Manual:Military control

From AACWWiki

Military control is represented as a percentage of control in each region. As such, a region’s control ranges from 50/50, representing a region that is equally contested by both sides, to 100/0, where one side has absolute control of the region.

If both sides have troops present in a region, neither may increase military control until one side assumes an offensive posture in an attempt to increase control of the region. If the attacker is successful, the beaten defender will lose a portion of military control and either retreat locally, in which case it will stay in the region, or retreat to an adjacent region if soundly defeated. Note that Force’s in passive posture or those composed exclusively of support units will not contest control of a region, meaning the enemy will increase its military control without fighting.

If you manage to push back the enemy from a region and leave some units to occupy it, you will gain complete military control in one or two turns, depending of the amount of troops you have. A corps on the march can even convert a region in a few days!

Effects

Having military control of a region greatly increases both your chances of stopping an enemy force trying to cross it and the cohesion cost incurred by enemy units moving into/through the region. It also affects the chances of a corps successfully “marching to the sound of the guns”.

In addition, if you control at least 51% of a region your detection level will increase.

Finally, you cannot retreat from battle into completely hostile regions (i.e. less than 5% military control).

Note: Engaging in a battle deep within enemy territory is a very risky proposition, as losing it will result in complete destruction for lack of a retreat path!

In regions with 5% or less military control (i.e. enemy territory), a force will automatically adopt offensive posture in an attempt to get a foothold there. However, forces in passive posture or those composed entirely of cavalry, irregulars and support units may transit through enemy territory without switching posture.

Note: When penetrating into enemy territory, a force will have to face opposing forces blocking the main avenues of advance, unless fast-moving/stealthy enough to attempt infiltrating deeper into enemy territory. A force can also attempt to retreat to its lines through enemy territory, trying to avoid contact.

During amphibious assaults and river crossings into regions where you have 10% or less military control, your posture is also automatically set to offensive (unless the force is entirely composed of irregulars).

Note: Armies amphibiously landing or crossing a river have no choice but to fight the enemy defending the crossing or beach at a disadvantage. However, forces crossing/landing into a region where you previously secured a beachhead/bridgehead (more than 10% military control) can reinforce it without fighting. Irregulars are also considered stealthy enough to cross/land unopposed.

Controlling structures

To control of a structure, you must simply be the latest to have occupied it with a combat unit.

Note: You don’t necessarily need to leave a unit garrisoning the structure, although it is good practice to do so. Indians and partisans will only take control of a city if the population in the area is friendly (51% Loyalty or more). They cannot capture depots or forts and will instead destroy them.