SVF 2.0

[Chilperic]

In fact, it wasn't a battle between McDowell's Army and Beauregard's one, as was just involved 1 CSA unit, certainly a unit coming in the region the very turn of US attack. The units has been annihilated and Beauregard's Army has retreated before engaging combat.

In my 2 test games, Patterson did once join McDowell who attacked Manassas and rthe second seized HF. You can't predict US AI moves. In my current 3rd test, McDowell sat in Loudun, when Patterson seized HF. I've launched Beauregard on Washington, heavily repulsed by the strong garrsion of the Capital.McDowell attacked the same turn Manassas, on the rear of Beauregard, to cut CSAA supply lines. Fortunately, I left a 14,000 garrison at Manassas, who has repulsed McDowell...

Remember UNION AI, even with the normal +1 leader activation bonus, has the same crap 3 stars Generals then when we play North. So attacks will be slow thanks to unactivation state. AI is forced to cope with...

[berto]

Digging deeper, your analysis is undoubtedly correct. But the battle display -- what with showing Beauregard going head-to-head against McDowell at Manassas -- sure is misleading, no?

It's also a bit disturbing, because I had ordered Beauregard to Defensive Posture/Defend -- i.e., normal defense mode. I should have specified Hold at All Cost?

Oh well, I'm not really complaining. The infuriating unpredictability -- c'est le guerre.

[Chilperic]

Old limitation of the AGe engine: the battle display report presents all units in the region, even those not having joined the battle.

For Beauregard retreat,it happens from time to time in the official game too.Nothing changed in SVF.

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20120929. Early August 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

The Confederacy Loses Harper's Ferry Too.

In an attempt to lure the Union Northeastern Virginia Army away from Manassas, Johnston's Shenandoah Force left its Strasburg (Warren VA) encampment and moved by rail to Clarke VA, the region just northwest of Manassas. Meanwhile, Beauregard's Army of the Potomac re-entered Manassas region from the south, but more slowly, on foot.

The Union did not take the bait. Ignoring Johnston, it remained at Manassas, first assaulting and taking the fortified depot, then turning to face Beauregard. A second Battle of Manassas ensued:



To the north, McCall's Command forced the understrength Bee Command to give up Harper's Ferry without a fight.

The Confederacy has now lost both Harper's Ferry and Manassas:



[:(]

Miraculously, the Grafton Militia, what little is left of them, still hold Taylor WV.

Union Morale 98, VPs 267, Combat Losses 3125

Confederate Morale 115, VPs 448, Combat Losses 5310

Why my NM jumped from 105 to 115, despite these losses, I'm not sure.

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

[Chilperic]

NM variation will disappear in the next version: I was waiting to get the right AI thing on Eastern theater to revisit the Forward to Richmond events

[Chilperic]

In fact, the nM shift was caused by the CSA confiscation Act event: +10 NM. In the next version, it will be +3.

[Erik Rutins]

I was planning to play a bit more AACW and noticed your mod. It looks like you are still very much in development and testing, but I thought I should ask if you think starting a game with it just for fun a player would run into too many issues, or is it stable enough?

Regards,

- Eriik

[Chilperic]

Hi Erik,

You will not get CTDs. One player has gone until mid-62 against CSA AI without trouble, and the AI was rather solid. Union AI hasn't been tested past 1861, I may just hope it will do well.

About features above AI improvements, the largest part for 1861-1862 has been written. Now balance remains the main point to check. Events for 1863-1865 are yet to be written, but the official ones are in the mod, so Emancipation, Prisoner exchange should fire in SVF like in vanilla.

I feel SVF 2.0 to be playable, even if unfinished, but indeed it remains some rough edges. Now most of my updates SHOULD be compatible with games started with the current version, Even if I can't be fully affirmative on.

Regards

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121001. Early August 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Jackson's Gamble.

The Confederacy has lost both Harper's Ferry and, much more importantly, Manassas. If we don't retake Manassas before the rains of late autumn, the situation is indeed grim. Through the winter, the Union would be able to reinforce the place, and dig in. The prospect of retaking Manassas in 1862 is little to none. Without Manassas, holding the Shenandoah is untenable.

Bold action is needed. Now!

Perhaps fortunately, I had sent Jackson to Spottsylvania VA in late July. Also several contingents of reinforcements. Assembling a new ad hoc command, Jackson will strike towards Alexandria (Fairfax VA), assault, and with luck take the place. Cutting the lines of communication of the Union Northeastern Virginia Army settled into Manassas, this will hopefully induce that force to abandon Manassas, and take on Jackson. Jackson's command is <100% cohesion, but I'm hoping his superior generalship will offset that.

Meanwhile, Johnston's Shenandoah Force will join Beauregard's recuperating Army of the Potomac southwest of Manassas at Culpeper VA. If Jackson's gamble fails to entice the Union out of Manassas, it will be up to Beauregard & Johnston to try their luck next month.

About to hit the next turn button, praying for the best...

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121001. Late August 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Jackson Takes Alexandria!





Jackson's force is seriously worn out. He will have to abandon Alexandria no doubt. But maybe just maybe the threat he poses against Washington will induce Banks' (newly christened) Army of the Potomac to withdraw northward.

McCall's Command -- again -- forced the understrength Bee Command to give up another place without a fight, this time Winchester VA.

To the far west in Missouri, Lyon was repulsed at Jefferson City.



Unbelievably, the Grafton Militia still hold Taylor WV!

Union Morale 96, VPs 300, Combat Losses 7185

Confederate Morale 116, VPs 509, Combat Losses 7065

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121001. Early September 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Beauregard Retakes Manassas!

My plan worked beautifully. Banks' Army of the Potomac marched northward to restore its lost line of communications cut at Alexandria. Jackson's Command withdrew safely southward (taking the captured Union Alexandria Fort Batteries with it -- precious cannon). And Beauregard's/Johnston's combined army overwhelmed the small Union garrison left defending Fauquier VA. Manassas is ours!





Meanwhile at sea, we lose the Battle of Core Banks:



An unfortunate defeat. But gratifyingly (as evidence of an adept AI), here is clear intelligence of a Union amphibious assault force heading ... where?

Broken record: The Grafton Militia, aka the 300 Spartans, continue to hold Taylor WV!

Union Morale 95, VPs 343, Combat Losses 9785

Confederate Morale 117, VPs 539, Combat Losses 9130

It's "good" to see that casualties are greater in this second SVF 2.0 beta test game.

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

So far so good. The Union AI is putting up a good fight.

[Chilperic]

I've posted a movie of my own test game in Summer 61, showing Union AI reaction to Confederate invasion of Maryland, with here too an unexpected but sound amphibious move on the rear of CSA.
After the FY AI, the SVF brother one is coming [;)]

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121001. Late September 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

After an epic defense, fending off up to ten Union assaults over several months, the hallowed Grafton Militia are vanquished at last. [:(]

[&o]

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121001. Early October 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Jackson to the Rescue Again? ... Jackson Backs Off.

In early September, McCall's Command advanced on Warren VA, and again Bee & Huger retreated without a fight. The Shenandoah Valley hangs in the balance.

Let's see if Jackson can save this situation too:



No, in a splendid counter parry, Banks' Army of the Potomac departs Washington and hastens to defend Harper's Ferry. Jackson backs off:



Perhaps foolishly, Huger feint attacked McCall from the south. Foolishly, because he shed much Southern blood to no avail.

Is the Shenandoah Valley permanently lost?

Union Morale 95, VPs 485, Combat Losses 10235

Confederate Morale 110, VPs 635, Combat Losses 11799

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

I have done some nifty moves, especially in retaking Manassas. But the Union has made some clever countermoves also. The Union AI is putting up a very good fight. The Union AI, at least in the east (I couldn't offer an opinion about the rest of the map), is acting plausibly, "intelligently" even.

An impressive AI so far.

[berto]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121001. Early November 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

A.S. Johnston Loses Bowling Green.



In the east, the Shenandoah Valley remains under Union occupation. Things are not going well at all. [:(]

Union Morale 94, VPs 598, Combat Losses 11840

Confederate Morale 120, VPs 732, Combat Losses 14084

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

[Chilperic]

I've noticed many if not all CSA players are very aggressive at start. I'm not sure it will work well in SVF. Union AI has poor leaders, but it is able to defend correctly the main regions. To take an example, I don't care if CSA is occupying Alexandria, because Union AI will defend Washington and my Potomac Gunboat are shielding the crossing. The more CSA will be North, the more risk for Southern player to be bypassed or hammered in 1862 if my computations are right

[berto]

With the situation as described above, I see this in the message box:

"2/10. Sir, whe [sic] have earned 1 NM from the bright overall situation"

After losing, perhaps irrevocably, the Shenandoah Valley; and after A.S. Johnston's army losing the Battle of Bowling Green and being kicked out of Kentucky, not a propitious start to the opening of the Kentucky front -- it hardly seems like a "bright overall situation."

Union NM is 94 vs. Confederate NM of 120.

Sure, the Union AI is being much more aggressive about issuing war bonds, printing money etc. (as I can see in the current messages display); as the South, I have not selected Paper Money Printing, and have gone to the War Bonds well only once (my inflation remains at 0%). (It's just my playing style to be conservative about economic management. This might be bad strategy; I might come to regret this.)

But the current disparity in NMs is something you probably want to look into, also the "bright overall situation" assessment, and corresponding award of an added 1 NM each turn to the Confederate total.

In short, some balance tweaks may be in order.

[Chilperic]

Above a certain level, inflation in SVF 2.0 will hurt NM indeed. Those having the bad habit of priniting money too often will pay the price later. Now, I've tried to force the CSA player to use Printing money because it's historical ( South lacked capital) and a complication for CSA gameplay... [:)]

Now, for the overall situation, I don't agree with you. First it must be remembered the nM gain or loss was tied to VPs odds first before I discovered the command was bugged. So I've fallen back to the current system by devising it by taking into account the situation when CSA surrendered, in 1865. At this time, about all the State capitals and game objectives were under Union control. The current system is evealuating control of the objectives and results of the battles of the turn to determine if CSA will get NM bonus. You're controlling most if not all of the objectives CSA has at start. You have suffered setbacks but you may yet hope to keep them safe. To win, CSA has only to avoid to lose, when USA must capture South objectives.

So, CSA has at start a easier way to keep NM high, when North can't satisfy itself with local victories when wah's needed is a total control of the South territory. Remember in 1864 Union wasn't certain to elect again Lincoln in spite of a large series of victories, because some of the key objectives like Richmond, Atlanta were yet in Confederate hands.

[berto]

I accept your assessment of the "overall situation". You obviously have much more experience with this game than I do.

Indeed, on closer look, I can see that the Shenandoah Valley might not be lost. It seems that the Union AI has withdrawn most of its forces from the Valley. With the exception of Harper's Ferry, I can probably recover the lower Shenandoah Valley if I play my cards right.

Probably I can pick up the pieces in Kentucky, too.

All is not lost.

[Chilperic]

But rewording the event message is certainly needed. Thanks for the input.

Union leaving Shenandoah: historical [:D] and a bad AI habit. I've yet to improve autogarrisoning feature.

FYI, one of the CSA AI plan for Kentucky is named the Bragg plan. From baris test the AI has partially used it once with success.[;)]