So many questions, need assistance

[AristonSparta]

So I just picked up this game about two days ago, and have high hopes to rewrite history in many different manners. Though I am coming up short, a lot. I seem to have a lack of understanding for how this game exactly works, as there are many factors involved. Anyways, here are a few questions, and ANY help is welcome.

1. In full campaign, there is a red cloud looking formation that moves the length of what seems to be the blue ridge mountains. Does this formation represent vision, or something else?

2. What units play what role? By that I mean do certain units counter other specific units, or are there a few ultimate units that are must haves?

3. When in the economic screen, will adding industrialization to regions with low potential always produce low results? Or can that potential change due to investing in this? Basically, how can you raise the values?

4. How can you directly control your leaders battle strategies beside posture? Or is the role of the player to command troops to certain regions, and the rest is played out from there based on the commander of the army's abilities?

Again, any help is welcome!!!

[W.Barksdale]

1. In full campaign, there is a red cloud looking formation that moves the length of what seems to be the blue ridge mountains. Does this formation represent vision, or something else?

Sections of the mountain which are impassable by your forces.

2. What units play what role? By that I mean do certain units counter other specific units, or are there a few ultimate units that are must haves?

A balanced force is usually best.

3. When in the economic screen, will adding industrialization to regions with low potential always produce low results? Or can that potential change due to investing in this? Basically, how can you raise the values?

You can't change the potential. Just start up a game and play with it.

4. How can you directly control your leaders battle strategies beside posture? Or is the role of the player to command troops to certain regions, and the rest is played out from there based on the commander of the army's abilities?

Bingo.

Just keep playing and review these threads:

Whats not in the manual

AACW 101

Supply Primer

Frontage Primer

Intellitips

[Jim-NC]

So I just picked up this game about two days ago, and have high hopes to rewrite history in many different manners. Though I am coming up short, a lot. I seem to have a lack of understanding for how this game exactly works, as there are many factors involved. Anyways, here are a few questions, and ANY help is welcome.

1. In full campaign, there is a red cloud looking formation that moves the length of what seems to be the blue ridge mountains. Does this formation represent vision, or something else?

2. What units play what role? By that I mean do certain units counter other specific units, or are there a few ultimate units that are must haves?

3. When in the economic screen, will adding industrialization to regions with low potential always produce low results? Or can that potential change due to investing in this? Basically, how can you raise the values?

4. How can you directly control your leaders battle strategies beside posture? Or is the role of the player to command troops to certain regions, and the rest is played out from there based on the commander of the army's abilities?

Again, any help is welcome!!!

First, Welcome to the Forum. The forum contains a wealth of knowledge. Barksdale has given you a great starting point. After you have digested the knowledge from his links, read up on some of the AARs for more in depth actions by experienced (and not so experienced) players.

Even after 1 year, you can still learn more about how the game works, so don't get discouraged.

[AristonSparta]

Thank you for the info, its very helpful. But I still have a couple questions.

1. Is there any way to delay my troops movement in a region? Can I plan out their movement to specific days of movement, or is it just point, click and move?

2. When in full campaign, I am waiting for my (the CSA) Army of the Potomac to reach full strength on all elements. Is there anything I can do to speed this process up? Is there something I should be doing to organize them faster?

3. In full campaign, there seems to be a lack of an army in the western campaign of CSA. Is this intentional? And if so what is the best course of action to raise an army for that theatre?

[Jim-NC]

Thank you for the info, its very helpful. But I still have a couple questions.

1. Is there any way to delay my troops movement in a region? Can I plan out their movement to specific days of movement, or is it just point, click and move?

2. When in full campaign, I am waiting for my (the CSA) Army of the Potomac to reach full strength on all elements. Is there anything I can do to speed this process up? Is there something I should be doing to organize them faster?

3. In full campaign, there seems to be a lack of an army in the western campaign of CSA. Is this intentional? And if so what is the best course of action to raise an army for that theatre?

1. Nope. You only tell your troops to move. You can try to manually plot a course to arrive in a set area on a set day.

2. Make sure you have replacements (F3). You need replacements of all types (inf, cav, art, lt art) to bring your army up to snuff. Other than that, you can only wait (they will unlock, and be ready for action soon enough).

3. There is no CSA army in the west, you have to create it. You will need to raise troops (F2) to make the army. You will specifically need a HQ unit (under the support tab), and whatever you feel you need to round out the army. When divisions are formed, form as many as you can from the great masses of troops in your stacks (remembering that you can put 17 elements and 1 general in a division).

[AristonSparta]

Thanks again for all the great info. I have kept playing quite frequently, and would like to think I have a decent grip on the game, but I still have some general inquiries though, more or less tips on how to handle certain situations with the given game parameters.

1. What is the most effective way to manage your troops and generals early on in the full campaign as the South? By that I mean until divisions come into play and more troops become available.

2. Is it even possible for the South to dominate the seas/oceans? Or is it a better use of effort to concentrate on land?

[Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne]

Thanks again for all the great info. I have kept playing quite frequently, and would like to think I have a decent grip on the game, but I still have some general inquiries though, more or less tips on how to handle certain situations with the given game parameters.

1. What is the most effective way to manage your troops and generals early on in the full campaign as the South? By that I mean until divisions come into play and more troops become available.

2. Is it even possible for the South to dominate the seas/oceans? Or is it a better use of effort to concentrate on land?

1. There's not much you can do before divisions. I try to keep most of my stacks at 8 cp or less and stick 4 stars worth of generals in each stack.

2. It is possible for the south to dominate the rivers, but much more difficult to do the same at sea. The south can build alot of ironclads if you want to sacrifice the war supply. The only real way for the south to dominate at sea is if you trigger foreign intervention.

[AristonSparta]

I have been looking and can't seem to find a terrain modifier chart and weather chart either. Any help would be great!

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Gray_Lensman]

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[AristonSparta]

A few more questions, more or less advice really.

1. What are some effective ways to utilize your horse artillery? Is it different for USA vs CSA?

2. Is it effective to have an entire division of cavalry/horse artillery? If so, in what ways should it be used?

3. Does cavalry serve better purposes than to be used in the standard division formation as scouts? By standard division I am referring to the 11/1/4 that I read somewhere.

Thank you.

[Jim-NC]

A few more questions, more or less advice really.

1. What are some effective ways to utilize your horse artillery? Is it different for USA vs CSA?

2. Is it effective to have an entire division of cavalry/horse artillery? If so, in what ways should it be used?

3. Does cavalry serve better purposes than to be used in the standard division formation as scouts? By standard division I am referring to the 11/1/4 that I read somewhere.

Thank you.

1. I put them in my calvary divisions, or my flying columns. They help hunt down enemy raiders, and/or can become raiders themselves (with other calvary)

2. It can be. I usually make 1 calvary division per theater (for hunting down larger raiders, carrying out big raids). Imagine a division of 10 cav and 3 horse art moving behind someone's lines capturing "safe" cities guarded by 1 militia unit.

3. I personally avoid putting loose cav regiments in divisions. I keep them loose scouting/hunting/raiding. As the CSA, for example you have too many 2 Inf/1 Cav units, and so get some calvary in your divisions anyway. The "correct" troops/units of a division is a matter of debate (4 artillery vs. 8, include calvary vs. don't, etc). It is up to you, and your playing style. The 2 thing calvary does in a division/corps is ride down routed enemy troops, and screen your troops (hide the other corps in a region).

[AristonSparta]

You say screen your troops... so what is the effective rate of screening per element of cavalry? Could an all cavalry division be used to essentially screen (hide from what range?) an entire corps?

[Jim-NC]

You say screen your troops... so what is the effective rate of screening per element of cavalry? Could an all cavalry division be used to essentially screen (hide from what range?) an entire corps?

I can't remember anything being written about the screening rate. But, I try to keep 1 or 2 regions between my army and his. If I fill up the space with my calvary, then I can see him, and he has a tougher time seeing me. It won't hide your army/corps, but it gives your opponent less information. Your detection rating is compared to the enemies hide value (and vice versa). The larger the gap, the more information you have. Your detection value drops for each region from the unit.

May I suggest the intellitips for more information http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=13811&highlight=intellitips

I do not know exactly the computer determines which stack is on top, but you can only see the full make-up of 1 stack of the enemies. All others show as "also here", but without specific information. This is how you can "hide" a corps in play sight. They are there, your enemy can see them, but doesn't know much about them.

[AristonSparta]

Sorry to keep asking so many questions that may or may not have been answered. I do have a few more, these ones are more situation specific. If anything can be taught from this I would be more appreciative.

I have Gen N.B. Forest, who in my game is a 7-7-2, with adept raider, cavalryman, patriot, and deceiver. Currently I have him stacked with cavalry and cav artillery in a division. Is this the most effective way to utilize this commander? With his stats being so high could I use him as a commander of more than just cavalry? Please help with any advice.

Oh and one more thing. Is there a list, or could someone compile one, of all the units/elements in the game with information about what roles each unit can play, the general effectiveness of said unit performing each role, prioritization of units in combat effectiveness, patrol, cost, etc. Or is this all things I must find from the tactical and statistical information in the game? Again thank you. Hope I'm not playing Tiny Tim right now, what with the crutch and all.