When Grant arrives: Strategy to prepare?

[rasnell]

In my first full campaign, Grant arrives in Louisville in early February 1862. I created an Army HQ that is waiting in D.C.

It will take 85 days to move this Army HQ to him by rail. Is this normal?

I guess it's lucky that I created the extra HQ and had it waiting. What are the key strategy tips about having Division HQ and Army HQ ready and waiting?

And what is the quickest way to get them moved to the proper location?

I wished there was a user-friendlier way for all of this to operate, something like a click to select which general attaches to the Army HQ and then a built-in delay with the general to match whatever activation time is needed for it to operate.

Otherwise, this is kind of a pain to get them moved and linked.

Am I doing anything wrong or not understanding something?

[frank7350]

i made the same mistake.....

before you move the units, you have to click on the rail move.... so while it would seem intuitive to move the unit, then click rail move, you have to do it the other way...first click rail move, then move the unit. that should take care of the problem and cut down movement time dramatically.

[pasternakski]

Yep. What happens if you do it in the wrong sequence is that the unit's movement path is plotted in the most efficient way for walking. When you hit the railroad movement button, all you get is whatever railroad movement that happens to be consistent with the already-established foot movement plot.

I learned this the hard way, too. In fact, my experience with learning this game so far has led me to whack myself on the forehead so many times, I've given myself a concussion...

[oldspec4]

Yep. What happens if you do it in the wrong sequence is that the unit's movement path is plotted in the most efficient way for walking. When you hit the railroad movement button, all you get is whatever railroad movement that happens to be consistent with the already-established foot movement plot.

I learned this the hard way, too. In fact, my experience with learning this game so far has led me to whack myself on the forehead so many times, I've given myself a concussion...

Well I need to give a good whack to my forehead ...I'm into turn 60 of the Nov '61 campaign and did not know this sequence. Could not understand why my units did not move that much better after I clicked on rail movement. A good reason why I play a few turns and then check back to this forum for advice.

[tc237]

.... A good reason why I play a few turns and then check back to this forum for advice....

We all do.
Hey we got to stick together and figure this game out.
We're like Lincoln's 75,000, the cadre of what will be Ageod's army.
In a few weeks we'll be able to answer all the new guys questions, so that Pocus and crew will have time for bigger and better things.

[pasternakski]

In a few weeks we'll be able to answer all the new guys questions, ...

We can only hope ... do you know how long it took me to figure out when a bunch of stuff was a division or just a bunch of unrelated stuff? I must have grumbled and muttered for two days before I figured out that there were three buttons leading to sub-buttons at the left of the unit display.

Somebody awhile back on another thread suggested that what this game needs more than anything else is a 250-page strategy guide. Well, I don't know about the 250 pages (I believe, among other things, that James Joyce's "Ulysses" would have been much improved by condensing it into a single paragraph, so what do I know?), but a strategy guide would sure be helpful to those who have not yet entered where ye must abandon all hope like we have ...

[tc237]

That's why we need a FAQ sticky.
I think Korrigan is working on one.
If anyone has tip/tricks, post it in the "We need a FAQ" thread to help korrigan get started.

[marecone]

This still happens to me although I've been playing this game from midbeta.
Anyway, I agree with all of you that this moveing has to be simplier. When I started asbeta I did ask Pocus to get us an option "auto go to" or "auto join". That would ease things quite a bit.

And about tips and tricks.... I find this game great because although I play for quite some time and hang on this forum I stil wasn't aware of some things. I actually like that "aha effect" because when it happens, game feels like new.

[Pocus]

ok, so would you advise that when clicking on the rail button, the game recalculate the best path? Would be less confusing for the all of you?

Pasternakski, did you play the tutorial before taking the dive (not an accusation, a question), because the 3 tabs dealing with orders are described in it... just curious.

[Spharv2]

ok, so would you advise that when clicking on the rail button, the game recalculate the best path? Would be less confusing for the all of you?

That would make things a lot easier on the player if it's not too much of a pain to code.

[Rafiki]

ok, so would you advise that when clicking on the rail button, the game recalculate the best path? Would be less confusing for the all of you?

Yes

(Without overriding any intermediate waypoints that the player has set up for the path, that is, but I'd think that's a given?)

[rasnell]

Definitely. I think any user thinks clicking the move by rail has the same effect no matter what order so that should be the reality.

Back to the start of my thread: I still have time to reset this. Is this how I fix it?:

1. Erase all of the moves of the HQ.
2. Click move by rail.
3. Then drop all across the map to where Grant is so it can find the new path via rail?

And you're telling me that this will be considerably less than 85 days from D.C. to Louisville?

[LAVA]

ok, so would you advise that when clicking on the rail button, the game recalculate the best path?

Definately and river as well...

Although I was able to figure out that you need to click on the river movement button first... because it's obvious doesn't work unless you do that... it never occurred to me that the same applied to rail movement.

And yes.. I went through the tutorials. However, it would appear players intuitively think... move unit to destination, hit button for type of transportation.

Ray (aka LAVA)

[oldspec4]

[quote="Pocus"]ok, so would you advise that when clicking on the rail button, the game recalculate the best path? Would be less confusing for the all of you?

A definite yes for me also.

[SlyBelle]

Yes for me too.

[Chamberlain]

Count me in too

Chamberlain

[marecone]

Yes for me too.

Yap.
I think Pocus gets it now . He has to do it

[jimwinsor]

The thing is, there may be a good strategic reason for wanting to walk first a ways, then board a train or boat in the same turn. Won't the auto path recalc disallow that?

[pasternakski]

ok, so would you advise that when clicking on the rail button, the game recalculate the best path? Would be less confusing for the all of you?

Now that I know how to do it right, I don't care one way or another, but it would be helpful for new players...

Pasternakski, did you play the tutorial before taking the dive (not an accusation, a question), because the 3 tabs dealing with orders are described in it... just curious.

Pocus, Pocus, Pocus. In America, there are three rules that absolutely dictate the behavior of men:

1) Never read instructions
2) Never ask for directions
3) Never play tutorials

Now that I live elsewhere, I suppose I could work out a new code of conduct, but, for the time being, I am a creature of my heritage.