AGEOD Forums

Gentlemen, three questions:

1) Is it possible to 'Blockade Run' with Transports as the CSA? I.e. put them in the Blockade Box. They have a large cargo capacity (10x Runners) , so that would make them a good choice (if I can keep the USA Navy out, which keeps suiciding itself on forts).

2) Is there a maximum that you can earn from a blockade box? I'm getting around 35 $ + WS total each turn, not really making more after adding a lot of extra boats. Is there a supply and demand curve at work here?

3) What is a good setup for a fleet that I want raiding Union shipping? Both in the raiding box and along the Atlantic Coast. Also, any tips on intercepting Union fleets?

Down with the Eagle, up with the Cross,

Marcus

MarkCSA wrote:Gentlemen, three questions:

1) Is it possible to 'Blockade Run' with Transports as the CSA? I.e. put them in the Blockade Box. They have a large cargo capacity (10x Runners) , so that would make them a good choice (if I can keep the USA Navy out, which keeps suiciding itself on forts).

Nope. Brigs do the trick.

MarkCSA wrote:2) Is there a maximum that you can earn from a blockade box? I'm getting around 35 $ + WS total each turn, not really making more after adding a lot of extra boats. Is there a supply and demand curve at work here?

I don't think there is a limit. It is not an area that I pursue to the level that you seem to be, but I have never read any posts about limits here on the forums.

MarkCSA wrote:3) What is a good setup for a fleet that I want raiding Union shipping? Both in the raiding box and along the Atlantic Coast. Also, any tips on intercepting Union fleets?

Raiding on the coast is not really feasible until later in the game. Getting a fleet that can do some good out there will take time, and imho take resources that can be used much better in other places. Cost vs gain is not really in your favor, particularly when you consider that you will likely not actually destroy many elements.

MarkCSA wrote:Down with the Eagle, up with the Cross,

Marcus

Correction -- in the AACW WIKI it says that transports CAN be used in the blockade boxes...however, it is usually advised to use only Brigs, as the transports (to use an MMO term) are pretty squishy. I typically only place them in the boxes if I capture them from the Union.

You have a CSA Navy big enough to actually consider coastal raiding? I am very curious as to how many troops you have in the field. Are you playing AI or PBEM?

Transports CAN be used in the boxes. But all they do is supply your ships. They don't do any running/raiding.

CWNut77 wrote:Correction -- in the AACW WIKI it says that transports CAN be used in the blockade boxes...however, it is usually advised to use only Brigs, as the transports (to use an MMO term) are pretty squishy. I typically only place them in the boxes if I capture them from the Union.

You have a CSA Navy big enough to actually consider coastal raiding? I am very curious as to how many troops you have in the field. Are you playing AI or PBEM?

I'm playing AI, I got my ass kicked in a PBEM game I played, but that was mainly due to the Union player hitting 'Full Mobilization' on turn 1 and human-waving me.... which I did not think was very historical.

The Union Navy suicides all the time (this really needs to be looked into), and seems very attracted to 3-fort sea zones..... I am thinking of keeping a fleet handy to see if I can pick up some pieces before they are sent to the bottom of the sea.

My field armies are fine, it's 1863 on Hard and I have basically won.

As mentioned in another Navy thread, there is no real choice you have to make between Army and Navy, as the main ingredient in a field army is men, and the main ingredient in a Navy is $ and WS.

CWNut77 wrote:You have a CSA Navy big enough to actually consider coastal raiding? I am very curious as to how many troops you have in the field. Are you playing AI or PBEM?

I would like to know about this myself. The only time I have ever had a Confederate fleet big enough to challenge the Union is when the British & French where coming to our aid. Even then, I was not to keen on doing any coastal raiding.

Can someone please clarify on wether Transports do or do not provide $ and WS (easily tested btw by just leaving them in there and removing the brigs I just realized). And if so, how much they contribute (as opposed to Brigs).

POCUS, I SUMMON YOU!!!!!!

Doomwalker wrote:I would like to know about this myself. The only time I have ever had a Confederate fleet big enough to challenge the Union is when the British & French where coming to our aid. Even then, I was not to keen on doing any coastal raiding.

With 'Raiding' I mean picking off single targets or beat up fleets limping for home.......

*raises Jolly Roger*

MarkCSA wrote:With 'Raiding' I mean picking off single targets or beat up fleets limping for home.......

*raises Jolly Roger*

Ah ok, so no fleet vs fort stuff then. I used a combined CSA/Brit/French flotilla once to try and hammer the Union navy, they ran to port and I never saw them on the open ocean again. But, before this I was the one hiding in port, except for the random brig that would journey by one of my ports that had a ironclad in it.

MarkCSA wrote:I'm playing AI, I got my ass kicked in a PBEM game I played, but that was mainly due to the Union player hitting 'Full Mobilization' on turn 1 and human-waving me.... which I did not think was very historical.

This is often halted by in active leaders and cp penalties. Did you really get run over? How did it play out? Maybe the PBEM community can offer some tips.

MarkCSA wrote:The Union Navy suicides all the time (this really needs to be looked into), and seems very attracted to 3-fort sea zones..... I am thinking of keeping a fleet handy to see if I can pick up some pieces before they are sent to the bottom of the sea.

The Navy ai is certainly not the facet of this game that keeps us all coming back for more... Another reason to PBEM!

MarkCSA wrote:My field armies are fine, it's 1863 on Hard and I have basically won.

As mentioned in another Navy thread, there is no real choice you have to make between Army and Navy, as the main ingredient in a field army is men, and the main ingredient in a Navy is $ and WS.

There is no unit that you can build that costs more manpower than $. If you go with a strong navy, that's great that you have a tactic that is giving you good results. It is just not a direction the CSA often takes.

MarkCSA may have a point though -- conscripts are often gone through rather quickly, leaving the player with plenty of $$$ and WS (in theory) that can be used.

I have been pumping this into production and rail/river transport...but one could just as easily concentrate on a Navy as well.

soloswolf wrote:This is often halted by in active leaders and cp penalties. Did you really get run over? How did it play out? Maybe the PBEM community can offer some tips.


The Navy ai is certainly not the facet of this game that keeps us all coming back for more... Another reason to PBEM!



There is no unit that you can build that costs more manpower than $. If you go with a strong navy, that's great that you have a tactic that is giving you good results. It is just not a direction the CSA often takes.

Even though my PBEM opponent was very friendly, I had 30k guys guarding Richmond and he had 250k guys on the move in the surrounding areas... at turn 10 or so.... no way I was gonna recover from that, so I congratulated him.

My 'Navy' is basically maxed out Brigs in the Blockade boxes with some Steam Frigates under the Admiral guy.

MarkCSA wrote:Even though my PBEM opponent was very friendly, I had 30k guys guarding Richmond and he had 250k guys on the move in the surrounding areas... at turn 10 or so.... no way I was gonna recover from that, so I congratulated him.

My 'Navy' is basically maxed out Brigs in the Blockade boxes with some Steam Frigates under the Admiral guy.

It's good that he was cool about it. What kind of production track/battle plan led to that situation?

The steam frigates are only good if you plan to fight out there. They don't run the blockades either. The best formula out there is brigs on passive/evade. Then rotate for supply/cohesion if using the first option.

soloswolf wrote:Transports CAN be used in the boxes. But all they do is supply your ships. They don't do any running/raiding.

Transports can't do any raiding, but they can do blockade running; anything with transport capacity can. However, as was said, transports are "squishy"

CWNut77 wrote:MarkCSA may have a point though -- conscripts are often gone through rather quickly, leaving the player with plenty of $$$ and WS (in theory) that can be used.

I have been pumping this into production and rail/river transport...but one could just as easily concentrate on a Navy as well.

That is true enough. To get a considerable Confederate Fleet all you have to do is split the extra dollars and WS between transport (of all kinds) and the navy. In a relatively short time one can end with a couple of decent squadrons ideal for raiding. In a way its a pity that the South doesn't get many admirals because it is possible that players might be attracted to the idea of going naval in a limited way.

Offworlder wrote:That is true enough. To get a considerable Confederate Fleet all you have to do is split the extra dollars and WS between transport (of all kinds) and the navy. In a relatively short time one can end with a couple of decent squadrons ideal for raiding. In a way its a pity that the South doesn't get many admirals because it is possible that players might be attracted to the idea of going naval in a limited way.

I do agree with you here. I would love to have a few more Confederate admirals. I was thinking that some one was working on adding a few way back when. I will see if I can find where I read it at.

Doomwalker wrote:I do agree with you here. I would love to have a few more Confederate admirals. I was thinking that some one was working on adding a few way back when. I will see if I can find where I read it at.

Sadly, the list is small -- lots of "obscure" naval commanders but not many admirals for the CSA. Of course, this is mainly due to the fact that historically the CSA had no real navy to speak of.

CWNut77 wrote:Sadly, the list is small -- lots of "obscure" naval commanders but not many admirals for the CSA. Of course, this is mainly due to the fact that historically the CSA had no real navy to speak of.

True, maybe we could have some of the Captains with lowered stats or something. Then again I doubt that I would ever use them though. I tend not to worry about too large of a fleet for the CSA.

Rafiki wrote:Transports can't do any raiding, but they can do blockade running; anything with transport capacity can. However, as was said, transports are "squishy"

Rafiki,

Has this changed recently (1.11a)? I just tried it for the first time, but the transport brought in nothing. Only the brigs which brought in exactly the tc*number of ships.

Not to my knowledge, but I haven't tested transports as runners myself.

I would think that transports should bring in a *little* more. It would just add another dimension to the game for CSA.

So would I