Beefing up the Blockade

[Bismarck1940]

Should the Union build blockade ships and/or devote ordinary war ships to the Blockade Boxes? I've read all the advice on the forum, and I cannot get the Blockade above 25% with the initial squadrons (even filled out and with some brown water blockading too). Thanks

[Gray Fox]

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?35519-Full-Campaign-Mickey3D-(CSA)-vs-Gray-Fox-(Union)

Post #13 in my AAR has a picture of the exact blockade squadrons I used to get 35%.

I am a strong advocate of only using the starting ships for the blockade and devoting everything else to building an overwhelming military force to take VA/Richmond.

[Bismarck1940]

Thanks Gray Fox. I indeed saw your screen shot (THANKS) and tried to mimic; I'll have to find what other setting are amiss. Your similar posts on numerous other topics are also very helpful, including on army and corps composition.

I have noted in a recent game that buying even a few river ironclads in '61 took tons of resources as well. Anyone have a few of whether the river fleet is worth it v. building up the army in '61?

[Gray Fox]

A river fleet prevents easy egress from the Midwest by the CSA. If your opponent isn't going that way, then delay building it. Just the threat my be enough. A Confederate army in Ohio with no line of retreat gets annihilated.

P.S. I believe that a setting in the options screen my set blockade to automatic or something like that. I didn't use that setting. May be your problem.

[Godagesil]

With the addition of a fairly large number of Blockade Flotillas, and a like number of Brig Scout Squadrons, I am able to get the Blockade up to 50% in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. I believe the number is derived from the combination of blue water blockade and Port blockade. I have blockaded every port on the East Coast that has a railroad connected town, in addition I have blockaded the same along the Gulf Coast as far as New Orleans which I have captured. I plan on extending it west with my next targets being Galveston, Houston and Matagorda.

The affect seems to be telling. I have the Eastern Confederate forces bottled up in Richmond and Norfolk. In the West a large force is bottled up in the fort south of Cairo. I have captured Nashville and Chattanooga, and all points North of the Tennessee River.

Athena is not making a big push out west up through Texas and into Missouri.

[Keeler]

I believe the number is derived from the combination of blue water blockade and Port blockade. I have blockaded every port on the East Coast that has a railroad connected town, in addition I have blockaded the same along the Gulf Coast as far as New Orleans which I have captured.

Not every port is of equal blockade value. You are probably better off blocking some of the Texas ports before some of the East Coast ones, as their value is higher. The values are posted over in the "Blockade System explained" thread. Some ports, if l, for anyone who hasn't seen it. Also, if left open some ports actually lower Blockade percentage.

[Note: Missed the part where OP said the squadrons were filled out]. In the 1861 scenario, some of the free blockade squadrons, some of the brig units, and some of the frigate units the Union player receives are not all fully-strength ed when they appear on the map. Even if these are still locked, you can put the ones in port in passive mode and they should start to fill out as long as you have enough replacements on hand. I always make sure to separate them from the rest of their original stack, since they will likely be under construction by the time the fleet is able to move. In this way you can get a bit stronger navy without sinking in any additional resources.

Regarding ironclads, Confederate Athena tends to build quite a few of them. So if you are playing the AI, I would have a couple handy by spring 1863 but more so on the Atlantic coastline to help protect blockade fleets at major ports. Ironclads can be are more annoying than devastating when it comes to trying to hold a blockade in place though, so it might not be worth the resource sink.

[Rod Smart]

Building divisions to take coastal forts is more fun than building blockade ships to sit in a box.