-10 NM penalty for not closing Richmond

[Emx77]

It is early October 1861 in my PBEM game and Union is punished with -10 NM penalty for not closing Richmond. That is interesting event, probably in accordance with historical reality, which puts Union player into significant dilemma about what to do in Virginia during first months of war. So far so good. However, that event emphasize my old frustration regarding poor documentation of Ageod's games.

First, is there anything Union can do to prevent this event? What exactly means that Union needs closing Richmond? How strong army have to be? Is it enough to sneak a brigade or there is requirement in terms of minimum number of elements? How close that force needs to be to city itself: in adjacent regions or only what counts is direct assault on very city?


Second, I really think events like this one have to be documented somewhere. Either in manual, scenario design notes or inside the game itself. It is not funny when your NM suddenly drops significantly during PBEM game because of some event which players didn't know about. Player should be informed about it in advance (for example in similar way like it is informed that he is not able to form corps before march 1862). In this case, I figured out why my NM dropped -10 NM only by searching old AACW forums.

[DrPostman]

When you click on that event to bring up that window there should be a tool tip
that tells you how many regiments you must have within 2 regions of Richmond
and by what time they have to be there.

[Emx77]

When you click on that event to bring up that window there should be a tool tip
that tells you how many regiments you must have within 2 regions of Richmond
and by what time they have to be there.

I missed that completely or it didn't work. Few turns earlier I remember there was a event text regarding expectation of Union that war will be short (or something like that). However, I can't remember anything about tool tip. IIRC, I hovered mouse pointer over it but there wasn't tool tip. I will pay more attention next time.

[Gray Fox]

Two things. The event in your post requires you to take Manassas. You receive an event warning ahead of time directing you as to what must be done. You will receive another similar message in '62 directing you to get a force of size X to within two regions of Richmond by a certain date.

Always at least give a cursory read to the event messages you get each turn. You get an automatic +1 NM per turn until you reach 100, so don't sweat minor set backs if you are less than 100. You can also get events that boost your NM. In '62 you get +10 NM when the CSA launches a ship in England (Sink the Alabama, IIRC).

[Cardinal Ape]

The first time I played this game these two events caught me off guard. There just is not enough info to properly forewarn of the consequences for a new player. Thankfully these are the only two instances of this type of thing in the game and after you deal with them once they become rather routine.