Ideas for handling "a Swarm of Conferderates"?

[Scona]

In both the July and November starting scenerios I seem to run into a recurring problem while playing the north; 4 months in the South has mustered more men and secured better arms from blockade runners than the Union. Combined with the very real Southern tactical advantage in '62 and you feel like the French 3rd Republic going up against Imperial Germany in August 1914.[:(]
Has the new gold patch tweaked this problem? If not is the solution found in applying a systematic mass production stategy to Northern mustering (muster no matter the consquence) or in doubling up manufacturing centers in the biggest cities to stamp infantry brigades out in 1 to 2 turns?

[Gil R.]

The new patch isn't gold yet, but yes, the patch does keep the AI from creating armies as large as what you've been seeing.

But yes, you do want to try to raise any many troops as you can yourself. Also, try to capture brigades in battle, since that prunes back the size of enemy forces very nicely. (If you don't played detailed battles, then get yourself some more cavalry for the pursuit phase of your victories.)

[Scona]

Looking forward to that patch even more. But obviously the best Northern mobilization plan has to be worked out. I'm getting more aggresive on musters, and trying to also build units in the most efficient manner possible for some "quality" in the army as a whole. I've read elsewhere that the AI Southern mobilization relies on existing units receiving replacements; and its ability to mass build camps caused the Southern numerical advantage to appear. Does the patch reduce the number of starting units, increase the cost of camps or redue their output?

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: Scona

Looking forward to that patch even more. But obviously the best Northern mobilization plan has to be worked out. I'm getting more aggresive on musters, and trying to also build units in the most efficient manner possible for some "quality" in the army as a whole. I've read elsewhere that the AI Southern mobilization relies on existing units receiving replacements; and its ability to mass build camps caused the Southern numerical advantage to appear. Does the patch reduce the number of starting units, increase the cost of camps or redue their output?

There's no change to the number of starting units -- after all, these are based on historical numbers. The most significant change is that camps now have a chance every spring to reduce their city's population levels, which means that not as many new troops can be raised.

[dolphinsfan9910]

Pull some of your Garrison Troops out of the forts and into the Army. You have about 20,000 in Troops there. Keep 1 brigade in the 2 forts around Washington and 1 in Washington.