Destroy Pop. Center, combat bonus?

General
#1

Seeking words from the Wise on this issue. In game 225 I attacked two pop. centers hoping to get a significant (+10%) bonus vs. Pop. center when I attacked with the intent to destroy an enemy MTown.

Due to the disasterous results (the Cloud Lord capital did not fall), I am now skeptical about the existance of such a bonus to the attacking army. The rulebook does not mention it explicitly, so my question is, how do we know this so-called bonus exists?

Can anyone confirm that the Destroy Pop. Center order gives a bonus to the attacking army?

Thanks in advance for your answers. Wise-cracks from the peanut gallery are stricly prohibited. You know who you are.

#2

The Rule Book does mention it. Look harder.

#3

You’re right. It does mention on page 55 of my edition that “If an army assaults a Pop. Center with the intent to destroy, then the troops of that Army will find that assault easier than if they had assaulted to capture.”

The question is, how much easier? Anyone know?

#4

Using Holger Eichmann’s (second) combat calculator, I came up a bit short for a Capture attack on the Nmen capital last year. Even Destroy seemed desperate, but there wasn’t a better option.

It worked, and the Nmen later confirmed the loyalty and relations, so I had a complete set of data. I could get the exact results , down to the last man surviving, by plugging in either:

morale went to 100
or
defense dropped 12%

Gildring, send me a note if you’d like the exact figures or pdfs.

Many players also believe Destroying a pc gives a bigger hit on the loyalty of remaining pc’s than Capture does. I believe it, but it’s much harder to come up with conclusive data for that claim.

#5

<<Many players also believe Destroying a pc gives a bigger hit on the loyalty of remaining pc’s than Capture does>>

If Gildring posts the pdf’s of the Corsairs from the game he mentioned, we can get an idea on this. :slight_smile:

Sorry, Gildring. I couldn’t help it. ;(

-Russ, of the Peanuts Gallery

#6

Originally posted by nanook
morale went to 100

I’ve seen this from a few different secondhand sources, where people believe that a destroy order just raises your army’s morale to 100 for the purpose of army vs. pop center combat. Of course, I don’t have any factual evidence myself, but I use that formula and it seems to work, although I haven’t yet had the forune of having the enemy turnsheet to verify outcomes.

#7

Thanks for the responses. I think my data shows that a temporary 100% morale boost is possible, but that I assumed the loyalty was lower that it in fact was before the start of the battle.

All in all, I think the battle was decided within 200-400 points, if the loyalty of the Cloud Lord capital was under 80.

Nick

#8

100% morale is the generally accepted adjustment for Destroy. The troops give a great Whoop! and lick their lips in gleeful anticipation.

#9

And if the troops already have a 100% morale, do you think they get any bonus to destroy?

N.

#10

Well now, that’s a very interesting question.

#11

interesting maybe, but of little significance for gameplay - if your army has morale 100, you do something wrong :wink:

the “morale 100 theory” always worked for me and just did in game 223, where Minas Tirith fell to destroy when capture would have failed