Hi all, relative n00b to the game here.
I've played about maybe a dozen instances of the game since last fall. Always Union April 61 (I'm stubborn). Haven't made it past Dec 61 yet. Lost units to supply attrition and feel I know a little bit more about supply now, but...
Anyhow, am patched up to .08?, is it?, in vanilla 1.13b - anyhow, the latest, I believe. I also downloaded the Beta 'd'. Here's my results so far - both USA April 61 starts.
* Raiding is far, far more toned down in (d). I haven't had to make Cav/HArty anti-raider units.
* (d)'s AI is making serious threats against Forts Monroe and Pickens - both are under siege right now, although (I don't know for sure), historically, Pickens wasn't besieged because it was impractical to do so (terrain, IIRC).
* I'm not using the KY Rule/Scenario in (d) [I read the thread & it's not my cuppa tea]; however, KY seceded in the (d) game.
* (d): A stack with Keyes in command of 4 LI/Mil/Mil Bdes was totally crushed and wiped out to a man by Polk in Paducah. Grant retrieved the aftermath with a bloody followup attack across the river.
* .08: Got a Sam Houston event with 2 free Cav Bdes in Dallas. I moved them and put them to better use.
* .08: No Nate Lyons, no appearance at all.
* .08: the AI just let me walk into Richmond while it stoutly defended Winchester and sent Magruder with a good sized column into western PA.
* .08: the raiding is much more determined - CSA have taken and are defending Ashland, OH in some strength.
* .08: AI seems much more aggressive with river traffic.
Just some preliminary observations. (d) seems pretty good - can't wait for the whole patch, it does change the strategic environment with No Capture rule, which I am honoring in the vanilla .08 game.