Stacks versus Tabs

[GenJackson]

I've gotten the stacks concept down pretty well but had a question about tabs.

For instance, lets say you have a stacks of infantry under a general, then another stack of infantry and artillery under another general but these two stacks are under different tabs.

If attacked, do they fight as one? Also, can you move such units simultaneously on the offensive?

I ask this because I had two strange things happen in my recent game. Richmond had a large number of troops, all under various TABS, but not combined into a single stack due to the penalty of 35% that would have happened. In the middle of a snow storm, the city was attacked and fell to a single Union brigade.

I also had a case in the same game where I attempted to move two groups of units under separate tabs at the same time. One of them got to the target earlier than the other, and took the full brunt of the assault. The second unit showed up but stood outside the city and never engaged the enemy.

So, stacks versus tabs...whats the difference? Thanks!

[Paul Roberts]

I'm not sure what happened in your Richmond situation. I'd need more information. I can't imagine a large number of units surrendering to a single brigade unless they were tired/demoralized/unsupplied or else had a stance set to retreat or passive. Of course, it's possible for a large, experienced brigade to have more men and/or more combat power than a whole pile of of weak, inexperienced units.

The 35% penalty is a hit, but remember that units in the same force fight together. A gathering of small, separate forces can be defeated in detail one or two at a time.

Tabs represent different forces. Different forces can be given different stances/orders/etc. Two forces with defensive stances in a region might both defend against an attacker in a combined battle, but the fact that they are different forces might mean that they don't coordinate well.

To make your forces coordinate, you need to understand the Army/Corps/Independent Force concept of the game. Two forces that are Corps of the same Army can coordinate very well, and even move together (and attack together) into the same region. Independent forces can't do that except by luck.

Divisions are another matter entirely, and they can be in Corps or independent forces both.

The "Army Organization" section of the manual (it starts on page 18) is absolutely crucial to understanding the game. Note also that you can't even form divisions or corps during the first months of the long campaigns. The armies don't really get their organizational structures in place until later.

Note also that units won't necessarily attack just because their in the same region as an enemy. That's what stance orders are for. Study those tooltips!

[Jim-NC]

Tabs are stacks. Tabs are how they are represented in the game when you are in a region. They don't operate together, or move together. They may or may not defend together. But they do all retreat together. So if that single union unit fought a CSA unit and won, all the stacks would retreat from Richmond.

[GenJackson]

What are the ribbons in the profile display?

[Jim-NC]

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