This is an interesting conversation, particularly because part of it centers around how Civil War leadership tactics evolved as field experience accumulated. This game has been out about 21 months now, the equivalent of almost halfway through the actual war, and players are still evolving their own strategies and tactics. That, in my opinion, shows the game's depth.
On the other hand, I'm not sure players should be able to benefit from the advantages of all-artillery or all-cavalry divisions early in the war. While I'm all for the freedom to explore historical alternatives, there is already a precedent for handicapping our advantage of 20-20 hindsight (the locking of division and corps structures, for example) to create a more historical simulation. So while I agree with Gray Fox all-artillery divisions do reflect the armies' respective artillery structures, I believe an ideal system would limit the player from adopting those structures until they became historical realities. I realize that a) this is not a major issue, b) that it won't (and shouldn't) be reworked in CWII, and c) it probably involves a lot of coding that might not be possible, but it is something to think about as these games continue to be refined and evolve.
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BattleVonWar
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Keeler, I learned a lot by reading Gray Fox's divisional structure. The beginning structure of the Armies is very chaotic. This is about the only time I feel that the CSA will or can win the war outright. The way you can build for the Union is perfect nearly. Precise Divisions... The South without training officers early cannot build perfect divisions.
So by late '61 early '62 the momentum moves entirely North and unless you really are making a grave error you cannot or should not lose as the USA by then. Watched a beautiful 2010 documentary about Antietam. I didn't know that during the battle Longstreet helped load a cannon. They say the South employed them then far more effectively than the Union. At that point their tactics were superior. Hmm... Some alterations to the CSA's training officers and initial cannon bonuses would make for far more interesting games. Plus more historical.
So by late '61 early '62 the momentum moves entirely North and unless you really are making a grave error you cannot or should not lose as the USA by then. Watched a beautiful 2010 documentary about Antietam. I didn't know that during the battle Longstreet helped load a cannon. They say the South employed them then far more effectively than the Union. At that point their tactics were superior. Hmm... Some alterations to the CSA's training officers and initial cannon bonuses would make for far more interesting games. Plus more historical.
For every Southern boy fourteen years old, not once but whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it's still not yet two o'clock on that July afternoon in 1863 ~~~
After the first Battle of Bull Run, Jeff Davis ordered the army to immediately march on Washington D.C. and end the struggle. Unfortunately, the Rebels were too busy chasing fleeing Yankees to take D.C. in 1861. So, recommending this be done is just less well known history.
The Confederates along with every major European power knew to mass artillery at the point of decision. Due to the lack of continuity in Union leadership, it took over two years for the use of all artillery formations similar to the Confederate ones to come into use. There's a book out arguing that the Union lost all the battles in the east during the first years of the war because of this one oversight. Ten batteries of artillery firing at one point on the enemy's line will cause more chaos than firing just one battery. That's simply Military Science 101.
During the Civil War, two percent of all Americans died. I see no purpose in aspiring to repeat that part of history.
The Confederates along with every major European power knew to mass artillery at the point of decision. Due to the lack of continuity in Union leadership, it took over two years for the use of all artillery formations similar to the Confederate ones to come into use. There's a book out arguing that the Union lost all the battles in the east during the first years of the war because of this one oversight. Ten batteries of artillery firing at one point on the enemy's line will cause more chaos than firing just one battery. That's simply Military Science 101.
During the Civil War, two percent of all Americans died. I see no purpose in aspiring to repeat that part of history.
I'm the 51st shade of gray. Eat, pray, Charge!
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