Early Experiences and Switching Sides

[longstreet77]

This is a great game - I'm veteren of any number of war games and a big history fan, but knew little about the ACW before this game forced me to learn a thing or two...

After a couple of exploratory starts both for CSA and USA I finally started a game I meant to finish as the CSA against the AI - and it went pretty well - strategy was basically stuff I'd picked up from this forum along with my own personal preferences, during 1861 I built up my eastern forces, well entrenched, and then a screen of militia and some backstop cavalry to put off raids across the rest of the country, industrialised a little and generally prepared for a tough 1862.

The in Spring 1862 I launched my "surprise" offensive - I'd built up some reasonably strong forces behind the lines in the west and transferred a couple of good divisions from my eastern forces. I caught the AI completely off guard and have rolled up a big chunk of his western and central flank. The AI in "desparation" launched a couple of strong but ill fated offensives against my well dug in, riverline protected eastern forces. With the writing on the wall for the USA by late autumn 1862 I thought it might be interesting to switch sides and see if the USA's position might be redeemable.

I was not prepared for how bad things were - replacement pool empty, inflation at 31%, cash and conscript pools low, numerous elements of the army crying out for replacements, no options available for 8 turns to raise further cash or conscripts. In my first couple of turns I've tried to consolidate things a little, consolidate, occupy more defensible positions, reorganise and rotate out some troops to rebuild shattered units but things seem quite hopeless. My impression is the AI is not bad at the army admin things as it had put together reasonably sensible divisions and corps but had made a real mess of its war economy and build policy. Anyone think there's any hope for the US?

[Jabberwock]

How bad is the NM situation? Cash and manpower are strongly affected by morale. The primary long term rebuild problem will be manpower. If you can get NM up to reasonable numbers, you can rebuild.

Are there any transports built for the shipping box? They can bring in cash and WS.

[Cat Lord]

I am wondering if that could be because the AI is struggling with the concept of finite time.

I mean, increasing inflation late in the game is not as much a problem as increasing it early in the game.

Cat

[Jabberwock]

Right - 31% inflation is not that high for Autumn of '62, if you've timed your purchases, used the money wisely, and have taken a few objectives.

[longstreet77]

NM was down in the 70's when I took over the US side. Now (autumn '63) its back up in the 90's.

I had a w/e of quite careful play and nursed the US through the 62/63 winter and by high summer '63 am back on the offensive - probably wrongly given what others have said about 31% not being that high an inflation number I adopted a tight monetarist policy (printed no more paper money) and was careful with resources. Manpower is still a little tight as I had to use lots of it simply in replacements to existing decimated ranks but money and war supplies being easier means I'm using firepower - artillery and gatling guns - to ramp up the US army capability.

Interestingly I did not realise you could get this to happen, but inflation is actually falling - down to 26%....

Seems to be working out fine - quite an interesting little exercise for a newbie such as me - switching sides.

[AP514]

Right - 31% inflation is not that high for Autumn of '62, if you've timed your purchases, used the money wisely, and have taken a few objectives.

YOU GOT TO BE KIDD"N............WHAT DOES THE AI DO ??? MAX OUT ITS TAXES MONEY AND DRAFTS FROM THE WORD GO ???

If that is the case
NO WONDER I HAVE A HARD TIME vs AI..................


AP514

P.S. SURE WISH THE PAPERS WOULD REPORT THIS TO ME

[Jabberwock]

YOU GOT TO BE KIDD"N............WHAT DOES THE AI DO ??? MAX OUT ITS TAXES MONEY AND DRAFTS FROM THE WORD GO ???

Pretty much, yup - but you don't see the full effect, because she has problems organizing and moving all her troops to the front. Athena has no concept of planning for the future. She has no knowledge that VP's go up. If longstreet had been playing as the north, and switched south in fall '62, it probably would have been unredeemable.

If that is the case
NO WONDER I HAVE A HARD TIME vs AI..................


AP514

P.S. SURE WISH THE PAPERS WOULD REPORT THIS TO ME

Lots of us wish for this one. I think it is in the works, as a mod.