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Still sloughing along trying to understand this game. So I am playing transmississipi scenrio to give me experience with longer term situation with replacements and reinforcements. I am playing rebs. My problem is supply. My wagon train I staart with in jefferson city gradually and systematically depletes. So I read the manual on this and sounds like I should get supply back if I am in well supplied areas. So I turned on the supply filter and moved my division to a depot that was dark green (other places were light green or red). I sat still at the depot hoping to recover supply.. instead my supply just keeps draining away. I also bought a supply tain replacement hoping that would help.
What is the trick to keep my supply train stocked??! Maybe I just move it away from troops to some other area. But my troops don't look like getting enough suppyl either (hence eating up supply train) so that might jsut make matters worse.
THansk for any pointers!

I've had problems w/supply in AACW as well and I've also tried allocating extra supply and service personnel from the replacement pool, but to no avail.

The only thing I can think of was a tip I read somewhere that you should use the supply filter to find cities w/large stocks of supplies, which may be an indication that supplies are backing-up because they're not moving to the front.

The solution was to create depots down the line to help move supply to your troops, but if you're short on wagons, this can be a problem too.

Thanks for replying. Please explain to me the relationship between wagons and supply,. Your last sentence implies I buy wagon trains and somehoww insert them into the supply system so they automatcally move things around?
Are cities implicitly depots or must I build depots at cities as well?
Thinking as I type the odd thing was that I put the division AT one of these depots that was dark green. SO even if was backing up you would think the troops and the wagon train with the army would get enough.
not sure I can undertake any larger campaigns if I can't figure this out!

To start w/your last point: I wouldn't give up on AACW -- or any other game -- just because I don't completely understand it; I don't totally understand AACW or, for that matter, FoF, but enjoy them both regardless. However, it can be frustrating!

If AACW is anything like BoA, wagons are part of your supply chain; they serve as portable supply for armies on the move, esp. in unfriendly (red) territory. They're usually good for several months before they need to be replenished, which is indicated by red colors in their element's icons.

I assume that making a depot in AACW is similar to BoA; you need supply wagon(s), perhaps 2, to build a depot, and you can build one almost anywhere when you see the icon available to do so in the appropriate Special Orders tab. Re p. 39, the Build Depot icon (hammer) "expends 2 supply units," and I'm assuming a supply unit is either two wagons or two wagon elements. Anyway, there's more on supply on pp. 44-46.

That said, I'd rather build a depot in a town for added protection, but towns, cities and ports themselves also provide supplies; there's a tool tip to show how much.

One more thing if you're having problems; look for "Sherman bowties" -- icons depicting RR tracks wrapped around trees -- which will derail your trains and stop supply via rail. If you see these icons and have a capable unit nearby, there's another icon to repair RR, which will hopefully also repair your supply lines.

Sorry this was so long.

Excellent observations. Thank you. What troubles me though is why the area we stay dark green if the supply network weren't reaching it Tried to post to the company's forums but unfortunately I never got the registration email back (must be my isp spammer). So can't post. sigh.

ORIGINAL: lparkh

Are cities implicitly depots or must I build depots at cities as well?

You may want to look at this thread in the AGEOD forum.

Town lvl 1-2, fort, wagon, harbors 1-4: don't send supply, can receive from up to 5 regions away
Town 3+, harbors 5+, depots: can send
Any unit can ask for supplies from any structure or wagon, adjacent or in same region.
Any unit can ask for supplies from another unit, if within the same stack.

Thank you. I will read through.

ORIGINAL: lparkh

What troubles me though is why the area we stay dark green if the supply network weren't reaching it

I suppose (not sure) dark green means you can trace a supply path through the region, but units get supplies only if they are adjacent or in the same region of structures / wagons (provided structures are 3+ towns, 5+ harbors depots, or minor structures not more than 5 regions away from major structures).

OK so I'm sitting there with troops and supply wagon in a dark green area. Your point is whether or not the wagon is then in range of a sufficient structure. Now given the area is a depot this devolves to whether THAT depot is within sufficient range..
I think the filter shows quantity of supply... so given stays dark green would indicate is ok. also there is another depot not to far away..
Would be nice if they would say specific things on the depot or area like "getting good supply and is coming from X" since presumably they compute all this.
thanks, still seems strange but will study,

ORIGINAL: lparkh

I think the filter shows quantity of supply... so given stays dark green would indicate is ok. also there is another depot not to far away..

No, the filter shows how easily supply can travel there, see also this thread. The amount of supply stocked in a structure is shown by the caissons and bullett icons you see in regions with structures. The level of supply of a given unit / stack is shown by the pot / bullett icons you see when you select the unit / stack. If you are near a depot, and the depot is linked in a chain of structures with stocked supply inside (shown by yellow caissons and black bulletts) you should should see the pot / bullett icons turning green from red.

ORIGINAL: lparkh

Would be nice if they would say specific things on the depot or area like "getting good supply and is coming from X" since presumably they compute all this.

Yes, that would be nice.
[;)]

ORIGINAL: Gresbeck

... If you are near a depot, and the depot is linked in a chain of structures with stocked supply inside ...

That's the issue: how to make sure that your depots are linked so that you're getting sufficient supply to your troops. The AACW manual said to make enough depots over several regions in order to make a supply network that will push supplies to your forward areas, but this is easier said than done.

Perhaps the next patch will help.

ORIGINAL: lparkh

Excellent observations. Thank you. What troubles me though is why the area we stay dark green if the supply network weren't reaching it Tried to post to the company's forums but unfortunately I never got the registration email back (must be my isp spammer). So can't post. sigh.

Hi lparkh!
If you tell me the username you have on the AGEOD forums i can try to activate your account.
I have some admin rights on that forum.
As you thought, some antispam filters don't like this kind on automated activation emails... [:(]

About supply, Gresbeck has explained it quite right.
Also, bear in mind that as you are playing the Transmississippi scenario, you will have more supply problems. That area was undeveloped with few rails, cities and depots.
Big or even medium armies will have problems finding supplies.
For example, on Missouri, you have to campaign mostly form city to city. ST Louis/Rolla/Lexington/Fayetteville is the usual invasion way. If you venture in the "wild areas" with big units you will have supply problems in a few turns, specially if you dont carry wagons
Still, riders, cavalry, irregulars, indians etc can operate easely there.
Its a different kind of war that on the east. There, supply network allow the deployment of big armies much more easely.
Your rail and riverine transport assets are also important. If you use it to transport troops around you will have less to transport food farther away from supply depots and cities.
As the CSA its difficult to maintain high levels of transport assets as you are poor. [:(]
Check the AACW wiki for more info about the supply system.

http://www.ageod.net/aacwwiki/Supply
http://www.ageod.net/aacwwiki/Depot
http://www.ageod.net/aacwwiki/Supply_wagon

And ask on ageod forums any question you have. There a much more people there so its very easy to get answers quickly.
Regards!

Thanks very helpful posting. (I've sent you an email about registration ...would greatly appreciate your help).
I am actually playing rebs in missouri. Thanks for giving me more context to campaign. I'm getting a bit more handle on supply. Pretty tricky predicting when depot will get supply and when it won't ..on same network of depots. Right now I am trying to retreat my southern army down the depot supply chain to keep it supplied. Sometimes there are supplies at depot and sometime there aren't. Thinking maybe build another supply train and send to rear to collct stuff and come back.
Interesting about cavalry and irregulars. Problem for rebs as scenario is setup is that there is very little for rebs to raid. Everything on map starts reb and the blue areas are generally offlmits. Basically I sit back and wait for arkansasians to come into play. about the time I get van dorn gets his army up there the scenario is over. Easy to win as rebs strangely because union has to take most things and doesn't AI doesn't seem very adroit at. On the other hand I would prefer to feel like I won by other then AI inadequacies

Hi lparkh!
Your ageod account should be activated by now.
About the scenario... i must confess i have never played it. What i told you above was referring to the transmississippi theater on the full campaign (april 61).
Maybe the scenario victory point system is a little skewed.
In my opinion short scenarios are OK for fast PBEM games and when you are beginning to play the game and don't want to be overwhelmed by the full campaign.
Shiloh one is a nice one for that because its limited in turns and area but with some big armies and corp.
As you feel a little comfortable with the interface jump to the april 1861 campaign. Here is where th game really shines. On the first months of the war you have few forces but they will increase progressively so you can get the hang of it little by little.
Now, be prepared to restart several times to try different strategies as you learn from your mistakes [;)]
Regards!

THanks I am activated. Played through transmississippi scenario again and even laid siege to St Louis. Supply sitution managable. OK finally ready to actually try the campaign.. ho boy.. wish me luck! thanks everyone for all your help