[ index | archive | maps | rules | nations ]

Deus Vult! - Supply Rules

In Deus Vult!, supply is a very important aspect of your military effectiveness. Each of your armies requires much more than the infantry, cavalry and siege units that you see on your stat sheets. Each army is followed by a host of resource trains, non-combat personnel, and communication posts. The longer these supply lines, or if your supply line is disrupted, the more tactical disadvantages your army will face during combat. Supply only affects land-based armies. Naval fleets do not require supply lines.

Each supply line is traced from the location of your army, back to an eligible Supply Point. Supply Points come in three different forms.

HM	Homeland Supply Point
	City Supply Point
	Fleet Supply Point

Your Homeland region always counts as a Supply Point, unless it has been pacified or garrisoned by another nation.

City Supply Points must be either controlled by your nation, or, when performing the appropriate actions (Offensive or Defensive), may belong to a nation with which you share an active Military Alliance or Defensive Pact marriage.

Fleet supply points must meet the same control requirements, belonging to your nation directly or belonging to your marriage partner's nation. In addition, the fleet must have empty cargo capacity equal to or greater then the cargo requirements of the army being supplied. In other words, that army must be able to legally fit onto the fleet that is acting as a Supply Point. Armies which are supported by a Fleet Supply Point receive a small tactical advantage to their supported combat actions.

There are two aspects to determining the effectiveness of your supply line: Distance and Isolation.

The Distance Factor is determined by calculating the number of AP's it would take to move the army back to its supporting Supply Point. The more AP's the supplies must expend, the less effective the army being supported becomes.

If your supply line must ever cross a territory that is not controlled by your nation, or controlled by a nation you share an appropriate marriage alliance with, then your supply line is broken and your army is considered Isolated.

As you can see, an army that is far from its supply point (5+ AP's) and is Isolated has a lot of negative modifiers. Such a penalty would turn an 'A' Battle Commander into a '5' Battle Commander equivalent.

Examples

The Reconquista in Iberia is about to kick off. Three Catholic Kingdoms, Portugal, Leon and Aragon, are arrayed against two Sunni nations: Andalusia and Granada. Each nation is conveniently named the same as its homeland region. The above map shows the layout of major armies and fleets. During the first year of conflict, Leon and Aragon attack across Andalusia's borders:

Leon has launched an attack into New Castille. Their closest supply point is Leon - the homeland of the nation. The Distance of the supply line is 3 AP's. 1 AP to cross the Type-1 mountains, 1 AP to enter the cultivated region of Salamanca, 1 AP to enter the cultivated region of Leon. Both Salamanca and Leon are controlled by the nation, so the army is not considered Isolated. This gives the Leonese army a total modifier of -1 due to Supply.

Aragon's closest Supply Point is its homeland region of Aragon. It is only a 2 AP distance: 1 AP to cross the Type-1 mountains, 1 AP to enter the cultivated region of Aragon. Aragon is controlled by the nation, and so the Aragonese troops do not suffer Isolation either. They begin combat with a +0 supply modifier to their attack action.

Both armies catch the Andalusian state off guard and are successful. However, Granada has not been idle, and has planned an invasion of its own:

Granada's fleet has set sail from Madiera and anchored off the coast of Valencia. Her army has crossed the border and attacked into Aragon. The Granadan supply line crosses a Distance of 2 AP's: 1 AP for the Type-1 mountains, 1 AP to enter the cultivated region of Valencia. The army does not suffer isolation, as Valencia is controlled. Because Granada's supply point is a Fleet Supply Point, Granada receives a total +1 Modifier due to supply. The Granadan counter-attack is successful.

Unaware of the invasion, Leon and Aragon continue their press into Andalusian territory:

Leon presses into Talavera. Once again, supply distance for the army is 3 AP's 1 AP to cross the Type-1 mountains, 1 AP into cultivated Salamanca, 1 AP into cultivated Leon. Salamanca and Leon are both controlled, so the army does not suffer from isolation. The Leonese total Supply modifier is -1.

Aragon, on the other hand, is in a tougher spot. With the loss of her homeland, the closest eligible Supply Point is the city of Barcelona. The distance factor is 4 AP's 1 AP to cross an uncontrolled border into Valencia, 1 AP to enter the cultivated region of Valencia, 1 AP to enter the cultivated region of Catalonia, 1 AP to enter the city of Barcelona. Because the supply line crosses an uncontrolled region (Valencia) the supply line is disrupted, and the army is Isolated. Aragon suffers a total -3 modifier due to supply issues.

Aragon is rebuffed in the siege of Cordoba. Unwilling to commit to a longer passive siege, the Aragonese forces push on into the Andalusian homeland. The Aragonese fleet sails to the coastline for support:

The Aragonese army is now being supplied directly by the fleet. The distance factor is 0 AP's, as the fleet is anchored in Andalusia itself. This also solves the problem of isolation. The army now benefits from a total +1 modifier, due to the bonus of being supported by a Fleet Supply Point.