"MEN" strategy

[Aethelwulf]

Hi, first at all, sorry my bad english, I hope you can understand me...

Well, I really enjoy the game, and I think that it's rules are quite soft to be learned, and It's a game easy to play and difficult to play... well: It means that I like very much this game[&o].

Ok, but... I have a problem according to manage the "men" resource:

* More "men": + resources.
* Less "men": - resources... but, + regiment or + reinformcement (by "camps").

If you have a lot of new regiments (mustering), or "camps" (in this case, you only have the possibility) your "men" will go down and your resources (money, labor, iron, horses) too. It's clear for me that you need new regiments and camps to refill your old regiments but:

Where?
When?
How many?

* Where?: Small cities or great? Distributed or concentrated? Any place preferred to "camps"? To new regiments?
* When?: If you lose your "men" near late april, your cost in resources will be less because the replenishment in that date. Camps in the early game and new regiments in the last game? At the same time?
* How many?: For the North, please... 10.000 reinforcements? How many new regiments by conscrip?

This is "the equation" that I can't resolve... I need your help.

Thanks from Spain, the country where George Meade was born [:D].

[Gil R.]

Eilean,
It's great to know that you're enjoying the game. I'll try to answer your questions, though I cannot understand one of them.

First, it's important for me to note that there have been several changes since the initial release, so you want to read the patch documentation in addition to the manual.

As for the questions:
Where? I do not think there is a single answer to this. The more camps you have in a city, the greater the chance that that city will lose "men" in April. If you have a city that produces some desperately needed resource (e.g., iron for the CSA), then you probably don't want to put too many camps there, for fear of getting less production. Also, remember that it takes two "men" to create an infantry brigade, so if you put a camp in a city with a population of 2 you run the risk of ending up with a population of 1, and therefore being unable to create a new brigade there for an entire year. On the other hand, if you have a city that does not produce much resources and already has a 1 population, then you should put at least one camp there, because you do not risk as much.
When? I do not understand what you are asking.
How many? Are you asking what suggested levels are? If so, different players will have different strategies. I think that the North definitely wants to conscript a lot early in the game because by having more divisions/corps/armies out there on the map it can attack the South at more points, and cause the South to have to divide its forces. And since the North is so much richer in resources it can afford to lose "men" and therefore production without being hurt nearly as much as the South it.

I hope this helps. Let us know if you have other questions.

[MilRevKo]

Good question and not to repeat Gil but there is no one answer.

Where?
As the USA it is a little easier to answer. You can safely place camps up in the north away from the fighting. Another thing to remember as the USA the cities will reach their maximun support levels quickly. Placing several camps in a city the is at its maximum support level and where you are not going to build a mansion is a good way to constantly employ your resources as quickly as possible. The CSA has to think in the long run. Once again putting camps in cities that are not likely to fall is always best. It also pays to place one camp per city as to minimise losses from capture. (losing a state capitol will stop the states entire production...just a reminder)

When?

In general as soon as possible. Building of Armories, Logistics, War colleges..ect in cities with Universities is job number one. Camps and artillery are number two.

How many?

The USA should get their replacement level per turn to 20,000 before the end of 1862. It will need to raise the reinforcement's per turn by 5,000 to 10,000 per year after that.

The CSA should get the replacement level per turn to 10,000 per turn and level out between 15,000 and 20,000 per turn.

You will need to muster in the cities that support muster and in general every April is muster season because the cities receive new population. Conscription is a little more tricky. Use it in low income cities where the danger of revolt is 20% or less (10% is better). You do not want to have New York city going in to unrest for 10 turn because of a conscripted unit.

[Gil R.]

Ack! I didn't mean that the North wants to "conscript" a lot, I meant "recruit"! Only conscript when absolutely necessary, for the reason MilRevKo provided.

[Aethelwulf]

Thanks Gil, thanks MilRevKo.

Reading your answer, I'm thinking that my problem is more about "conscription versus recluitment"... In my last game (the first "serious" game) I made 30-40 conscription units in the two first years (2-3-4 units/turn) and no one recluit infantry unit.

This night, I try to play another game and try to manage the "men" resource according your advice.

Thanks another time.

[jkBluesman]

Remember that when you buy a unit it will have higher quality than a mustered unit. However a mustered unit is still better than a conscripted.

[Aethelwulf]

Shit...

In all the places that I had write "conscript", I might to write "muster"... Stupid confusion...