Forts, Redoubts, Trenches: Need some help

[Q-Ball]

OK, just starting PBEM, and I have a couple questions on Forts.

1. CREATING FORTS: Manual says 1 artillery unit, 1 supply train, but so far I haven't been able to create the conditions in tests. Am I missing something?

2. REDOUBTS: Is the CSA limited to building only 2?

3. RIVER SUPPLY: In order to interdict river supply, you need a) level 5 trench, and b) have an artillery unit with range of 5 in that trench. What guns, though, have a range of 5? 12Lb, or do you have to go heavier, like 20Lb Parrot, or even Colombiad? Also, what does a lvl 5 trench look like; without the graphic, how can you tell what level you are at?

4. ENTRENCHING REGIONAL CARDS: They have no cost, and will order a higher trench level; right? They look useful if you are trying to create an ad-hoc fort on a river

5. STOCKADE: Will an artillery unit in a Stockade interdict river traffic?

Many thanks in advance!

[Ace]

1. Do not know about manual, it usually needs 4 artillery regiments, and 4 supply regiments(or 4 river transports).
2. Only 2 in first year. At the beginning of the new year, you'll get additional cards.
3. a) lvl 3 trench. When you click on stack, there is an rugged line icon on the bottom right panel. The number next to it is your entrenchment level.
b) any artillery will do (they all have range 5 or higher)
4. Yes.
5. Probably, try out and let us know

You 're welcome.

[Q-Ball]

Thanks Ace.....re: 1), I guess that means 4 supply elements, right? Meaning an entire Supply Wagon Unit. PLus the 4 artillery.

That's fairly expensive actually; does the artillery have to be any particular kind?

[Ol' Choctaw]

Any artillery will do. When you build it make sure that those forces are in a stack by themselves so it is the exact units you want to give up.

I recommend 6lb cannon, as they are cheapest and quickest to build. You lose the units on the map, but they go back into the force pool.

[Q-Ball]

Thanks!

Last question: Redoubts are cheaper, then, than forts. Correct?

The only difference is that Redoubts can only be built in towns, Forts can be built anywhere (also, forts can be destroyed, Redoubts cannot)

Is there a difference in combat ability?

[RebelYell]

I suggest that all the fortification types would be built via the decision cards.

They would be in one place and so much easier to compare their cost and effects.

[Ol' Choctaw]

Redoubts are cheaper to buy, though I don’t know if they are quicker to build.

I don’t think there is any difference in combat abilities.

I usually don’t build either. Entrenched artillery is usually enough to shell ships that cover rivers and I don’t like putting large forces into structures.

Also by the time you get them built you usually have no need of them any more.