Where the Heck is the Confederate Draft?

[FastPhil]

Union Draft Only? I have almost finished the rule book and find there is no Confederate draft. How can that be? As far as a non-political event, the Confederate Draft had more political repercussions than the North's did. Also the militia should be much harder to convert to regular army for the Confederacy than for the Union. The Confederate Governors were really unwilling for their Militia to be Confederalized (I just made that word up by the way not wanting to be accused of using the F-word) and for their troops to be taken out of the state. It was a little hard for the Confederate government to argue against 'States Rights'. [;)] Georgia and NC state goverments(and probably others as well) allowed residents to enlist in the militia to avoid the Confederate Draft. Also as much is made of the disparity in forces between the two sides, it was exacerbated by avoiding the draft and each governor wanting a standing militia for homeland defense.
I haven't found or read the designers notes yet, but I think this begs to be answered. [&o]

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: FastPhil

Union Draft Only? I have almost finished the rule book and find there is no Confederate draft. How can that be? As far as a non-political event, the Confederate Draft had more political repercussions than the North's did. Also the militia should be much harder to convert to regular army for the Confederacy than for the Union. The Confederate Governors were really unwilling for their Militia to be Confederalized (I just made that word up by the way not wanting to be accused of using the F-word) and for their troops to be taken out of the state. It was a little hard for the Confederate government to argue against 'States Rights'. [;)] Georgia and NC state goverments(and probably others as well) allowed residents to enlist in the militia to avoid the Confederate Draft. Also as much is made of the disparity in forces between the two sides, it was exacerbated by avoiding the draft and each governor wanting a standing militia for homeland defense.
I haven't found or read the designers notes yet, but I think this begs to be answered. [&o]

It appears the Union Draft represents the volunteer calls, the state conscription and the federal conscription. It produces a lot of troops quickly and then there's this dip in enlistments for about four months. The CSA was both steadier and more efficient. I haven't yet figured out whether the Union Draft is worth using.

[FastPhil]

The CSA was both steadier and more efficient.

Given the fact that confederate militia were exempt from the draft and subject to the control of the individual state goverors and that there were other exemptions allowed, I am curious as to what you are basing this statement on. The Union governors for the most part worked very well with the Federal goverment whereas the Confederate Governors especially Georgia and N. Carolina were vehement in their opposition to the draft and their refusal to subject their militias to Confederate control. This is one of the most ironic aspects of what led to the downfall of Confederacy. As to the game there is a political point
cost for the Union draft but no political cost for the Confederacy to convert militia to regulars or have them leave their home state.

[Joel Billings]

First off, Gary decided to build in the historical Confederate draft in early 1862 (when the population cost of new units drops for the CSA). I think his logic was that the south had to do the draft or stood no chance. Union moves were more discretionary and happened several times during the war, so we made that into a player choice item. As the Union player, I can't imagine not drafting at the start of the game, and again in early 1862 (unless I've declared the EP and have black recruiting already, which is unlikely).

As for the state militia, this is built into the game in the automatic creation of militia units when areas are attacked. Militia units that are formed normally represent as yet untrained units in the regular army. The state/local militia is assumed to be out in the various areas and when those areas are attacked, these untis join the regular army. A bit of an abstraction/simplification, but we think it works.

[FastPhil]

Thanks Joel for the quick answer. Am I correct the initial Union "draft" represents the Northern '"Volunteer" calls? I would think it would have to be as the South was actually first to institute the draft in 1862. I am curious as to why the first Union Draft has a such high political cost and the built in Confederate Draft has essentially none. Is it another play-balancing issue?

[madgamer2]

To the rescue again Joel!~ I still think you should write that book LOL

Madgamer

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: FastPhil

Thanks Joel for the quick answer. Am I correct the initial Union "draft" represents the Northern '"Volunteer" calls? I would think it would have to be as the South was actually first to institute the draft in 1862. I am curious as to why the first Union Draft has a such high political cost and the built in Confederate Draft has essentially none. Is it another play-balancing issue?

Since the CSA draft is assumed, the costs were built into the system. As for the Union "draft", the first draft is the recognition that the war would not be a quick one, and that had a political cost, as did the later call for state troops and eventually the regular drafts.