we should tell jokes about columbia to pass the time
why did the chicken cross the road?
to get to the other side
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military:
- quantity is obviously well suited to a conscription-based military where you have a large peasantry residing within your borders. if you throw enough men at a problem, maybe it'll fix itself
- quality is better suited for the professional type. a standing or mercenary-focused army will have their troops more closely drilled than other types, however, at the cost of employing less soldiers
- cavalry focus essentially negates enemy artillery support, assuming that the battle takes place on flatlands. enemy infantry formations will crumble against the might of your charging horses (assuming they catch them off guard)
- an infantry focus is your go-to jack of all trades but master of none type of deal. it'll put an emphasis on infantry formations and anti-infantry tactics but won't fare well against more experienced enemy artillery or cavalry assaults
- an artillery focus will allow you to rain hell upon a charging enemy or fortified city with increased efficiency. a focus on howitzers and mortars will cut down the number of enemies your main shock troops will have to fight, increasing their odds of success. it will also make artillery crews more resilient against enemy cavalry. though beware, artillery is costly to build and maintain, so only the economic powers should have a deal such as this
- having a mercenary army is useful for richer nations. in times of peace, your economy will prosper due to not maintaining a standing military. however, in times of war, you will have to pay top dollar out of pocket to hire these elite soldiers
- a standing military is your standard warfare ritual. if you're looking to assault, you've already got the men ready. if you've got to defend, you've already got the men ready. it's a win-win situation--except that you must upkeep their supplies and wages even during times of peace
- a drafted military is usually less experienced than either a standing or mercenary military. a conscription based army should only be used for nations with large, expendable populations to counter their lack of proper resources to train more disciplined ones
- an offensive wartime policy will give your troops bonus morale when on the attack, lowering their defensive capabilities. best used for warmongering types who like to expand a lot and not give a forget (until a coalition stacks up to kick your ass)
- a defensive wartime policy will give your troops bonus morale when on the defense, lowering their offensive capabilities. although good for smaller empires, no ship has achieved greatness by remaining at dock