I think I'm ready to take the plunge.

[jennison]

Cool thing about an online sevice is once you buy it you essentially have your purchases available in a permanent online library to reinstall whenever and as many times as you like.

If you download it from ageod, it's $10 bucks extra to get the permanent online library.. I thought about going with that option for peace of mind, but I already have it burned to CD, two different hard drives, I think I'll be ok..

[dolphin]

If you download it from ageod, it's $10 bucks extra to get the permanent online library.. I thought about going with that option for peace of mind, but I already have it burned to CD, two different hard drives, I think I'll be ok..

I use Gamestop and I have no complaints. Everything you get from them is in a reusable permanent library. I only have about 3 purchases through them thougyh.

I have a friend who uses Steam and its the same for him. He is a bit more into it than I am and has like about 50 games through them. Its his permanent library. Never has to worry about losing a CD.

We both get advertisements where they offer 50% and 75% discounts on a certain selection of games for that month. It really is pretty cool. True the games are all older titles that they discount like that, but they have some of the new ones too. Just not discounted.

The permanent library though is the big bonus that sold me on the idea.

[MkollCSA]

Just rebuy the game from an online service. Its only $20.

GameStop, Steam, etc...

Cool thing about an online sevice is once you buy it you essentially have your purchases available in a permanent online library to reinstall whenever and as many times as you like.

Additionally you have to understand the problem your describing regarding a CD Key makes it sound like you could be trying to use a version you got from some Pirate site like Pirate Bay in order to avoid having to pay for the game.

I am by no means suggestiong that you are; merely pointing out that there is no way for whoever your contacting to get a CD Key to know that your request is legit.

If I were in the companies customer relations department that you were trying to get the Key from I would have to insist on proof that you actually paid for your copy and that would mean providing a receipt at the very least; if not an actual UPC code from the Box it came in.



I could understand your frustration if you were having to pay the full $50 new price, but you don't.

i know where your coming from on that, but i have been a member of this forum and playing the game long before it was even really known about....if i have to end up buying it than no big deal, but i still havnt heard back from the support team yet they must have taken friday and the weekend off...but they said so long as i was a member of this forum for some time and had a few posts it would look really good in my case, i have been a member since 2008 and some of my post's talk about details only someone who has actually played the game would know about so i think that shows i did indeed buy the game and my story is true...i would have more post's on here but i am in the military and i have been deployed alot (which lead to me losing my book and cd key) but like i said if i have to buy it again i would because this is an awesome game and i really want to be able to play it again.

[hgilmer]

46 posts isn't all that few. 46 means 46 times you have decided to type a message.

[jennison]

So I tried out the Gettysburg battle scenario.. It doesn't seem like there's really much to do in this one. I played as the Confederates. All of the forces were already organized nicely and posted not far from Gettysburg. I start moving them into town, huge battles erupt, I win some, lose some and then the turn is over... Is it supposed to be that way or am I missing something? Just seems like there's not much strategy involved in this one..

Any pointers on strategies or things to do to make this one interesting? Or maybe there are things I should be doing but I'm not?

[dolphin]

Any pointers on strategies or things to do to make this one interesting? Or maybe there are things I should be doing but I'm not?

If and when you get into a grand campaign against a human opponant you will find it is a totally different game altogether.

Personally I would consider your battle scenerio practice for that so you know what to expect in battles and have an idea how to set up offensives in a campaign game.


Beyond that even playing the AI in the grand campaign is going to involve so much more than a single battle scenerio could possibly offer.

I can't fathom having fun playing a battle scenerio other than to get a feel for combat results as the game after all is first and foremost designed as a grand strategy game

[Cromagnonman]

Indeed, Gettysburg is kind of a waste. The Union side can do a lot of reorganization, what with their 8 understrength corps. But you can't really learn much.

[jennison]

If and when you get into a grand campaign against a human opponant you will find it is a totally different game altogether.

Personally I would consider your battle scenerio practice for that so you know what to expect in battles and have an idea how to set up offensives in a campaign game.


Beyond that even playing the AI in the grand campaign is going to involve so much more than a single battle scenerio could possibly offer.

I can't fathom having fun playing a battle scenerio other than to get a feel for combat results as the game after all is first and foremost designed as a grand strategy game

Ah, I see. The Shiloh battle scenario was a little more in depth but it's because there were two objectives, more terrain to cover, etc. Gettysburg is just kind of pointless.. But I suppose it is neat to look at the historic troop organizations etc.

Now it's on to grand campaign... Do you recommend a particular one I should start with?

[MkollCSA]

Go for broke 1861 the start of the war...its the only way to go

[jennison]

Go for broke 1861 the start of the war...its the only way to go

Sounds like a plan.. Wish me luck on fighting off those Northern Aggressors.

[hgilmer]

Good luck.

As for Gettysburg. I hated that scenerio. I was Union and the Confederates never attacked. Shiloh is fun.

[GraniteStater]

If I may, the 1862 start has some good points for a first campaign.

Mainly from the Union point of view:

* You start with the full Army/Corps/Div organization in place. You will see how MTSG works right away.

* Grant is an Army commander. This is significant, compared to a 61 start.

* Union has Ft.Donelson & Nashville and a New Orleans force already prepped in MD. If one wishes to keep up with historical achievements, that means taking Island #10, Memphis and landing at New Orlenas and occupying it within three game months, six Turns - not a bad little challenge.

* The period of foot dragging on both sides is over. The Emancipation Proclamation is only twelve Turns away.

I would imagine CSA players would favor 61 starts, though. Just wanted to point out that 62 has some things going for it.

[Cromagnonman]

Yeah, usually the rebs sidestep Gettysburg and run straight for Philly

[jennison]

Couple questions:

At the start of the full 2 1861 campaign. I'm not able to organize divisions. Is this normal this early? Will it come available automatically or do I need to do something special?

Also, I have a force that includes a few infantry brigades and a cavalry unit that has a 5% penalty. When the cav unit leaves the force, I lose the penalty. Just curious why that is.

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[dolphin]

Couple questions:

At the start of the full 2 1861 campaign. I'm not able to organize divisions. Is this normal this early? Will it come available automatically or do I need to do something special?

Yes it is normal. It will automatically become available at some point as will the ability to form corps a good while after that.

You do not have to do anything special.

Also, I have a force that includes a few infantry brigades and a cavalry unit that has a 5% penalty. When the cav unit leaves the force, I lose the penalty. Just curious why that is.

Each brigade no matter how many elements/regiments it has will also have a CP (command point) cost. Look in the unit tool tip. You will see it.

Each Leader (General) has a Command Point limit that it can command without suffering a command point penalty.

The average General (One Star *) has 2 CP, but that increases by their rank. Two Star (**) has 4; and Three Star (***) has 8.

Multiple generals in the same stack can increase the overall command capability of a stack. x4 One Star (*) Generals in the same stack will allow 8 CP worth of brigades with no penalty.

A stack with no leaders is going to suffer a penalty period and the more CP the units in the stack add up to the higher the penalty. The fewer in the stack the lower the penalty.


Hope that gives you the idea.

[Cromagnonman]

Couple questions:

At the start of the full 2 1861 campaign. I'm not able to organize divisions. Is this normal this early? Will it come available automatically or do I need to do something special?

Also, I have a force that includes a few infantry brigades and a cavalry unit that has a 5% penalty. When the cav unit leaves the force, I lose the penalty. Just curious why that is.

The ability to form divisions appears in October '61. Corps formation becomes available in Spring '62.

A cavalry element typically has a CP cost of 1. Typically, you get a 5% penalty for each CP over the stack's leader(s)' capability. So your stack was probably 1 CP over the limit, and removing the cav element brought it within the limit.

[jennison]

Thanks guys as always..

Yeah, I could use the great search function but this thread has sort of become my official orientation thread...

[Krec]

your life will never be the same. try and come up for air every now and then.

[jennison]

I'm playing as the Confederates, full 2 theatre. There's a small union force sitting in Richmond and has been for several turns. I keep trying to "All out attack" them with my large aotp, but they never attack... I thought "all out attack" will attack any enemy force in the region?

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[jennison]

Maybe your General is not "active". Non-active generals can't initiate offensive actions. Not enough info to guess about anything else. Post the save game files if you can.

The enemy force ended up skipping town... I'm not sure what that was. It was Beauregard and he was unlocked. Oh well I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the reply.

[Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne]

The enemy force ended up skipping town... I'm not sure what that was. It was Beauregard and he was unlocked. Oh well I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the reply.

Sounds like you were using the AOP? Army HQs can't initiate attacks if any other friendly units are in the territory. They're only supposed to support attacks made by corps or other forces.

[jennison]

Sounds like you were using the AOP? Army HQs can't initiate attacks if any other friendly units are in the territory. They're only supposed to support attacks made by corps or other forces.

You hit the nail on the head. It was the AOP. So really I should have detached a division or two and attacked with them. Thanks for that info, I'll know next time.

Organization is kind of a mess right now with no corps commanders. I believe I only have one 2 star general (Lee) and he's currently locked. Hopefully I can get some of these one star's promoted soon so I can start forming more corps instead of these massive forces with a few small divisions and then several stray brigades. Not sure why my division commanders can only hold 2 or 3 brigades, but I'm guessing their capacity will grow with experience.

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Jim-NC]

You hit the nail on the head. It was the AOP. So really I should have detached a division or two and attacked with them. Thanks for that info, I'll know next time.

Organization is kind of a mess right now with no corps commanders. I believe I only have one 2 star general (Lee) and he's currently locked. Hopefully I can get some of these one star's promoted soon so I can start forming more corps instead of these massive forces with a few small divisions and then several stray brigades. Not sure why my division commanders can only hold 2 or 3 brigades, but I'm guessing their capacity will grow with experience.

Several generals are automatically promoted in early 1862 to 2 ** (Jackson, Longstreet, etc). It happens before you can form corps.

[jennison]

Gray you were right about the elements. The brigades that are part of the divisions in question have LOTS of regiments, so they only needed 2 or 3 of these brigades to reach 18 elements. Definitely looking forward to those promotions coming in 62.. Right now all of my forces have 30-35% penalties beacause of their disorganization.


Thanks Gray, Jim-NC.

[Cromagnonman]

Ahh, late '61, the time of signal elements and CP penalties. Usually there's not too much combat before cirps formation becomes available

[jennison]

I'm in August of 61 of full April 61 campaign, playing as the Confederates.. Things are basically just getting started. I'm finding that my western town's are getting snatched up by the dozen it seems. I'm clinging to the bigger cities, but it seems like the Union loves to send small forces over a wide area and snatch up my towns.

Should I not worry about this and continue to protect the strategic cities, or should I be fighting to get back my towns?

[Cromagnonman]

I'm in August of 61 of full April 61 campaign, playing as the Confederates.. Things are basically just getting started. I'm finding that my western town's are getting snatched up by the dozen it seems. I'm clinging to the bigger cities, but it seems like the Union loves to send small forces over a wide area and snatch up my towns.

Should I not worry about this and continue to protect the strategic cities, or should I be fighting to get back my towns?

If you can, use your larger forces to crush his small detachments individually; this is known as "destruction in detail." Are you PBEM or against Athena?