Useful Threads for Beginners
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:01 pm
Ok this game has quite learning curve for beginners, and the main beginners thread (by Dixiecrat) is not accessible for people who are new to the forum so I thought I'd start a useful links for beginners thread starting with Dixiecrats beginners links and then extend it with other threads and links that helped me.
Feel free to suggest threads you'd like to see added!
Manual
AACW Manual
This is a link to the online version of the AACW Manual which came with the game.
What's not in the Manual
This thread covers several topics which might not be clear, even after you've read the manual.
Quick Reference to Game Manual Additions.pdf
This links to an illustrated pdf guide to many of the major changes in AACW since the manual was published. It is current to release 13b.
Wikis
AACW Wikki
This is a link to the dedicated AACW Wiki main page. Make sure you check out the FAQ and strategy guide
AGEWiki
The AGE wiki, a wiki with info common to all the AGEOD games. Some is a bit advanced for beginners so I've just linked to the game concepts section
General Advice
Quick Reference Guide
This handy guide is packed with a lot of information that even experienced players sometimes forget!
Let's Play AEGOD's ACW on Youtube
Great Youtube Tutorial Video Series for 1861 Campaign vs AI by Zerotasker
AGEOD's American Civil War 1863 Campaign on YouTube
Another great Youtube Tutorial Video Series for 1863 Campaign PBEM vs Meagher by Charlesonmission
CSA & USA Checklists
A helpful checklist of considerations for each turn.
Top 5 Priorities for 1st Year of War
Very useful advice to get you started in the main campaign game
Engineers, Balloon etc
Advice on your support units such as engineers, signals, balloons etc
USA Events
List of early war events for the US side, really helps you plan what is coming up.
CSA Events
List of events and reinforcements for the CS side, really helps you plan what is coming up.
Early War Strategy
Advice on how to fight before divisions are enabled in October 61 and Corps in early March 62
w/ Kentucky Scenarios
Campaign w/Kentucky
Gives some information on how the with Kentucky scenarios differ to the standard ones. Basically KY starts neutral and can permanently ally with either side depending on various factors.
Game Concepts
Zones of Control
This thread explains important concepts about ZOC in AACW.
Artillery Analysis, Artillery Analysis 2.0, and Artillery Divisions
These three threads discuss AACW artillery and presents a few conclusions which might be easy to miss.
Frontage Primer
This thread explains important concepts about Frontage. (This is an advanced topic.)
Supply Page on Wiki and Supply Primer
Without general supply and ammunition your units won't be able to fight. Use these threads to see how to stay supplied.
Leader and Unit Abilities also here
Generals and Units can have special abilities. Some apply only to the unit, some to whole stack and some to whole region. These threads explain each ability and how to maximise its benefits.
Economic War (Conscripts, Money, Supplies)
Drafts & Finance
Advice on drafts and finance
Places to Attack
Lists cities which have recruiting centres (tent symbol) and discusses good strategic points to prioritise
Purchasing Artillery & War Supply
Highlights some issues you can have trying to build artillery particularly in low loyalty rural states.
Building Supply Wagons
Advice on when you need supply wagons. Important not to build too many of these expensive units.
Blowing Depots
If you're depot is about to be attacked you might want to blow it to avoid those supplies going to the enemy
Industrialization
Discusses ideas on how best to use industrialization to boost supply & ammo production.
River Strategy
US River Strategy
Basic advice on how to use your riverboats and ironclads
Blocking River Crossings
Really important to prevent your opponent crossing rivers at key places
Double Adjacency Rule and more advanced discussion of the rule
Explains rules on whether a fort or emplaced artillery can fire on river ships
Blockade, Blockade Running & Naval Strategy
US Naval Strategy, build strategy and Naval Strategy Ideas
Really good intro to naval game concepts and strategies
Blockade Basics
Explains the ideas behind blue and brown water blockade
Maintaining the Blue Water Blockade also see The Naval Game
How to maintain your blockade by supplying you blockade ships and cycling out low cohesion units for a rest in port
Blockade Running Diminishing Returns
CSA Brigs / Transports in the blockade boxes count as blockade runners and earn the CS money and war supplies by blockade running, but the increasing return diminish as you add more units
US Shipping Diminishing Return
US transports in the shipping box earn the US money through trade and provide transport for your units. Like blockade runners the money you get per ship diminishes as you add ships.
Moving Monitors
The monitor units cannot go outside coastal regions, here is advice on getting them to the gulf if you need them there
Amphibious Landings
Where to land and what to do with marines
Invading New Orleans
Good discussion on amphib invasion of this key city and tips on its defence.
Taking Coastal Forts
How to take forts on the coast
Leaders
List of Leaders
Pdf lists of leader, their stats and when and where they appear
What to do with weak generals
Overrun with mediocre generals? This thread has some suggestions.
AEGOD Forum Info
Main AACW forum
This link will take you to the main forum for AACW.
AGEOD Forum FAQ
A very useful thread which answers questions you might have about the forums.
Acronyms, abbreviations and general glossary
The first entry in this thread provides a list of many common abbreviations that you'll find on the AGEOD forums.
Medals
This thread is fun! In it, you can learn about the different medals that AACW community members can earn and proudly wear!
Feel free to suggest threads you'd like to see added!
Manual
AACW Manual
This is a link to the online version of the AACW Manual which came with the game.
What's not in the Manual
This thread covers several topics which might not be clear, even after you've read the manual.
Quick Reference to Game Manual Additions.pdf
This links to an illustrated pdf guide to many of the major changes in AACW since the manual was published. It is current to release 13b.
Wikis
AACW Wikki
This is a link to the dedicated AACW Wiki main page. Make sure you check out the FAQ and strategy guide
AGEWiki
The AGE wiki, a wiki with info common to all the AGEOD games. Some is a bit advanced for beginners so I've just linked to the game concepts section
General Advice
Quick Reference Guide
This handy guide is packed with a lot of information that even experienced players sometimes forget!
Let's Play AEGOD's ACW on Youtube
Great Youtube Tutorial Video Series for 1861 Campaign vs AI by Zerotasker
AGEOD's American Civil War 1863 Campaign on YouTube
Another great Youtube Tutorial Video Series for 1863 Campaign PBEM vs Meagher by Charlesonmission
CSA & USA Checklists
A helpful checklist of considerations for each turn.
Top 5 Priorities for 1st Year of War
Very useful advice to get you started in the main campaign game
Engineers, Balloon etc
Advice on your support units such as engineers, signals, balloons etc
USA Events
List of early war events for the US side, really helps you plan what is coming up.
CSA Events
List of events and reinforcements for the CS side, really helps you plan what is coming up.
Early War Strategy
Advice on how to fight before divisions are enabled in October 61 and Corps in early March 62
w/ Kentucky Scenarios
Campaign w/Kentucky
Gives some information on how the with Kentucky scenarios differ to the standard ones. Basically KY starts neutral and can permanently ally with either side depending on various factors.
Game Concepts
Zones of Control
This thread explains important concepts about ZOC in AACW.
Artillery Analysis, Artillery Analysis 2.0, and Artillery Divisions
These three threads discuss AACW artillery and presents a few conclusions which might be easy to miss.
Frontage Primer
This thread explains important concepts about Frontage. (This is an advanced topic.)
Supply Page on Wiki and Supply Primer
Without general supply and ammunition your units won't be able to fight. Use these threads to see how to stay supplied.
Leader and Unit Abilities also here
Generals and Units can have special abilities. Some apply only to the unit, some to whole stack and some to whole region. These threads explain each ability and how to maximise its benefits.
Economic War (Conscripts, Money, Supplies)
Drafts & Finance
Advice on drafts and finance
Places to Attack
Lists cities which have recruiting centres (tent symbol) and discusses good strategic points to prioritise
Purchasing Artillery & War Supply
Highlights some issues you can have trying to build artillery particularly in low loyalty rural states.
Building Supply Wagons
Advice on when you need supply wagons. Important not to build too many of these expensive units.
Blowing Depots
If you're depot is about to be attacked you might want to blow it to avoid those supplies going to the enemy
Industrialization
Discusses ideas on how best to use industrialization to boost supply & ammo production.
River Strategy
US River Strategy
Basic advice on how to use your riverboats and ironclads
Blocking River Crossings
Really important to prevent your opponent crossing rivers at key places
Double Adjacency Rule and more advanced discussion of the rule
Explains rules on whether a fort or emplaced artillery can fire on river ships
Blockade, Blockade Running & Naval Strategy
US Naval Strategy, build strategy and Naval Strategy Ideas
Really good intro to naval game concepts and strategies
Blockade Basics
Explains the ideas behind blue and brown water blockade
Maintaining the Blue Water Blockade also see The Naval Game
How to maintain your blockade by supplying you blockade ships and cycling out low cohesion units for a rest in port
Blockade Running Diminishing Returns
CSA Brigs / Transports in the blockade boxes count as blockade runners and earn the CS money and war supplies by blockade running, but the increasing return diminish as you add more units
US Shipping Diminishing Return
US transports in the shipping box earn the US money through trade and provide transport for your units. Like blockade runners the money you get per ship diminishes as you add ships.
Moving Monitors
The monitor units cannot go outside coastal regions, here is advice on getting them to the gulf if you need them there
Amphibious Landings
Where to land and what to do with marines
Invading New Orleans
Good discussion on amphib invasion of this key city and tips on its defence.
Taking Coastal Forts
How to take forts on the coast
Leaders
List of Leaders
Pdf lists of leader, their stats and when and where they appear
What to do with weak generals
Overrun with mediocre generals? This thread has some suggestions.
AEGOD Forum Info
Main AACW forum
This link will take you to the main forum for AACW.
AGEOD Forum FAQ
A very useful thread which answers questions you might have about the forums.
Acronyms, abbreviations and general glossary
The first entry in this thread provides a list of many common abbreviations that you'll find on the AGEOD forums.
Medals
This thread is fun! In it, you can learn about the different medals that AACW community members can earn and proudly wear!
