## Concept Overview
This proposal introduces a new building—the Ammunition Factory—alongside specialized ammunition types for Artillery and Railroad Guns.
Currently, late-game warfare in Supremacy 1914 can degenerate into prolonged trench standoffs. By introducing the Ammunition Factory, players gain a new strategic progression path. Upgrading this facility unlocks specialized shells, forcing commanders to manage factory production while making critical tactical choices between anti-infantry suppression, bunker busting, area denial, stealth detection, or offensive screening.
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## New Building: Ammunition Factory
To utilize specialized artillery rounds, players must construct and upgrade an Ammunition Factory in their provinces. Higher factory levels and game days unlock more advanced shell technology:
| Shell Type | Day Unlocked | Required Factory Level | Tactical Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illuminating Shells | Day 8 | Level 1 | Early-game vision & counter-stealth |
| Smoke Shells | Day 10 | Level 2 | Mid-game tactical cover for troop pushes |
| Shrapnel Shells | Day 13 | Level 3 | Anti-infantry specialization (open terrain) |
| High-Explosive (HE) | Day 15 | Level 3 | Heavy bunker & fortification destruction |
| Chemical / Gas Shells | Day 20 | Level 4 | Late-game area denial & fortress bypass |
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## Proposed Ammunition Types & Game Mechanics
### 1. High-Explosive (HE) Shells
* Unlock: Day 15 | Req: Level 3 Ammunition Factory
* Historical Context: Thick-walled steel shells packed with high explosives that detonated on impact or with a delay, designed for bunker busting and wire cutting.
* In-Game Function: Heavy siege munition.
* Damage Targets: High damage against Fortresses, Armored Vehicles (Tanks, Armored Cars), and Buildings.
* Tactical Use: Essential for softening up heavily fortified provinces before sending in ground troops.
* Balance: Moderate production cost; high damage against structures, but reduced effectiveness against spread-out infantry in the open.
### 2. Shrapnel Shells
* Unlock: Day 13 | Req: Level 3 Ammunition Factory
* Historical Context: Timed-fuse shells filled with lead balls that burst overhead to shred exposed troops in open fields.
* In-Game Function: Anti-infantry specialization.
* Damage Targets: High damage against Infantry in the open (outside Fortresses). Very low damage against buildings and armor.
* Tactical Use: Decimate large enemy troop stacks moving between provinces or caught outside fortified positions.
* Balance: Ineffective against troops inside Fortresses (Level 2+).
### 3. Chemical / Gas Shells
* Unlock: Day 20 | Req: Level 4 Ammunition Factory
* Historical Context: Introduced mid-war to deliver toxic agents (Chlorine, Phosgene, Mustard Gas) directly onto enemy trenches.
* In-Game Function: Area denial & bypass damage.
* Damage Targets: Direct health hit to Infantry (ignores Fortress damage reduction); zero damage to buildings or vehicles.
* Tactical Use: Force enemies out of high-level fortresses without destroying the province infrastructure you intend to capture.
* Balance: High production cost (requires Oil/Gas resource node allocation). Temporarily lowers morale in targeted provinces.
### 4. Illuminating (Star) Shells
* Unlock: Day 8 | Req: Level 1 Ammunition Factory
* Historical Context: Used to light up no-man's-land at night to spot advancing enemy units or trench repairs.
* In-Game Function: Reconnaissance & vision tool.
* Damage Targets: Zero damage.
* Tactical Use: Temporarily reveals invisible/stealth units (e.g., hidden troop counts in Fog of War or Submarines near coastal artillery) in a targeted province for a set period (e.g., 2–4 hours).
* Balance: Cheap to produce, low cooldown, purely strategic utility.
### 5. Smoke Shells
* Unlock: Day 10 | Req: Level 2 Ammunition Factory
* Historical Context: Deployed to screen troop movements or mask offensive pushes during complex operations.
* In-Game Function: Defensive screen / Tactical cover.
* Damage Targets: Zero damage.
* Tactical Use: Fired into a friendly or contested province to create a "Smoke Screen" buff, reducing incoming enemy ranged damage by a percentage for a limited duration.
* Balance: Protects friendly infantry advances from enemy artillery fire while crossing open terrain.
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## Summary Table
| Shell Type | Anti-Infantry | Anti-Fortress / Armor | Special Effect | Day / Building Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illuminating | None | None | Temporarily clears Fog of War | Day 8 (Level 1 Factory) |
| Smoke | None | None | Applies defensive damage reduction | Day 10 (Level 2 Factory) |
| Shrapnel | High | Very Low | Bonus vs. moving/exposed units | Day 13 (Level 3 Factory) |
| High-Explosive (HE) | Moderate | High | Structural demolition | Day 15 (Level 3 Factory) |
| Chemical / Gas | High | None | Ignores fortress armor | Day 20 (Level 4 Factory) |
