What to do when the draft isn't enough?

[AirRyan]

I did a search about this topic last night and found some posts talking about it, but have yet to be able to determine if the latest patch 1.15 attempted to solve this issue.

I'm playing the Union side in the early 1861 Campaign, and I thought I rather aggressively built up some rather large divisions and armies, only to come to find out that the CSA still has me outnumbered.

So I've gotten to the point as to where I have 1,000+ tons of war supplies, and an ample amount of available cash ($500k+) to spend, but even with both a call for volunteers and a draft, I don't have enough people to build more units!!!

Of course this doesn't make a lot of sense since the Union had an exponential larger pool of population, not to mention supplies and available funds.

Now my Morale has been hovering in the high 80's (guess people didn't like it when I taxed them and called for a draft,) and maybe that is one thing I believe I have read, that if I can get it up to 95 or over maybe I'll have more people to pool from? My Union generals generally lose to CSA generals with armies of equal size and so I've lost a few small battles, but such was the case at least early on in the War.

Any help much appreciated.

[Jim-NC]

The easiest way to burn through excess cash/WS is to purchase low CS(conscript points = manpower) units (like Artillery and ships). No matter what you do, you will be limited in some fashion for the 3 variables (it depends on your style of play). I usually run out of CS no matter which side I play on. So then I have to limit myself based on that.

On a side note, you can increase you CS by placing certain generals into large cities (IIRC Banks for the Union). IIRC, the trait to look for is "recruiter". They will give you 7-8 or so extra CS points per turn. So you could put a general in say Pittsburgh (or maybe Allegheny PA), and gain extra CS per turn. For the CSA, Mobile is a good location to place their recruiter (IIRC they only have 1 general, whose name escapes me at the moment). Loyalty and MC of the city effect the amount of CS you get from the general.

[AirRyan]

Thanks Jim. One thing I'm wondering about is the full versus partial mobilization that the President signs every year - apparently you can click on the word partial and change it to full mobilization? That would probably give me a lot more conscripts I would imagine.

[enf91]

Check the messages. The AI usually mobilizes heavily with many drafts and bounties. Draft options are relative to your country's NM: since the CSA starts out with higher NM than the USA, the Confiscation Act notwithstanding (more on that later), it can raise more troops. I know, population probably should factor in somewhat, but it doesn't.
The Confiscation Act raises CSA morale by 10, but it triggers in August, by which point the computer has already chosen its annual draft option and semiannual volunteer option.

[Jim-NC]

Thanks Jim. One thing I'm wondering about is the full versus partial mobilization that the President signs every year - apparently you can click on the word partial and change it to full mobilization? That would probably give me a lot more conscripts I would imagine.

You can increase both the call for volunteers and draft. If you right or left click on the screen (not at the signature line), then you get a change of options. So for call for volunteers, you have "call for volunteers", "call w/$1,000 bounty", and "call w/$2,000 bounty". For mobilization, you have "partial" and "full".

You can also change the money options (F5), as well as the political options (you have a choice for moving your capital).

[arsan]

Thanks Jim. One thing I'm wondering about is the full versus partial mobilization that the President signs every year - apparently you can click on the word partial and change it to full mobilization? That would probably give me a lot more conscripts I would imagine.

Hi!
Thats seems to be your problem... as Jim explains, all the ledger options are click able to change form the milder option to more severe alternatives.
It seems you have been using only the "light" measures.
If you have tons of $, giving bounty to increase the volunteer conscripts seems like a good idea! and of course using full conscriptions.
But beware of your NM. It seems your's is pretty low, and this reduce all your production (supplies, conscripts, WS...) and limits the combat efficiency of your troops (reduces the max cohesion).
Cheers!

[captain curruthers]

anoth way to increase combat troops if time isnt a factor is to recruit militias,move them to a central location and have your training generals convert them to line troops.the change from militia to conscript is random(and doesn't happen at all early in the game)which grouping in a central location makes simpler to spot.thus you get line troops for the cost of militias.i use this approach a month or so b4 the onset of winter.by spring i have a lot of line units from the militias