The Seed Army

[Omnius]

I like to think of the British Army at the beginning of the 1775 scenarios as a "Seed Army". Most of the units have only 1 or 2 subunits and therefore aren't really ready for primetime campaigning. I've found that by keeping them out of harm's way and allowing them to absorb replacements can turn that Seed Army into a Mighty Tree Army over time.

I wish the British AI would not just blow out of Boston at the first opportunity in 1775 when it is just too small to defend Boston while trying to subjugate the entire northern regions. I find that playing as the British it's far better to hang out and wait for those mighty 1776 reinforcements before going out and about capturing new cities. Although the American AI is bad at allowing it's army to be trapped and wiped out in Newport, it's very own "Yorktown".

I've heard from many game programmers that it's better to have a busy AI but I've always thought they were way wrong and their overly busy AI's provided little challenge. I'd like to see the BoA AI's be made better so that they sit tight and repair damaged units and absorb replacements during the winter and then campaign during the summer campaign season. Warfare back then was a seasonal adventure and the game should reflect that in the way the AI's operate during different weather states.
Omnius

[Jagger]

I agree with your Brit strategy. Although I would not want to be the one programming a Brit strategy. Their strategy is complex and the best operational tactics varies by sections of the country and time of the year.

During the winter months, I would like to see an across the board reduction in strategic leadership ratings for most generals. I could see exceptions for ranger or partisan type generals in which winter operations was not that unusual. Unfortunately that is something we can't mod or I would make the change now.

[Jagger]

I agree with your Brit strategy. Although I would not want to be the one programming a Brit strategy. Their strategy is complex and the best operational tactics varies by sections of the country and time of the year.

During the winter months, I would like to see an across the board reduction in strategic leadership ratings for most generals. I could see exceptions for ranger or partisan type generals in which winter operations was not that unusual. Also I would make the changes dependent on state regions as winter in the deep south does not impact operations as much as in New England. Unfortunately that is something we can't mod. If we could, I would make the change now.

[Omnius]

Jagger,
I find that the British strategy can be simplified. I go for rolling up the ends to the middle. I get New England under control early with all strategic cities occupied and fairly soon all other towns. I also go for Albany with it's depot and New York where I build a new depot early on and then consolidate the whole middle states region. I give up Norfolk to keep the American buildup in the south central area down early. I also go for the deep south early. I don't go into the south central until I've cleared New England and the middle states. The best policy is to work one region at a time, secure it and then move to the next region. Very methodical works well.

I recently played a game as both sides on normal level just to see how big the armies got and both sides can field some serious forces late in the game. But that Boston army can really grow if those units aren't lost. The more whole units that the British lose the less units they have to absorb all those replacements.
Omnius