EP '14 mechanics/balance

[Volcano Man]

My point about Namur is that while you can break into the area with the forces you have outside of it, you will most likely lose more than you kill and lose VP's. So why do it. It will fall by itself. I suspect once people realize all the forces will be withdrawn, for both sides, that nobody will launch an assault there. But it would be the perfect spot to put a disappearing VP hex in. Then you might have a reason to use those great A morale units that are outside the fortress :)

Yes, possibly, depending on the circumstances. In our game we are getting far more VPs than we are losing or, at the very least someone else might just break even, but in our game we are using the attack to get both secure Namur and get across the Meuse/Sambre far sooner (about three days sooner to be exact in the Grand Campaign). There are time based tactical reasons why you wouldn't just totally ignore it until the 24th. Personally I don't have a problem at the moment with the Germans ignoring it entirely either, they still have to do something about the forts if they want to use the nice road network through Namur and the Belgians would still withdraw as the Germans attacked around the position. Then there is the matter that only the Belgian 4e Division withdraws. If you just totally ignore Namur then you still have at least 12 Belgian battalions in your rear area from the fortress garrison, so no, you cannot just completely ignore it without consequences later.

You know, this points out an improvement I should make here: I have the Namur fortress HQ getting withdrawn also, but this is probably not a good idea in case the Germans do ignore it. ;)

But yes, as mentioned I do think it would be nice to have variable points and if I can get it to happen then I will certainly add points that will expire by the historical moment that the Germans actually took Namur (maybe + a some turns to be generous). It is a good idea, but I suspect that it won't be easy to for John to just add on a whim, so it will take some convincing. I will try my best there. :)