Matrix Games Forums

The single thing that is bugging me the most are the exceptionally long load times before and after a PBEM turn. I'd like to see an option to start the game without music and animations so that it would load quicker. This is also the first game I've played that takes forever to close after you save the PBEM file at the end of your turn. I have no idea what the game program is doing, but I have considered rebooting my computer at that point simply to stop the nonsense, but I'm afraid I might corrupt the PBEM file somehow. In fact, I generally spend more time waiting for the program to load and close than I spend making my moves.
 
There must be a way to make the game more user-friendly in regards to the loading and closing times. And the problem isn't that my computer is archaic, because it is less than 2 years old (3.2 Ghz).

Ranks
- I belive someone mentioned this before. Anyway, the idea where you have to promote your generals in next higher position isn't so good. Why wouldn't you live us a choice where we could choose who and when to promote.
- political influence... That one, I belive you said is too much work.
- when general is promoted to command army or corp he should maybe lose some quality. Corps and armies are ofcourse much tougher to command then brigades. This would ofcourse mean that all general qualities should fluctuate based on their promotions and their succeses and failors in war

90 day militia
- could this be done? It would add to realism.

Stats
- this is, I belive, third time I am mentionig this [:D]. At the end of the game include stats. Like, when you finish the game a history book animation occurs named American civil war. Then you would have like several pages of stats and facts about your game. How much did it last, bloodiest battles, best brigades (based on their stats), best generals (also, based on their individual stats), most important battles and events, cities destroyed, people died of disseses and died in combat and such.
I am an older player and I still like to some some nice graphics and results when I finish the game. Like in older games [:D]. Plus we would have something to compare with each other.

POW's
- very important in ACW. That one would require one new building (POW camp), additional resource spending and maybe some option to exchange prisoners. They could also be made to work and produce something, as well.

Reports in form of newspapers
- I have already wrote some on this subject. Report is one of the most important parts of the game. Whynot make it a more enjoyable? Insted, CSA wins a battle 6,000 men dead- Usa 10,000 men dead make it :
"In early july 1862. Confederate forces under general Forrest whiped blue coats near Nashville. In process Forrest lost about 6,000 men and Union corp lost more then 10,000 men." Or something like it.
In one of my previous posts about the newspapers you have a link to ACW papers. Great stuff. Pics, adds and much more of that time.

Brigade commanders
- when you attach them to a brigade they will actualy command one random brigade or I am wrong. Not sure. But if that is true thenmake it possible to attach a brigade general to one precise brigade.

Historical facts
- when we get those bios for generals plus infos that we have on forts, guns and famous brigades we will have a very nice learning tool for ACW. Why wouldn't you include some facts as well. Like when you get a report (hopefully in newspaper form[:D]) at the end of it there could be one or more facts about the war and era. Like ACW firsts, battles, speeches and such.

HQ and quartermaster generals
- Ok. Include HQ for both armies and include QM staff. They would influence supplies onnational level. This is how it really was [;)] and plus would add a nice touch to the game. Also, navy secretary would be nice too.

Theatre commanders
- long shot but... Maybe make a theatre commanders. One for west and one for east.

Instant battle options and battle intensity
- make instant battle options like call for reinforcements and such. I like strategical part of the game but if I want another army to join my attack from another province I have to play quick battle (whichI don't like). Also, it would be nice to include all those sweet options you have when playing detailed battle like suprise attack and such.
- second part would be from Frank Hunters old game. Make an option where in quick and instant battles you could choose battle intensity. Like all out attack to minor skirmish or deleyed retreat... General with higher initiatiev of two involved would get things his way.

Siege options
- would it be possible to choose siege options right away? Like bombard and stuff. I hate seeing so many men killed just because I don't have an option for the first turn of the siege. Itis not like they were suprised that they find a town or for in that province [;)]. Sieges were cerefully planed.

That would be it for now [:D]. I hope someone is reading all of our wishes and since Christmas is near... Well...[:D][:D][:D]

While playing tonight, had my first union detailed com victory in 62.. thought of an idea.. reactive moves.. Ie if you have a certain level of intellegence from? spy.other you can see where the enemy plans to go and plan accordingly.. u could also limit this by needing telegraph and the like...

ORIGINAL: freeboy

While playing tonight, had my first union detailed com victory in 62.. thought of an idea.. reactive moves.. Ie if you have a certain level of intellegence from? spy.other you can see where the enemy plans to go and plan accordingly.. u could also limit this by needing telegraph and the like...

That would also be a nice touch.

i want to go to war again england and france. i just feel that the South would not use the emancipation option so early in the war.

ORIGINAL: marecone

Siege options
- would it be possible to choose siege options right away? Like bombard and stuff. I hate seeing so many men killed just because I don't have an option for the first turn of the siege. Itis not like they were suprised that they find a town or for in that province [;)]. Sieges were cerefully planed.

Or to at least replace "Normal Siege" with "Encircle" on the turn you can't control to avoid the automatic big pile of casualties. IRL the besieger's first step was to cut the target off from outside aid, not make a bloody assult on the walls....

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

ORIGINAL: marecone

Siege options
- would it be possible to choose siege options right away? Like bombard and stuff. I hate seeing so many men killed just because I don't have an option for the first turn of the siege. Itis not like they were suprised that they find a town or for in that province [;)]. Sieges were cerefully planed.

Or to at least replace "Normal Siege" with "Encircle" on the turn you can't control to avoid the automatic big pile of casualties. IRL the besieger's first step was to cut the target off from outside aid, not make a bloody assult on the walls....

That would be fine with me [:D]

ORIGINAL: marecone

POW's
- very important in ACW. That one would require one new building (POW camp), additional resource spending and maybe some option to exchange prisoners. They could also be made to work and produce something, as well.

Probably a non-starter. Once POW's are in the mix, then "treatment of POW's" will be an issue as well, and both sides had rather abysmal records here. May well be "best forgotten", historical or not.

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

ORIGINAL: marecone

Siege options
- would it be possible to choose siege options right away? Like bombard and stuff. I hate seeing so many men killed just because I don't have an option for the first turn of the siege. Itis not like they were suprised that they find a town or for in that province [;)]. Sieges were cerefully planed.

Or to at least replace "Normal Siege" with "Encircle" on the turn you can't control to avoid the automatic big pile of casualties. IRL the besieger's first step was to cut the target off from outside aid, not make a bloody assult on the walls....

Agreed.