It's all coming together...observations.

[Hell Patrol]

I have a good grasp on the command strucure, i think of it as similar to a hex based wargame(like HPS' Civil War Series) where each province is a hex and you need your Army HQ within "x hexes" of it's subordinates.
It's not BoA indeed, bigger is NOT better, you need a diversified group of Corps while taking advantage/maximizing command points. I have been able to achieve stalemates so far as the CSA with the smaller scenarios and i'm going to re-read the manual a couple more times.
Question: Is it better to spread out units among Corps eg: Arty/Cavalry in every Corps...or...tailor Corps and Divisions based solely on the leaders attributes? I am REALLY loving the design of this game and i just can't wait to jump into the full Campaigns. What will the Yankees say when the French Army shows up to help my CSA win the war?! This game is Wargame of the year hands down...congratulations AGEOD .

[Wilhammer]

That is THE question, isn't it?

How do you handle the command system?

I have found it a long hard learn; but the thing to do is always make Corps - look at your Divisions for 2 star Generals, break them up, and make them Corps commanders.

The best thing I've found to do is to keep the Army commander separate with just a few reserve units and special units with him, and send out the Corps to fight.

The qualities of the Corps commanders and the subordinates in it is the thing to master - and I have a long way to go - the command system adds a whole new dynamic well beyond what BoA had that makes this game rich...I've not seen a command system so detailed, so logical, so seemingly historically accurate, and so hard to master.

They need to get Wargame of the Decade for this effort...

I've played Shiloh like 10 times, and Bull Run as much, and I need many more plays before I think I can PBEM anyone.

The bigger force risks being irrelevant in front of a well run command structure...

[pasternakski]

Excellent post, Wilhammer.

I, too, am working like an unemancipated slave trying to get the command structure piece right.

It highlights so accurately what made Lee-Jackson-Longstreet such an unbeatable combination ... hints most eloquently at the immense job awaiting the Union player in creating an effective command structure with leaders at the right levels and assigned in the right places ... states in a way that makes you apply all your creative gifts (and, in my case, Christmas must have been a little lean that year) in matching leadership with assets and turning that entire structure toward ultimate victory ...

Did I mention that I love this game? I am so taken with it that I can't even think about playing anything else right now. What a great thing retirement has become all of a sudden...

[type7]

Great posts, I love this game too. When you add the supply system on top of the command system, it makes for one great game. The supply system is just abstract enough not to bog you down, but just deep enough to keep you interested.

[Adlertag]

I have found it a long hard learn; but the thing to do is always make Corps - look at your Divisions for 2 star Generals, break them up, and make them Corps commanders.

The best thing I've found to do is to keep the Army commander separate with just a few reserve units and special units with him, and send out the Corps to fight.

True , the first task in reorganising army is to find 2* leaders, form up corps with them, create ( or keep) divisions with 1* leaders and assign them to the corps created , with an eye on CP capabilities and costs.
Add some supply wagons to let corps march ahead ( except for corps you want to advance quickly, a force without supply wagons could rely on 2 turns of fight before exhaustion ) and try to have at least a cav. unit in each corps for it's high detection value.
The army HQ keeps only one reserve combat unit, army assets such as balloons and the like and also reserve supply wagons.

[Vorticon]

Excellent post, Wilhammer.

I, too, am working like an unemancipated slave trying to get the command structure piece right.

It highlights so accurately what made Lee-Jackson-Longstreet such an unbeatable combination ... hints most eloquently at the immense job awaiting the Union player in creating an effective command structure with leaders at the right levels and assigned in the right places ... states in a way that makes you apply all your creative gifts (and, in my case, Christmas must have been a little lean that year) in matching leadership with assets and turning that entire structure toward ultimate victory ...

Did I mention that I love this game? I am so taken with it that I can't even think about playing anything else right now. What a great thing retirement has become all of a sudden...

My thoughts exactly pasternakski !! I couldn't have said it better. apy:

[LAVA]

I, too, am working like an unemancipated slave trying to get the command structure piece right.

Indeed...

This seems a very key part to the game. Last night I finally figured out how to attach brigades to a division so they became elements of that division. That made a biiiiig difference.

So yea, it seems first you have to learn how to organize and then (if you are a yankee) how to make the most of what you have with the generals at your disposal.

Having a good time so far.

Ray (aka LAVA)

[pasternakski]

My thoughts exactly pasternakski !! I couldn't have said it better. apy:

I would say that us geezers have to stick together, but that invokes some rather unsavory "old people having sex" images.

I just can't get enough of this game ... it reminds me of ... ummm ... errr ... something I used to do ...

Now, what was it I said that was so good? I think I might have said something good, but, dad blast it, I can't remember what she was ...

Oh, well ... on to Richmond ... whatever that is ...

Hee hee.

[pasternakski]

Indeed...
So yea, it seems first you have to learn how to organize and then (if you are a yankee) how to make the most of what you have with the generals at your disposal.

Having a good time so far.

Ray (aka LAVA)

I think the Rebs have to make the most of the Lee/Jackson/Longstreet combination, too. They start with better generals (and it sure helps when Lee shows up), but that advantage diminishes with time, and there aren't very many of the good ones (certainly not enough to go around after the Federals get going on multiple fronts). I think the Confederacy would make a big mistake by spreading that leadership too thin ... just a preliminary observation.

I'm about to take a deep breath and plunge into my first full-fledged campaign.

I'm having a good time so far, too, but, lordy lordy, who knows what's gonna happen next ...

[Pocus]

note that there are some bugs in the Norfolk script and the Kentucky one, but they will be cleared monday...