Battle tactics

[mikeCK]

I have had several opportunities to choose my deployments and the strategy to be used. Do these choices really have any impact on the battle calculations? I assume so, so my next question is how much? Can I lose a battle by choosing the wrong one?

[Ol Choctaw]

Yes, but it depends on exactly what each side chooses and if they work. You can lose a battle if what you try is countered and the enemy makes a slick move.

[Toro12]

Definitely can lose a battle. As Union, I lost a 2-1 advantage battle with Grant as the Leader.

As I'm thinking, by boosting this occurrence, this might be a way of balancing the North-South advantage debate going on in another thread.

[Ol Choctaw]

No, the battle planer does not work that way. There are a number of choices with varying chances of success. Your plan and the enemy plan also make a difference.

The better your general the more you know of what the enemy will do and the greater your number of choices for battle plans.

You only get the choice of a plan if you have a two star with above average abilities or any general with three stars or more.

It is not used to balance one side vs. the other, though the south does have more of the better generals, at least at start.

You still have all the difficulties of terrain and frontage to deal with as well, which can also limit plans.

What works best?

The enemy usually goes for delay. Flanking attacks, Grand Battery, and any ambush tactics are the ones I try for when available. If you can’t do those it is a real crap shoot.