Confederates Rush North...

[Micah Goodman]

Ok, playing an unmodified 1.11d version of the game I have noticed that the Confederates in the east rush into Pennsylvania time and time again. Occasionally, the capture either Harrisburg or Pittsburg and then as winter sets in they get destroyed. The only thing preventing my capture of Richmond by 1861 is the Union army's poor activation rating. Is this something I am doing, ie not enough militia's in Pennsylvania, or is this a known issue? I tired to attach the save turn but I keep getting an upload failed message.

[Daxil]

I think it helps the ai if you remove FOW for it almost completely.

[Micah Goodman]

I will try that, thanks.

[arsan]

I think it helps the ai if you remove FOW for it almost completely.

I'm not so sure... i have read here that removing FOW can have the bad effects as the AI will go for lightly defended structures deep on the north. Still worse than going for Harrisburg
Maybe reducing AI aggressiveness would help better. The CSA should be on the defensive...

[Daxil]

Well I heard the opposite. I guess he'l let us know.

[Jarkko]

In my experience the worst AI experience you can get is when you crank up activation bonus and aggressiveness and remove FoW for AI -> The AI sees open spots far behind the ranks and aggressively goes for them while being always activated, thus marching to positions where the troops are easy to cut off from supply.

Remove FoW for AI but also reduce aggressivenes, and you can have a somewhat reasonable AI (who still takes advantage of open positions behind lines, but is not doing it in a kamikaze mode).

[berto]

Interesting suggestions.

Not in terms of providing the best competitive, challenging game, instead: what AI, FOW, Aggressiveness, etc. settings give the best plausible simulation of the Real War? Not a specific, month-by-month, battle-by-battle recreation of the Real War, but rather events unfolding dynamically, flexibly in a way that really Might Have Been?

In short, what settings give the best "historical" experience?

[Zebedee]

I find Athena quite challenging and acts appropriately against a CSA player under last few beta patches when she has extra time to think and with historical attrition on. Normal settings otherwise. My current 1.12RC 1861 campaign is certainly intriguing.

[berto]

My current 1.12RC 1861 campaign is certainly intriguing.

Would you please make special note, and report, if you observe all larger scale engagements to be single-day only?

[Zebedee]

Would you please make special note, and report, if you observe all larger scale engagements to be single-day only?

Would do berto, but I've been having 2 day battles and the odd three day too with forces ranging from 15k - 30k a side in the first 6 months. Whatever has been done seems really fine this first play through

[berto]

Would do berto, but I've been having 2 day battles and the odd three day too with forces ranging from 15k - 30k a side in the first 6 months. Whatever has been done seems really fine this first play through

With 1.12RC1? That's encouraging news.

I'm seeing virtually no multi-day engagements with test battles having ~50K men on each side.

Thanks. Please keep reporting.