CSL (Union) vs. Paul Roberts (Confederacy)
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:42 am
Some notes first - I will appreciate advice if given, or general comments. I'm going to post up until mid-1862 in one chunk as well.
This is actually my first real sustained game, so most of my movements and analysis is based on a first try basis.
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Without further ado an overview of how April 1861 looks - in short not very good. I have a mere sixteen infantry regiments spread throughout the loyal states, with most of them located in the far west. Even worse they'll be locked in place for two months or more per event. Nothing to really do this first turn other than hope Roberts doesn't move too fast in attacking Norfolk, Fort Sumter, or Harper's Ferry. (Fat chance at that)
The only real thing to do is order some industrialization across the north in New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin all prime targets for industry.
I've also begun to invest in more locomotives - going to need them very soon to start transporting my forces across the north to assembly points and every little bit will help in the coming turns.
What to expect from Roberts? Honestly I don't know, never played him and don't know how much he's played the game. I may get smashed very early on in this war, but in the immediate future I expect him to initiate a cotton embargo to get foreign intervention up and make as much progress towards the border region around Washington and aggressive moves into Missouri.
My own plans? Fairly simple, engage in a static defense around Washington as much as possible throughout 1861 and into 1862 with the aim of launching an ambitious amphibious based advance against Richmond ala the Peninsula Campaign - expect with you know, aggressiveness and fighting spirit. Should that not prove possible I'll launch another aggressive movement by way of the navy against a different but still juicy target - New Orleans, Mobile, or Charleston. In the west I'll attempt to go along a historical line - keeping to a strict neutrality in Kentucky with the aim of having Roberts make a stupid move along with aggressive defense in Missouri and moves down the Mississippi. By mid-1862 I wish to have a firm grasp at Memphis and all of Arkansas if at all possible. Nothing too ambitious I hope.
We also agreed on some house rules...
- Historical attrition. Combat losses can be solved in the field, but attrition out of battle will occur and will require stack placement on a depot to rectify.
- Max three strategic deployments. This is basically for leaders, but I've never really used it so I've only got a vague idea right now of how it works - think it allows me to instantly move a general across the board to take command of other forces (but with a penalty). House rule is to only do this with forces that have an overland connection - ie. I can strat redeploy Grant from Missouri to Maryland, but can't do the same to Texas or any ampibious landing I conduct in the south.
- I also proposed a house rule whereby until mid-1862 the Confederates cannot launch an invasion into northern states to simulate the reluctance of southern leadership to appear as aggressors. Smaller raiding forces are exempt from this proposed house rule. This rule does not apply to the border states - Roberts can bring whatever he wants into Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, or Delaware all he wants, but I'll crush his troops if he tries.
This is actually my first real sustained game, so most of my movements and analysis is based on a first try basis.
-------------------------------------------------------
Without further ado an overview of how April 1861 looks - in short not very good. I have a mere sixteen infantry regiments spread throughout the loyal states, with most of them located in the far west. Even worse they'll be locked in place for two months or more per event. Nothing to really do this first turn other than hope Roberts doesn't move too fast in attacking Norfolk, Fort Sumter, or Harper's Ferry. (Fat chance at that)
The only real thing to do is order some industrialization across the north in New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin all prime targets for industry.
I've also begun to invest in more locomotives - going to need them very soon to start transporting my forces across the north to assembly points and every little bit will help in the coming turns.
What to expect from Roberts? Honestly I don't know, never played him and don't know how much he's played the game. I may get smashed very early on in this war, but in the immediate future I expect him to initiate a cotton embargo to get foreign intervention up and make as much progress towards the border region around Washington and aggressive moves into Missouri.
My own plans? Fairly simple, engage in a static defense around Washington as much as possible throughout 1861 and into 1862 with the aim of launching an ambitious amphibious based advance against Richmond ala the Peninsula Campaign - expect with you know, aggressiveness and fighting spirit. Should that not prove possible I'll launch another aggressive movement by way of the navy against a different but still juicy target - New Orleans, Mobile, or Charleston. In the west I'll attempt to go along a historical line - keeping to a strict neutrality in Kentucky with the aim of having Roberts make a stupid move along with aggressive defense in Missouri and moves down the Mississippi. By mid-1862 I wish to have a firm grasp at Memphis and all of Arkansas if at all possible. Nothing too ambitious I hope.
We also agreed on some house rules...
- Historical attrition. Combat losses can be solved in the field, but attrition out of battle will occur and will require stack placement on a depot to rectify.
- Max three strategic deployments. This is basically for leaders, but I've never really used it so I've only got a vague idea right now of how it works - think it allows me to instantly move a general across the board to take command of other forces (but with a penalty). House rule is to only do this with forces that have an overland connection - ie. I can strat redeploy Grant from Missouri to Maryland, but can't do the same to Texas or any ampibious landing I conduct in the south.
- I also proposed a house rule whereby until mid-1862 the Confederates cannot launch an invasion into northern states to simulate the reluctance of southern leadership to appear as aggressors. Smaller raiding forces are exempt from this proposed house rule. This rule does not apply to the border states - Roberts can bring whatever he wants into Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, or Delaware all he wants, but I'll crush his troops if he tries.