This is my first attempt at an AAR for any game that I have played from Matrix and others. I have been wargaming since I bought Panzer Blitz back when I was
only 12. Geez thats only 33 years ago. LOL. But I am so impressed with this game so I thought I might share some of my thoughts. I have read most of the
forums on this particular game so I thought I would put my own thoughts on paper so to speak.
I am taking a view point of an absolute beginner with this one hence the easy settings. When I get more familiar with the game I will of course move up to
more advanced settings, especially the FOW.
VS the AI
Settings:
AS I am knew to this game I am on easy with no FOW and the leaders are historical with no Sub-commanders chosen.
Moves:
First thing I did was move my Transport fleets around in anticipation of invading the islands on the east coast and in the Gulf. Remember you need /4 on them
so they can amphib with one Inf Brigade, whether it be militia or Regulars. If you bring a leader with a good Admin rating and build depots you can double
the effects of the union blockade.
Another thing you should do is get a good calvary leader into Washington and convert 2 Militia unit to Mounted there. Assign them to the leader in my case
Davies with his Cav rating of 4 and CTR of 3 he is pretty good.
Try to get as many militia units as you can into leaders with a good ITR 3 or better yet 4 in Washington to facilitate their training. You will need a
sizable army there to do anything to Manassas. Also you want all the troops there with a leader for the second turn if you get the initiative in Washington
in order to amphib the islands as I mentioned earlier.
The first combat took place in Grafton WV with all the forces from Wheeling, WV. It as 12200 vs 2000 troops so an overrun attack was possible. Rebs withdrew
after loosing 820 vs the Union forces loosing 60. McClellan gets a minor victory and I then move him to Washington to celebrate his victory with the big boys
there. With McClellan in Washington I move McDowell to FT.Monroe.
Wheeling, WV gets that nasty Partisan warning so make sure you move some troops in to garrison it.
The next thing I did was folster the defenses along the Kentucky Border. Or to use as an invasion as the Confederate's like to invade into Paducah and it is
hard to get them out of there once they are there. So an early invasion there maybe a neccessity even if you loose the Political points. I like to move as
many troops as I can into Cairo in anticipation of an advance into Kentucky or to try and retake it if the Rebs move in before I do.
You can take the one Cavalry unit out west and move into Joplin, MO to take it over and in subsequent turns you can move into Springfield and take over the
rest of Missouri.
Before I move to the production phase I double check the map for units that may not have leaders assigned and to ensure I have militia units assigned to the
best possible leaders for training.
Production Phase I mainly built supply in the interior areas and cruisers and transports with a couple of ironclads thrown in on the coast areas.
Will update the Confederate's moves when I end my turn
