US Civil War

[marcusjm]

I have wondered about this for some time. How gamey can you be considering your advance knowledge? Could you for instance strip the south of anything useful they could use in this war and end it asap? What happens if CSA wins?

[PhilThib]

You can use hindsight indeed...

To avoid the gamey tactics one might think, we have decided that:

* occurence of the ACW is not always 100%, and in addition the date is not known for sure...

* Upon creation, the CSA will receive a good army, some industry and railroads, assets and sufficient resources to wage the war

* if the CSA wins the war, there will be a fair chance that, in the hand, the USA become re-united again after some time...the trouble is that it will be a bit less efficient, slaves might be still around (low productivity) and the huge amount of prestige lost at start of the war will not be recovered (the USA regains it only if victorious)...

There is room for improvement, that's certain, but it should give good results already...

[marcusjm]

Ah, I suspected that they would recieve these things but in that case. What happens if you already have improvements in those regions? Will they be added to or simply reset? Which begs the question, is there any point in doing anything in the South in that case?

[PhilThib]

Yes, if you do nothing and the war does not occur, you just shoot yourself in the foot by under-developping some rich and productive regions...

[hgilmer]

Can WW1 happen? Not like in Victoria, but like all of a sudden all of the participants are fighting against each other, more or less the same side as historical.

[NefariousKoel]

Judging by comments about the other wars during the period, I suspect they have some events to help push things that direction, though with some uncertainty to the details.

Perhaps you could get foreboding popups containing the Czar and Kaisers' worried correspondence, calling each other by pet-names.

"If we do nothing to avert from this path, the results may be dreadful. Don't you agree Willie-poo Buttermuffin?"

[Prussian Prince]

At the Paradox Forums Aragos, one of the betas, has stated that not developing the Souths Cotton industry will hurt your cash flow so it would behoove you to invest some there.

[Zap Brannigan]

I'm very encouraged by the way the South will be boosted - It's is a very good idea - I had already seen people say they would strip the South to avoid a long war - this seems like a good attempt to make this more difficult. If I hadn't already pre-ordered I would now.

Are there any other events / rebellions where this type of strategy (giving an industry boost etc to the rebels etc) is being used to stop players using hindsight to prepare (or is this unique to the ACW)

Also does part of the Union army defect at the start of the war, to negate the effects of a player building a huge army in preparation.

[PhilThib]

Most rebellion events ensure that rebels have a sufficient force to ensure a good fight...

The US army defection is not historical, so it is not done this way. We have just found ways to limit the US force pool so that the player does not build a huge army from start (and if he does, it will be VERY detrimental to it's other development, industrial and colonial)

[Reiryc]

Let's say I want the south to win... will the US turn into the CSA and be playable from there?

[von Sachsen]

No, but you could use the console to switch to them. Of course iirc they have very little in the way of events. So you would be stuck with slaves forever and would have nothing in the way of scripted help in expansion.
Edit: Or leaders for that matter after a certain point, though someone said that that would be added in eventually.

[PhilThib]

Let's say I want the south to win... will the US turn into the CSA and be playable from there?

No, it will be the other way round. If the CSA wins, the USA will be reunited one day or another (political compromise), but the 'US' player will have lost a lot in the bargain (prestige, time, etc...)...

The CSA is not playable beyond 1870 anyway (no troops or leaders). WAD

[Aragos]

At the Paradox Forums Aragos, one of the betas, has stated that not developing the Souths Cotton industry will hurt your cash flow so it would behoove you to invest some there.

Yep, not developing the South hurts...badly.

Example--all that Cotton, Tobacco, Tropical Fruit and 1 Sugar are in the South. You need that to make your people happy, and Cotton/Tobacco will be your export crop.

Other issues--the South has manpower (you'll need it to suppress the Indians), Iron and Nitrates. All of these are needed as well.

Yes, you can be gamey, but it doesn't gain you a lot (not like Victoria I and II--where the ACW is pretty easy). The CSA starts with a good sized army, as does the USA. Building up your Regulars before the war does you some good, but it doesn't guarantee victory in the least.

[Aragos]

Most rebellion events ensure that rebels have a sufficient force to ensure a good fight...

The US army defection is not historical, so it is not done this way. We have just found ways to limit the US force pool so that the player does not build a huge army from start (and if he does, it will be VERY detrimental to it's other development, industrial and colonial)

Exactly. The USA can build those Heavy Infantry Corps...but what else are you giving up? All those colonial buildings and units you'll need to take over the West, all those goods factories you need to build up your economy, and so on.

I have to say, the guys did a good job programming the ACW

[Franciscus]

I have to say, the guys did a good job programming the ACW

I can say this does not surprise me...as AACW is without a doubt the BEST game ever made about the ACW !!

[marcusjm]

Another question. Does this event contain any what-if.s like what states join etc? Is there a distinct possibility that some Western states join in and so forth.

[Aragos]

Another question. Does this event contain any what-if.s like what states join etc? Is there a distinct possibility that some Western states join in and so forth.

I have no idea; sadly I don't have my files here at work so I can't dig around and get you an answer .

My suspicion (based on % Dixie population in some states) is 'possibly.'

[von Sachsen]

%Slave population?

[Pocus]

they are called servile. This include the poor peasants of Russia in this broad category.

[Ethan]

I can say this does not surprise me...as AACW is without a doubt the BEST game ever made about the ACW !!

I bet for it!

Regards!