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Unfortunately I let my wargaming ego overide my keester. Directly bypassed normal right to challenging and Fow. Ouch! Has been a learning experience. Anyone out there had any success at challeging.

So far haven't seen anyone saying this AI is too easy...

Take care folks : < )

I'm playing CSA at normal. I've made some rookie errors (remember to use them cavalry!) and am getting smoked by the AI. Very tough opponent. He's doing amphibious invasions everywhere and I'm powerless to stop him.

I haven't had any success at Normal as USA. Have learned a lot but it doesn't seem to overcome the computer AI. And that is with the CPU having fog of war and I don't.

Yeah, I didn't utilize the calvary near what I needed to do...I also don't utilize the navy like I should. I still struggle with the boats, need to reread on their proper use.
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One thing for sure in this game; the room for error or hesitation to use your armies in certain fashions&nbsp; signs your death warrent by the AI..no mercy that I can see.

As far as I know, everyone who started playing on the test team was also beaten by the AI on Normal a few times. Once you get the hang of it and start winning, you'll feel a pretty good sense of accomplishment. When you can beat it on Normal reliably (which is not easy) then try Challenging. Jumping right into Challenging is basically impossible. The Challenging AI still beats me, FWIW.

Eric,
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Has anyone on the test team or otherwise been able to stand up to Hard or Impossible? Just curious, like a really gonna get to those levels anytime soon, NOT!!!

Whoops, spelled your name wrong, so sorry...

ORIGINAL: jjarred
Has anyone on the test team or otherwise been able to stand up to Hard or Impossible? Just curious, like a really gonna get to those levels anytime soon, NOT!!!

I'd guess there are at least a couple of players that could, but I don't know for sure. Joel would be the better one to ask as I'm pretty sure if anyone can do it he could.

Regards,

- Erik

Well, so far I have tried 5 times and had no luck past mid to early '63. At that point the CSA production/trade juggernaut pretty much took over. I guess I am going to have to give up on Normal mode or stop using CPU production.

Same here. Playing normal ive lost two games(decisive defeats to the AI-confeds). Still learning though. Enjoying the game very much so.

ORIGINAL: dthornburg

I haven't had any success at Normal as USA. Have learned a lot but it doesn't seem to overcome the computer AI. And that is with the CPU having fog of war and I don't.

Well, as frustrating as it has been playing USA in normal mode I still keep trying. So I guess that is a good sign.

At least you got to 63', I threw the towel in at mid 62';&nbsp; Four times for me, I hope normal is more forgiving, but from the posts so far, forgiveness aint in the cards...
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Take care&nbsp;&nbsp; : <&nbsp; )

Oh, the first three tries I stopped in '62 because it was apparent that the campaign was going no where. The '63 game I kept playing till mid-64 to see if I could extract vengeance on R.E.Lee. However, he kept showing up all over the map with outrageous stacks of forces (usually 100+). One turn he was in Florida spanking my Jacksonville expedition then in the next turn or so he was outside Washington DC repulsing Meades' army of 100+ troops I nurtured to regain the Capital with a force even larger than that. The turn before that Sherman's army (which had finally gotten initiative after 6 months of doing nothing) vanished when he and Grant got spanked by a force that moved in during reaction phase from somewhere unknown. If the game had continued I think I would have fired Sherman.

Yeah, I felt like I was throwing enough walls infront of Lee's army, and getting that false sense of stability, and them "Wham" the south seemed to have already guessed my move and KO'd me cold....Like you, back to the drawing board.&nbsp;

Playing as the CSA, I keep seeing General McClellan popping up everywhere. Pushing armies forward very aggressively even in 1861. Where is the hell is the Pinkerton Detective Agency to tell him I have twice his troop strength when I don't? [:D]

It's nice to know I am in such good company [:D]

It is March of '64 of my first game on Normal vs Confederate AI and I have a little over 700 VP to the Confederates 1110.

Some things I feel need improvement on my end (as Union) from what I have gathered reading other posts:

(1) I need to handle my own production to support my own overall plan of attack
(2) I need to use my navy/amphibious operations more effectively - counter raiders to offset VP bleeding...3 points per turn really adds up.
(3) Make better use of my cavalry forces - both for screening and scouting
(4) Make better AC choices (eg. Sheridan, Grant, Lyon in the west, Sherman in the East?)
(5) To offset reaction rules, attack simultaneously within the same state..force the AI to choose which force to defend against.

Just a start...

I made the assumption that if I placed a massive force or forces in a key area, it had to make the south compensate and pull troops from elsewhere to handle the onslaught.&nbsp; ( I just plain figured they could not have that many forces able to handle a massive push! )&nbsp;Wrong!!! I just could not exploit the south anywhere on the map using this strategy.&nbsp;
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It always seem to keep enough in reserve out of my sight to offset what I wanted to really&nbsp;do;&nbsp; basically weaken and destabilize their distant lines and then be able to poke holes&nbsp;and move in for a flanking kill. Simplistic in nature, but&nbsp;a bone head strategy to say the least...
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I would have to agree, coordinated and simultaneous attacks in the same state just may cause the AI to leave a weakness that&nbsp;one could exploit.&nbsp; A complex and strong AI does not bow down to the&nbsp;simple tactics of its enemy ( ME, MYSELF and I ).&nbsp; This is the best AI I have encountered.&nbsp; They really did a superb job with it....
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I didn't utilize my calvary to root out&nbsp;hidden troops, thinking it wasn't necessary to do;&nbsp;and&nbsp;like&nbsp;you stated above,&nbsp;effective use of the navy is key.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am now having to rethink all of my old AI strategies of previous games and find where I am missing the mark.&nbsp;
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On the games face value, it seems not so complex, but after getting pasted enough times, one realizes that as the developing team has reiterated so many times; is that&nbsp;you really have to look, study and then&nbsp;utilize each&nbsp;leader's ability and stats&nbsp;to their utmost potential...otherwise you penalize the bulk of your armies.&nbsp;

ORIGINAL: jjarred

I made the assumption that if I placed a massive force or forces in a key area, it had to make the south compensate and pull troops from elsewhere to handle the onslaught.  ( I just plain figured they could not have that many forces able to handle a massive push! ) Wrong!!! I just could not exploit the south anywhere on the map using this strategy. 

It always seem to keep enough in reserve out of my sight to offset what I wanted to really do;  basically weaken and destabilize their distant lines and then be able to poke holes and move in for a flanking kill. Simplistic in nature, but a bone head strategy to say the least...

I would have to agree, coordinated and simultaneous attacks in the same state just may cause the AI to leave a weakness that one could exploit.  A complex and strong AI does not bow down to the simple tactics of its enemy ( ME, MYSELF and I ).  This is the best AI I have encountered.  They really did a superb job with it....

I didn't utilize my calvary to root out hidden troops, thinking it wasn't necessary to do; and like you stated above, effective use of the navy is key.  I am now having to rethink all of my old AI strategies of previous games and find where I am missing the mark. 

On the games face value, it seems not so complex, but after getting pasted enough times, one realizes that as the developing team has reiterated so many times; is that you really have to look, study and then utilize each leader's ability and stats to their utmost potential...otherwise you penalize the bulk of your armies. 

I am pretty sure I tried the simultaneous attack thing. That only works when the enemy has to chose to split it's forces. When they have enough troops to counter multiple strikes at once then your screwed.

Another strategy to try is this, works for either side but I'll describe it as the Union - as the Union's cavalry improves, mass it under a good cavalry commander (Sheridan if you can spare him) and use it to Raid the area of a Confederate army you are about to attack. Keep raiding until you destroy their rail lines and hopefully those around them. Then attack. This will limit the ability to reinforce them during reaction and give you a more free hand in dealing with just the enemy forces nearby.

Regards,

- Erik

When I played the Union I was glad I did NOT have the Pinkertons. After finding 100,000+ confederates waiting for me at Manassas, it made McClellan's "slows" look like brilliant and sensible strategy!