Different infantry brigades

[Jacek]

In Reinforcements window you have an option to recruit infantry brigades of different strength i.e 67,76,134. I usually go with the smallest ones, so my question is does their different strength come only from the number of men in a brigade or do bigger brigades have embedded artillery, cav or more line troops?

Thx

[sval06]

Second proposition.

You have the composition of the brigades on the lower side of the screen.
Some have 1 sharpshooters unit, some cavalry, some artillery or a mix....

[Doomwalker]

I am of the opion that the higher rated units have heavy infantry or cavalry instead of regular infantry or cavalry. But, this of course is just an opion, based off of observation instead of real testing. I tend to build the higher rated units myself. I will try doing some high and low next time to see what I get and if I can verify, with proof, my observations.

[Jacek]

sval06, I have never paid attention to that line... Thanks!

[Doomwalker]

Jacek, are you talking about the number only or the brigades that are composed of the same units but with different number values? For example under cavalry there are units rated 17 and also 22, but both are single cavalry units. Or where you just wondering about the composition of the units, based off of the numbers?

[Jacek]

I was thinking about composition. The cavalry units you mentioned - their different strength must be due to different number of men in them, right? Can't think of any other reason.

[Hinkel]

Maybe some local regiments are just better? For example Texas Cav. is much better, cause the people in Texas can ride better then people in Florida. To ride on horse is tradition in Texas.

Thats my guess..

[Doomwalker]

That does make sense about the quantity of men in the units. I will check that also when I am checking about the composition, heavy vs regular.

[McNaughton]

There are different 'ranges' of units.

Constcript
Early
Late

Units start off as either conscript or early infantry, with conscript having lowered stats (slightly), but as a whole the unit is rated as lower (i.e., conscript cavalry having a combat powe of 17, while early cavalry has 22). There aren't more men, but, the unit has a greater fighting ability.

Brigades are done with a mix of conscript and early infantry (along with artillery, zouave, sharpshooters, etc.). A 106 value brigade may be full of 3 conscripts and attached cavalry and artillery, while a 64 value brigade may have 2 early infantry on their own.

Basically, it is up to the player as to what is useful for them. You may want a powerful brigade (there are a few 170 point Virginia brigades, which are a lot like a small division) for independent work, or a bunch of 'weaker' brigades, but are full of good quality troops (filling a division with 5 brigades of early troops is better than an equivalent number of elements in 3 brigades of conscript troops).

In the end, it really doesn't matter, unless you decide to go all mathematical and design the perfect division, which in my opinion eliminates some randomness and fun in the game.

[Conhugeco]

For the Union, some of those one element units can prove useful as garrisons for conquered cities.

Dick

[Montbrun]

Cavalry should really be removed from the infantry brigade make-ups...

[Rafiki]

I like having them there; gives more flexibility when you want to assemble larger formations.

[Stonewall]

Model strength (combat power) is a function of the number of "hits" the model possesses as well as its statistical ratings of the corredponding models combined with all other models comprising a particular unit.

[McNaughton]

Cavalry should really be removed from the infantry brigade make-ups...

I agree with this. Cavalry was only a part of infantry brigades in some limited initial engagements in 1861 (notably Bull Run on the Confederate side). The concept of 'combined arms' with cavalry was deemed a failure in the civil war (re: CSA 'Legions' which were single regiments composed of infantry, artillery and cavalry which were quickly split into individual units). Almost over night, cavalry was re-organized into brigades. First brigades were attached to infantry corps, then organized into divisions attached to infantry corps, then individual divisional cavalry corps (Federals were behind the confederates who had corps of cavalry brigades about a year before).

While it may be 'handy', having cavalry as an integrated unit with infantry isn't historic beyond 1862. While the odd brigade had cavalry attached, most were purely infantry (with even artillery being relegated to divisional command, or even Corps command).