No starting experience for generals

[general billy]

Was wondering why they is no experience on any of the Generals in game. Surely some of them have some form of combat experience.

[Joram]

Without knowing for certain I would venture to say that's already reflected by their seniority.

[general billy]

but seniority has no effect on combat?

[MrBoats]

Perhaps the idea is that the experience they had -- primarily in the Mexican War -- did not prepare them fully for what they were to face in !861 - 1862 and later. The adaptability of the better generals will serve them well, but you'll have to suffer the blunders of the inept ones first.

[MrBoats]

That was a typo -- 1861, not 861! Although Scott may have served with Charlemagne as a drummer boy!

[Joram]

Seniority has no affect on combat, only on their ability to be promoted and be promoted without political consequences.  They gain seniority however through combat which is kind of what i was thinking you were meaning.  But perhaps not.  I'm sure experience is also somewhat represented in their other ratings but those don't improve through time.  So it's reflective of their innate ability before and during the war.

[Pocus]

Experience is factored in their initial rating. Then with some good battles, they can gain more experience and improve such ratings, but this is a very slow process. No levelling as in a RPG here

[Joram]

They do improve?  Interesting.  I'm going to fight now only with Hancock and see what happens!!!  [:D]

[Richard III]

Hooker who is your best early General won back Harpers Ferry for me, then beat off an attack by Bee`s Division, then attacked and beat Bee ended all that up moving up to a 3.4.4 rating in 1 month.

I think you need to look to fight your early Union Generals in situations where they have a reasonable chance of winning so they upgrade.

[Pocus]

they can downgrade in experience too (unlike units), ie if you have a general severly beaten, he can lose experience and be worse next time (but you never fall under your initial ratings)

[Brooksie]

Union Generals on the whole early game are only good at defending because they fail their strategic roles. I find it best to fight with your fighting officers hard, and in situations they can win. Hooker in the east Sherman in the west. Thomas is a great bulwark, and Rosecrans is decent. Lyon in MO is a devil