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Finished my first Union campaign-- didn't go so hot. Got the blockade down, did well in the East, but in the West I got delayed for nearly a year by the dreaded Fortress Paducah bug (oh, wait-- that's WAD? I'm sorry then sir, for your game is *broken*! .

Anyway, that's not my point. My question is, how do you maintain consistent supply for your nation throughout the game? It seems that no matter what, as either the US or CSA, I hit some point every year where I'm dead broke in the supply department.

Now, I don't *think* I'm purchasing too much in the way of arty and ships. Nor do I think the big battles that I wage cost me all that much. But given that I always find myself in the position, that's probably a wrong assumption.

Sooo, how do I keep national supply up? If I find myself in the hole, how do I get it *back* up? (For either side please).

Thanks!

What difficulty? And why was Paducah so hard? How was he able to get in so fast and build it up?

My solution is to bite the bullet an build factories. Basically, I build one factory a turn until I get my production into the mid 80's. When you do that, you will have enough for building supplies, a few new units, and rebuilding damaged units during campaign season without problem.

what is the total supply you seek? I try to maintain 1500 supply overall as the Union, is it ok? 

My method for production is 100% build ships and artillery at Union factories.
Factories in Border states only build supply.
 
Let the Surplus get eaten up for the 1st few months. When it gets "low", under 500, Freeze production for 1 month, next month unfreeze ships, and work from there. Seems to go well.

Are we playing the same game?  I usually have like 4,000 supplies by 1864, and more artillery and ships than I need.  I never build factories.  What am I missing?

    By 1864 I usually have to watch my consumption.  In my current game halfway through 1864 and winning, I have about 500 supply.

ORIGINAL: heroldje

Are we playing the same game?  I usually have like 4,000 supplies by 1864, and more artillery and ships than I need.  I never build factories.  What am I missing?

Hell if I know...I usually feel that I'm hitting that "wall" - feeling that I'm short of everything - about the end of the first winter, in March 1862. Never seems to be enough to go around. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time I was accused of being a greedy bastard...[;)]

The CSA player has to build some factories early or they will run out of supplies later on, especially once they start losing ground and factories. Seems like I spend the first 18 months building a factory every other turn. As for the Union player, it depends on how quickly you get the border states going, and whether Kentucky is aligned with the Union. I never used to build factories for the Union, but I can see that it might be good to build a few early on, more if you don't have Kentucky.

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

The CSA player has to build some factories early or they will run out of supplies later on, especially once they start losing ground and factories. Seems like I spend the first 18 months building a factory every other turn. As for the Union player, it depends on how quickly you get the border states going, and whether Kentucky is aligned with the Union. I never used to build factories for the Union, but I can see that it might be good to build a few early on, more if you don't have Kentucky.

Cairo is a good place for a factory.

I my AAR with Joel, I found that having 6 more factories for the Union would have paid off big. This will help keep supply and artillery production up in 64-65. As the CSA I put one new factory in cycle every other turn, until I have 8 or so...

[8D]
Jon

Thanks for all the great feedback.  Yes, I've realized that building factories is key-- did that in a Union game and I got through that 1862 trough with no less than 600 supplies.  Hope that holds true for 1863, we'll find out tonight .

I was thinking along these lines and so where and in what order do you build a factory. I am thinking that in key locations where you would like to put the TC and have factories+Population=4 would be the best places to start but do you have a particular order where you build them?

Madgamer

In my current game it is April 1864 and my units consume 500 points of supply a turn. I built my infrastructure to 85 factories, and I would say that is minimal. If you have 4000 supply points unused -- methinks your army is too small! I have something like 300 infantry units, and it is time to go WAYYY down South in Dixie!! [:D]

- P