Selling cotton immediately

[Pocus]

I'm interested in getting more details on this 1750 MPP option! In particular, how it influences the initial Foreign Entry level and its evolution. Thanks!

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Hi Pocus,
If you sell the cotton, the following events won't fire:
- The beginning of the cotton shortage in Europe, which if you kept the cotton would boost your chosen sponsor's mobilisation by 15-20% in late 1861.
- Supply ships from Europe that boost mobilisation if there are no Union ships near the marked locations on the blockade routes
- Invasion of the North mobilisation bonus for crossing the Potomac
- "King Cotton" MPP bonus (400 for 10 turns) if your chosen sponsor reaches 75% mobilisation
- "Denounce Garibaldi's Intervention" DE allowing you to purchase a European mobiisation increase for MPPs if the Union invited Garibaldi.
Taken together, these mean that European mobilisation is nearly certain to be lower than it would be if the cotton was held, reducing the benefit of the European convoys, as well as making their eventual intervention practically impossible.

Selling the cotton also means you take a total FS hit of 12000 points.

...But for 1750 MPPs, you might think it is worth it

- BNC

[stormbringer3]

Has anyone tried this? If so, what did you think? Perhaps a way to help the Union AI?
Thanks for any opinions.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

My personal opinion is that 'Not Selling' the cotton reaps better benefits overall through increased revenue/support (MMPs because off higher cotton prices) via the convoy lines and blockade runners. Of course choosing this option means protecting the ports with land units and actively defending the sea lanes with naval elements...are hard but not impossible task.

Selling the cotton has a short term benefit in that 1750 MMPs gains the CSA roughly 5 Inf Divisions or a combination mixed with Cavalry of some type, early.
Whether that added force can be used early to leverage up the lost FS (which also slowly will go up under the right circumstances) depends on what the CSA does with those extra units. If the CSA chooses to Sell their cotton, then I think the CSA has to be aggressive early...
I have seen the latter decision used successfully by the CSA and temporary really hurt the Union...but again my personal preference is to not sell.

[Pocus]

Thanks BNC. In my games I have not sold it, and I don't regret overall. From the list of changes, I'm comforted to not make the short term decision of selling it. Now perhaps against an opponent and for a rush...

[metabagel]

I have only sold immediately. My strategy as CSA is to hit the Union with everything I've got.

But, I didn't realize how much I was giving up by selling right away. I will probably try not selling to see how I fare.

[battlevonwar]

As easy as it is to take the Ports and blockade the South the extra MPPs won't come into play really quickly enough if the Union reacts well. You're not likely to get Washington against someone who knows what they're doing and what else can you really do? I think any invasion of PA or Ohio gets really easily countered. There are other things than divisions that one could buy that may actually make the trade off worth it. I am not sure absolutely what's the best trade. The Union has to invest in her own Navy and Techs to blockade, take ports, counter Politics. It's an all or nothing strategy in my opinion.

I have only sold immediately. My strategy as CSA is to hit the Union with everything I've got.

But, I didn't realize how much I was giving up by selling right away. I will probably try not selling to see how I fare.