I think I'm ready to take the plunge.

[jennison]

So after trying out the demo a couple years ago, got overwhelmed, gave up, tried the demo again a year later, got overwhelmed, gave up, I'm finally serious about getting into this game. I've always been interested in the grand strategy of the war and this game has always been very appealing to me, but just haven't had the time and patience to really figure it out...

Well I think I'm ready. Maybe actually spending money on the game instead of just playing the demo will give me the motivation to learn it.

[Krec]

the game is really good. i think its the best civil war game to date. you must have patience to learn the game thou. there is alot to learn but its worth every minute you put into it. i started by just looking at everything, not even playing it, just look at everything like the map and the units the ledger, things like that. when i had a question i would come here a read or just look at the pdf manual. i have learned alot just by reading the post here.
a word of warning, if your looking for a fast paced game or rts game type this is not it. this game is like a fine bottle of scotch that needs to be savored and enjoyed at one own pace. glad you took the plunge, enjoy.

[jennison]

the game is really good. i think its the best civil war game to date. you must have patience to learn the game thou. there is alot to learn but its worth every minute you put into it. i started by just looking at everything, not even playing it, just look at everything like the map and the units the ledger, things like that. when i had a question i would come here a read or just look at the pdf manual. i have learned alot just by reading the post here.
a word of warning, if your looking for a fast paced game or rts game type this is not it. this game is like a fine bottle of scotch that needs to be savored and enjoyed at one own pace. glad you took the plunge, enjoy.

Yeah I knew it wasn't your average rts game the first time I tried. It's by far not Empire Total war or anything like that.. But after reading books about Lincoln and Jeff Davis and the incredibly tough decisions they had to make during the war, I've always wanted to get into a Civil War grand strategy game. I've played the ACW battle games (TC2M and the excellent Scourge Of War: Gettysburg) but now I'm ready for a strategy game.

I'm sure I'll be back for plenty of questions. Thanks for the reply.

[Jim717]

Best way to learn the system is to jump right into a game and start playing. Do the tutorials first, but then jump in. You WILL make mistakes, but then look up the answers, or come here and ask questions. You'll probably restart the game many times till you get the hang of things, but you'll learn much quicker by doing, rather than by just reading up on everything.

[dolphin]

Yeah I knew it wasn't your average rts game the first time I tried. It's by far not Empire Total war or anything like that.. But after reading books about Lincoln and Jeff Davis and the incredibly tough decisions they had to make during the war, I've always wanted to get into a Civil War grand strategy game. I've played the ACW battle games (TC2M and the excellent Scourge Of War: Gettysburg) but now I'm ready for a strategy game.

I'm sure I'll be back for plenty of questions. Thanks for the reply.

I was where your at a couple weeks ago in terms of taking the plunge with ACW, but I have had a great deal of experience with grand strategy games that have tons of rules and seemingly complicated game mechanics over the years.

Try and remember the game is only complicated until you learn it and that takes time and practice. I approach it like a full time job working overtime. Most people do not have the time to go overboard the way I do.

It is a very good game, but for all your hard work if you do decide to stick with it I can say that after you think you have learned the game and your ready to play an actual human opponant you will have to learn the game all over.

A good analogy would be chess. Its one thing to know how all the pieces move, but its a whole other game with enourmous depth once you start becoming aware of the finer points.

Playing the AI will get you to know how the pieces all move and get you familiar with the chess board, but up against a human opponant the game really takes off.

I am in my first Play By E-Mail (PBM) game now and its a blast.

Krek explained that it can be like a fine bottle of scotch that needs to be savored and enjoyed at ones own pace and he is exactly right.

In my PBM game right now I can sometimes spend two, or even three hours plotting the orders for my half of the turn before sending it to my opponant and that is just one turn. Consider the campaign is over 100 turns. I savor every minute of it. Especially when an intricate plan that I painstakingly work out goes off without a flaw. Still though more often than not things do not go exactly as planned and that is part of the fun too. Even though it can demoralize you and make you want to quit. The trick of course is to take a break and have a good sleep and come back fresh.


You will probably want to ask tons of question in the forum. I know I have had to. Just try and use the search function and spend some time just reading the threads. The rule book is not going to do it for you. It helps to get you started, but just as important as the rule book will be this link.

[SIZE="3"][B]http://www.ageod.net/aacwwiki/Categorized_AACWWiki_index[/size][/B]


P.S. In fact since I am a newbee consider reading all my posts as most of them are questions that someone has already answered and the questions I have been asking are mostly about things that are left rather vague in the rulebook and the Wiki and geared towards someone just starting out after having played the AI a few times to learn the interface.

[Cromagnonman]

I got this game shortly after going to the John Brown Susquicentennial, although I had to uninstall it for my surgery rotation. It is pretty awesome and immersive. But I understand that it can be overwhelming, too.

One thing I've started doing is taking notes on my purchases each turn. Once divisions become available in late '61, I try to flesh-out proper divisions from the starting set-up, then I try to buy all the pieces for a single division over 1-2 turns. When it can take several turns for a unit to be ready (usually artillery), it's easy to forget why you bought it. So each turn I write down every unit I buy grouped together into their intended divisions, and next turn I check the newly-built units listing and write down their names, so when they finish training I can rail them all to the same place with a general and organize them together.
It sounds tedious, but it's less tedious than bringing together a new division to discover it doesn't have the right mix of units. Especially this last turn, what with drafts and taxes, I bought the units for 16 new divisions. Half a sheet of notebook paper and a few extra minutes should ensure my fresh troops get to the front ASAP.

[sbr]

I got this game shortly after going to the John Brown Susquicentennial, although I had to uninstall it for my surgery rotation. It is pretty awesome and immersive. But I understand that it can be overwhelming, too.

One thing I've started doing is taking notes on my purchases each turn. Once divisions become available in late '61, I try to flesh-out proper divisions from the starting set-up, then I try to buy all the pieces for a single division over 1-2 turns. When it can take several turns for a unit to be ready (usually artillery), it's easy to forget why you bought it. So each turn I write down every unit I buy grouped together into their intended divisions, and next turn I check the newly-built units listing and write down their names, so when they finish training I can rail them all to the same place with a general and organize them together.
It sounds tedious, but it's less tedious than bringing together a new division to discover it doesn't have the right mix of units. Especially this last turn, what with drafts and taxes, I bought the units for 16 new divisions. Half a sheet of notebook paper and a few extra minutes should ensure my fresh troops get to the front ASAP.

That has been one of my biggest problems in my current (and first) PBEM game and I have solved it the same way.

Well biggest problem besides incompetent, lazy Union generals who sit around inactive for turns on end allowing Lee and his Army of the Shenandoah, or other reinforcements, to arrive just in the nick of time to seemingly every battle turning a 4:1 advantage to another soul-crushing defeat.

[Mickey3D]

I am in my first Play By E-Mail (PBM) game now and its a blast.

Krek explained that it can be like a fine bottle of scotch that needs to be savored and enjoyed at ones own pace and he is exactly right.

+1

But I would prefer to compare it with a fine and complex red wine

[jennison]

Thanks guys. I'll have some time tomorrow to really dive in and that's when I'm sure I'll have some questions. I'm going to start with mastering the tutorials and then maybe try one of the shorter scenarios. That Gettysburg Scenario looks very cool.

[hgilmer]

The way I went at it is I played "Bloody Shiloh" over and over and I kept putting it to the side but I was looking at the forums after I bought Rise of Prussia and decided I needed to jump in full force and just make the mistakes and live with them.

I'm on my second campaign (and I'm a little embarrassed to mention on the easiest setting) and yet still having a lot of fun. My 2nd campaign, I'm a lot "further" along than my 1st one. I've learned to try things like instead of moving to siege a city, I put troops on assault, if there is a small garrison, so the forces immediately assault the city as soon as it gets there. Saves a lot of time.

[Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne]

The way I went at it is I played "Bloody Shiloh" over and over and I kept putting it to the side but I was looking at the forums after I bought Rise of Prussia and decided I needed to jump in full force and just make the mistakes and live with them.

I'm on my second campaign (and I'm a little embarrassed to mention on the easiest setting) and yet still having a lot of fun. My 2nd campaign, I'm a lot "further" along than my 1st one. I've learned to try things like instead of moving to siege a city, I put troops on assault, if there is a small garrison, so the forces immediately assault the city as soon as it gets there. Saves a lot of time.

No reason to be embarassed. I started on easy for my first few games. I think that's the best way to learn. Once you understand command structure, supply, and movement then you can worry about realistic combat.

[hgilmer]

It's true that you learn something new every game. In this game I'm trying to keep the artillery in the main stack and also I'm trying an amphibious invasion (not going wellbut still trying).

There's something to be said many times on getting the enemy to attack you on your terms. I am trying not to ever attack unless overwhelming (and known) odds. I've been able to do that a few times this game as well.

This is going to be a confortable win, I think.

[jennison]

I'm getting somewhat familiar with the game after completing the two tutorials, and now I've started a campaign. Jumping right into one of the big one's (#3 Full Theater Campaign). I figured what the heck, I'll see how I do. At first I ran into an issue with not being able to move my blockade runners near Charleston, but realized they were fixed. Now I just got my brigadier generals and about to send them off to commands.

[jennison]

Couple of questions:

Speaking of Blockade Runners, will they ever be unlocked in #3 campaign? I assume yes they will eventually.. I was very pleased to see the game playing out historically with the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. I hope there are more events like this as the game progresses.

Also, I noticed that sometimes I get stuck in a state where I can't select any units. It gets stuck on the last unit I selected. If I try to select other cities or stacks, nothing happens. The only way I can regain control again is if I exit to main menu, then hit Resume Game. A known issue or something I'm missing?

[dolphin]

Also, I noticed that sometimes I get stuck in a state where I can't select any units. It gets stuck on the last unit I selected. If I try to select other cities or stacks, nothing happens. The only way I can regain control again is if I exit to main menu, then hit Resume Game. A known issue or something I'm missing?

Something your missing probably. I have crash course played the game for a few weeks now and can honestly say the game appears to be pretty free from any buggy issues.

There are a few WAD's that might have been done differently, but not enough to complain about and there are work arrounds for them anyway.

[sbr]

Also, I noticed that sometimes I get stuck in a state where I can't select any units. It gets stuck on the last unit I selected. If I try to select other cities or stacks, nothing happens. The only way I can regain control again is if I exit to main menu, then hit Resume Game. A known issue or something I'm missing?

The only time I notice something like that is when I have a unit, or leader, detail panel open. You have to close those before you can select another unit.

[Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne]

Couple of questions:

Speaking of Blockade Runners, will they ever be unlocked in #3 campaign? I assume yes they will eventually.. I was very pleased to see the game playing out historically with the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. I hope there are more events like this as the game progresses.

Also, I noticed that sometimes I get stuck in a state where I can't select any units. It gets stuck on the last unit I selected. If I try to select other cities or stacks, nothing happens. The only way I can regain control again is if I exit to main menu, then hit Resume Game. A known issue or something I'm missing?

Hover your mouse over the unit picture, and it will tell you if a unit is locked and how many days until it unlocks. Some units don't unlock and some are slightly randomized like RE Lee. The unit detail pane must be closed to select other units.

[dolphin]

The only time I notice something like that is when I have a unit, or leader, detail panel open. You have to close those before you can select another unit.

This....

[jennison]

Yeah at first I thought it was the unit detail panel open (been there done that), but it wasn't. Oh well I haven't seen it in a while but will keep an eye open for it. Thanks for the replies.

[jennison]

Dumb newbie question:

I just made this force into a Corps. Why does it still say third division, but you can also see the 9th Corps symbol to the right?

[hgilmer]

Not that dumb. I kind of would like to know the reason as well.

I noticed when McClellan is taken from the game due to an event, his "Army" is still called an Army, but it really isn't an army any more and now you have to reform it to make it a true army with all the bonuses and such that go with it.

[GraniteStater]

Don't question it - it's just the way it is, really. Several versions now have handled naming conventions in new and exciting ways!

The good news is that you can rename anything except an HQ'd Army - that's frozen. Alt - LeftClick on the brown "wooden" part of the lower display - or some such keystroke, somebody knows. I almost never bother, I can usually keep 'em straight.

I wish you could rename Armies. In Sumter to Appomattox you could (not a bad game at all, by the way, still quite playable and it has its virtues); I used to name Armies "7th US Army", ""Western CSA Army Group", stuff like that.

[jennison]

Don't question it - it's just the way it is, really. Several versions now have handled naming conventions in new and exciting ways!

The good news is that you can rename anything except an HQ'd Army - that's frozen. Alt - LeftClick on the brown "wooden" part of the lower display - or some such keystroke, somebody knows. I almost never bother, I can usually keep 'em straight.

I wish you could rename Armies. In Sumter to Appomattox you could (not a bad game at all, by the way, still quite playable and it has its virtues); I used to name Armies "7th US Army", ""Western CSA Army Group", stuff like that.

Ah so it's a bug then? I thought I had done something wrong because when I first made it a Corps, it was displayed properly.. Did some clicking around, came back and then it said 3rd Division.

[GraniteStater]

Like I said, at least you can edit - don't recall the exact keystrokes though.

In a recent game, against the AI, I went with a "give all the whiney stupid Union 3-stars a HQ" policy to shut 'em up. Butler, in New Orleans, got "Union Army". Then the next one was "Army of the Whatever".

Go figure.

[jennison]

You were right about the alt Left Click. Cool feature.

[dolphin]

Dumb newbie question:

I just made this force into a Corps. Why does it still say third division, but you can also see the 9th Corps symbol to the right?

It was labeled that way automatically because you added the corp commander to the Division when you merged the forces rather that adding the divsions to the Corp leader.

The name defaults to the group the other units and leaders are added to.

Had you moved your Corp Commander out of the group during your movement plot and then added the group to the Corp Commander it would have changed the name.

[jennison]

I haven't had much time to play lately but I've won my first scenario. I played the Shiloh scenario, score 150, enemy -27. I'm not sure if that's good or not, but it felt good!

The whole time I was thinking "I hope I'm doing this right.. I hope I'm doing this right"... I just kept moving my Corps's toward the OBJ's, making sure I had plenty of re-enforcements. There were a lot of battles between Nashville and Humprey's Tenn.. Thomas took a serious beating, lost one or two battles but still held strong..

It was fun but again, I felt very unsure of what I was doing the whole time.. But I guess I did do something right, hence the victory.

[MkollCSA]

The strategy in this game can sometimes get very overwhelming, you have to be able to think both in the long term and the short term and be able to move your men to meet those goals while also making sure you dont leave an opening for the enemy to take advantage of. Which is good cause no matter what the game is always re-playable, one of the reasons i am trying to get my cd key situation settled so i can start playing again (moved a couple times and lost my book, now just waiting for a reply for the support team about weather or not i can get another one) its actually killing me, i want to play again but i cant, tore my house apart looking for the book...that should tell you how addicting this game can get, just dont get overwhelmed with it at first and ask alot of questions and get to know how the game works and you will do just fine.

[jennison]

Yeah I think I'll do one more battle scenario and then take on a campaign. It seems like there are things I'm missing out on with the short battle (politics, economy, etc.) I'm sure all of that stuff plays an important factor in the long term... Short, 10 turn battles, all you really concentrate on is getting a quick victory.

[dolphin]

i am trying to get my cd key situation settled so i can start playing again (moved a couple times and lost my book, now just waiting for a reply for the support team about weather or not i can get another one) its actually killing me, i want to play again but i cant, tore my house apart looking for the book...that should tell you how addicting this game can get, just dont get overwhelmed with it at first and ask alot of questions and get to know how the game works and you will do just fine.

Just rebuy the game from an online service. Its only $20.

GameStop, Steam, etc...

Cool thing about an online sevice is once you buy it you essentially have your purchases available in a permanent online library to reinstall whenever and as many times as you like.

Additionally you have to understand the problem your describing regarding a CD Key makes it sound like you could be trying to use a version you got from some Pirate site like Pirate Bay in order to avoid having to pay for the game.

I am by no means suggestiong that you are; merely pointing out that there is no way for whoever your contacting to get a CD Key to know that your request is legit.

If I were in the companies customer relations department that you were trying to get the Key from I would have to insist on proof that you actually paid for your copy and that would mean providing a receipt at the very least; if not an actual UPC code from the Box it came in.



I could understand your frustration if you were having to pay the full $50 new price, but you don't.