what am i doing wrong?

[generalfdog]

I own sc waw and I just purchased sc acw. I never got any good at waw and I quite playing when I purchased war plan, but I always liked the cinematic feel of sc the pace always seemed off to me for everything except a ww1 game, (guess I should buy the ww1 version) I just can't figure out how to attack and get any major victories, it always seems like a slow slog except every once in awhile when you can surround a unit. So is the game just slow and boring basically stalemates everywhere or am I missing something?

[gwgardner]

A few things that you can do to improve your battle success:

1) make sure units are in command, if possible a higher-rated commander;
2) maintain supply, use the 's' key or supply button to see lines of supply and supply levels;
3) the obvious: try to bring your strongest forces against weaker enemy forces, search for weak points;
4) reinforce and rest your forces when needed;
5) make multiple attacks against a single target hex;
6) prepare your attacks in depth, so you can attack with the frontline unit, then swap that unit out with another behind it using the shift key for another attack against the same target hex;
7) research advances in tactics and equipment, and upgrade your units with them.

Others will suggest even more possibilities

[redrum68]

The early game when you only have brigades is pretty slow. Once you get lots of divisions and corps then lots of casualties will start happening. You can also start with one of the later scenarios rather than 1861 as you'll have more units and many of them divisions/corps.

The key in SC ACW is that there is a +40% attack bonus if your unit doesn't move before attacking. So if you can get your divisions/corps next to enemy units at the start of your turn then you will do massive damage to them.