In need of CSA Corps commanders, against a non agresive USA player

[Coregonas]

Hi some help needed

I believed I could solve most of the problems the CSA has... Few conscripts / money / supplies / rail / troops...

But surprisingly to me (does not happen when playing against AI, as lots of my good commanders get promoted in a few months) ... got not enough CPs to really move my army.

I ve lost a lot of troops (mostly garrisons), as USA got killing lots of my garrisons, evading my main armies, but still all the army is in full shape, as no big battles really have arised. Perhaps 600 or 700 regiments in all. Even ... most of them are trained to 1*. Sure USA player got 200 or 300 more.

I am even using my telegram groups to help division commanders the extra 2 CP needed! And my corps can held not enough divisions, (24 are limited perhaps too low?) in order to earn extra independent CPS, and full of independent brigades.

I ve reporting really problems with my CSA corps commanders... As none of my 1* got promoted and in mid-late 62. Part of the problem should be solved by me being somewhat more aggresive in the very early part of the game - nearly did no attacks from CSA at all until mid-62. My main armies are in the hands of generals as Bonham & Holmes 3-1-1s.

I´m now forced to attack to get promotions, and yes I am achieving some results but... can not see an easy way to go.

Some ideas?

[runyan99]

It is a great flaw of the basic game that Holmes and Bonham are corps commanders, while Bragg, Hardee and Longstreet are not. Personally, I have a hell of a time getting Longstreet up to ** rank in the basic game.

Can't really help you in your current dilema, except to advise that potential corps commanders get in a position to destroy enemy elements to gain rank.

In the future, I suggest playing with the leader mod, where at least you can be assured that Bragg, Hardee, Jackson and Longstreet will be promoted to ** rank.

[Jabberwock]

1. Ignore stats (not completely) in favor of just using anyone who is promotable.
2. Give those guys independent divisions.
3. Send them to take back garrisons.

The leader mod is the wave of the future. The future of ahistoric history. Anyway, get it. Load it. You'll enjoy it.

[Coregonas]

Oh so really no solution for me.

Where are that USA garrisons... In the MO area???

Far In the rear of Grant Army I can see some small troops... I try to pass all those pesky Gunboats also.

Or Perhaps I must teleport Longstreet to the indian lands and start raiding as a mad with him???

[Jabberwock]

I meant any lightly defended posts in what was originally your territory. The general concept is to use promotable generals wherever the enemy is weak and the towns are not too far apart, use non-promotables for your armies, since your enemy avoids engaging them.

[Coregonas]

The only troops I could see avaliable for me to destroy are those pesky USA cavalry rail-destroyers.

[Jabberwock]

There's your solution then. Put the promotable guys in charge of hunter-killer mini-divs. Load them with cavalry, sharpshooters, horse-guns, and pontooneers (primarily cav). Use rail moves whenever possible to get close. If a promotable leader has poor stats, put him in charge of a promotable leader with less seniority and good stats, who will be the actual division commander. If the senior doesn't activate, split the stack. If they both participate, they both get a chance at promotion.

Hmm - sounds a lot like something Runyan did to me once.

[Coregonas]

Tx Jabber.

I can also try simply by brigading a good CAV Bde.. Laurel or 1st virginia!

I must destroy completely the units in order to get seniority?

As an example I did lost in a 10 division - full big battle - 27.000 Killed in all! But surprisingly no even 1 single unit was killed on both sides (Well... ROE was at blue-chit)

I ve achieved in this battle a single seniority point... With my very best division, mostly experienced elites, columbiads and the such.

[Jabberwock]

Unit kills help NM, I believe they add to chance for seniority boosts. I'm pretty sure that the casualty ratio & total casualties are the biggest factors.

[Jabberwock]

I can also try simply by brigading a good CAV Bde.. Laurel or 1st virginia!

Absolutely. You don't need to double-team leaders for that (in terms of CPs), but you can still do it for the promotion chances. Just make sure the brigade/div commander is less senior. The stack commander gets a shot at promotion and the unit commander gets a shot.

[Jabberwock]

Side note: Your opponent probably read all of this, and is planning his ambushes accordingly. So blame me when it goes wrong, that's what I'm here for.

[Coregonas]

Yes but In fact... these ideas will be put in practice really in the next game...

Well he knows really Im short of 2* as I said to him!

My army is totally full, although his army is really big. This even I ve lost around 25k troops MORE than USA! -> Some mistakes & lots of garrisons

He & myself are testing also how the cavalry raids perform... And Sheridan(after having his division fully wiped out by a serious river move - low evade -mistake - a rule we didnt know) is again prepared to raid my cavalries and earn seniority.

But--- all cavalries have disappeared misteriously this turn!!!

Congratulation to the forum seems it works well then!

[Jabberwock]

Just don't rely on my old advice from last summer regarding deep cavalry raids. The game has changed a lot since then. It is more realistic now.