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In some of the threads, it is suggested that the April campaign is quite a disadvantegous start for the Confederacy. My question is: if I play the April campaign with the Union, will the Confederacy be in the (substiantially) same position in July as in the July campaign?

Thx in advance

I have tested April campaign and played it a lot. July I didn't but...
If you are bold and fast enough you as Union can get even better starting positions up to July. Shift your forces and try to get following places ASAP:
Dallas, Rolla, Jefferson, Springfield, Whinchester and Manassas.
I usually stop then and start building divisions and army HQ's. When you start some serious campaigning then you'll need better organization. Brigades without division or corp command will not be as half as good as those organized.
First and second turn build militia to protect towns on border.

Just my two cents.
Hope it helps

Thanks Marecone. Quite useful indeed.

What I really meant to ask is that will the Confederates have the same strenght in soldiers, HQs, etc. in July as they have in a July 1861 start?

The answer to that is no. This is due to the fact the computer is making the decisions for the Confederacy from April. Therefore any units in the July OAB which came into existence due to goverment policies such as calling for volunteers, raising taxs and issuing war bond will not be present unless the AI does exactly what happened historically (not very likely). Also militia units which may have been mobilised due to historical threats may not be present if the same threats dont arise in the game. Industrial capacity and the amount of resouces availible will also be different depending on AI choices for things such as industrialisation, the amount of blockade running and commerce raiding the AI opt for. Dont forget you decisions will alter the way the AI responds so unless you do everyhting historically the sheer number of game factors effecting the confederate force levels in July are likely to become incalculable within a few turns.

So the purpose of the April campaign is to give you more of a say in how your war economy and initial OOB looks like when heavy warfare takes place?

Not sure if I understood you well but I see April campaign like beginning from scratch. Come up with a decision how will you fight in future. Will you follow Mississippi or maybe some other route. Will you build one, two or three armies in central theatre. Will you have an army west of Mississippi and stuff like that.
Ofcourse there is a political and economic momentum here as well. Don't call for blockade too soon or Britain will get mad and rebs will benefit.

P.S. Leaders data base with dates of their appearances will be available to you soon. This will help as you will know when you will get a general and perhaps army HQ.

Hope this helped

marecone wrote:P.S. Leaders data base with dates of their appearances will be available to you soon. This will help as you will know when you will get a general and perhaps army HQ.

I have to admit I am ambivalent to such a list. On one hand, it seems an unfair advantage over the AI, who probably doesn't know when it will receive these things and therefore can't plan ahead. On the other hand, it's annoying to spend a lot of cash and supplies on an army HQ you need, just to get one for free the next turn. Not that the HQ is a waste, just that you would've spent the money on other stuff you end up needing more than a spare army HQ

Don't get me wrong; I really appreciate the effort you guys are doing, both for this list specifically and for the game in general; it's just that I'm not sure whether or not I'll feel "dirty" using that list

the HQ problem is solved in 1.01 or beyond. You don't get free HQ now, except for the first one

And HQ pool raise progressively by year too... so if you want to dispatch McClellan in California, it will costs you one of your precious HQ. (and another rule is in the coming for that what's more!)

I am not sure why the April start would be more of a disadvantage for the CSA as opposed to the July start. Any thoughts on why that would be the case.

Having just started an April camp. for the first time after playing multitudes of July starts. (demo) I can say, in my opinion it isn't a question of better. So much as different. More set up to be sure. The CSA is much weaker in the west and you must address this weakness immediately!!!!!! Or you will lose MO in a very few turns and be on your heels in the west toot sweet. The east is relatively the same as far as I can tell. One serious drawback IMO is Jackson starts as a 1-star. So, unless he gets some battles under his belt quickly? You have corp problems. And you want Jackson as a corp commander as quik as possible. Jackson is the hammer to Pierre and Johnsons anvil in the east. I am currently in the middle of my 62 summer offensive as the CSA. (April start) And Jackson is still a 1-star. Both Longstreet and Hill have jumped over him in seniority. *shakes head* Old Stoney just hasn't been in the right places at the right time. *sigh*

Nial