1776 American Strategy

[Son of Achilles]

I've been playing a lot as US in 1776 full campaign and wanted to throw a few strategy observations out to see if any of them stick:

1) Holding Philladelphia is absolutely critical to US. This makes a great spot to retreat to in the winter and strike out from in the fighting months. I've never lost Philly against the AI but I've had some very close, epic battles between the Continental Army and very large Brittish forces and I think losing there would have cost me the war.

2) In addition, its key to hold either New York or Albany, prefferably New York. Both of these cities have a huge impact on mobility because they lie at the 2 easiest places to cross the Hudson which acts as a critical geographic feature in this area.

3) Once the French arrive (if they don't you are doomed!), the area between New York and Boston should be first priority. Once you control the land from Philly to Boston, you can pretty much strike in any direction needes as long as you don't lose that area. This is the area with the biggest cities and the most civilized regions. Transportation and logistics are much easier here.
Also, the powerfull French fleet can be used to patrol the coast between New York and Boston and I think bombard the coastal cities when attacking (not sure how to do that yet).

4) The South and Canada, while important, can be left for last because its more difficult to maintain large armies in the field in these areas. Once you have fullfilled 3, you can send armies to these areas with the comfort of knowing you have somewhere safe to retreat to if you get in trouble. The French fleet can be usefull here too.

5) In general, its better to control coastal cities than inland because if you control most of the coast, you largely negate the huge British naval advantage in the early game.

6) Early in the game, Canada is a death trap for some pretty valuable forces including General Arnold. Its critical to get as many of them south to Ticonderoga or Albany ASAP or they will be wiped out by the British. This is a critical loss and all but dooms Albany to an early British conquest which will allow much more pressure on New York and Philly.

Just like to know what other people's opinions are on these.

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: Last night I won a complete victory this way with the US by June of 81. I would have won much quicker but it was hard to take Ft. Detroit. Otherwise the Brits were pretty much wiped off the continent or about to be when I hit the victory condition. This was my first win that didn't go down to points.

Also, another use of the French fleet:

7) You can shuttle Spanish troops from the Gulf to South Carolina as well as extra French troops from the islands. This extra army under great leadership can wreak havoc with an otherwise difficult area.

[Adam the VIth]

Sounds like a good game.

I just got thrashed in the 1776 scenario. Washington and the Continental Army went looking for a fight with the warn down British mega stack -- but reinforcements hit and by the end of the fight I had nothing left.
Ugh.

How can you avoid the British UBER stacks? They make the game a bit less fun.

I played the 1755 game as the French and kicked butt -- it was more enjoyable because there seemed to be less units, so the huge stack issue did not come into play, even late in the war when the Brits have the supposed advantage.

[Son of Achilles]

Sounds like a good game.

How can you avoid the British UBER stacks? They make the game a bit less fun.

I tend to hide west of the Hudson with the bulk of my army in Washington's control. I keep about 4 regiments in New York and Albany and when the Brits try to take them, I counterattack with Washington and then run and hide once the sieges are relieved.

Avoid the temptation to attack into the heart of British territory because the AI does a good job of hiding large stacks and countering with them hard. If you see unattended artillery or supplies, send a small quick army to try to grab them, not the Continental because you can often get trapped and ravaged. OTOH, if you trap a British army in your territory with no support, hit it hard. You get points and I think your units gain in experience when you win battles.

By the end of the war, I had Colonial Infantry rated at 33. They had started out at 28 so there must be some way to improve them.

The key is to use hit and run tactics in Albany, New York and some other places then get away. The Brits will tend to launch attacks against where you WERE not where you are.

Its a cat and mouse game that probably would not work as well against a human.

If you can get to the point where the French arrive and still have Philly - NY intact you are in great shape. Land the French in New York and go on the offensive. From that point forward, you usually have the initiative.

Also, I can't stress this enough, keep an eye on the calendar. Once October hits, you better make sure you have a big city to retreat to (Philly). Get as many armies there as possible and put them under Washington's control so they won't quit in the winter.

If the Brits attack you there, its the one place I'll stand my ground since its winter, I have the city with a fort and I can dig in and hold on. If they win that, you are in big trouble, but usually they fail badly and take big losses and have to retreat.

Once spring comes, I go back on the offensive. Its a tough balancing act, you have to avoid a major catastrophe but on the other hand, you can't just dissapear into the woods and let them take everything because you won't be able to raise any armies.

[Gallus Sinensis]

It's funny, some posts were complaining that the British AI was scattering its forces too much (too easy for the Insurgents) and now it seems the British AI has learnt to stay together (no fun).

[Pocus]

This is one of the reason why we must be prudent with only an handful of reports. For some players, the AI will concentrate too much, for some others, it has spread too much the troops. So as you see it's difficult to us to decide if something must be done on that.

[Son of Achilles]

This is one of the reason why we must be prudent with only an handful of reports. For some players, the AI will concentrate too much, for some others, it has spread too much the troops. So as you see it's difficult to us to decide if something must be done on that.

My sense (again taking FOW into account) is that if you make it easy for the AI to find The Continental Army, it will come after him with big stacks. But if I do a good job of hiding in friendly country, it tends to disperse more. But again, that's just from what I can see with the FOW turned on.

In general, I think the AI is quite good. I never see it really do stupid stuff like in so many games I've played. It can always be improved but it already is better than 99% of strategy games I've played.

I'm going to play next as the British and see how the world looks from the other end. My plan is to take NY and Philly at all costs and drive Washington into the wilderness where he will have trouble with the weather.

[Tamas]

Yeah, I also had the experience that when a bigger stack of mine was in sight, near to AI Brits, the AI gathere an über stack and came after me.
If it couldnt see a big stack of mine (which sadly mostly happened because it just wiped it out) it dispersed and went for securing territory.

A sensible approach, imho.

[Pocus]

the next step in the process would be to add a longer memory for the AI... so that even if she (remember its a she ) don't see a stack, if one was seen 2-3 turns ago, then prudent measure would still have to be taken.

[Gallus Sinensis]

(answering to Tamas) I guess a human player would do something in this line. Unless it's me, of course, I would rather do a big mistake.

[Pocus]

in fact you are playing against a part of me, as I code the AI to emulate what I would do... with the problem that she understand 10% of what I advise them to do
With some more weeks, the AI will improve.

[Gallus Sinensis]

Please Pocus ! Let me beat her at least once before she improves ! (what is bad already is that she knows the rules and I don't)

[Hidde]

Haven't played more than 5-6 campaigns but my experince with the AI is that she disperse her forces too much rather then making uber-stacks.
Can it be that different playing styles generates different reactions from the AI?
That would be great,I think.

[Tamas]

Please Pocus ! Let me beat her at least once before she improves ! (what is bad already is that she knows the rules and I don't)

LOL, exactly. My first attempt at finishing an 1775 scenario as US got ruined by me not anticipating retreat rules enough.

[Pocus]

1.06 should feature some interesting AI tweaks, with a tendency to split only when its needed, and some more optimized behaviors. Stay tuned for the +5 neurons she will get...