Is there an faq for the begining?

[marinewillis]

I have pretty much figured out the game but some things I still struggle with. For instance, in the begining, i try and build a few ocean/river ships, some new reinforcements to start forming divisions once the commanders start appearing, and then a few armys to begin trying to have a basis in both east and west to build from there. But i am still having some problems. After battles i will always build some replacments but am never sure of the amount to devote to it. I also begin to run out of money/supplies (not men tho) very quickly and run in to a quick replacment problem after the initial round of battles. I have also seen a very weird thing occur...I will not have moved a division for several turns to make sure they are up to strength...only to have its strength drop to like say 11 from 180...without fighting, while in full supply, and with full units. I noticed the cohesion just drops like a rock, even with no fighting, moving, or lack of supply.

I guess I am trying to find an FAQ on the 1861 scenario that walks you through the best( general) strategy for the first say 10-20 turns and that explains what to do in the begining. any help would be appreciated

[Skibear]

here are the anwsers to many many questions:

http://ageod.nsen.ch/aacwwiki/Main_Page

Worth reading the manual/FAQ's and strategy guide though, then reading it through again. Lots of gems.

If you are running out of money quickly then likely you have been too ambitious to build too much to start with, replacements are important. Whenever it is draft/volunteer time (typically late June/late dec when they reset) then I always tend to build replacements first, then new units, but always try to keep a bit of cash/conscript companies in reserve until close to the next volunteers due. You never know how heavy the fighting will be Its difficult to suggest what you should devote to replacements but as a start I would aim to have 2 elite inf / 10 line inf / 1 light / 1 skirm / 1 raider / 3 cav / 2 Light art / 2 Med art and the rest 0 (though might want a few supply wagons replacements to start). Everybody will have their own ideas but if you aim to keep it always topped up to these levels to start with you should be ok most of the time. Then when you have more experience you can set your own levels.
Advising what cash / conscripts you should keep in reserve really depends on whether you are Union or Rebs, and how much you are receiving each turn. However maybe for starters try to keep 100 cash and 50 conscipts unbuilt is ok until you work out what works for you. Then you should have at least a bit to respond to emergencies.
Difficult to say why that unit dropped cohesion without seeing it. But maybe its not in supply/in rough terrain? Can you say which region it is in? And what stance you have set?

As to walk throughs then the AAR section is a pretty good place. Have a read through and try to copy a few of their objectives.

[GShock]

After battles i will always build some replacments but am never sure of the amount to devote to it.

Remember that only defensive and passive stacks in depots/lev3 settlement are elegible to receive replacements. The replacement chit is only removed if an entire element has to be replaced within a unit and there's a chance it won't be removed if all elements are in place, though with lacking strenghts. Keep 1 chit in all categories and you will be fine but prepare more before battles, especially if losses are high.

I also begin to run out of money/supplies (not men tho) very quickly and run in to a quick replacment problem after the initial round of battles.

Troop management is the key. Engage when the victory is likely and where you can better exploit the strategic advantages of achieving it (occupying key enemy settlements and settlements where you can receive supply/replacements or strategic/obj towns).

I have also seen a very weird thing occur...I will not have moved a division for several turns to make sure they are up to strength...only to have its strength drop to like say 11 from 180...without fighting, while in full supply, and with full units. I noticed the cohesion just drops like a rock, even with no fighting, moving, or lack of supply.

Got to be the weather. Cohesion and strenght are lost to attrition that, even if troops are sheltered by the trenches, is always present when you are not in a friendly settlement. Generally, the posture also helps retrieving cohesion with the passive posture helping the fastest recovery.
Make sure to read the log, Epidemics, when they hit, bring in heavy losses...this is another potential cause of the problem you are experiencing.

I guess I am trying to find an FAQ on the 1861 scenario that walks you through the best( general) strategy for the first say 10-20 turns and that explains what to do in the begining. any help would be appreciated

There isn't and there can't be. It all depends on what your enemy does and what you wanna do with it.
A good reading on history books will help you understand where both sides won and lost the war. That is generally a good idea.

[Jabberwock]

I have also seen a very weird thing occur...I will not have moved a division for several turns to make sure they are up to strength...only to have its strength drop to like say 11 from 180...without fighting, while in full supply, and with full units. I noticed the cohesion just drops like a rock, even with no fighting, moving, or lack of supply.

Definitely an epidemic to drop so far with no other cause. There will be a message about it, says something like "Our armies in the East/Northwest/South Department have been struck by an epidemic." When you click on the message, the map will center on the unit in question.

[GShock]

Marin u might want to give a look at the splendind AACW 101 in the forums. It's definitely worth reading HOW exactly to handle troops and achieving results in combat for newcomers (and not only!)

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=6823 <--- Runyan is da man!

[Banks6060]

I have pretty much figured out the game but some things I still struggle with. For instance, in the begining, i try and build a few ocean/river ships, some new reinforcements to start forming divisions once the commanders start appearing, and then a few armys to begin trying to have a basis in both east and west to build from there. But i am still having some problems. After battles i will always build some replacments but am never sure of the amount to devote to it. I also begin to run out of money/supplies (not men tho) very quickly and run in to a quick replacment problem after the initial round of battles. I have also seen a very weird thing occur...I will not have moved a division for several turns to make sure they are up to strength...only to have its strength drop to like say 11 from 180...without fighting, while in full supply, and with full units. I noticed the cohesion just drops like a rock, even with no fighting, moving, or lack of supply.

I guess I am trying to find an FAQ on the 1861 scenario that walks you through the best( general) strategy for the first say 10-20 turns and that explains what to do in the begining. any help would be appreciated

My method for spending on replacements is pre-emptory. To get the most out of my money, I will take a gander over the map after making all of my moves, check out where my opponent may attack, where I WILL attack....and I base my purchase of replacements on that.

For instance....

If I see that a MAJOR battle will likely be taking place during the processing of the current turn...I'll go ahead and buy up as much Line Infantry replacements as I think is necessary. Once you become more experienced, you'll have an idea how many losses a certain battle is likely to entail.

But as others have pointed out, you always want to keep a little in reserve for those unforseen losses down the road.

Especially as the CSA. If you're playing against anyone worth a damn as the CSA, you'll have a REAL tight budget of men.

Basically....as the CSA....I don't spend money on replacements until I see that they're needed.

[marinewillis]

The unit in question was johnstons corps in alexandria camped outside of town in a defensive/passive posture. It was around july and the weather is fine and there is no epedimic..I have also seen this happen to a division i sent into KY in the begining of the war after the north causes it to secede. after a few small skirmishes and always resting...it gets about 2-3 regions north of bowling green, is in supply...then just plummets from 230 to about 25...i dunno

Oh as far as the historical aspect of it goes I have studied the civil war since i was 8 years old and know the strategies...its not understanding that...its the little things i guess...for instance I will build a good divisions worth of brigades in say NC and VA so that they can join up with a division commander in VA, only to spend forever trying to find them and sometimes even tho i have built say 3 brigades in NC only 2 appear and start to form