1 turn. They are in constant mutiny all the time. Especially with high/max AIL it just feels wrong.

Send me your turn and the backup 1 folder. I will look at.

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

Send me your turn and the backup 1 folder. I will look at.

It's late August now and the AIL has dropped to 11. I'd guess the last two turns don't help much, but I attach them here anyway.

[Chilperic]

ORIGINAL: Keke

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

Send me your turn and the backup 1 folder. I will look at.

It's late August now and the AIL has dropped to 11. I'd guess the last two turns don't help much, but I attach them here anyway.

Thanks. Anyway, I've found 2 sources for this trouble:

-intervention events ended in June 19. Extended to 1921 ( but a 8 or more intervention level after 1919 is a really rare occurence).

- I will hinder mutiny events to fire when the AIl is superior to 11.