Assorted Noob Questions

[alexander seil]

I am sure it's already somewhere, but I am lazy, and so won't be bothered to find it

When the tooltip for blockades says "4 units" are required for a complete blockade, does that mean *units* or *ships* (elements)? I'm trying to scratch together some gunboats ships to blockade Cairo...

Do gunboats prevent enemy river crossings?

Does it really matter what you send to blockade and shipping boxes? I assume that I can send those Confederate frigates from Richmond to either box, or are there restrictions on ship types (to either sink US shipping, or trade through the blockade box)?

What are engineers and naval engineers good for?

Can river traffic (the one that uses your riverine shipping capacity) be interdicted by enemy coastal batteries?

What *are* coastal batteries? Obviously, the coastal guns, but I understand that emplaced artillery can always interdict shipping? Do the coastal guns have to be emplaced (entrenched) as well?

What are the requirements for building depots and forts?

Is there a guide somewhere to the supply system? One question in particular - do the "general supplies" and "ammo" stocks displayed in the resource overview just the total sum of all the supply dumps you've got on map, or is there some kind of a "national" stockpile?

[Rafiki]

I am sure it's already somewhere, but I am lazy, and so won't be bothered to find it

Meh

When the tooltip for blockades says "4 units" are required for a complete blockade, does that mean *units* or *ships* (elements)? I'm trying to scratch together some gunboats ships to blockade Cairo...

Units. A brig is as good as a blockade flotilla.

Do gunboats prevent enemy river crossings?

Yes

Does it really matter what you send to blockade and shipping boxes?

Yes

I assume that I can send those Confederate frigates from Richmond to either box, or are there restrictions on ship types (to either sink US shipping, or trade through the blockade box)?

What the CSA sends to a blocakde box will attempt to trade, while what the CSA sends to the Atlantic shipping box will attempt to interdict Union shipping there. Brigs (and to a much lesser extent, transport ships, I gather) are best for trade and frigates are better for raiding, but there are no prohibitions what you use where (though you as the CSA want ships with tranport capacity in the blockade boxes)

What are engineers and naval engineers good for?

Naval engineers speed up the repair and building of ships; engineers speed up railroad repairs and entenching, I believe.

Can river traffic (the one that uses your riverine shipping capacity) be interdicted by enemy coastal batteries?

If that's what they are passing on their way to their destination, then yes.

What *are* coastal batteries? Obviously, the coastal guns, but I understand that emplaced artillery can always interdict shipping? Do the coastal guns have to be emplaced (entrenched) as well?

The coastal guns will usually be within fortifications. If they are, they don't need to be entrenched too, in order to fire at passing fleets and stop supply shipments.

What are the requirements for building depots and forts?

Depot: 2 supply wagons; fort: 2 supply wagons and 4 artillery.

The units need to be fairly in order (i.e. not very damaged), and you need to have at least 51% control of the region to build in. I'm fairly sure you need a structure there too, but not sure if it's much more specific than that.

Is there a guide somewhere to the supply system?

Yes, the manual treats this in a fairly good way.

One question in particular - do the "general supplies" and "ammo" stocks displayed in the resource overview just the total sum of all the supply dumps you've got on map, or is there some kind of a "national" stockpile?

Total sum of stockpiles across the map.

[alexander seil]

Thank you

[Winfield S. Hancock]

Meh

Units. A brig is as good as a blockade flotilla.

Yes

Yes

What the CSA sends to a blocakde box will attempt to trade, while what the CSA sends to the Atlantic shipping box will attempt to interdict Union shipping there. Brigs (and to a much lesser extent, transport ships, I gather) are best for trade and frigates are better for raiding, but there are no prohibitions what you use where (though you as the CSA want ships with tranport capacity in the blockade boxes)

Naval engineers speed up the repair and building of ships; engineers speed up railroad repairs and entenching, I believe.

If that's what they are passing on their way to their destination, then yes.
The coastal guns will usually be within fortifications. If they are, they don't need to be entrenched too, in order to fire at passing fleets and stop supply shipments.

Depot: 2 supply wagons; fort: 2 supply wagons and 4 artillery.

The units need to be fairly in order (i.e. not very damaged), and you need to have at least 51% control of the region to build in. I'm fairly sure you need a structure there too, but not sure if it's much more specific than that.

Yes, the manual treats this in a fairly good way.

Total sum of stockpiles across the map.

Also remember when building a fort that all four artillery units must be of the same type -- 6 pounders, 12 pound Napoleons, 10 pounders, or 20 pound Parrott Rifles.

[alexander seil]

Where do the Columbiads (no pounds listed for those) fit into this? Does it actually matter what artillery you use, or do you just go with the cheapest/most plentiful batteries on hand?

[Winfield S. Hancock]

Where do the Columbiads (no pounds listed for those) fit into this? Does it actually matter what artillery you use, or do you just go with the cheapest/most plentiful batteries on hand?

As of right now, it doesnt matter which type of batteries you use to form a fort, as long as they are all of the same type. Not sure if this might change at some point in the future. Personally, I would think a fort with Columbiads or Parrott rifles would be much more sturdy than one with 6 pounders, but as of now, it makes no difference what you use to build the fort, it is just as sturdy with light guns as with heavy.

[alexander seil]

Does it just create a fort structure, or does it also create a "fortress battery" like the ones found in some other places at game start?

Also, what is the real effect of a blockade on production? I assume that a "blue-water" blockade just reduces CSA production across the board, but what of the individual ports? Does blockading New Orleans reduce production in just New Orleans, all of Louisiana, or everywhere?

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Gabriel]

I didn't know that river forts interdicted supply : do you know to what extent?

[Rafiki]

(...) However, enemy forts and fleets along a river line block supply transport past their position.

I.e. all supply transport is blocked by river forts.

[Jeffrey]

Hello to all. I've been playing this game about a month. I wanted to jump in and thank Hancock and Rafiki for answering these questions about depot and supply. I've been wondering the same things and this thread helped me understand.

Now I think I'm ready to advance my Union forces past Paducah and Bowling Greene. I couldn't figure out how to keep them in supply or build depots in newly captured cities.

Thanks.