When to start buying reinforcements?

[Sven6345789]

Hi, When do you start buying reinforcements
a) with the union; i have tried an april game against the AI and find it difficult to incoperate the forces you have at the start (or which become active during the first turns) , esspecially since your command Chain is nonexistent. You have to wait a while to get additional army HQs, and without armies, there is no real offensive punch (not to mention the glorious leaders you have). How long do scripted reinforcement appear anyhow? until the end of 1861? the end of the game?
b) the confederates: seems to me easier, since you do not need the large armies the union needs; thanks to your head start, you have enough troops and the command structure to defend virginia effectively and great leaders too); but same as above, how long do scripted reinforcements appear?

apart from that, what do you buy, and what does your perfect army look like?

[Aurelin]

Look in the Docs folder where you installed the game. It lists the 1861 re-enforcements.

[Sven6345789]

yes, but a) not all of them, and b) what about scripted units in 1862 or 1863?

[richfed]

I don't know that there is a right way or a wrong way, but as the CSA [don't know about the Feds], I see some scripted reinforcements throughout most of the game [Orphan Brigade, Maryland Line, etc.].

I purchase reinforcements very judiciously -- as I need them, planning ahead a few turns --- to form divisions, etc. The important thing, as I see it, is to not OVER spend and keep your morale up at all costs. That's the key!

[PBBoeye]

As the CSA, I'd like to avoid printing money. Is there some way to build up reinforcements and stay in the black?

I like to build 2 Frigates and 2 Brigs as early as possible (first unit purchases) so that I can get a huge Brig raider force under Semmes in the Blockade box, and send the other admiral with a few frigates to the Shipping Lanes box.

But how to get my land forces up before the Union crushes me, and without the paper money trap? I need [color="DarkGreen"]money[/color]!!!

[KillCalvalry]

I'm not convinced Raiding is worth it for the CSA, but would like other thoughts. Raiding only costs the Union Money and War Supplies, where the real limitation is Men. If you could sink Men, it might be worth it. Money is OK to get, but War Supplies, the Union has more than enough of those.

[Henry D.]

I'm not convinced Raiding is worth it for the CSA, but would like other thoughts. Raiding only costs the Union Money and War Supplies, where the real limitation is Men. If you could sink Men, it might be worth it. Money is OK to get, but War Supplies, the Union has more than enough of those.

Yes, but raiding also can draw a lot of Union troops form the front line in order to intercept (which is very difficult, even in thoroughly pro-union areas, raiders are very hard to spot unless they attack a structure and often disappear again from the screen almost immidiately thereafter). It also forces the union player to put militia in each and every town in the mid-west in order to prevent rebs from sneaking in and resupply, thereby making him spend valuable manpower on inferior garrison troops.

IMHO, raiding can be worth the effort for the south, and as a Union player, I thoroughly hate it...

[Aurelin]

Maybe if enough merchants are sunk there is a NM hit? I know a great deal Union shipping registered under different flags.

Indirectly, it does cost men, unless the Union gets enough money and ws from home to just ignore the raiders, he would have to replace the shipping. IIRC, that's 4 conscripts per transport.

[PBBoeye]

I don't think early June and early December should be the reset points for max conscription. No way. It should be after the harvest, so you're talking late October. Early June is way too early in the season for an agricultural society.

[blackbellamy]

Hi, When do you start buying reinforcements
a) with the union;

buy replacements on the second or third turn to allow your damaged armies to heal

buy 1 HQ replacement, 2-4 supply replacements, and 1-2 of all the others (don't buy INF, CAV, or MIL - you get those for free - and don't buy H Art or ENG since yours won't need to heal yet)

every turn check levels and replace those "eaten" by the process

early june take volunteers at @3000 (you should get around 460 conscripts), bonds at 8% and exceptional taxes

you'll wind up with around 800 money and 800 conscripts - spend all but 100 money (you'll need to make lots of divs next turn) - buy all the skirmishers and cavalry you can, around 15 inf and 5-8 arty - buy some medics if you have money left)

then in early december, do the same thing except also take maximum conscription



don't spend your money unless absolutely necessary until early june

you will need it to pay for the $3000 volunteers because buying them at less will save you money but will screw you out of 100-150 conscripts which you will never recoup (unlike the $$$)

that's like throwing a perfectly good division right into the toilet

[onslo89]

Ive dabbled with this game for over a month now,and started my first real full campaign.Playing as the rebs,i industrialise 4 states NC,NV,LOand TN expensive and a drain on resources for about 3 months,But come november 61 they start producing enough supplies to equip 3 armies.Im now in april 62 Irvin mcdowall was crushed at manasass losing 30,000 in one battle against johnson the threat of northen invasion into nv ceased to exist.At my last check under arms Polk MO 32500men poised to assault st louis Johnston army of Tn 67000 men pushing into ohio and illinois,Lee 68,000men pushing on washington,and finally army of the potamoc 38,000 men pushing on pittsburgh.Raiders i use a small force 2 frigates 5 brigs usually brings in 18 supplies a turn and some money,Inflation at 12%.How have i done this use a defensive strategy in 61 buy militia to defend the frontier as the experienced leaders come into play use them to train the militia,after a while they become regular troops but cost relatively nothing.All these troops trained in humbolt then shipped to rolla this strategy then enables me to build up the army of TN at the same time.Over winter in 61 the supplies are coming in from the industries and i begin building the big brigades,come march the union is faced with 3 strong armies with a 4th on the way from richmond,and during this time i know ive made mistakes.But i started with a plan of action in 61 and its payed off,dont think a few turns ahead think longer months when i started i planned my first year,i knew i would lose towns and ports,but i didnt let this affect my overall plan now in 62 ive recaptured the towns and pushed the yankees hard!PS use ur raiders and indians to raid deep into northern territory and cut those rail links destroy depots burn villages it all pays off.