questions for a newbee

[spruce]

Hello, I'm new to this game and after reading the manual a few times - I'm still very puzzled with some fundamental concepts.

- question = if you have your troops in a region - and you want to go offensive - what is wise to do ? Throw in everything - or just send half your troops ? In a trial game I lost a smack of my troops and the enemy had overwhelming odds.

- question = what to do as CSA ? Play defense the entire game ?

- question = if you want to defend - what do you do ? Entrechment I've read is something after a battle - not before,

- question = in the manual they talk about linking a unit commander to an army of theather commander - how is that done ?

Is there a QA site - because I'm not getting the bigger picture here ?

I still feel unprepared to start the game,[:(]

[Doc o War]

Lad- more rereading the rules certainly- but the link between TC and Army commander is a distance measure- 6 regions- and the leadership bonus is a cascade effect within that range.  It is a plus bonus for combat to be in range of the TC, and if you have an army commander in range- it is supported- Further IF the TC is in a +4 big city/town- (Population and Industry- like Richmond /WashDC/ Cairo Nashville/Memphis/New Orleans- ect-) the TC can increase both Leadership bonuses in combat and it cascades into initiative +'s etc.  It means army commanders and TCs have an effect together that helps in combat and initiative. If they are in range- TC range helps Army commander gain its initiative- Then Both help the units within the army in their initiative attempts- - Units out of range of TC or Army influence will still attempt to gain initiative, and may. That is the link between TC and Army commander- it is very important as most offensive actions come from that linkage. - the 6 region range.

Before you launch attacks try to heavily scout your intended target- Scouting enemy forces means when you attack them those spotted forces get no hidden unit firing bonuses and defense bonuses. IF you are attacking with similarily hidden /not spotted units there are bonuses. The entire structure of the combat is really to show a campaign move through a region or regions during one month's time->> you also scout- maybe scout one target region multiple times- maybe over several turns- and then get initiative and move troops into a region-

While I am not sure of the best answer to how many to send in- Usually its everyone who can get there- getting control of the regions is what is happening- individual battles fought in specific places may be fought out for days- there may be a dozen battles large and small in the region as more and more troops feed in- Like the Seven Days battles in June July 1862- or the Daily Assaults on Vicksburg in May 63- bloodly repluses everywhere. This is a grand stategy level game that reaches back down tactically almost- to Brigade level-

Try looking at some of the topics earlier on this forum and see what was said about various ways of doing combat- once you learn how to run the armies correctly and maximize the bonus potentials you are competant enough to play.  Take on the AI early on a couple of times - get used to moving and gathering initiative-0 Mass for combat- keep reserves for defense- and grind away.

Try the After Action Reports- they will tell you about games guys have played- what they did.

Good Luck.

[jimkehn]

Read the posts in the War Room in the section above this one.  There are some good hints there. Most of all, don't get frustrated by the game. While at first glance it looks like it is Axis & Allies, Civil War version, but it's far from that. The game is very deep. And as I learn the system, it is very realistic. I think the design is nothing short of genius. If you want, we can play a PBEM game with Fog of War off, so we can see what is happening and why. I am still learning, too. I would recommend you play the AI at first with FOW off. It will help you learn what works and why it works that way.

[wargamer123]

spruce, varied questions...

Common sense will break down this game for you. Depending on the rules you have set, I would play the AI about 3 or 4 Xs....that or 1 thorough game on easy setting to just study the interface.
Basically the break down of this game is like this:

Theatre Commander, head honcho... He gives initiative = ability to attack

Army Commander, he is big for the battle and the initiative for commanders below him

Corp Commanders, they are the front line leadership, they do the fighting, but the others are all important. Initiative equals power and the better chance to win

Cav = raiders, ripping railroads, pillaging supplies.
Also scouts, to see whats out there because with FOW, and any ghost icon in an enemy territory means you are blind, look for the binoculars on your men and on his for spotted active units

The CSA is here like history as is the Union. You don't win with the CSA by marching into NY... You win by avoiding losing too much...

Basically the Union usually tries several ways to break through your defensive line, with the CSA you try several ways to avoid this happening which can include limited offensives and only an all out offensive against a weakling opponent.

You will have to study the AARs, the Postings here to get a better grasp though things happen quickly. A PBEM match after you understand some basic game mechanics with another player that is a beginner is also fun to educate you and teach you how to play the game. Took me less than a week, but about 2 weeks and there are several things I still do not understand

[GShock]

ORIGINAL: spruce

- question = if you have your troops in a region - and you want to go offensive - what is wise to do ? Throw in everything - or just send half your troops ? In a trial game I lost a smack of my troops and the enemy had overwhelming odds.

Throw in everything you've got excluding a garrison to fend off an eventual overrun attack in your opponent's turn against the territory you moved from to do the attack. If you leave a garrison, the enemy can't counterattack with 6/1 odds and u can beat him up eventually with the reinforcements conveyed there during the reaction phase.

- question = what to do as CSA ? Play defense the entire game ?

Stick and carrot. Make the enemy think you're strong somewhere and have him attack elsewhere where you are stronger than he knows, well defended and have reinfocements to help unseen. Unscouted units get the best of modifiers when committed in the first round of combat. Lose an easy territory by overrun then crush him from the troops you had left uncommitted in the rear. You must provoke the union's mistake, you can't win offensively otherwise.

- question = if you want to defend - what do you do ? Entrechment I've read is something after a battle - not before,

Build forts and Hvy Arty emplacements attached to Arty leaders. Hvy Arty has good bonus in def combat when it's in the fort.

- question = in the manual they talk about linking a unit commander to an army of theather commander - how is that done ?

UC is linked to AC when he's in the same region as the AC. When the AC gets initiative, so automatically UC gets it too. UC can also get initiative if his army mod and attack ratings are good. These leaders are very rare but can perform good attacks on secondary objectives without assistance from AC.
The link between AC and TC is imaginary. TC will provide help with the initiative rolls to the AC if the AC is 6 regions away at maximum and on the same supply grid.

Is there a QA site - because I'm not getting the bigger picture here ?

Here.
Just ask. [:)]

[spruce]

How does the reaction phase works ?
 
The Union attacked me at Manassas and New Kent. I could send some units during reaction phase to Manassas to help out. But I wasn't able to send a unit in New Kent to help - even tough I had a unit in neigbouring Richmond with initiative to move to New Kent. Why couldn't I move this unit ? Are those provinces not land connected - I don't think so because after losing in New Kent the troops seemed to retreat from New Kent to Richmond.

[tbriert]

Spruce, you probably did not have the units attached to a leader with enough MP to enter the New Kent region.  Take a look at the back cover of your manual, there is a list of tactical movement costs there.  With a base MP of 1 for inf, add the leaders inf skill rating, and then compare against the cost of the terrain on the reaction phase chart.  Moving into woods takes 4 mp, I am not sure if there is a road or rail between Richmond and New Kent or not, but if not, you are going to need  4 mp for the woods, +1 if it is winter, +1 if the unit doesnt have initiative, +1 for contested region.  So, the MP cost could have been as high as 7 to enter there, which no leader is capable of doing.

[PyleDriver]

I will add, there may be one command that keeps the whole stack from moving because of leadership...So one detachment can make the difference.

[GShock]

Look at the railroads and roads, and also at the terrain. If you move a force, this force will have less MP to move in the following reaction phase. It's a good idea to attack in a place and then next turn attack in another. The forces who reacted in the first battle won't all be able to react in the second. 

[spruce]

So how does one see the movement points ? I know these are stupid questions - but I'm trying to get a grip on it.
 
by the way - I was able to defeat the Union at Manassas ! Hurray for the CSA ! [;)]