Forming Divisions and Corp

[Michael T]

Where does one find the information in the manual or the game about when each side can create Divisions and Corps?

[Twotribes]

One doesn't, the rule was promulgated by the patch. Divisions in Oct 61 a change from original which was right away and Corps in march 62. Both are told to you by a message in game.

[Michael T]

I see the message in the game but it does not specify a date, unless there is a message somewhere I am unaware of. I see the one under Special Orders.

[Michael T]

From the Manual:

Notes: An Army HQ with combat Units in reserve will react quickly to support

Corps formations but should not be viewed as a combat Stack. It is important to

note that a lone Army Stack will never initiate combat by itself.

Does this hold true prior to Corps being able to be formed?

Because if I move an Army Stack around they sure seem to be initiating combat.

Am I missing something?

Sorry for my ignorance [&:]

[loki100]

the key issue here is that an army stack on its own will attack in a field battle if it is on its own in the province. It won't (unless ACW2 has changed an old common bit of AGE coding) assault a fortress on its own.

Once you have corps (and you need either the RC or the quick fix for this), then the HQ stack will be the last to enter field combat. So quite often you can use this to your advantage. In other AGE games (& I presume this applies to ACW too), I often tuck in damaged formations with the CinC - thus they are somewhat protected in action (remember if you can don't lose elements as they are slower to replace than simple manpower) but available 'in the field' if you do need them.

The creation of a division is one of the areas of dispute in ACW (RuS is the other AGE game with this challenge). There is a good thread on the AGEOD forums but the simplest is to include sharpshooters, cavalry and lighter guns + infantry up to the practical limit. With the South, you'll end up with more cobbled together formations but with the Union your main armies should be based around that structure.

But the key with an army stack as such is on its own it mostly fights with no restrictions, but in a multi-corps encounter it behaves differently.

[Ace1_slith]

I see the message in the game but it does not specify a date, unless there is a message somewhere I am unaware of. I see the one under Special Orders.

On the first turn, a message will appear notifying you of dates, at least I think so.

Notes: An Army HQ with combat Units in reserve will react quickly to support
Corps formations but should not be viewed as a combat Stack. It is important to
note that a lone Army Stack will never initiate combat by itself.
Does this hold true prior to Corps being able to be formed?
Because if I move an Army Stack around they sure seem to be initiating combat.
Am I missing something?

An Army HQ will never initiate combat if there is another your stack in the field. So if you put all your units to Army stack, they will initiate combat if needed. It will also assault fortresses and towns if they are the only friendly stack in the region.
When corps are active, units in army stack are more like your reserve units if they share region with a corps.

[Michael T]

Thanks. But this does contradict the manual. A footnote would be prudent I think explaining the situation prior to Corp availability.

I will keep an eye out for the message at the start of the game.

Thanks for the explanations. [:)]

[Ace1_slith]

It is important to note that a lone Army Stack will never initiate combat by itself.

Well, it does say that, but a beginner reading a manual can never see the word "lone" in the previous sentence, he will concentrate on the never initiate combat part instead. It would be better if it were rephrased to: "Army stack will initiate combat only if no other friendly stacks are in the region."