Oh no, McClellan's in charge! Tullius (USA) vs Marquo (CSA)

[TulliusDetritus]

Well, I will be doing an AAR, I suspect [8D]

We will be starting the game on next week, I guess.

Stay tuned... or not [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Alright then [:)]

I just bought the game two days ago. Yesterday, whilst I was surfing the AGEOD forum (to get some tips) I noticed my esteemed WitE opponent Mark (aka Marquo) had registered over there. In other words, he had bought the game too! And given that a human is much better than the AI, I just sent an email to him. And yes, we will be starting a game on next week.

If I well understood, this is his first AGEOD game, so he obviously needs some time before launching full scale massacres [:D]

As for me, I have played quite many AGEOD games, especially AACW aka AGEOD American Civil War (or #1 if you prefer). So in theory this is a little advantage.

But I know pretty well Marquo will be learning quickly and defeating him is going to be tough. After all, as a Soviet, on our WitE game I gave up by the summer 1943.

Anyway, I only played vs the AI in AACW.

First thoughts.

I know basically nothing about the American Civil War. McClellan = utter incompetent, Grant, Sherman = aces. Anaconda (the name of the strategy used by the Union and I know more or less the plan itself). And er… that’s all [:D]

On this game, defence is much stronger than offense. So in theory you should force your opponent to attack you at the right spot aka the place that suits you better. Easier said than done, eh... But this principle is unavoidable, I suspect.

First decision.

I am a history freak, so to keep things historical [:D] McClellan [:D] will be in charge of the operations (the Potomac Army thing). He will be removed as per history though.

And for now that’s all, I think.

[Michael T]

Good to see some old WITE dudes around here

Marquo and I will be playing a game as well soon. Good luck TD

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

Good to see some old WITE dudes around here

Marquo and I will be playing a game as well soon. Good luck TD

Hey [:)]

An American Civil War 2 (ie this very game) game?

Cheers

[Michael T]

Yep

[Gilmer]

Good luck to both!

[Q-Ball]

More WITE'ers.....surprised to see so many over here. And all of you guys, none of you are Americans, so probably less exposure to Civil War.

I love the game because of that history, and changing it a bit....it's interesting

Anyway, good luck!

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

Good luck to both!

Thank you. The thing is both Marquo and I play for fun. Winning or losing is basically irrelevant [:)]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

More WITE'ers.....surprised to see so many over here. And all of you guys, none of you are Americans, so probably less exposure to Civil War.

I love the game because of that history, and changing it a bit....it's interesting

Anyway, good luck!

I always liked AGEOD games. Along with Matrix, they are the best of the best (at making deep strategy games). Anyways, Marquo is indeed American. Given that he currently lives in the south, that was a good alibi (for me): I prefer the Union [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Ok, and from now on my opponent is not allowed here. I still keep some highly trained and bloodthirsty NKVD squads from our last WitE game so he's warned! [8D]

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[TulliusDetritus]

So, first they key area: Washington or the Mid Atlantic Department (I shall be using the old nomenclature, the one on the game, the one I totally ignored [:D]).

In theory the bulk of the forces will be here. And this despite this front should see few advances, retreats.

Sort of an anomaly: west of this area (West Virginia, threatening the Confederacy left flank if he dared advance ) the forces should be under the Old Northwest Department (which also includes Ohio and Indiana).

And finally Fort Monroe. I always reinforce this place (vs the AI, AACW). In fact, the first [large = infantry, cavalry and artillery] infantry brigade I create goes inmediately there. And that's a minimum. This place has to be literally a thorn in his side, and in fact the future Army of the James under Butler (already there) should operate in this area.

Another not so large infantry brigade always goes to Fort Pickens, in the Gulf of Mexico.

[TulliusDetritus]

Oh, by the way, to avoid confusions: when I will say "infantry" I will be talking about trained forces, as opposed to militia, volunteers, conscripts.

I'm with Jim D. Burns on this one. I looooove to raise lots of militias, volunteers, etc. If anything, it sounds more realistic than having a highly professional army, which I doubt was the case in the 1860s.

An army without these myriad of er... [:D] worthless units is too robotic, too unreal.

[TulliusDetritus]

And west of the main, key area (the capitals), we have the Old Northwest. As I said above, part of this Department [eastern portion] should be part of the effort near the two capitals (Washington and Richmond).

Main feature of this Department: it's blocked by the neutrality of Kentucky. So two choices, I guess. This Department should be helping the eastern or western departments (Mid Atlantic and Northwest aka Mississpi River area). Or both.

[TulliusDetritus]

And the last portion (not really the last, I'm just used to AACW, and that was all the map). Two departments, two different objectives. The Northwest Department (Illinois) should aim at the Mississipi River. And the West Department obviously at Missouri.

[TulliusDetritus]

In Missouri I always do the same dirty old trick (AACW vs the AI that is) [:D]

Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. 50%-50% I would say.

No matter what, AI, a monkey or human I will try to catch these places the same

[TulliusDetritus]

Finally (I will talk about the wild areas farther west some other day), I will talk about what I call "core" units.

Outside of the main area (the capitals), I first try -as soon as possible- to have a core unit in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri (and then kentucky). And what's a core unit?

A unit with a leader + infantry (line, trained, that is) + cavalry + artillery + wagon train. a proto-division if you want. A unit that can actually engage the enemy: victory is not guaranteed, obviously, but that's a minimum.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Early April 1861[/center]

Marquo is finally ready. He's sent the first turn [:)]

Everything is locked on these first 2, 3 turns but some decisions can be taken. First of all, extortion [:D] "Issue War Bonds", "Print Paper Money" and "Raise Taxes" are chosen. I also choose the "Declare the Complete Blockade" (serves them right, traitors!).

In other words, I squeeze the lemons

In addition to this I use all four "Requisition" and the one "Draft" cards.

I also recruit two militias (one in Maryland and another in Illinois). I will have to explain how I recruit, because I try to avoid chaotic, senseless shopping. These militias are part of a [half-ar*ed] cunning plan!

N.B.: I wanted to try the "Plunder" card at Washington but it didn't work! You need places with low loyalty levels! Oh well...

more N.B.: oh, no house rules, by the way. We play for fun so we don't need them as we won't try to squeeze the engine to gain advantage [;)]

[TulliusDetritus]

As for recruiting.

Not knowing what to recruit made me restart countless of games (and I'm talking about the AI and AACW). I had of course read the AGEOD forums. The thing is I could not find a clear answer, apart from "have one [full] division in Illinois, Indiana etc. etc.".

I think that I finally found a good solution which works for me (maybe I will change this opinion though, who knows [:(]).

In essence this is the picture:

1) things I REALLY need. I mean now or the inmediate future
2) things I might need in the near future
3) things it would be nice to have (no emergency though).

To use an example, the two militias are 1) things I really need now.

A digression is needed here. This game or war did not fully see continuous lines (WW1 would bring this). In fact the engine simulates this perpectly. Given that you are encouraged (to avoid penalties) to create Corps, many gaps will be inevitable. In fact gaps will be the rule.

BUT in some key places I don't want holes. Right now these places are Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Illinois in the west. Ideally militia regiments (one per region; they never leave their state) should cover all the border regions. They are not supposed to resist, obviously. But if the enemy advances he will have to spend ammo and cohesion. Not to mention that these regiments build FORTIFICATIONS, which might be later used by larger forces, retreating or not, etc. etc.

2) things I might need in the near future

Well, trained brigades, supply wagons, artillery, etc.

3) things it would be nice to have (no emergency though)

Army HQs, Field Hospitals, Signal, Engineers, naval units.

You get the picture I guess.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Late April 1861[/center]

We restarted again so that both of us can see the turn resolution and to have historical leader ratings.

Late April then:

I was lucky in Ohio [:)]

Two infantry brigades (3 elements each, mostly militia) appeared where McClellan is located (always random). Ergo he is going to train them whilst he is trapped (locked) there.

[TulliusDetritus]

In the east, Schurz and his cavalrymen appear at New York. He is not active so he can't get to Harper's Ferry to storm it (which was the plan). I move them to an adjacent hex. On next turn they should assault HF along with the unlocked Marines and the Washington Bde (appears on next turn).

I send one leader to each state west of Maryland. To keep things aesthetic Wallace is sent to Illinois: the first brigade you create in that state will be the "Wallace Brigade". Another leader which should not be randomly use: J. Shields. He has the Fort Defender ability therefore I send him (yes or yes) to Fort Monroe.

As for naval movements: the Chesapeake Squadron is now ready. They are sent to Fort Monroe with bombard orders. Their naval guns should (in theory) help the fort in case of enemy attack. Later, Farragut first prioritary order will be precisely that: move his fleet to FM waters with bombard orders. I need all the protection I can get until I reinforce the place.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Late May 1861[/center]

Good news in the Potomac area thing. My hordes assaulted Harper's Ferry and captured it. Marquo had moved a miserable militia regiment (the Winchester militia thing). In theory there were two waves. First Schurz and his cavalrymen (4 days to get to HF), then T. Wood commanding the Washington Bde, joined en route by the marines. The latter were supposed to get at HF like in 12 days. But when they got there Schurz had already managed to trash the militiamen [8D]

Banks will be in charge of this mini horde on next turn (passive posture last turn so he could not paticipate in the HF massacre, so obviously I did not want him to spoil my cunning plan!).

Now we have HF. Let's see if we can keep it. I WILL reinforce the region, that's 100% certain. Let's see if I have time.