PBEM AAR - Long Live the Union!

[jchastain]

And that's it for early November.  With the next round of results, we should see not only the outcome of our moves but also the results of the elections.

[elmo3]

In the picture it looks like your gunboats went past the CSA fort toward Nashville. Am I seeing it wrong? The point of the fort on the river is so that enemy boats can't just sail along unopposed. They should not be allowed past the fort IMO.

ORIGINAL: jchastain

And I'll move my siege guns and river boats back towards Nashville while he is otherwise diverted.

[jchastain]

ORIGINAL: elmo3

In the picture it looks like your gunboats went past the CSA fort toward Nashville. Am I seeing it wrong? The point of the fort on the river is so that enemy boats can't just sail along unopposed. They should not be allowed past the fort IMO.

You are exactly right - gunboats shouldn't be able to bypass forts - and they can't. That is why I didn't take them past memphis in support of my activities around Little Rock and Jackson.

The provinces, however, aren't quite that precise in displaying what is there. There are preset "places" where units in the province can be shown and units within the province are randomly placed into those preset locations. It doesn't mean anything with regard to where exactly they are within the province. All units in a province are simply in that province and there is no subdivision of where precisely they are below that level of granularity. So, despite the appearance, they couldn't continue up the river without first defeating the fort.

Also, just FYI, there is an option where you can either choose to display a single national flag in a province for all units there (a "stack" if you will) or you can have them spread out as I do. I prefer to see units separately. It gives me more information. But those bothered by the clutter could choose to stack them.

[elmo3]

Ok, thanks. It does look like the colored dots down the center of the river show correct control if I'm seeing them right.

[chris0827]

Actually gunboats and ocean going ships bypassed forts fairly often in the civil war. It's the lightly armored troop transports that would've taken a pounding. New Orleans was captured by running past the forts.

[jchastain]

ORIGINAL: chris0827

Actually gunboats and ocean going ships bypassed forts fairly often in the civil war. It's the lightly armored troop transports that would've taken a pounding. New Orleans was captured by running past the forts.

There are plenty of historical examples of what you are describing, but IMO it makes a more compelling strategy game if forts must be taken in order to secure cities or continue down a river.

[jchastain]

The siege in Jackson is making some progress. Losses in Tallahassee are down. The sieges are difficult without the proper artillery and engineering support. While many cheared at the offensive, I'm still wondering if it wouldn't have made more sense to build additional quality first.

[jchastain]

Harrisburg finally gets the Iron Works I built first thing. Iron really hasn't been the principal problem, but it should definitely not be an issue now.

Disease in Jackson. *sigh*

[jchastain]

The losses aren't too terrible, but I can't help buy think that I concentrated those forces just in time for this - and there was no attack to defend. Ooops.

[jchastain]

The one bad thing about moving against Nashville is it removed the troops who were satisfying Kentucky.

[jchastain]

Here's how things look in the west. Sibley apparently sat still. That's the one thing I didn't think he'd do.

[jchastain]

Jackson. No surprise there... at least not yet.

[jchastain]

OK, winter approaches and we can't just let Sibkey sit on out supply line. Keyes supplies aren't to where I'd like them to be for an offensive, but I don't see how Sibley can hold me off with his low numbers. Frankly, I'm not sure how he won to begin with. A lucky fluke? Who knows. But the force in Jackson can't be left to starve. Ideally he'd continue on to Yazoo. Sibley could withdraw to there or the small division in Nachez could go there. In either case, Jackson would still be cut off. But it doesn't appear Keyes will make it that far. The forces in Jacson will remain concentrated for now. While it holds some risk, the numbers will help prevent an attack.

[jchastain]

In the east, we appear back at a standoff. I'm ok with that. We almost certainly couldn't beat them and yet we're still holding his best army in place.

[jchastain]

Cash is still a major issue. I'm going to put some minor money into diplomacy and then hope next turn I can lower the supply priority of troops as we go into the winter so that I can concentrate on other things.

[jchastain]

As for Kentucky, I'll move more back area garrisons forward and begin occupying cities in Kentucky. I won't be able to get enough forces to satisfy the governor all at once, but I'm not moving an army in there so this will hopefully suffice in a turn or two. I might need the reserves eventually in Nashville anyway.

[jchastain]

And another turn is done.  1862 has not been a good year for me.

[genie144]

I am usually rather patient, but since it looks like I won't be getting this anytime soon.  (yes I saw the gold announcement) Are you going to complete your turn?  Helps me make it through my day at work, and I want to see the result of the posturing been going on...
 
Sam

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

When are you going to post that last turn?

[Paper Tiger]

I said elsewhere, they are keeping us on the edge of our seats, coiled up with nervous tension so that when they make the game available for download we all rush off and take the server down with our eagerness.
It is like being a kid in the run up to christmas again, the tension, the excitement, the wondering if Santa really knows who broke Mrs Smiths window. It is psychological warfare of both the best and worst kind at the same time.
 
God damn you Matrix, I can't take it any more, I can't take it I tell you[:D]
 
Seriously it is nice to kind of remember the feeling I used to get as a kid in the run up to christmas, especially as my own are at that stage at the moment as well.