Question:
Why do the El Ferrol and Cadiz artillery disbands cause the CD levels to drop, while the Cartagena and Mahon disbands have no effect on the CD levels? Was something dropped from the Loyalist OB, or is their a history based reason for this apparent difference in handling between the two sides?
Answer:
After looking at my FWtBT development notes I think both of the issues cited above about the disbandment of the static artillery units at the main Spanish naval bases were oversights on my part. Also, looking at this, I now see that there is also a potential problem with how these units are disbanded if Rule 44H (Variable Beginning to the Rebellion) is used. With variable rebellion, one side may start owning anywhere from 0 to all 4 of these static units, yet per the OBs the only ones they can disband are the historical ones. To fix all of these problems, consider the OBs and rules changed as follows:
Insurgent OB:
Add to Jan I 37:
Special: If ‘Variable Beginning to the Rebellion’ (Rule 44H) resulted in 1-0 Art X Mahon becoming an Insurgent unit:
Disband: 1x 1-0 Art X Mahon to:
1 art RP
Notes:
- The Mahon Art X may be disbanded while isolated; the resulting art RP then accumulates at the port in the hex.
- Reduce Intrinsic Coast Defenses of Mahon (33:4625) from Level 2 to Level 1 when the Mahon Art X is disbanded.
Add to Jan II 37:
Special: If ‘Variable Beginning to the Rebellion’ (Rule 44H) resulted in 1-2-0 Art X Cart becoming an Insurgent unit:
Disband: 1x 1-2-0 Art X Cart to:
1 art RP, 0.5 Nat inf RP
Note:
1) Reduce Intrinsic Coast Defenses of Cartagena (23A:4410) from Level 2 to Level 1 when the Cart Art X is disbanded.
Loyalist OB:
Add to Jan I 37:
Notes:
- The Mahon Art X may be disbanded while isolated; the resulting art RP then accumulates at the port in the hex.
- Reduce Intrinsic Coast Defenses of Mahon (33:4625) from Level 2 to Level 1 when the Mahon Art X is disbanded.
Special: If ‘Variable Beginning to the Rebellion’ (Rule 44H) resulted in 1-0 Art X Cadiz becoming a Loyalist unit:
Disband: 1x 1-0 Art X Cadiz to:
1 art RP
Note: Reduce Intrinsic Coast Defenses of Cadiz (23A:3428) from Level 1 to none when the Cadiz Art X is disbanded.
Add to Jan II 37:
Note: Reduce Intrinsic Coast Defenses of Cartagena (23A:4410) from Level 2 to Level 1 when the Cart Art X is disbanded.
Special: If ‘Variable Beginning to the Rebellion’ (Rule 44H) resulted in 1-2-0 Art X EF becoming a Loyalist unit:
Disband: 1x 1-2-0 Art X EF to:
1 art RP, 0.5 PA inf RP
Note: Reduce Intrinsic Coast Defenses of El Ferrol (23A:0313) and La Coruna (23A:0314) from Level 2 to Level 1 when the EF Art X is disbanded.
Change to 1937-39 Grand Campaign/Mid-War and Late-War Scenario Listings:
The Intrinsic Coast Defenses of both Cartagena (23A:4410) and Mahon (33:4625) at the start of these scenarios are Level 1 (not Level 2).
Designers Remarks:
The access to the ports of El Ferrol and La Corunya is through the same bay and thus the coast defenses of the bay are common to both ports (although in the main the coast defenses here were oriented more to protect El Ferrol than they are to protect La Corunya). However, in game terms this can cause problems when the ‘Variable Beginning to the Rebellion’ results in each side owning one of the ports at the beginning of the game. The only entirely clean fix I can think of to this problem is to specify that the coast defenses of La Corunya (23A:0314) are the same as the coast defenses of a friendly-owned El Ferrol (23A:0313). Examples: 1) El Ferrol has a current coast defense strength of 2 and both El Ferrol and La Corunya are friendly owned so La Corunya also has a coast defense strength of 2 and 2) Same as #1 except that El Ferrol is enemy-owned – La Corunya thus has a coast defense strength of 0. With the coast defense strength of La Corunya then dependent on El Ferrol you just ignore the mention in the OB of how disbanding the EF Art X lowers the coast defense strength of La Corunya.
Source:
[AEG, Developer, 01-Oct-05]
