Feature Requests/General Bonus for Multiple Armies in Battles

Summary

The general's function is to coordinate multiple armies. To make the general's role more active, make him useful in battles with multiple armies by giving the realm a bonus if the general is there and a penalty if he's not.

Details

The general is the one character in the realm that is supposed to concentrate on the overall strategic situation affecting the whole realm. His job is to coordinate all the armies, assigning each of them a specific goal or objective. In addition to doing this on the strategic level, we could move this down to the tactical level as well.

In a battle, the marshal concentrates on achieving whatever goal his army is assigned. He wouldn't have the time to concentrate on what all the nobles in his army are doing, as well as what all the other armies and nobles are doing. The general can fulfill this role, by directing the overall strategy of entire armies in battle. This would be a passive role only. The presence of the general in the battle is all that is needed. The size of the penalty can also depend on the general's leadership skill. Possibly increase the penalty if multiple realms are involved on the general's side.

If only one army is present, then there is no effect. With two armies, the general's presence gives a small organizational bonus, but no penalty is given for his absence. With three or more armies, the general's presence gives a growing organization bonus and his absence gives a growing organization penalty. If the general is also a marshal, the bonus can be reduced or even eliminated as the general's attention is taken by the army, not the overall battle.

Benefits

This brings the general's logical multiple-army coordination function and brings it down to the battefield level. It gives incentives for generals to be in battles and take the associated risk. It could also add some incentive for the marshal and general to be held by different nobles. Possible side benefits of greater turnover and organizational confusion from generals being captured/wounded. It also gives another small use for the leadership skill. Defenders are favoured as they will be more likely to have a general available for the battle. Large alliances are less effective as missing generals can reduce organization.

Possible Exploits

None Specified