Armies and quality

Armies are troops off the line: recruits, reinforcements, reserves and expeditions. They march along real borders, short straits and sea lanes. You need military access or a war to enter another country.

Quality

Quality multiplies combat strength. It drifts towards a target set by equipment and training (military spending per soldier), the industrial base (average development), combat experience and war exhaustion. Raising large armies quickly dilutes it.

Landings and sieges

An army landing from the sea fights at 60% strength. Alone in undefended enemy land it besieges and occupies provinces; forts slow sieges.