use of support units ?

[leanmeankillingmachine]

Hi all,

Ive been playing about recently with the way I form up my divisions/corps/Armies and the way I use support units. Ive noticed that you can add signal/balloon or medical companies to divisions, is this a wise way to use these units or keep them in the corps or army stack ?

[GShock]

Both unit types give different benefits and their placement depends on the tactical situation you are in, or you *guess* you'll be in during next resolution phase. I never tried putting a support unit in a DIV as these units support whole stacks and in most occasions, my DIVs are part of a stack...didn't think it was possible...

Medic is best placed where there's a large concentration of troops, typically in front line. Where the large concentration lies, also lies the need for extra CP (which is what balloons give) so there you go...probably the best and most versatile answer is: put them where you've got the most troops (balloons will increase your CP eventually cutting off penalties or allowing u a greater concentration of forces without penalties) and where you're sure to be attacked during next resolution phase (so that medics may help with your losses.

[leanmeankillingmachine]

The reason Ive been placing support units in Divs is due to my usual format of building units, a typical CSA div of mine normally consists of 2 large brigades (inf,cav,art) and then maybe an extra artillery and cav unit, so Id usually have just enough space left over that would fit in a support unit and not another bridage as Id like.

[DirkX]

you dont need support units in each divisions if the division is in a corps, you can place the sup.unit into the corps stack.
you can add support units to independent divisions but you dont have the ressources early on to do that

[leanmeankillingmachine]

What im trying to put across is the question is there any kind of penalty for having 1 med unit in your corp stack looking after 3 divisions rather than have a med company in each of your 3 divs which would logically give your forces a bonus ?

[leanmeankillingmachine]

wouldnt it make more sense if you added support units to your divs giving your greater bonuses rather than at corp level ? any of you history buffs know if CSA/Union divs had signal or med companies at div or corp level in real life ?

[willgamer]

wouldnt it make more sense if you added support units to your divs giving your greater bonuses rather than at corp level ? any of you history buffs know if CSA/Union divs had signal or med companies at div or corp level in real life ?

Not sure what greater bonuses you have in mind, but in any event, the best way to maximize the total strength of a corps is to put support units at the corps level and pack 18 elements of combat units into each division with the following consideration.

There are only 3 abilities that apply at the unit level: Entrencher, Sharpshooter, and Strong Morale (see Hobbe's sticky'd Quick Ref). So one of each of these is appropriate in an ideal division.

All others apply to the entire stack and can be kept at corps level.

[DirkX]

wouldnt it make more sense if you added support units to your divs giving your greater bonuses rather than at corp level ? any of you history buffs know if CSA/Union divs had signal or med companies at div or corp level in real life ?

http://www.civilwarhome.com/confederatemedical.htm

[leanmeankillingmachine]

Not sure what greater bonuses you have in mind, but in any event, the best way to maximize the total strength of a corps is to put support units at the corps level and pack 18 elements of combat units into each division with the following consideration.

There are only 3 abilities that apply at the unit level: Entrencher, Sharpshooter, and Strong Morale (see Hobbe's sticky'd Quick Ref). So one of each of these is appropriate in an ideal division.

All others apply to the entire stack and can be kept at corps level.

Maybe its just me then I quite like it when you add a support unit to a div and its corresponding div commander gets another pretty little icon on the left of his portrait. Still though, i find it hard to pack a commander with his full 18 combat units unless you are happy to add militia or other crap units to what could be an elite div - somehow doesnt sit right with me and feel adding a support unit to a div should give it just that extra bit of a kick.

EDIT: Thanks for the link Dirk.

[GShock]

If support units give benefit to the whole stack what's the purpose of locking them into a DIV when you can put them and keep them mobile into the whole stack? After all, the DIV will still benefit of their bonuses provided they are in the same stack.