FIrst questions of a new player

[Thomas_Longstreet]

Hi everybody!

I'm new to CW2 and I've a couple of questions. I hope you can help me. Version is 1.06.3.

#1
I've learned from the forum that mounted volunteers can take cities und therefore can destroy depots. But how can I get mounted volunteers as CSA? Are thus the Mounted Volunteer Militia that I can build in NW as infantry units?

#2
The battle planer is a nice feature. Is there a documentation how deployment and battle plan work? For me it's still a guessing game.

#3
Where and when does it make sense to build CSA depots?

Covington for the defence of WV, Charlottesville as a backup for Manassas, Montgomery as a link between SE & DS, Humboldt to supply Paducah, Cairo & the Forts, Grenada as a link betwen MS & TN come to my mind.

Do the CSA needs depots on the Mississippi River e.g. in Baton Rouge, Natchez, Bolivar?

#4
Where and when does it make sense to build Forts/Redoubts/Outposts/Defensive Works as CSA?

#5
I've played a few turns as CSA.

My settings: AI ranking: Sergeant / activation bonus: Normal / AI detect bonus: Low / Aggressiveness: Normal

I have notices that the AI ​​first threw the Washingon Brigade and then all possible units of the Army of Northeastern Virginia via Fredericksburg on to Richmond. Seems a bit silly as the Washington Brigade passed the fixed Army of the Potomac within sight. No shooting, only waving and cheering from Beauregard. I restarted, hold Fredericksburg, and then I watched a big stack coming down from Morgantown via New Market & Charlotteville on to a lightly defended Richmond.

Losing the Fredericksburg depot to a brigade right from the start seems unrealistic with the Army of Northeastern Virginia nearby. But maybe it was only bad luck or incompetence by myself. A march from Morgantown to Richmond must be a logistical nightmare und therefore impossible. I guess with the AI detect bonus that the AI "noticed" that Richmond is only lightly defended, because all CSA units are either fixed or under construction in the beginning.

Is this a strange behavior in part of the AI? Or do I have to adjust my settings?

#6
Is it worth building iron works as CSA? And which one?

Build Iron Works in Coastal Cities
Build Iron Works in TN & GA
Build Iron Works in MS & GA
Build Iron Works in AL & GA

Is it worth building armories, arsenals and powder mills as CSA? I've noticed that the following buildings give more bang for the buck then the other.

Build Armories in VA & SC
Build Armories and Arsenals in GA
Build Armories in AL
Build Powder Mills in the Carolinas
Build Powder Mills in GA & TN

That's it for now. Thank you in advance!

Best regards
Thomas Longstreet

[Thomas_Longstreet]

And #7
Should the CSA build a brown water navy? The Cotton Clads seem to have a good price-performance ratio.

[Gray Fox]

Welcome, Thomas! This is one of my favorite games.

#1 Yes that's correct. Late cavalry and rangers can do this as well.

#2 With the Battle Planner, a great many choices are available, perhaps too many for a guide. I check every option against the suspected response and use that to conclude the best choice.

#3 The CSA has two grand strategic options, win in the first year of war or desparately hang on and hope to overcome every disadvantage. I am an advocate of win quick. If you want to fight it out to the bitter end, then every depot you build will eventually fall. Build absolutely only what you must.

#4 When you are not attacking, it's good to place defensive works to channel the enemy into a kill box or hold bottlenecks on rail lines.

#5 I play at Colonel level, so I can't advise you on settings. As a beginner, find what is balanced for you and stick with that until you move up.

#6 If you play for the long game, you'll need everything you can get...and can hold on to. One player had a decent idea to pillage one's own unused rail lines and then use the materiel to build IWs. You might give that a try.

#7 I wouldn't spend anything on ships. Either you win the land war or you lose. Even blockade runners don't pay for themselves.

Good luck!