new discussions

[zu Pferd]

Interesting discussions going on on by the Beta Test Team regarding movement and movement
through rough ground.
I invite the members to post these in the General Discussion area of the forum as well.
New members need this information as well as all of us older members as they can be
very enlightening as to the functionality of the game engine.

Well done  Gunner and Friant

[[NBC]Friant]

Here is the result of the conversation about speed of troops moving over different types of terrain.
Some were wondering if the bad terrain was having the effect it should. I think the result is yes, it is correct as battle formations are moving so slowly in the first place, ie keeping formation and cohesion in normal terrain it would be seriously bad terrain to be walking that much slower than "normal speed", roughly calculated at 1.65mph/2.65kph.
Over bad terrain, ie crops etc. 1.46mph/2.34kph.
"
I was proving terrain does affect speed...
The fact is units are already moving slow, marching, an infantry unit will cover approximately 2km in 45 minutes on open ground, that equates roughly to just over 2km an hour.
From Wiki: This is classed as quick march.

Parade March: Usually seen combined with music, 120 beats/min. in the UK (except the Rifles who march at 140bpm)
A pace is 30" and 120 per minute. convert it to decimal which is 76cm
0.76 x 120 = 91.2 metres per minute
91.2 x 60 = 5472 metres per hour or 5.472km/h which is 3.4mph
Slow March: Ceremonial pace, 40-60 beats/min approx 1.41mph***

Infantry is marching at approx 44.4m a minute, cavalry is moving at approx 105m a minute on clear terrain.
Therefore converting game marching speed into mph:
44.4 x 60 =2664 metres per hour or 1.65mph.
Troops marching through forest averaged 1.57mph
Troops marching through crops and vineyards averaged 1.46mph***
Napoleonic infantry moved slow because of formation we know that, but you must agree it would have to be some very, very bad terrain to make a walking man en masse get much slower than marching speed in perfect terrain, they weren't on parade ground so they would just file through trees etc.
I can record my test again to prove the theory.
Terrain was forest, vineyard, plantation and clear, an infantry, cavalry, and artillery unit marched over each and time recorded.
Measured 2km with measuring tool.
If you watch the corps when they are moving individual units keep stopping to let slower units catch up, this is happen all the while as the corps is moving.
PS cavalry marched 2km in 19 minutes:
105.2 x 60 = 6312 metres per hour or 3.9/4 mph.
Your walking pace would not slow that much walking up a hill, through plantation, or wheat fields significantly to affect speed that much, it is all about the size of the pace.
Sorry but I think JMM has got it right, again...
"
From Gunner24:
Interesting subject, if we take these as being correct :

44.4 x 60 =2664 metres per hour or 1.65mph.
Troops marching through forest averaged 1.57mph
Troops marching through crops and vineyards averaged 1.46mph***
I wonder what speed "march to" is at - I would guess at about 2.5mph ???.

ps/if we were talking about the speeds above, in general terms, we would say "about one and a half mph" for all three.
Having to use two decimal places to separate the different speeds is an interesting point in it's self.

Friant:
Yes the decimal points really make little difference over a short distance, but thick crops, woods, hills over several km's would then make a big difference.
'March to' is a good order to use when speed is of the essence, but, you certainly do not want to be caught in march order by the enemy. A combination of 'march to' to 'deploy' is going to take some excellent skill to get this right, especially in the face of an enemy. But then this is the essence of most armies tactics is it not, speed and concentration at the right point?

2 short videos showing how troops 'try' to avoid bad terrain.
http://youtu.be/vXfmi78mRYY
http://youtu.be/m7Bb8Xi7vRc
Comparison of speed of individual units moving up hill and over normal terrain.
http://youtu.be/MMC0A1eTnt0

[zu Pferd]

Thanks for kindly moving the post  Friant.
This is not a simple game to play and a challenge to master.