Naming units in PTW

trevor · January 26, 2003, 14:16

To add a touch of something to the game, I'm thinking of naming my units. Sadly, I don't have a huge amount of experience with the ground side of the battle, so if you guys can look at this and tell me if I'm wrong, please do.

All regular Infantry units to be named "Regiment" unit Mech. Inf., at which point they will be renamed to "Brigade"
All Cavalry to be named "Brigade"
All Armored units to be named Brigade
All Artillery units to be named "Regiment" unitl Radar Artillery, at which point they will be renamed to "Brigade"
Elite MA's, and MI's will get "regiment" as a honorific

Ambrose Groan · January 26, 2003, 16:22

Hi,

In the infantry, regiments can (although not always) consist of +2 battalions, as in Commonwealth and Soviet practice (hence, 2 RCR for 2 Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment). Alternatively, a battalion can be termed a regiment, as in French practice. So it might be best to leave all modern infantry units (from musketmen up) as regiments, with elite units listed as "guards," "rangers," etc., or with ethnic or regional identifiers (i.e. Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Rangers, etc.). Earlier foot units could go by "company"--a term that could cover a vast number of people early on, or any other suitable historical designation (from legion to whatever).

Cavalry and armoured units tend to use the same terms. In Canada, armoured units (how few of them there are) go from squadrons (i.e. companies) to regiments (approximately equivalent in manpower to infantry battalions). Several regiments combine to form a brigade. In the US, however, armoured units go from squadron to battalion to regiment (i.e. Armored Cavalry Regiment). Elite units could be termed lancers (light cavalry), hussars, uhlans (German), dragoons, cuirassiers (French), guards, or whatever.

Artillery units go from batteries (equivalent in size to infantry companies) to regiments to brigades.

Hope this makes some sense...

HazieDaVampire · January 26, 2003, 18:51

its just goes with how to picture the battle, but, the bigger the map, the less important the unit is cuz of bigger armys, on standard/large maps, one modern unit is a squad to me! On smaller maps they're alot more important! So Regiments!

Master Zen · January 27, 2003, 01:09

BIG FAN OF NAMING UNITS

I usually go with the brigade/regiment name for units on a large/huge map, grouping three units into a division (thank god for stacked movement in PTW). Throughout history I usually go to battle with "Armies" composed of:

12 "mobile" units (Horsemen/Knights/Cavalry/Tanks)
9 "assault" units (Swordmen/Med.Inf/Guerrilla)
18 "defense" units (Spear/Pike/Musket/Rifle/Inf/Mech)
16 artillery units
1 "mobile" Army of 3 o 4 mobile units

add Marine/Parachute troops if doing an amphibious assault.

By the modern age I substitute the "assault" units for more "defense" units since Guerillas are less useful than Mech Inf in both def. and attack.

This "Army" is split into 3 "corps" of 1 mobile, 1 def. and 1 assault divs, plus 4 artillery units. The remaining mobile units are used as a reserve and the three defense divs. (9 units) are used for occupation duties. 4 artillery units are also in reserve to be used where they are most needed.

In practice I think this system is quite versatile since one "Army" is enough to effectively threaten three objectives or directions and with enough reserves to exploit weak points or reinforce the places where the attack is stalled.

Anyway,
This might seem a little crazy or a little too much trouble but I am a military buff and this fullfills my dreams of leading organized armies into battle.. heheh, even more fun if I can name the units (kudos for the PTW team for finally incorporating this small detail I had been waiting for since Civ1)

BTW, Units which generate Leaders I usually add the "Guards" designation, as well as other units which do something spectacular (like capturing the enemy capital or winning major battles)

Also, even though units in ancient history were designated "legions" or "companies" etc, I stick with brigades because most units can be upgraged i would hate to change the name of 100+ riflemen "regiments" to infantry "brigades".

MoonWolf · January 27, 2003, 06:29

I don't use it in SP (only my elites that becomes leaders), but when I start playing MP, I think I would use for fun to call them "playername Chrusher" or simular

Jamski · January 27, 2003, 07:07

I don't have as much time as you folks. If my spearman is called "Spearman" then he stays that way. He'll probably get killed anyway.

-Jam

The Mad Monk · January 27, 2003, 07:41

I typically name the early units according to whatever their primary task is or was..."1st Explorers Regiment", "3rd Homeguard Regiment", "2nd Royal Guardsmen Regiment", etc.

Later on, if a particular unit did something of note, I would award it a nick on top of the unit designation: "Blood Riders", "Death Sentinels", "Purifiers", "Finishers", etc.

The worker I get at the start is always "Bob".

TacticalGrace · January 27, 2003, 07:52

I usually just rename ships, especially when I play the English.
Good caravel names: pinta, nina
Good Man-O-War names: Sovereign of the Seas, Collingwood, Mary Rose (actually it was a carrack but we don't have those)

Good Battship names: Hood, The Prince of Wales, Bismark, Admiral Graf Spee, Yamato, Iowa

Good ironclad names: The Great Britain, Merrimac, Monitor

Good Carrier names: Arc royal, Hityu, Shinano

HazieDaVampire · January 27, 2003, 11:58

H.M.S Enterprise, it was an exploration vessel, then the yanks stole the name!

Master Zen · January 28, 2003, 02:06

I name captured workers after people I hate... or designate them as Penal Battalions. Serves the ****ers right! If I totally destroy that civ, I usually name one after their ruler. START DIGGIN' CATHERINE!!

MoonWolf · January 28, 2003, 03:59

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk

The worker I get at the start is always "Bob".

aaglo · January 28, 2003, 04:49

Tanks -> Battallion?

Kizami · January 28, 2003, 16:26

But you gotta admit, U.S.S. Enterprise does sound better!

Master Zen · January 28, 2003, 22:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Kizami
But you gotta admit, U.S.S. Enterprise does sound better!

Only thanks to Capt. Kirk...

zorbop · January 29, 2003, 00:39

i only name ships and armies.

for ships i give the initials of the nation, then S. for ship, and then the name.

i normally don't use historical names, i like to call them things like "tsunami" or "Jenova"

now, for something of some worth reading....
in mp i think i would to use groups of, say, 2 spearmen and a bunch of archers.
i let the spearmen keep their name, and rename the archers something like "Warrior" or "Spearmen" or my personal favorite, "Worker".
this lets you move a large force near enemie cities while they can only see the spearmen, and the others they can just see the names....

Kramerman · January 29, 2003, 01:19

Quote:

Originally posted by aaglo
Tanks -> Battallion?

Im thinking armored division...If im germany than its Panzer division.

But I'm usually Rome, and I always have a XX Legion.

Kman

Master Zen · January 29, 2003, 03:34

I think a division is too large a formation. Think about it, the western allies had 24 armoured divisions (16 US, 5 UK, 2 Canada, 1 S.Africa) in europe in 1945, individual civs have over 50 tanks sometimes. That's why I go for brigades.

Then again, it all depends on map size. Smaller maps should have larger formations for each unit.

aaglo · January 29, 2003, 04:00

In finland tanks are found also in battalions...

Mad Bomber · January 29, 2003, 04:19

Infantry= Company
Cavalry= squadron
Tank= platoon
Planes= squadron

TacticalGrace · January 29, 2003, 06:19

Does anyone name their nukes?

Little Boy and Fat Man come to mind...

MoonWolf · January 29, 2003, 06:49

Quote:

Originally posted by TacticalGrace
Does anyone name their nukes?

Little Boy and Fat Man come to mind...

Too bad the names won't be really seen; "Cæsar, I'm sorry to report "Roman Ereaser" has been launched against Rome"

TacticalGrace · January 29, 2003, 10:42

It'll be seen by one party in the exchange. Just like in real life

Flash · February 4, 2003, 20:38

I've decided to use Battalion size units but may go to Regiments or brides.

At battalion, A regiment is 2 units, brigade is 10 and a division is 50 units.
Regiment, brigade and division are Army units

If i use regiments, Brigades are 5, divisions are 25

Flash

Mad Bomber · February 5, 2003, 02:26

Flash:

The formations are as follows:

12 men to a squad
3 squads to a platoon
3 platoons to a company
9 companies to a regiment
3 regiments to a battallion
3 Battalions to a brigade (each brigade also has an attached HQ company)
3 brigades to a division (Each division has an attached HQ company)

The Mad Monk · February 5, 2003, 05:45

Quote:

Originally posted by TacticalGrace
Does anyone name their nukes?

Little Boy and Fat Man come to mind...

"Percy"

Centauri18 · February 5, 2003, 06:22

That would be funny, being able to name nukes. In Germany: "I'm sorry, sir, but something called 'Kiss my @$$, Bismarck' is headed straight for Berlin."

Flash · February 6, 2003, 07:17

Mad Bomber,
I'm basing my unit strengths on the American Civil War. I have two routes. The US Regular Army Regiments were
Composed of 3 battalions of 400 men for a total strength of around 1200 men. Or a Volunteer Regiment of 1000 men.

CORPS were composed of two or more divisions. Standard organization on the Union side was 45 infantry regiments and nine batteries of light artillery. There were about five regiments to a brigade, about three brgades to a division, and about three divisions to a corps.

Corps: 45 regiments + 9 Batteries of Artillery
Division: 15 Regiments (3 Brigades)
Brigade: 5 Regiments
Regiment: 1200 men (3 battalions) 0r 1000 men

Flash

Mad Bomber · February 6, 2003, 11:43

Flash:

Corps and Armies are relative terms and are not true indications of strength. Its more of a matter on how many divisions you can scrape together. A corps could be as little as 2 divisions or as many as 8 in the civil war, a huge difference in strength.

If you do the math a modern regiment is at full strength slightly less than 1000 men.

Regardless of the war, the basic unit of an infantry unit is the regiment. It is the best choice for an individual unit.

The US army developed the triangular arrangement (groups of 3's) just prior to WWI.

Aramis · February 6, 2003, 12:35

I like naming ships, once I've reached Frigates.

Frigates are named after books in the Old Testament (inc. Catholic books);

Destroyers have names like Intrepid, Tempest, Wrath of Carthage. AEGIS cruisers as well;

Battleships named after my cities;
Subs have names of birds and sea creatures (esp. mythological);

Nuclear subs named for Greek/Roman gods;

Carriers named for Roman generals, like Scipio, Germanicus, Aetius, Sulla;

Ironclads and transports are numbered.

That's about all the time I can spend on names, although I like the idea of naming workers Bob.

Flash · February 6, 2003, 17:14

Mad Bomber, I know Corps strength and Army strength vary, but it is a good example of how organization is made.

In the Civil War, a company had a max of 101 officers and men. 2 platoons, 4 sections and 8 squads.

In modern units they have Fire teams.

So you just pick a relative unit size and go with it. Pick what you like. This just happens to be what I like at the moment. For a Legion, I like a 10 unit "army".