AGEOD Forums

I'm new to this game and just starting to figure it out, but I seem to consistently have the same problem in all of my games: when corps structure is enabled, I have a hard time putting my forces together in a way that seems to be handling them right. My forces always seem to be disorganized and haphazard, with wildly varying strength scores, and artillery sprinkled randomly across corps.

How do people manage the transition with rationally organized armies?

Hi jhough,
Corps really only work effectively if they are a part of an army. This is when they get the major command points. It may be that you are not using corps in this role.
Also, make sure your individual units are organized into divisions. By placing units in divisions you increase your command points.
Poke around the forum. Several players offer advice as to best formation for divisions and best formations for corps.
Once you get a bit more familiar, you will love the historical nature of leadership simulated in this game. Right at the top in leadership and command and control rules.

It helps to think geographically, because the radius of an army commander improves corps performance only around that commander (so if the army commander and his staff are in Chicago but the corps are in New York and Richmond, you're begging for a defeat).

For instance, I usually play as the South. During 1861, when having the chance to build armies, I build 2: the game "gives" me one in Virginia, so I have to put together 2 more: one in Tennessee/Kentucky and one in Arkansas. With the actual army I keep very little. Whatever 2-star generals I have become corps commanders (usually 1-2 corps for each of the armies). It's a very simplistic model but it works.

What goes into each corps? Divisions, divisions and almost nothing but. However, I think you have the opportunity to build divisions before having the opportunity to build corps.

jhough

Welcome to the forums. Enjoy your time here.

As to your question, it is all a matter of planning. When creating units, you should have a plan (for example, I will form a division with units from NC, I need to purchase brigades X,Y,Z, and artillery U,V,W, with sharpshooter T, which I will join with general S). Then you know what units to purchase and where. You will also need to plan for where that new division will go after formation (corps 1, or 2, or Army J, or independant command).

In the beginning, you get a smattering of units of different types jumbled together. Do the same plan. I want Joe Johnston to form a corps for the AOP under Bory. I plan on 2 divisions. My divisions will contain x units. Therefore, I need to purchase and add to the stack the following units (M, N, and P) to round out the divisions. Then move them. It takes a bit of getting used to, and involves quite a bit of paperwork. But following a plan will save you a lot of time and second guessing about where units go.

I find it helpful to write down what I'm buying each turn, and what I'm buying it for. That way I can properly route eaxh unit as they activate, and efficiently build a division from pieces in separate states over several turns. I also use this to plot out what I want each division & corps to have, and to divide up the beginning stacks as desired.

I like to form my divisions out of six line infantry, one sharpshooter unit, two cavalry, one light cannon and one heavy cannon. Sometimes more cannon and less cavalry depending on what the army will be doing. This makes it a little easier to get everything organised at the start and you can build on each division as needed. I like to make sure all divisions are the same size just so it looks somewhat ordered. Generaly I make a mental note of what units are needed each turn and recruit from the furthest regions first gradualy building all my divisions. I usualy add another 2 Line infantry with either a cavalry or cannon and an individual cannon once things settle down.

I will then put 3 divisions into an army along with one full division of cavalry (6 cavalry one horse drawn cannon) and a specialist seige division(4 LI, 1 SS, 2 heavy cannons and 2 seige cannons). I will detach the seige division as needed as it slows down the army at times. The cavalry division is great for mopping up those annoying smaller units or for scouting/deception. I find the specialist divisions are good for using the traits of certain leaders. Don't forget to chuck 2 supply wagons in with your army as well. You can send one back to resupply while the other stays with the army.

You can also specialise armys by leader if you wish. Have one defensive Army that sits near the pontamac full of your best defensive generals and another attacking army around springfield. I guess everyone plays the game differently but this has never failed me yet against the AI.

As for your original question, I have never had much to do with corps as the war is usualy over by the time they come around. Probably just chuck some divisions in there and use them on either flank of the main army. Good Luck .

One trick for keeping your recruitment organized is to purchase divisions from particular states. Buy the units for a full division all on the same turn and all from the same state, and don't buy any more units from that state until these are done. That way, as units get finished and come "on line" over the course of several turns, you won't forget what they were for.

You can always mix and match brigades from different states for historical flavor once they reach their home corps.

I don't have any lists and I don't build divisions all at once. It appears I don't do things as orderly as most though. Well I guess my ideal division structure is 11 inf, 1 sharpshooter, 1 cavalry, and 4 artillery. I leave space to get to that level and just fill in the blanks as I find the needed forces.

Varying corps strengths isn't a huge issue. I might have a 500 pwr reserve corps and a 3000 pwr monster guarding the front lines. Just make sure you don't have any command penalties. Put ~4 arty in each division and you'll be fine.

I'm even more messy than you with my corps building

I just build my divisions with whatever is under my hands, and make sure they have roughly the same power ratings and number of cannons across a theater, by reorganizing them each time 2+ corps are in the same region.

Then I fill them with whatever brigades are available in the nearest safe state

I just don't let organisation issues get in the way of a good battle

One thing I do when playing CSA is pay particular attention to which leaders get divisional commands in 1861. Since divisions become available rather late to be of much use that year and since several of your generals will get promoted to ** in early 1862 it is a waste of assests to give them division commands when you will need them to be available for corps command in the spring. Why spend the admin costs to make Jackson or Longstreet division commanders when you soon be making them corps commanders? It is highly unlikely that you will get an opportunity to use them as division commanders in a worthwhile fashion anyway. So why pay the costs twice?

So jhough,
Does the above make sense?
You have a lot of great advice. The game is complex, but you do not need to drown in the complexity.
Enjoy it.

One thing everyone here seems to forget for their division formations is elite units. If when ordering new brigades you don't take the elite brigades automatically formed into consideration you will end up with surplus brigades. That is assuming you will join your elites to divisions (which is logical as it gives bonuses to the entire division).

That's one of the reasons why excess planning of builds is useless. While you know when roughly a brigade will be added by event, you don't know when exactly...

Oh and none of you seem to be integrating fully trained volunteer brigades and/or militia regiments to your divisions either. Early in the war that means a lot of wasted firepower...

And yes, I went from ledger like planning it all out to just roughly planning what to order and assembling divisions as the brigades arrive at my training centres...

I tend to build what I can afford in the region I need it and build the division around what ever leader happens to be active.

Once a leader has a division you can change the components, active or not.

It is much more important to me not to have penalties on strength than the composition of individual divisions.

The elite units are important to me and I usually put at least one in a division.

I try to put a Marine or Naval unit in each Corps too.

I will often leave my volunteer brigades out of divisions and drop them out of the corps as garrisons for towns I capture. I will also occasionally leave several extra artillery in the corps too.

I have not made a complete study of the frontage system, so I don't know if this is a good idea or not but I figure those corps assets get allotted some how.

Leader bonuses also play a part for me in unit organization. But getting the forces into battle where they are needed is my first priority. Organization usually take place after they reach the front.

Paul Roberts wrote:One trick for keeping your recruitment organized is to purchase divisions from particular states. Buy the units for a full division all on the same turn and all from the same state, and don't buy any more units from that state until these are done. That way, as units get finished and come "on line" over the course of several turns, you won't forget what they were for.

+1

Especially true for the North (New-York, Massachusset, New England). Sometimes when using this "technic" you have to spread the source of the division on several states (e.g. Illinois + Wisconsin, or Ohio + Michigan + Indiana)

caranorn wrote:One thing everyone here seems to forget for their division formations is elite units. If when ordering new brigades you don't take the elite brigades automatically formed into consideration you will end up with surplus brigades. That is assuming you will join your elites to divisions (which is logical as it gives bonuses to the entire division).

That's one of the reasons why excess planning of builds is useless. While you know when roughly a brigade will be added by event, you don't know when exactly...

Oh and none of you seem to be integrating fully trained volunteer brigades and/or militia regiments to your divisions either. Early in the war that means a lot of wasted firepower...

And yes, I went from ledger like planning it all out to just roughly planning what to order and assembling divisions as the brigades arrive at my training centres...

"Everything that come under hands" quite include volunteer and elite brigades

Excess brigades ? More divisions

Fingolfin wrote:"Everything that come under hands" quite include volunteer and elite brigades

Excess brigades ? More divisions

Yeah, I include volunteer and elite units as needed in my divisions. I spread them out as evenly as possible.

I forgot to put that i usualy have a feild hospital and signal core in each army as well.