Learning from my first mistakes

[rasnell]

Just finished my first campaign: The Revolutionary War as the Americans. I'm looking for advice, but here's what I think I've learned:

1. It's very easy for all your leaders to get bottled up in one location. I try to get them moved to as many areas as possible because of how much more powerful the forces are, even with a bad leader.

2. I'm probably too cautious with leaderless units that should be out exploring or trying to venture into possible siege opportunities until larger forces can get there.

3. I was very careful about finding shelter for winter, but just learned on the forums that you can still push in winter as long as you have enough supply units with you.

4. I used my Navy as much as possible to find the Brits, but I don't believe I ever stopped reinforcements from arriving and I don't believe that I blockaded enemy harbors by entering them. What exactly is the function of the Navy in the game? And, if your armies captured all of the coastal ports (very unlikely) would you cut off British reinforcements? In other words, are there any real goals related to the Navy and cutting off supplies?

5. The AI is very smart about pressing for objectives and finding your weaknesses. However, it is too timid in sieges and really should press to the attack in winter -- as mentioned elsewhere on the forum.

6. Bottom line: What a lot of fun. You really get to know the name of each leader, have many surprises from the AI, really get zapped when major reinforcements sneak in, and mourn the loss of these leaders when you mess up.

7. I would love to see future interface improvements like shortcut keys for assault-offense-defense-passive-entrench, etc. I still struggle a little about merging units. A little tough to get the hang. I wished you could watch the chess moves unfold and know which area of the map you were in before it all flashed by. I wish the battles would mention the nearest city instead of provinces that I can't remember.

I'm very, very happy with this purchase and can't wait to play the other side and begin increasing the difficulty settings.

[jcrohio]

Just finished my first campaign: The Revolutionary War as the Americans. I'm looking for advice, but here's what I think I've learned:

Well I just finished my second - so not that I am an expert but here goes.

1. It's very easy for all your leaders to get bottled up in one location. I try to get them moved to as many areas as possible because of how much more powerful the forces are, even with a bad leader.

I did the same thing in my first game - in my second game I made a big effort early to get leaders south

2. I'm probably too cautious with leaderless units that should be out exploring or trying to venture into possible siege opportunities until larger forces can get there.

Me too - mine pretty much just sit on garrison duty

3. I was very careful about finding shelter for winter, but just learned on the forums that you can still push in winter as long as you have enough supply units with you.

Yep.

4. I used my Navy as much as possible to find the Brits, but I don't believe I ever stopped reinforcements from arriving and I don't believe that I blockaded enemy harbors by entering them. What exactly is the function of the Navy in the game? And, if your armies captured all of the coastal ports (very unlikely) would you cut off British reinforcements? In other words, are there any real goals related to the Navy and cutting off supplies?

I have never used my navy for anything except for transporting units

5. The AI is very smart about pressing for objectives and finding your weaknesses. However, it is too timid in sieges and really should press to the attack in winter -- as mentioned elsewhere on the forum.

I honestly think that this timidness in seiges really hurts the AI - twice the AI tied up large stacks of units for months laying seige to a city with virtually nothing in it when that large stack could have been wreaking havoc with my units - and both times it was early in the game when I was stretched very thin

6. Bottom line: What a lot of fun. You really get to know the name of each leader, have many surprises from the AI, really get zapped when major reinforcements sneak in, and mourn the loss of these leaders when you mess up.

Yeah - I am enjoying it to - what I like is that it is fun and not a lot of work to play

7. I would love to see future interface improvements like shortcut keys for assault-offense-defense-passive-entrench, etc. I still struggle a little about merging units. A little tough to get the hang. I wished you could watch the chess moves unfold and know which area of the map you were in before it all flashed by. I wish the battles would mention the nearest city instead of provinces that I can't remember.

I'm very, very happy with this purchase and can't wait to play the other side and begin increasing the difficulty settings.

Me too.

Have fun
JAck

[Pocus]

thanks

This product is alive, it will improves even more. 1.06 will be there this week end, and the AI has improved significatively in it...