I'm no George B. McClellan

[Gray Fox]

I did a cursory analysis as a Union player last night and it is indeed possible to muster nine mostly militia Divisions for the supply depot cities I mentioned, two mountain Divisions for Fayette PA and Fulton MD, and still have a three Division Army stack for HF, D.C. and a Reserve (with absolutely nothing sent to Alexandria). The Reserve stack can even have a cavalry Division and three cohesion boosting brigades, one for each infantry Division, which come in handy for a mobile reserve.The Divisions themselves are subject to leader activation, but the troops should be in place by October '61. Then I would humbly suggest that a Union player finish building a riverine fleet so that New Year's Day 1862 can be celebrated in a Union Fortress that would impress even Vauban. No city with defenses built by this Frenchman was ever taken. (Of course, you all already knew this.)

As to the battle-worthiness of the militia Divisions, I can only report that in the completely different battle mechanic of AACW (which font is for sarcasm?) I was able to slaughter one fifth of a 50k CSA force that came to Louisville "licking their chops" and left licking their wounds. The depots that I don't need would be destoyed by the cavalry elements out west as they moved east to that Reserve army. Anything that can be organized, can be done.

The nine depot cities generate enough GS for over a dozen Divisions, so they don't need to be plugged into anything else, although Pittsburgh would be getting supplies from the east. The defenders would be entrenched inside the cities for extra defense. I know that slaps another bit of CW in the face (Have I omitted any CW?), but if you read the frontage and seige parts of the Wiki, you'll see that it works. You must have a supply wagon present so that the defenders don't surrender and then the offenders get to slaughter themselves. If a Confederate flag flying over Chicago bothers you, I might point out that NY state contributes more to the war effort than all of the midwest combined. So defend what counts. Any Confederate leader who wastes armies attacking the midwest gets a Union medal when I take Richmond.

As I posted elsewhere, an educated man can only spell experience. Unless you spent 21 years being educated by the U.S. Army (my favorite real army).

[GraniteStater]

Truly, I have no idea what you re trying to say, other than throwing out some numbers and "if-thens" to validate or vindicate.

Taking Richmond is a huge body blow, it affects NM resilience greatly, but does not win the war by itself.

What I'm reading above is a Big Plan to defend the Midwest. Again, how many Union starts have you fired up? You do realize that it takes eighteen months, or even a bit more, to get to Breathe Easy land in resources? You do know what opportunity costs are, I hope.

So, you conquer Richmond by, what, Dec 62? What level against Athena?

OK, you've conquered Richmond. You haven't moved in the Midwest? The CSA is downtown on 4th Street, at the Maker's Mark emporioum? Don't tell me they're at Buck's, I'd get upset.

So, it's late 62 and you're nowhere near Nashville? Taken New Orleans? Charleston? Beaufort, SC? Still got Pickens? How about Miami Beach? And you still have to get through Paducahland to Memphis? How big is your fleet? How is FI at this point?

From what I read, "turtling" isn't the word - 'comatose,' is that fair?

All to take Richmond. You've done this on Colonel? The AI was on, right?

While the good people of Terre Haute can breathe easy because of the Big Plan, you've conceded KY? The CSA has MO & KS, except for St. Louis?

The CSA doesn't need to step across the Ohio or Missouri, comprendez-vous? The CSA can attain a quite winnable position, at the very least, one that makes the Center an expensive and slow proposition, so much so, that the British just might get annoyed at a certain point and start listening to Nappy III.

Hey, maybe you can work this on Colonel on Hard++, I don't know. If and when I get any extra time, drop me a line and try this against me - I don't play the CSA as much as I probably should, but I'd love to take this on across the board.

Sorry, don't buy it. If you can pull this off against a decent human and win before 1866, let me know, I would be curious and would congratulate you.

[Gray Fox]

I can hardly wait for a tournnament, but again, a lot of people just play Athena. You tell me what setting I should use against her, and I should have a Union AAR on Monday.

FYI, after I take Richmond, the CSA NM goes to about the lower 40's if they don't surrender outright. If they still fight on, then the NM causes their unit's cohesion to top off at about 50 vs. mine at over 100, their regions produce much less and FI slopes my way. So I continue down the east coast taking out the Carolinas and Georgia on my way to the default 2nd capital in Mobile. If you take and garrison a state's two strategic objective regions, then the CSA can no longer recruit units from that state. So with 6 of my militia Divisions in garrison, these three states (NC, SC & GA) are useless to the South. The Southern production is then so anemic that a blue water blockade is no longer necessary and the fleet can instead render southeastern waterways into roadblocks. Thus, I continue to do the important things in the east and continue to ignore the west.

[GraniteStater]

Yes, taking Richmond is much more important and effective. I have one AI game, as the Union, played through to Victory, in 63, on LT.

I have had one Colonel start, in 1.02, that when I got near Richmond in 62, she had Ohmigod PWR in the neighborhood, not counting a 2000 stack at Monroe. Extra Free Replacements are probably the big difference - plus, on Colonel, she recovers Cohesion very quickly. Put HistAttrit on Player Only in that mix, give her Almost Goddesslike Detect, goose Activation Bonus to +2 or better - she'll be a handful.

Still, I'm not even touching my AI starts right now, including a Colonel in 1.03 and a CSA start - 'cuz I have a human to play. Much more fun, I feel, and much more crafty. havi railed a recently activated good sized stack under Lee from an out of position spot all the way round Richmond, 270 degrees, to attack my forces in recently acquired Norfolk. I don't think Athena would ever do that.

[GraniteStater]

BTW, we are way, way off topic here - after all, the OP just wanted some advice. Just sayin'.

[Gray Fox]

Perhaps we should start a thread "Veteran grognards meet new grognards. Free Beer." Of course, we would only see the last part.

[GraniteStater]

Nah, no need. I try to share what I think I might have learned, that's all. I play guitar, I've played in bands, I'm self taught, I have a good ear. I still learn things from someone who's been playing for six months and I once met a guy with five years behind the ax who was just a tremendous, tremendous player - he had a huge talent. We all play the guitar our own way, in the end. I have my style and some people think I'm good, which is nice to hear, but I know deep down that I'm OK, that's all. I know my strengths and know I'll never be Django Reinhardt.

I'm a guitarist, not a musician - see? I know my theory and can understand every symbol, but can't and won't sight read, 'cuz I'm lazy. I'm happy to be a bluesman, a rocker and love to play the Dead and Neil Young. Still doesn't mean I know anything.

[H Gilmer3]

Man I hope you people play a PBem against each other. That would be something I'd almost pay money to see!