Assault Balloons, etc.

[Dixicrat]

Hey, new to AACW, don't understand balloon gunnery.

Okay: I finally figured out that I have to convert Buchanan from an admiral to a general, in order to get Assault Balloons. At least, he's the only one that I can get it to work with, so far. Are there others?

Why can only mortars attack assault balloons? Is this a bug?

What's the difference between "Assault Balloons" and "Transport Balloons"? Their stats look identical, to me. And why do all the Transport Balloons start in Kansas? Did the CSA have a balloon mfg. plant there, or something?

Why is the hide value -10? I've not seen any other units with negative "hide" values. (But I only have played CSA, so far)

I get the "balloon deflates" message whenever I use them to bombard cities of level 6 and higher. Does this have something to do with structure height?

How do you reliably steer the darn things? In the east, they keep drifting into the mountains, and of course I get the "Balloon deflates" crash message.

How do I land them, for resupply? I tried the "Ctrl+Alt+D" thing, but got the "CSA Dorthy deflates, Crew killed" message.

Finally: I loaded three of them onto the Irontop carrier and steamed out to sea, but I don't seem to be able to launch them in the Union Shipping box. Am I doing something wrong? BTW: whoever did the Irontop graphics should get a promotion, or a raise or something. It looks like an aircraft carrier designed by Jules Verne, himself!

And that's another thing. Do I have to put Buchanan in the balloon, or can I leave him on the carrier, in order to get the "Murderous Balloonist" bonus?

Most important of all... how do I get more? I don't see them in reinforcements, and I run out of them pretty quick with all the deflations and crashes and stuff.

Any help will be appreciated.

[Bertram]

I think it was covered elsewhere, but the name CSA Dorthy seems to be an error. Maybe Gray-Lensman can correct it? It should be CSA Dorethy, after the famous Kansas heroine.

I am very bad at the naval side of things, so I can not give any pointers as to strategy.

[Rafiki]

I'm pretty sure there's an article at the wiki about these things, but I can't find it right now...

[Dixicrat]

I think it was covered elsewhere, but the name CSA Dorthy seems to be an error. Maybe Gray-Lensman can correct it? It should be CSA Dorethy, after the famous Kansas heroine.

I was wondering about the name. Isn't she the one who manned the battlements at Ft. Levenworth during that siege, armed only with a cast-iron skillet?

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Jabberwock]

I was wondering about the name. Isn't she the one who manned the battlements at Ft. Levenworth during that siege, armed only with a cast-iron skillet?

I think you have to demand the "extended tour of Ft Leavenworth" to see that exhibit.

[lodilefty]

I think you all need a tour of the Institute at Willard, NY

http://www.hospital-data.com/hospitals/WILLARD-PSYCHIATRIC-CENTER-WILLARD.html

[Aphrodite Mae]

I was wondering about the name. Isn't she the one who manned the battlements at Ft. Levenworth during that siege, armed only with a cast-iron skillet?

I know this story! Her name was Dorethy Belle and she was originally from the South, you see, before she married Colonel Swatwelle before the war and moved to Kansas. The way I heard the story of the siege, when a rebel would begin to climb over the ramparts she would point at the soldiers musket and shout in a mother-like way, "You put that thing down young man, before somebody gets hurt!" Most of them did so. The few who tried to argue were met with a fierce glare and complete silence.

This is from the journal of Private Hosea Ebenezer, one of the rebel prisoners taken that day.
"...and d'rectly, when she got all quiet-like after all her hollerin', thur cum upon me a queer uneasy feelin' as like I wouldn't be gettin' no vittles that night an' would be a-goin' to bed hongry, if I uz to keep on sassin' her..."

Translation from the original Southern into Yankee English:
"Though I sought to reason with her, she said nothing... immediately, there came upon me a distinct sense of dread and fear that I was somehow, inexplicably placing my evening meal in ever greater jeopardy and peril, with each word which proceeded from my lips..."

Southerners can be stubborn, and some refused to drop their muskets that day. To these soldiers, she would sadly ask, "Where are your manners, sir?!"
Being Southerners, they immediately knew what she was talking about, of course. Lowering their eyes, they would tip their hat...
and of course, that is when she would swat them with the skillet.

[Rafiki]

(...) because everybody knows that Yankees are rarely apologetic or polite. At least back then.

[color="Blue"]There is no point in posting inflammatory remarks such as this. Please refrain from doing so in the future[/color]

[tagwyn]

Dear AM: More "Tales from Shirley Temple?" LOL apy:

[ghostlight]

um, I assume this whole thread is just for giggles . . .?

[Rafiki]

um, I assume this whole thread is just for giggles . . .?

[Jabberwock]

Murderous Balloonist bonus ... that's a ridiculous idea.

[attach]4050[/attach]

[Rafiki]

[Aphrodite Mae]

Hi, y'all! For those who don't know it yet, they finally fixed the CSA Dorethy assault balloon misspelling in patch 1.11d. Thanks, guys! I have some questions.
1.I was able to slingload horse artillery and 12 lbrs. with "S. Waties Flying Circus" transport balloons, but when I tried to slingload a 20 lbr., the balloon didn't move where I told it to go. It just sat there. There wasn't any message. What's up with that?
2.Why do Cav units have 49% cohesion, after the horses are slingloaded by balloons? Is it freakin' the horses out, or something?
3.Why does cohesion of enemy units plunge when slingloaded horses overfly them? I'm just curious. If it’s a bug, don't fix it: I've been using them for a primitive sort of psychological warfare. Shock troops, kinda. Dixiecrat hates it.
4.Its cool to transport Cav by balloons, but I was kinda wondering how 1000 dudes can fit into 6 balloons. Are they hanging onto the netting, or something? Thanks! Havely PS Never mind that last one. I just realized that I've got 6 elements of balloons, each with 250 balloons. PPS Man, that would have been an astonishing sight to see, for sure! Over a thousand horse-laden balloons, menacingly approaching! I've never read of any accounts by survivors of such attacks. In fact, I've never read anything about assault balloons, at all. Are there any historians out there who can help with a reference or something?

[squarian]

Are there any historians out there who can help with a reference or something?

I believe the definitive work on the subject is:

Cornelius P. Marvel, Hot Air for Dixie: Memoirs of A Rebel Aeronaut, Oz Press: Barking Mad, GA, 1891

[Barker]

I have not played AACW very long and the balloon thing is interesting. In ohio a few years back they had the Balloon races. there were well over 200 balloons in the air. This was an awe inspiring sight. Now imagine horses on slinss under the gondola, Dopes on a roap like the 101st, Air Mobile Artillery.

A new facte to strategy, Air Assault the Civil War Way.

A question though:

Could Fortress Artillery or heavy calibe artillery be transported by balloons to various locations. I mean a fixed ranged when loaded on a ballon. The heavier calibre the less distance.?

Also could supplies wagons be dropped to isolated units?

I know stupid questions and yes I do know the ballons were used for observation purposes but if there are load factors included in the balloon elements then utilize their capabilities.

Marc

[Zebedee]

Hi Barker,

I think the game is slightly bugged as it doesn't represent history here, so I'll give you how it works in-game and how it should be according to history.


1) You can in game but really this wasn't true during this time period. The experimentation carried out by the French during the Napoleonic war established that 3 pounder guns were the maximum size that could be used effectively due to the recoil. I suppose if you house-ruled it, siege artillery could be possible providing the balloon remains at its tethers.

2) Supply wagons were dropped by balloons in many campaigns. Grant swore by this method of resupply. However, horses were not overly fond of travel in this way and after a few abortive attempts the idea of carrying both cart and horse was discontinued. I would suggest houseruling any wagons delivered in this way as being 'static' units upon arrival. Interestingly, steers were carried in this way as a quick and easy way of providing the troops with meat on the hoof.

Hope this helps.

[Barker]

I have yet to do pbem on any level in this game, i am content for now playing solitaire. I toyed with resources and such...it is all in for fun

[Zebedee]

I think we all appreciate that some people just don't have the time to commit to a PBEM. Just be nice to Athena

Back on topic, does anyone else agree that income should increase due to the impact of carrying cattle in this way upon the fecundity of agricultural areas?

[lodilefty]

Back on topic, does anyone else agree that income should increase due to the impact of carrying cattle in this way upon the fecundity of agricultural areas?

A malus factor [negative] should be applied for the effect upon troops in a region of effluent deposited [aka manure, horse poo, s__t ]

Have you ever followed a horse down the road?

...marching in a parade? EEW

[Dixicrat]

...does anyone else agree that income should increase due to the impact of carrying cattle in this way upon the fecundity of agricultural areas?

Possibly, perhaps as an annual bonus of some sort. Dropping slingloaded bulls into pastures of unsuspecting dairy cattle might have worked in real life, but I think that the time span, fertility and gestation, overhead, etc. would provide too many variables to simulate effectively in AACW. That being said, I'm looking forward to reading Hot Air for Dixie. There are many things that I've undoubtedly not considered.

[Aphrodite Mae]

A malus factor [negative] should be applied for the effect upon troops in a region of effluent deposited...

Of course! Now I understand! This is why enemy units overflown by Cav units suffer such drastic hits to cohesion! Lodilefty, you're a genius!

Here's a smooch, just for you!

Enlightened,
Mae

[Dixicrat]

Hello, Gentlemen.
First, I'd like to thank the AGEOD team for extending foraging to include the sea, in this latest release. What an excellent capability! Ships can stay at sea for years. Anyway, I have some issues related to foraging at sea, after Semmes gets the "Forager" ability. My questions concern frigate crew mutiny.

This has only happened twice. One time, it occurred on a frigate that I had more or less permanently stationed in coastal waters, which I hadn't returned to land for almost a year. There wasn't any message; I just noticed that I could no longer give the vessel orders, and it had a tiny Jolly Roger flag. The next turn, the Confederate ensign was back, and the ship resumed duty. Havely says that they went raiding for girls, but I somehow doubt that such, uh… needs are included in the simulation. My guess is that it has something to do with prolonged proximity to land.

The other time, the ship had been away from land for roughly two years. It didn't hoist a Jolly Roger. Instead, it returned to Charleston without orders and the general supplies of Charleston immediately dropped to zero. This doesn't make sense to me, frankly: why would they raid their own depot for food? They've got plenty of fish, compliments of Semmes foraging ability; and they certainly should be used to it, after two years of eating it almost exclusively.

Maybe someone can shine some light on this for me.

[Zebedee]

Hi Dixicrat,

I think you had the very rare Charlestown event. I believe Pocus was using the renowned English sailor Edward Teach's blockade of Charlestown, South Carolina as his historical guide for this event. May I suggest putting a medical support unit in any similarly afflicted ports in the future? Sailors of this time period were renowned for their capacity to pick up ailments of various kinds.

[tagwyn]

I think somebody is pulling somebody else's leg big time!! apy:

[Jabberwock]

[Aphrodite Mae]

[Jabberwock]

They've got plenty of fish, compliments of Semmes foraging ability; and they certainly should be used to it, after two years of eating it almost exclusively.

Not to mention algae chips. Oops, I just mentioned them.