Best Long Campaign to start with?

[sabreman]

Hi Everyone,

I've played the shorter scenarios and got the hang of the basics....just So, which long campaign would people recommend for someone still newish to the game?

Many Thanks

[Rafiki]

I prefer the April 1861 campaign; then you get to decide the grand strategies from the very start, rather than having things already set in place in various ways

[arsan]

I agree with Rafiki. The longes is the best AACW experience.
Also, on April 61 you begin with very few units on map and begin to build up and organize your armies progresively.
For me its easier that way that jumping on a mid-war with lots of armies you are not familiar with scattered on the map.
Regards!

[Rafiki]

Just keep in mind that there are things that are not available from the start in the April 1861 scenario. It will e.g. take a few turns before you are able to build any units.

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Doomwalker]

Yes the April 61' campaign is definitely the funniest.

I have a question/ponderance about the "locked" units. Is being locked done in any of the later scenarios, or is "locked" only a 1861 feature?

[WhoCares]

Yepp, April '61 is a good choice to play the whole war.

[AAR]I currently play my second April '61 campaign as the North. Okay technically it is probably more a '62 campaign as for a little challenge I didn't interfere with the development in the first year (only grouping some units where they are), to give the south a little head start.
In January '62 i started to recruit units, called for volunteers, ..., but didn't start to move or actively engage the enemy before April '62. All of Missouri (except St. Louis) and Kentucky (except Louisville) was gone, large parts of Indiana and Ohio (up to lake Erie) raided and partially seized, but actually very limited action in the east. The valley was of course gone, but beyond that not very much happened except a little raid occupying the eastern part of Maryland. Shortly after I started my activities the AI took a stab at Washington but failed.
At early of '63 I am now where I started in '61, but with some big armies facing each other in the East around Fredericksburg and the border to Tennessee.[/AAR]

Regarding the locked units, there are many locked units that are supposed to be permanent garrisons and as such I'd assume those units will also be locked in the camaigns that start later. They are unlocked once they get attacked by the enemy. But as i haven't played those campaigns, I can't say for sure.

[Doomwalker]

Yeah I would expect the "garrisons" to be locked in the other scenarios. I was thinking more along the lines of units that are locked for only a few turns. Then again I don't remember getting too many units like these after 1862. Hmm, guess I will try some checks this afternoon.

[sabreman]

Thanks everyone,

1861 it is then I'm sure I'll be back with a few more mad questions later on

[berto]

Oh, maybe I'm too late, then.

But I've thought that, after the "starter" and add-on scenarios, the next step upward is the 1864 scenario, playing as the Confederates. It's because you have fewer forces, and smaller land area, to deal with. So it's a middling step upward on the way to the 1861 scenarios (and other two-theater scenarios, as the Union), with all of their many game layers and complexity.

Admittedly, though, maybe you don't want to play such a downer scenario (as the South).

[sabreman]

Oh, maybe I'm too late, then.

But I've thought that, after the "starter" and add-on scenarios, the next step upward is the 1864 scenario, playing as the Confederates. It's because you have fewer forces, and smaller land area, to deal with. So it's a middling step upward on the way to the 1861 scenarios (and other two-theater scenarios, as the Union), with all of their many game layers and complexity.

Admittedly, though, maybe you don't want to play such a downer scenario (as the South).

I'll try starting both and see how they both play out. I'm used to playing the underdog so playing the South should be fun

[chainsaw]

Hi Everyone,

I've played the shorter scenarios and got the hang of the basics....just So, which long campaign would people recommend for someone still newish to the game?

I like the 1862 scenario: to me it's as if the preliminaries are taken care of and now it's down to business...or you've skipped the commercials, you've got your cold beer and a bowl of popcorn in hand, so let the movie begin!

Which ever you choose, enjoy.

[Doomwalker]

As I stated on another thread this morning, the April 61' campaign played as the Union would probably be your best starting/learning campaign. Playing as the Union gives you some room for error, where as the CSA side you have to make every move count.

[sabreman]

As I stated on another thread this morning, the April 61' campaign played as the Union would probably be your best starting/learning campaign. Playing as the Union gives you some room for error, where as the CSA side you have to make every move count.

I started the April '61 campaign last night, as the Union, just waiting for the AI to figure out I don't have a decent strategy yet and to come waltzing into Washington

[arsan]

I started the April '61 campaign last night, as the Union, just waiting for the AI to figure out I don't have a decent strategy yet and to come waltzing into Washington

Good luck with it!
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the number of units at your disposal as the USA, try a CSA campaign.
That's what happened to me when i began to play AACW.
Being the underdog have some advantages... at last you have fewer untis to move!
Its harder to win but easier to manage... you decide!
Regards!

[sabreman]

Good luck with it!
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the number of units at your disposal as the USA, try a CSA campaign.
That's what happened to me when i began to play AACW.
Being the underdog have some advantages... at last you have fewer untis to move!
Its harder to win but easier to manage... you decide!
Regards!

Thanks arsan

I have a nice free weekend for once, so I'm going to start a '61 campaign as the CSA and see which side I prefer, should be interesting to see the strategies the AI comes up with for both