Command Chain

[Basilhare]

I am trying to figure out how the command structure works...any tips would be appreciated...I have read the manual, but Im still confused...i am playing the campaign game as Confederates and have managed to get thru the first year of the war...

1. Is it better to super stack all units into a single army group or break them down into individual corps stacks and move seperately into a single region for battle? You can arrange the corps stacks such that you have lesser command penalties, but when you do this there always seems to be at least one corps that wont activate....

2. Divisional Commanders: I have noticed that when given the option to switch a commander into a divisional commander, the selection sometimes reverts back to a non-divisonal commander (even when stacked with a corps leader) on the next turn. I keep war supplies, money and conscrpts in reserve to cover the costs of these selections, but the c.o. still reverts back to a non-divisional commander much of the time. What I am doing wrong?

3. Army HQ's: I have purchased a HQ in the "replacements" section and have been informed that a new HQ was available(weeks later), but can not find the HQ unit on the map anywhere. The HQ still shows to be in the available replacements section of the roster.

Thanks!

[freeboy]

1Watch out for desease of super stacks..Single corps attached to the army but not stacked together, avoids stacking penealty
2. Did you attach other units to the "commander" making him a division commander then highlight him then shift click any group, not anouther commander ,diveision or SUPPLY, in the county. they both should have a silver outline.. and in the same series of boxes there should exist a red + symbol, click on it and make your division, add troops as needed and mind the 18 PARTS rules.. only allowed to have 18 sub units. let meknoe if this does not work, took me hours to figure this all out! ok so I was playing sleep deprived!

3.clicking on it will zome you to it, from the roster, remember these are placed on the map and then slowly are released for duty. something like 60 days? not sure there , but it exists if you can see it, chech the roster and make sure it is a hq unit, not an existing corps etc. then try clicking, honoestly do not remember left or right? and the roster should intantly disappear and the map should center on the county.. NOTE also the roster gives the location of the units.. good luck and let us know if these work or not ..

[jimwinsor]

1. Yes create corps. Try to keep them within one space of each other for mutual support (corps get a bonus to march to sound of guns to adjacent battles). Use the sync move button on the army stack to move it and corps with it into the area you are attacking simultaneously.

If you have a decent army commander + corps commander, non-activation of corps should be rarity due to army commander passing down stat bonuses to corps commanders' initiative ratings.  OTOH if McC is in charge...   [:(]

2.  Did you merge units with the new divisional commander?  That's the other key step to division building, besides the activation button...the deciding of what brigades you want in the division, selecting them all by holding down the [Ctrl] key, then merging them with the merge "+" button. You can merge the leader plus 17 other elements worth of brigades into one single mighty unit this way.

If you do NOT have units merged with a divisional commander, he loses the divisional merging ability at the end of the turn (and the cost is forfeit). Sounds like that might be what is happening to you here...?

3. Ah, I think I see your mistake...you bought an HQ "replacement" point, not an actual unit I'll bet. Just like you said! To buy the actual new Army HQ unit, buy it from the Reinforcement drawer, not the Replacement drawer.  It'll be under the Support catagory of units to buy. It'll then appear in your capitol next turn as a reinforcement, inactive for X days.

[Basilhare]

You guys are correct on all counts....the Army HQ was indeed in the "Reinforcements" tab, once I bought it, it was placed in Richmond and is now training....
 
I never knew you had to attach the units directly to the div co with the red + button, but was able to do that and now have a number of nice, neat divisions....
 
One more Q: I have a 3-star General with several newly fromed divisions, but he is not able to form a "Corps"....are corps options for a particular higher ranking general only given every so often, and not necessarily an automatic thing? Or maybe I dont have the right "pieces" present to build a corp?
 
Thanks for the help....

[Basilhare]

Oh, I think I have answered my own question...the "corps" is not en range of an army, so it can not yet be formed.....only independent divisions....

[sol_invictus]

I am finding that careful unit management at all levels is extremely vital to successful military operations in this game. A bit daunting at first, but eventually, it all clicks.

[freeboy]

yep.. like taken candy from a baby, maybe not a baby..." stomp down those rebs boys"