I’ve been making good progress on my WWI logistics game and finally got the groundwork done for Depot Workers as a core game mechanic.

The idea is that Depot Workers will be soldiers, civilians, POWs, and even women and children—all historically accurate roles. Soldiers will be sent by central command, but the player can recruit civilians locally or even force POWs into labor. Of course, having women, children, or POWs working comes with moral dilemmas and safety risks—something I want the game to reflect.

What Depot Workers Do:

They keep the entire logistics system running. If barracks break down, workers won’t rest well, lowering their discipline, motivation, and health. Well-maintained barracks keep them in good shape.

They’ll also repair roads, bridges, and telegraph lines—which is critical, especially during bad weather or after enemy attacks. Vehicle maintenance will work similarly: If you assign enough workers, they’ll keep vehicles running smoothly without needing constant repair orders.

A Bit of Realism:

I want the game to reflect that logistics isn’t perfect. Supplies might go missing or get miscounted. If you send out 1000 ammo crates, maybe only 980 arrive—or sometimes even 1050 by accident. This might seem small, but if it keeps happening, you’ll be in trouble fast.

To counter this, you can assign Depot Workers to inventory control and order verification. The more you assign, the more accurate your depot numbers will be, reducing mistakes like “we found a few crates missing” in reports.

Worker Stats & Challenges:

Workers have stats like morale, fatigue, health, and readiness. Long shifts, bad food, and overwork will cause sickness, injury, or rebellion. You’ll have to balance tasks carefully or risk falling into chaos.

Tough Choices:

You’ll constantly face manpower shortages. Send workers to repair a bridge and your depot orders might fall behind. Support the field hospital during an outbreak, and you’ll slow down vehicle repairs. Hold them back to manage resources better, and logistics might grind to a halt.

Your decisions on resource management will determine whether you win the war—or at least delay defeat as long as possible.