Wish list add on?

[madgamer2]

I was just wondering if Matrix will ever have Strat. guides for there games. What is the reason that thias is not allowed? Not a complaint I was just wondering.

Madgamer

[Khornish]

If you mean a published guide that you'd buy for $19.99 in a GameStop/EB, then your question really answers itself.

Matrix publishes games that are really not considered as having "mass market" appeal. Instead, they fill a niche that dedicated wargamers flock to. As a percentage of the overall entertainment software consumer market, dedicated wargames are a tiny fraction. The numbers are growing, but the percentage remains about the same.

The strat guide publishers produce guides for games they hope will sell well. They expect that large enough numbers of people will buy the strat guide. When the software already has a low market share it's not feasible for a guide publisher to do a book for that game.

It's simply a factor of economics.

However, that being said, several gamers or game developers have produced some very nice strategy guides that are available online for free, or a small fee. I'd link a fee site here, but to be honest, I've forgotten it as I don't use strat guides.

There was a really good free strat guide for CoG, but I forget the name of the guy who wrote it. It was a while back, and I've been gone from here for well over a year (I came back last month).

You can gain a lot of knowledge by just going through the forums here and reading the threads relating to a particular game.

Other than that, ask specific questions regarding a game and most of the users here are kind enough to give you their opinion on the matter.

Although we wargamers are human, and can be a pain from time to time, most of the folks who post in the Matrix forums are great folks and are happy to assist someone else. We're a small segment of the market, so we really don't want to lose too many potential opponents.

[madgamer2]

Well that was what my thinking was.  I love this game but hav not a clue as to how play either side.  It seems to be a paper scissors, rock  kind of thing.  I am not the kind of person who does well in eco-production type games like this EVEN though I love them and end up playing the compouter with a big advantage to the human.
  I have reached Mar. 63 with no cities, less troops, not as good arms and havins 120.000 strong beaten by Rebs of 70,000 strong.  The key is in how to use the eco-production system for the yanks.  So this is one that will have to go on the shelf for awhile or be played in a dumbed down mode for me.  Any help getting started will help.  Should I start the Bull run gasme or the Nov. game? what to give prioority with in the build production.  So many guestions and so few answers (SIGH) so I will stuymble along for awhile.(Irionclad ya out there.....)

Madgamer

[Gil R.]

Madgamer,
I prefer the November game since, with winter movement rules in place, it gives the player some breathing space during which he can focus on his economy, instead of having to spend resources keeping his armies well-supplied and improving them with better guns, brigade attributes, etc. The July scenario forces you to start fighting right away, and therefore makes it hard to build up the economy right away.

EDIT: Also, if you're playing the South, the November scenario gives you forts in Fredericksburg and more forts in Memphis, making it much easier to defend against the Union -- again buying you time to invest in the economy.

[ericbabe]

I'll add writing a strategy guide to the list of things Gil needs to do 

[Drex]

Have you checked the Southern Strategy thread, Madgamer?

[Ironclad]

Madgamer - A November start game is probably the best as the early arrival of winter enables you to have a more relaxed view of the forces and economic possibilities and Southern Steel is tougher for the CSA.

As for northern strategy the historical one seems a pretty good choice – after all it did deliver the goods. That involves maximising your forces on the three main invasion routes - Richmond/Shenandoah, Nashville/Chattanooga (or Kentucky if that goes CSA) and the Mississippi combined with naval invasions to choice targets along the coastline. The aim is to keep the CSA off balance, force a dispersion of its forces and expose any fatal weaknesses.

Despite better weaponry and more troops, you are going to lose more early battles given the initial CSA advantages of better commanders, higher quality troops and home territory bonus. Just as in the real thing the USA can afford heavier losses provided you avoid any disasterous defeat involving large numbers of surrendered union units whilst attritioning his forces. In detailed battle its much better to retreat before your Will to Fight collapses. If he then follows up by advancing into your territory you get the home advantage instead which can help to equalise things early on if he is gaining the upper hand.

The good thing is that the more battles you fight – even losing ones – the higher the morale of your remaining units becomes plus the loser of a battle tends to gain more in terms of experience points (which helps to speed up upgrades) and from improvements to command or logistical staff qualities.

Reinforcements for your existing units come from camps so ensure that you keep building these. New units can be built or mustered or conscripted. Unlike the South (which I tend to play) the North can afford the former especially for much needed artillery and cavalry and built units are high quality ones. Musters can be very effective (given your large population base) in states where the Governor supports it as this increases the unit quality by 1.0. New built containers will tend to be better quality than some at start ones so are preferable for front line service.

Over time you will notice that leaders can also improve the quality and specialisms of your troops and that your container staffs will also have an opportunity to be enhanced. Additionally academies on an annual basis increase staff ratings.

All this will gradually narrow the quality gap between CSA and USA allowing you greater scope and more confidence and should improve your chance of winning offensive battles.

If you haven’t already done so update to the latest version of the game as that has many great improvements.