Simulation Rules: Unit Quality

Each unit in the simulation is assigned a unit quality and corresponding number from 0 (green) to 6 (Elite). This is used in the TC2M game. A unit's quality is also applied to its skill attributes for formation (how well it wheels and changes formation), loading (how quickly and effectively it loads), and melee (how well it fights in hand to hand).  A unit that is green has a "0" quality rating, "0" formation rating, "0" loading rating, and "0" melee rating.  It will be outperformed by units of the same strength with a higher quality rating.

The full range of quality ratings for units are:

Green (0)
Trained (1)
Fair (2)
Regular (3)
Good (4)
Veteran (5)
Elite (6)

The highest quality rating for any unit at the start of the campaign is Good (4), but it is possible for units to increase their quality.  I am using a unit quality system that I used in THE WAR IN ARKANSAS simulations from a few years back. As units fight, the are given a score in the TC2M game. During the campaign, I record a unit's score each day of the campaign and keep a running cumulative score by unit. (Negative scores during a day are considered null and given a zero.)

Units will have their quality upgraded at 6:00 p.m. of each day of the simulation if they reach a cumulative score corresponding to a higher quality rating.

Units that enter the simulation as Green (0) are upgraded to Trained (1) after their first engagement, regardless of their scores.

These are the ratings and scores I use:

Cumulative Grade	Engaged	10	15	25	50	100
Quality	1 (Trained)	2 (Fair)	3 (Regular)	4 (Good)	5 (Veteran)	6 (Elite)

In the earlier example of a skirmish between Captain Winfield's detachment of Ashby's Cavalry and Captain Shearer's Detachment of the 3rd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade, the upgrades at the end of the day (January 17th) would look like this:

Ashby's Cavalry started the simulation with a rating of Regular (3).  This means that they will start with a score of 15 points as "Regular."  They earned a score of 1.3 points  in the action on Taylor's Ford Road.  At the end of the day, their cumulative score is 16.3 points. They still need 8.4 points to reach a rating of "Good."

The 3rd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade (Battalion) started with a rating of Green (0).  This means it started the simulation zero  points. It earned a score of  -1.3, which is counted a null (0), so it remains with  0 cumulative points. Because it was engaged, however, it will be automatically upgraded to Trained (1). This will apply to the entire battalion, including Companies "A" and "B," which were not on the field. The 3rd Maryland still needs a cumulative score of 10 to reach the next level: Fair.

And that's how it works. It is easy to move from Green (0) to Trained (1), but to advance in quality after that will take success on the battlefield throughout the simulation.