Your favorite Start?

[HidekiTojo]

I have generally preferred April but I have always found that it ends up being very ahistorical, July is for me just the April start with a little less micro.

Idk about anyone else but there has always been this internal conflict I have.

I like to build up the armies from scratch, but first of all I'm still not very good at it and second the results are ahistorical in a big way a year or so in. It's almost like starting from 1862 onwards feels like cheating.

Yet I think 1862 is overall a good balanced start, I just can't bring myself to do it!

What do you think about the later starts? If you do not like them why and which ones do you prefer?

[Durk]

I do enjoy the 1862 start best, but then I always explore all the scenarios. Whenever you play an historical game, it is going to drift from the actual history. Even though some players feel only the longest campaign game is worth playing, it is nice to take over the war in 1862 or 1863 and see where you can take it. So it is fair to say I like all the starts.

The 1862 start has the advantage of being early enough all options are still open, but it is past the building and planning stage. There is a minor glitch with the Union fleet off the North Carolina coast being locked, but otherwise this is a delightful start to the campaign game.

The 1863 start is a real challenge for both sides.

[HidekiTojo]

As a matter of fact I have been having some fun with the 1862 start, what is so difficult about 1863 for both sides?

[Durk]

South is up against the wall, has lost a lot of production sites, and still has to hold on for three more years.

North has pushed the South to its most defensive positions which are hard to maneuver around. While leadership has improved for the North, it still is challenged to keep up with the Rebs.

The 1863 start is really not a game for the faint of heart.

[grimjaw]

I don't have much time to play the game nowadays, but I preferred the 1861 full campaign starts. I don't mind that it goes a little ahistorical; otherwise what's the point of having the sandbox? As a matter of fact, I edited my game to remove many of the events in later years unless certain conditions were met.