Clovis wrote:In vanilla version, Forrest has 6-6-2 stats. I just feel defensive vlaue to be a bit low comparing to his performances in some defensive battles. Moreover, the current battle system isn't totally the reality. Forrest in defense used sometimes offensive tactics...
Buut as Forrest will remain a 1 star general, these values will be applied at most for one division under his command when several Union leaders will become 2 or 3 star generals.
About leaders in general, I know endless discussions will be pursuived forever about values...

But I'm inclined to think, considering both material and manpower advantages Union had, one of the answers about CSA victories at start is the worse qualities of Northerrn leaders. The only theater Union dominated from the start was the Mississipi river, where Grant was. On the Eastern front, the odd ratio between South and North wasn't so different in 1863 and 1864, but the 1864 campaign wasn't the same than in 1863. It's why I don't really buy all critics made to Grant. With the same army, neither Hooker, Meade were able to push Lee on total defensive attitude.
To me, this reflects strategy vs ability.
Strategy (as in Grant's determination to follow through his campaigns) is represented by high strategy. He didn't fight better than Meade or Hooker or even McClellan based on his battle record. The difference was, after a defeat Grant did not go back to Washington and reform his army, he kept on fighting and he kept up the pressure. This is what strategic ratings do, they keep your troops active. Grant's high strategy rating keeps his corps active in the game, meaning that you have the ability to keep on fighting. Grant's aggression boosts up his strategic rating, but, it should not affect his ability to win battles. Grant is over-rated in his attack and defence abilities, as history does not correlate to what he can do in game (he is treated by players like how the population treated McClellan, as a near God).
Ability, which is what Forrest had. He had the ability to fight and win in battle situations (attack and defense). To me, his 6 strategic rating is way too high, should be around 4. I really don't know if he could plan a large campaign and get good results, as the most he commanded was a corps sized unit (probably divisional in scale). I doubt he could have been an effective strategist beyond the limited scope of combat that he knew.
Also, as far as I know, Forrest can be promoted to 2-star.
We can determine 'benchpoints' and limitations of usefullness based on stats, (anyting above a 0 is a benefit for attack and defence, 4 or more strategy ratings keeps a 1/2-star general activated, 3 or more strategy ratings allows a 3-star general to transfer some strategy to their corps commanders, etc.).