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ORIGINAL: Chliperic

My own test game with the latest version has been noticeable by the AI union blitz in MO and Arkansas...

That concerns me somewhat. I am concerned that, compared to the Real War, in the SVF west there is too much campaigning. When playing the SVF west, the word "frenetic" comes to mind. In the Real War, wasn't it rather slower paced and even "sleepy"?

Aside from that, and the coastal ops issue, the rest of what you describe sounds great. I look forward to playtesting it (beginning mid week).

ORIGINAL: berto



That concerns me somewhat. I am concerned that, compared to the Real War, in the SVF west there is too much campaigning. When playing the SVF west, the word "frenetic" comes to mind. In the Real War, wasn't it rather slower paced and even "sleepy"?

Aside from that, and the coastal ops issue, the rest of what you describe sounds great. I look forward to playtesting it (beginning mid week).

I didn't ptotected Springfield, MO to test the Union AI [:D]Now, let's imagine what Lion would have done if he would have survived and won at Springfield? And Curtis campaign starting from Rolla in January 1862 and coming close to Little Rocks in may 1862? A bit slower than in my current game, but Union is advancing in Summer, not in harsh winter...

Just to add in my current GC, Union AI plays without bonus for activation...[8D]

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121018. Early June 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Localization bug in message box: "2/8. evt_nam_CSA_StLouis1861"

And another, in the gazette (when clicking on the above): "evt_txt_CSA_StLouis1861"

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121018. Early July 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

The Gathering Storm.

Early moves. Determined Union attempts to take Grafton VA. Skirmishing out west.

Union Morale 92, VPs 241, Combat Losses 625

Confederate Morale 99, VPs 344, Combat Losses 805

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121019. Early August 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

First Blood.

The (predictable) Battle of First Manassas:



A very nice first significant Southern victory. Followed by an unfortunate withdrawal to the southwest:



Elsewhere: Grafton VA has fallen. As have Lexington MO, Jefferson MO, and Rolla MO out west.

Union Morale 95, VPs 336, Combat Losses 5040

Confederate Morale 105, VPs 442, Combat Losses 4475

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

At the current save point (see previous post), look at these Drafts & Financials screens:





In both cases:

You must wait 11 turns(s) before picking it again.

In previous games, I don't remember the turn waits being quite so long. I really have to wait until February 1862 before I can again select Call for Volunteers & Measured Exceptional Taxes? Ouch!

The next turn, early August, Beauregard reverse marched northward towards Manassas. Jackson fast marched up from Fredericksburg to feint attack McDowell's rear at Fauquier VA (Manassas). Declining a fight, McDowell's Northeastern Virginia Army retreated to the friendly, safe confines of Alexandria (Fairfax VA). Manassas is securely ours once again. Life is good.

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121019. Early September 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Richmond Threatened!

In a most surprising (and risky? and implausible?) maneuver, McDowell marched right past Beauregard's unprotected east flank and lunged toward Richmond!



In hindsight, I can see it was a mistake not to return Jackson to defend Fredericksburg last month. [:-]

I might now rush Beauregard and/or Jackson southward to defend the Southern capital. Or direct Jackson (and ?) to counterstrike towards a seemingly vulnerable Washington DC. In any event, cut off McDowell's precariously long lines of communications.

What to do, what to do? [&:]

Tense, very tense...

Union Morale 95, VPs 477, Combat Losses 5190

Confederate Morale 108, VPs 540, Combat Losses 4965

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

ORIGINAL: berto


SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121019. Early September 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Richmond Threatened!

In a most surprising (and risky? and implausible?) maneuver, McDowell marched right past Beauregard's unprotected east flank and lunged toward Richmond!

Surprising and risky, yes, even if SVF AI is genrally aware of LOS importance.

Implausible, indeed. Now, bypassing Lee's Army was tried by Grant several times during the 1864 campaign. Considering the AACW map and 15 days turn, this move on Richmond has been designed ( yes) to allow a sort of replica od this. here we are confronted to the WEGO problem; only pure computer wargame players will routinely consider WEGO is intrinsically superior in realism to IGOUGO system. In reality, boardgames based on IGOUGO system with a opponent reaction phase during movement of the other side are certainly closer to the truth in simulating AACW...

ORIGINAL: berto


At the current save point (see previous post), look at these Drafts & Financials screens:



In both cases:

You must wait 11 turns(s) before picking it again.

In previous games, I don't remember the turn waits being quite so long. I really have to wait until February 1862 before I can again select Call for Volunteers & Measured Exceptional Taxes? Ouch!

I haven't changed frequency. Your memory is mistaken on this. Certainly because in offcial AACW resources are so much abundant you don't have to care for. IN SVF, especially for CSA, you have limited resources. Hence the utility of the Printing money option In my own test games, I'm genrally around 20% of inflation at the beginning of 1862. Above 30, NM begins to suffer...
For WSU and money, building Brig for blockade running is very useful. For men, conscription in 1862 will become certainly almost unavoidable, costing NM....

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121019. Late September 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

In Lee We Trust.

We sent Jackson northward to attack Alexandria. (Note reference in the message box to a nice naval engagement in the James Estuary.)



Johnston was supposed to demonstrate towards Harper's Ferry but ended up attacking the place:



Leaving Beauregard to protect our forward Manassas encampment, we threw everything else across central Virginia at Richmond. Richmond held!



We must place every last defender at Richmond under R.E. Lee's capable command. Nay, more than capability, we need his genius now. In Lee We Trust!



(I believe I saw Burnside crossing the Peninsula to reinforce McDowell's army at Richmond. Curious.)

Fortunately, Richmond is not besieged, so we still have (limited) possibilities of reinforcing the capital.

Union Morale 94, VPs 552, Combat Losses 10012

Confederate Morale 110, VPs 589, Combat Losses 7971

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

If Lee can hold Richmond, and if McDowell doesn't retreat, his Army of Northeastern Virginia might be in a very precarious position indeed -- low on supply (I imagine), sizeable armies to his rear, LOC cut off, and with the rains and mud of November fast approaching. If Richmond doesn't fall -- if, if, if -- can McDowell's army survive this?

SVF 2.0 public beta test 20121019. Early October 1861. Union AI, Confederate Human.

Unfortunately, Cooper has ranking superiority over Lee. And (like Lee), he is locked in place in Richmond, so I can't dispatch him elsewhere. So Cooper takes command of the defense of Richmond, and ...

In Cooper We Bust! [:(]



A grim picture:



Richmond is lost!

Recovering from this will be a challenge (to say the least).

In hindsight, I clearly should have moved Beauregard and Jackson south to save the capital. None of this fancy counterthreaten the Northern capital and strangle McDowell's LOC stuff. I gambled, and lost.

But how is the Union Army of the Potommac -- now commanded by McClellan, note -- supplied? (Across the Potomac and Rappahannock to the east? Um...)

Is there yet a chance to bottle up the Union AoP in Richmond and starve it to death? Especially with autumn, then winter, nearly upon us?

A Union Pyrrhic victory?

But observe the catastrophic turnaround in the respective NMs:

Union Morale 139, VPs 675, Combat Losses 14352

Confederate Morale 59, VPs 598, Combat Losses 12957

Saves, Logs, Scripts available here.

As the dev has recently stated here:

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.p ... post251873

the supply system in AGE is very very lenient for gameplay purpose. Nothing can't be done against by modding, excepting slowing the supply movement and other rather secondary stuff. Now the AI is able to move with supply wagons, but it will eventually starve if LOS remains cut.

Now it's indeed unhistorical considering the hindrance Union put in foraging until 1862 at best, and the very cautious approach by Both political and military heads in the Esat. However, the Sherman march to the sea in 1864 involved a 100,000 men Army without any technical improvement for supply stuff since the start of the war. So an Army moving to Richmond unsupplied and foraging to survive isn't physically impossible.

McClellan in command: SVF events. Lee will get the same treatment in future versions, once I will have defined how to depict his not so glorious first months in WV...

Oh BTW I promised to deliver the Fatal Years AI to AACW. Done [:D]. The AI can win.

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

As the dev has recently stated here ... the supply system in AGE is very very lenient for gameplay purpose.

A lesson learned.

Now it's indeed unhistorical considering the hindrance Union put in foraging until 1862 at best, and the very cautious approach by Both political and military heads in the East...

Especially with McDowell and now McClellan in command -- neither particularly know for their boldness or aggressiveness.

In retrospect (and in addition to earlier observations about Jackson & Beauregard): What did I hope to accomplish by leaving Johnston in the Valley, much less "demonstrate" towards Harper's Ferry? With the Confederate capital near capture, what interest would the Union (AI) have in the Harper's Ferry sideshow that it would rush back to defend it (and Alexandria, for that matter)?

Doh! What was I thinking? Was I thinking?

ORIGINAL: Chliperic

Oh BTW I promised to deliver the Fatal Years AI to AACW. Done [:D]. The AI can win.

All hope of victory may now be lost. But I'm going to see if I can isolate and destroy McClellan's AoP at Richmond. Should be interesting to try.

ORIGINAL: berto

Now it's indeed unhistorical considering the hindrance Union put in foraging until 1862 at best, and the very cautious approach by Both political and military heads in the East...

Especially with McDowell and now McClellan in command -- neither particularly know for their boldness or aggressiveness.

Now I'm sure to have a dangerous Union AI, I may work to curb it in a more historical flavor: I will certainly reduce the union AI aggro in the first year, most often, even if I will keep a probability to keep the current aggro level, for replayability sake ( and to force Confederate player to be a bit more cautious than the official version of AACW allows.

It's an interesting conundrum:

[*]Do you program the AI for the game, and have it do clever moves?
[*]Do you program the AI for the history, and have it do plausible moves?

I tend to think more in historical terms, not in gaming terms. So I misled myself to disregard the possibility of such ahistorical Union boldness. My bad.