My thoughts on a CSA vs US AI game

[charlesonmission]

Hi there,

I just finished a great game against the US AI. Here were the highlights of the game below.

I played on low aggressiveness with slight bonuses to the AI and historical attrition to the player only. It was the 1861 July with Kentucky version on 1.16 beta v4.

The game finished in September 1864 with a NM win for me by the US NM falling to 60.

Trans-Mississippi - I had initially taken Tucson, and had held onto all of Missouri that I started with. I believe that is Rolla, Springfield and Jefferson city. In the end I had lost Tucson and half of Texas. In Missouri I held only the southernmost town (Springfield?) (With the Army of Missouri). I attempted to defend Texas, but was completely overpowered. My troops did last through two sieges in Houston, but the third one they were eliminated. I was regrouping in eastern Texas with raw recruits when the game ended.

Kentucky/Tennessee/ Mississippi - There was some serious action here. I made an early move in mid 1862 with the Army of Kentucky to take Louisville. I took it an held on for 18 months, racking up huge VPs there. In the end, I had only the Army of Kentucky and 1 corps with it. I had to send to the corps to Bowling Green twice to reopen the supply line. The second time, the army of Kentucky was attacked driven out of Louisville and eventually completely destroyed. The remnants of the corps did make it south of Nashville. The Army of Tennessee would actually be based in Paduch the entire game. I was able to maintain control of the Mississippi, and even held Cairo for a few turns. The Army of Tennessee ended with 5 corps stretching south of Paducah to south of Nashville in a fish hook. Yes, I lost Nashville in 1863 and never got it back.

Virginia - I had two different lines, the 1st one was from Alexandria to Winchester, this one was given up on in 1863 when I was flanked by the Union taking Fredericksburg. The second line was from just southeast of Manassas to Charlottesville (with a separate division in Lynchburg). I didn't hold Manassas, instead, I built two new supply depots (one just southeast of Manassas with 4 corps and the Army of VA, and one just southwest of Manassas with 2 corps (these two territories are connected (but without a railroad, and 1 corps in Charlottesville. In total I had 100,000+ troops with 380 cannon. There was 1 huge attack by the Union at 200,000 troops; I inflicted 40,000 casualties to my 10,000 on that one. There were 2 other large attacks with around 120,000 to 130,0000 troops, I won those as well. Basically, my corps were dug in well. The AI did send one strong raid in NC which I had to dispatch of my corps to defeat.

Ft Pickens and Ft Monroe were captured by me in late 1863.

Thoughts - I played a purely defensive game with no intention of doing a northern invasion. I only used partial mobilization and printing money once each. I did heavily use exceptional taxes, bonds, and paying for recruits. The AI did well taking all of Kentucky except for Paduch. The AI also took Nashville and the towns in it's vicinity, including Ft. Henry. I think the troops they used in Texas would have been better served dislodging me from Paduch. They did attack Paduch, but never in overwhelming numbers. In VA, Richmond was so well defended; I'm guessing the AI would have needed 300,000 troops to attack the entrenched positions. However, a wide flanking move via Charlottesville could have worked and would have disrupted my supply line.

I've yet to play PBEM, so maybe I should give that a try.

Charles

[GraniteStater]

You didn't mention difficulty level.

But Humans are the Best, no doubt.

[Alexander the Average]

Sounds like a fun game

Think i will be more defensive like you were for my next game as it seems to provide more of a challenge for the CSA.

[charlesonmission]

You didn't mention difficulty level.

But Humans are the Best, no doubt.

I forget the name, but it is the level where the AI has speed and cohesion bonuses, but no combat bonuses.

Charles

[Longshanks]

AI games can def be fun, but they can also be a bust. I usually have one or two running in order to test my latest wackie theory, or simply to find out how something works.

PBEM will teach you faster, with many a punishing lesson! Athena is a classy dame, but a bit fickle with her troops. Human players are simultaneously more cautious and take more calcuated (and creative) risks. Athena can't help it .. she was drawn that way.