Learning as USA..An open Discussion AAR on the April 1861 Campaign

[seydlitz_slith]

And let's see how Keyes did at Manassas....

[Richard III]

Great AAR and the Pics really help, thanks !

Since your Rolling The Dice, why not go all the way and issue 5% Bonds and a one time Tax, even taking the morale hit that should really generate enough to buy the units to overwhelm them by late 1861.

Unless the AI is smart enough to know what your doing and does the same [:'(]

[seydlitz_slith]

Looks like the AI is doing their first deep cavalry raid in Ohio!!!

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: Richard III

Great AAR and the Pics really help, thanks !

Since your Rolling The Dice, why not go all the way and issue 5% Bonds and a one time Tax, even taking the morale hit that should really generate enough to buy the units to overwhelm them by late 1861.

Unless the AI is smart enough to know what your doing and does the same [:'(]

I think that it will be lack of decisvie leadership rather than money that holds me back from crushing the enemy. I did the tax, but I am shying away from the war bonds this early in the game. I wonder if anyone else has tried that strategy yet?

[Bloodybucket28th]

If I'm reading you right, your overall strategy is to go heavy on the "Anaconda Plan" and build up quickly hoping to build a heavier force than the Rebs early in the game...are you going to go for an early assault on Richmond or hold in the East while your MO force gathers strength, and what have you got in mind for amphibious ops?  It seems to me that a few landings might make the blockade easier to maintain.  Are you playing with the naval cohesion automanaged?

[Massattack]

Thanks for your efforts in making this AAR.[&o]

Regards

[Gem35]

Hello seydlitz,
I may have made some mistakes and I am a bit confused. I am in turn 3 and I can only purchase replacements. For some reason I cannot purchase reinenforcements. I have ALOT of divisional commanders and several 2 and 3 stars guys and a few brigades in and around DC.
Is there something I am missing or maybe wait a few more turns?

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: Gem35

Hello seydlitz,
I may have made some mistakes and I am a bit confused. I am in turn 3 and I can only purchase replacements. For some reason I cannot purchase reinenforcements. I have ALOT of divisional commanders and several 2 and 3 stars guys and a few brigades in and around DC.
Is there something I am missing or maybe wait a few more turns?

I was thinking that reinforcements became available for purchase in Late May. Turn 3 or 4. You should be able to get them soon. Remember to check each tab in the reinforcements page. Each tab is a different type of unit. If You are on a tab that is not available to build yet, then you will see no units.
Here are some samples of what the reinforcements tabs look like when units are available. Each tab is a unit class, and within that the units are sorted by origin states.

First, regular infantry:

[seydlitz_slith]

Here is the militia tab. Note the tool tip (black box). It explains what the numbers mean.

[seydlitz_slith]

Support Units:

[seydlitz_slith]

River Ships:

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: TheBloodyBucket

If I'm reading you right, your overall strategy is to go heavy on the "Anaconda Plan" and build up quickly hoping to build a heavier force than the Rebs early in the game...are you going to go for an early assault on Richmond or hold in the East while your MO force gathers strength, and what have you got in mind for amphibious ops?  It seems to me that a few landings might make the blockade easier to maintain.  Are you playing with the naval cohesion automanaged?

I don't think that there is such a thing as as easy early assault on Richmond. By the time my divisions are unlocked and able to move, there is a significant force sitting in Richmond. Mind you, I might be wrong, but that observation is based on my playing CSA in my first starts, and I can tell you that they get a good size force there early. Even when it can't move, it can still defend.

My plans are to choke off the Rebel cash flow as fast as possible. This will keep their builds down while I continue to get stronger. I will then try to capture some key ports, and in general try to force the confederates to defend their whole territory. Much like history, I plan to drive down through TN early to cut the rail line around Corinth. Other than that, I will take what I can get.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: Gem35

Hello seydlitz,
I may have made some mistakes and I am a bit confused. I am in turn 3 and I can only purchase replacements. For some reason I cannot purchase reinenforcements. I have ALOT of divisional commanders and several 2 and 3 stars guys and a few brigades in and around DC.
Is there something I am missing or maybe wait a few more turns?

I meant to tell you that you will get a bunch of generals in Washington about a turn before you can start buying reinforcements. That is planned. Just leave them there for now and observe over the next few turns which ones activate each turn, and which ones do not. Then you will know which ones to use commanding the troops.

[Gem35]

With your permission, may I post some of my screenshots of my organizations?
I was mainly wanting to focus on how you would organize your men.
Would you combine elements with your division commanders without a div HQ?
I am trying to learn the game mechanics and trial and error is how I usually go, just cusrious as to your take on things.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: Gem35

With your permission, may I post some of my screenshots of my organizations?
I was mainly wanting to focus on how you would organize your men.
Would you combine elements with your division commanders without a div HQ?
I am trying to learn the game mechanics and trial and error is how I usually go, just cusrious as to your take on things.

Please do post some screenies. This AAR is more about sharing and learning than about how to destroy the enemy. Your screen shots would also help me see how others are doing things.

[Mike Scholl]

I don't see any river gunboats that resemble the 7 Eads Ironclads built in St. Louis. Do they show up later? Or were they left out? The were the heart of Foote's Squadron which helped Grant at Henry and Donaldson.

[Alan_Bernardo]

I love AARs and this one is excellent, entirely to my tastes.  I like how you sometimes do the notebook thing.  The writing is also good and clear and easy.
 
Keep it going!
 
 
Alan

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

I don't see any river gunboats that resemble the 7 Eads Ironclads built in St. Louis. Do they show up later? Or were they left out? The were the heart of Foote's Squadron which helped Grant at Henry and Donaldson.

They'll show up soon, it is simply too early in his game for him to build them yet. One will show up as a free reinforcement with Porter, the rest he’ll have to build.

Here’s a screenshot from my game (currently July 1862) for comparison, as you can see I’ve built up quite a decent sized riverine navy and I have quite a bit left I can build as well.

(ships already built are the middle number, those yet to be built are the top number, bottom number is for ships I've queued for production in the current turn)



Jim
P.S. The reason you see no gunboats for Indiana, Kentucky or Missouri is because I've built all available in that category. If one gets destroyed, the tab for IN, KY or MO gunboats will reappear with that gunboat able to be rebuilt again. So eventually the build screen will be almost empty, that's why I like to try and leave 1 ship in each category unbuilt, it’s easier to see at a glance what you have.

Hopefully they'll be an option someday to list all items even if all elements in a tab are already built. It's the only real way to see at a glance your total numbers of unit types, so it’s kind of a pain when the tabs disappear.

[seydlitz_slith]

Now on to turn 6...

[seydlitz_slith]

Over at Manassas....