CSA Building Question

[HidekiTojo]

So in the april start I begin to build up in TN and Virginia. But it seems that although the universal recommendation is to build divisions (roughly) with 10 infantry elements 4 artillery and a cav. I dont see any way to do that with tge CSA. I might get one full division in Virginia, but otherwise I dont understand what kibd of forces to aim for in the early building periid as CSA.

[caudata]

I ran into this too. It's really hard to get a "perfect" division with the CSA. I guess it's easier as the USA? I haven't played USA yet.

You just need MOAR, and you need it now.

I recommend on building everything you can that is geographically close (to minimize impact on your rail/riverine pools), and really focus on making sure every division has a sharpshooter.

Also, focus on building brigades with NO or LITTLE conscript elements. Conscript elements cost the same as regulars in every respect, come from the same replacement pool, and don't fight as well. Once you are out of options with no conscript elements, move to options with 3 regulars and 1 conscript, etc. [exception: don't just build the 2 regular + sharpshooter to infinity. Sharpshooters themselves, imo, don't fight all that well, it's just their stack effect is worth having 1].

As the south, again imo, you need as much beef as you can get as fast as you can get it, and you need good beef without horse meat mixed in. Don't worry about being pretty. Barbecue is filling and yummy. Leave pretty stuff like salad and caviar to the fancy, prissy yankees.

[HidekiTojo]

Lol

How large do you make your divisions then?

How do you then afford all that?

Those three brigades in Virginia basically constitute a division. However building these large brigades typically breaks me.

Im not a seasoned CSA player im mostly Union (Irish Brigade FTW!)From and yes it is very easy to get the perfect division.

I figured id try the south bc I found a picture of Lee in the basement so it looks like I had a relative in the irish brigade and one who went south.

[Mickey3D]

In order to have a more or less "perfect" division I mix brigades coming from several States. E.g. from Virginia, North and South Carolina or even Georgia for a division to be used on the eastern theatre; from Tennessee, Missouri and sometimes Louisianna or Alabama for a division used on the Kentucky front.

[Captain_Orso]

Listen to Mickey and stop being a masochist. There's absolutely no reason to restrict your divisions to being form only one state. Go through the units you can build near Tennessee and include those into your building plan to fill out your divisions.

[HidekiTojo]

Its as much an issue of WSU and cash flow

[richfed]

There seems - to me - that there is a conscript & possibly WS issue with RC4. Not sure what you are using. That aside, under normal conditions, I build 4 Virginia divisions [not all at the same time] using this combo: 1 of the large VA brigades, 2 TN brigades w/ 2 infantry- 1 12lber, 1 zouve from LA, 1 sharpshooter from LA. A 5th can be built later when the Light Infantry units come in to play, or you could use a militia unit or Marines [this is after the 4 LA Zouves are used]. There are many possible combinations, but you have to be willing to rail your units from afar. This, of course, does not include the "free" units that appear on the map. You can build a few of out of those by juggling/adding units.

Before the new beta build, this was pretty easily possible if you are patient and, perhaps, invest in some iron works.

[Rod Smart]

take what's already there, buy what you can afford, and worry about recreating the mess you have into nice pretty little divisions during the winter lull of '62

-----------------------------------

you're going to need to recruit in the deep south (Carolinas, Georgia) to fill out your eastern armies.
you're going to need to recruit in Mississippi and Alabama to get the needed sharpshooter elements to fill out your Kentucky armies

[Wonko]

To clarify for my own mind - are Zouaves considered elite regiments?

[Captain_Orso]

To clarify for my own mind - are Zouaves considered elite regiments?

No, they are better trained and equipped and considered to have a higher moral than 'average' troops. From what I have read they were generally raised from volunteers only and were selective on who they took, so they had a higher motivation than average; kind of like the Marines.

Forgive me U.S.M.C. for making this vile comparison . To appease you, a small reenactment of the fighting on Iwo Jima follows:
































































Banzai counterattack on Mount Suribachi.

[Durk]

They really are elite, that is, they have much better morale and other qualities.

[Captain_Orso]

Weeeeeeell, that would depend on what context you are using to call them that. The game actually has a family of sub-units named famElite, and Zouaves do not belong to it; they belong to famLine.

I'm not sure if having the famElite status in and of itself actually has any direct affect in the game. Nearly all models using famElite also have the 'Strong Morale' ability, with some small exceptions:

The CS sharpshooters of the Orphan, Stonewall, Gamecock, Tramp, Louisiana and Texas Brigades and all those named Nth Confederate Brigade have sharpshooters with famElte but only the Sharpshooter ability.

The Texas Greyhound Cavalry and Iron Cavalry have elite status and the Strong Morale ability as the only cavalry units with that trait.

Marine of all factions are famElite as are the infantry elements of the Flotilla Brigade, but they only have the Amphibious ability.

French and British Grenadiers, British Highlanders and French Legionnaires have famElite and Strong Morale ability.

Most units with 'elite' status have elements with the Strong Morale ability. The Strong Morale ability represents regiments which were widely known to be very steadfast in battle and inspired troops around them to also hold their ground and maintain their composure; thus the ability in the game. Zouaves do have a higher quality than average infantry elements without experience, but they do not have any other higher qualities or abilities.

[Wonko]

Weeeeeeell, that would depend on what context you are using to call them that. The game actually has a family of sub-units named famElite, and Zouaves do not belong to it; they belong to famLine.

I'm not sure if having the famElite status in and of itself actually has any direct affect in the game. Nearly all models using famElite also have the 'Strong Morale' ability, with some small exceptions:

The CS sharpshooters of the Orphan, Stonewall, Gamecock, Tramp, Louisiana and Texas Brigades and all those named Nth Confederate Brigade have sharpshooters with famElte but only the Sharpshooter ability.

The Texas Greyhound Cavalry and Iron Cavalry have elite status and the Strong Morale ability as the only cavalry units with that trait.

Marine of all factions are famElite as are the infantry elements of the Flotilla Brigade, but they only have the Amphibious ability.

French and British Grenadiers, British Highlanders and French Legionnaires have famElite and Strong Morale ability.

Most units with 'elite' status have elements with the Strong Morale ability. The Strong Morale ability represents regiments which were widely known to be very steadfast in battle and inspired troops around them to also hold their ground and maintain their composure; thus the ability in the game. Zouaves do have a higher quality than average infantry elements without experience, but they do not have any other higher qualities or abilities.

OK, that makes a lot of sense, thanks!

[Merlin]

Zouaves are also a bit quicker on the march in the early war. It's possible to have some fun with quick moving light forces in the Shenandoah before 1863.