Precision...

[Verjigorm]

I think there's some value in leaving the inner workings of the game occult. Knowing everything about a game's statistical underpinnings transforms it into more of a system of equations that can be solved via computation. Leaving some things out makes the fantasy more vivid and forces you to actually experiment--just like you would in the real world. Generals in the real world didn't calculate the "probability" of an archer hitting a target at a given range. They simply had to trust in the training of their troops and order them to fire at an opportune moment

More Math = Less Magic

[Evil Dave]

I agree that too many "strategy" games devolve into optimizing spreadsheets once the rules are known.

I don't think Dom2 suffers that problem. I think that even with perfect knowledge of the game, there'd still be a lot of "magic" to discover in tactics (equipping commanders, casting spells, and organizing armies) and strategy (pretender design, running campaigns, and reducing the other side's ability to fight). Most importantly, I think Dom2 has so many options that there's still lots to discover in how to deal with a *specific* way an opponent is fighting while trying to make him fight the *specific* way you can win.

As to what generals know, sure, even modern professional armies don't have stats on their troops and weapons. OTOH, we don't have staff officers, field exercises, RDT&E units, and years of personal experience commanding men. So, we use stats and tools (hail Saber Cherry and Edi!) to get the information in other ways.

(Oh, RDT&E == research, development, testing and evaluation. Guys who invent new weapons and tactics and see how well they work.)

[Arralen]

Evil Dave said:
As to what generals know, sure, even modern professional armies don't have stats on their troops and weapons.

I think you're wrong here ... .
I'm pretty shure they did extensive analysis way back in '43. to put that knowlegde to use was an entirely different matter, though ...

[Evil Dave]

I was vague. I'm sure they have statistical analyses of their performance. I mean they don't have numbers like "Hellfire missile: 240 damage, 99 precision", etc which are also called "stats".