Help me get good :(

[Cap'n CZEco]

Ive been playing this game a lot (my internet has been off so I have more hours than it says) and I cant win for the life of me. Anything that would help?

[TheHumanHydra]

Hey, I wrote this in another thread recently:

It's strange, I found it a bit hard when I started, too, but think I can compete (with the AI) fairly well now - and I'm not sure what I'm doing so differently. Are you playing as the Confederates or the Union? I recommend starting as the Union, as they have the advantages of defence. Position your infantry on the crests or forward (enemy-facing) slopes of hills and ridges, preferably amongst woods or other terrain features to improve their cover. Do not leave gaps in your line. Place your artillery on higher ground or on flanks (be ready to retreat them and defend them with infantry there) and check frequently to make sure they're still firing and don't have something obstructing them; this can be hard to tell (check if they're loading).

The name of the game is concentrated firepower. Infantry close beside or close behind one another, in good cover, and especially supported by guns will annihilate the enemy. If the enemy leaves a flank of one of his units exposed, advance a nearby unit that is out of range and place it on an angle to shoot into the enemy's flank (do the same thing every time that you, for some reason, attempt an advance). Do not pursue the enemy off the ridges. If you are outflanked (e.g. eventually on the north end of Oak Ridge), retreat to another slope. In poorer terrain or where your troops are more stretched, you may need to press the 'Withdraw/Fall Back' (I can't remember which it's called) button when the enemy charges so that you are not struck by the charge and neighbouring units have time to fire and break it - be vigilant so you don't miss this happening!

Watch out for large concentrations of enemy artillery. Advancing against them to destroy them is very tempting, as they will generate hundreds of casualties as the battle goes on, but up close they can devastate approaching formations. Try to destroy artillery units that become isolated or that are on the move and can't shoot. Against massed artillery, you might try retreating behind your ridges (onto the famed 'reverse slope' of military history) and advancing again when the enemy approaches; make sure you time this correctly. Standing around while large amounts of artillery are firing will decimate your troops. (Thus, we stand on our ridges and do this to the enemy.)

When the enemy retreats, do not follow. They will be back for another licking once their morale recovers. Simply wear them out, retreating when necessary, and wait for the rest of the Union army to arrive to go on the offensive. I suggest skipping any opportunities for offensive action (e.g. attacking Benner's Hill) as attacking exposes your troops and is difficult to coordinate, and may result in heavy losses. As you become more confident, you can try mounting counterattacks, both within scenarios and in your choice of scenarios, when there's a good opportunity (after you've already exhausted the enemy - never for the sake of it). Take pleasure not in the positions held but in the ratio of casualties inflicted on the enemy compared to your own. And protect your guns.

Hope that helps. The game's creator also has a guide here: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=533709146

Let us know how it goes!

[Strolok]

What about Confederate tactics?

[TheHumanHydra]

Well, first, a disclaimer. I only recently started playing the Confederacy campaign, and I haven't yet beaten it. I know how to attack effectively, but not how to produce strategic victory: the Union has many more men than you as the campaign goes on, on good terrain, and it's as yet unclear to me how to overcome that. That said, here's what I've learned about attacking.

The first thing to bear in mind is that the defence is far stronger. It is more likely to benefit from elevation, cover, and multiple sources of fire. It is necessary to take extraordinary measures to produce success in an attack.

The name of the game is, again, concentrated firepower. To overcome the defender's advantages, you must be able to pour multiple times the number of bullets into him as he pours into you. Just as in defence, then, leave no gaps between your attacking units -- make sure every bit of space is occupied by a unit firing. As far as possible, have them all fire on the same enemy brigade, to break it more quickly. To have space for enough units, you will likely need to outflank the targeted brigade. Flanking fire also drains a unit's morale faster. But outflanking is difficult if the enemy forms a continuous line.

What we want to look for, then, is a unit or small group of units that is sticking out from the enemy's lines -- this is called a 'salient'. This you can attack from multiple sides. Alternatively, attack the end of the enemy's lines. We also want to look for places where the enemy has less cover, less of a height advantage, or simply less units than elsewhere, and for places where we will have cover or a height advantage when we're in position. Avoid attacking the middle of the enemy's lines, or he will be able to shoot into your flanks, or, at least, with several units at once.

Bring as many units as can fit to fire, with more men than the enemy has. Never attack with just one unit. Never repeat an attack that has been shown to be unsuccessful. Bring units with high condition and morale to attack, and put your general behind them. To this end, follow the advice of the game's designer and never have your units run. Do not be afraid to pull back and rest your units for a while before attacking (station your general nearby); do so behind reverse slopes so they're not taking artillery fire.

I recommend not charging. I have not found charging extraordinarily successful except in special circumstances. It tends to leave your unit vulnerable to close-range fire from a collection of enemy units. It may also disrupt the converging fire you've worked so hard to create. I have found charging to be a 'win-more' tactic: it's effective when the enemy is already extremely vulnerable, due to low morale, low numbers, and an absence of friendly units nearby, but not in creating vulnerability. For that, firepower. If you find an artillery battery on its own, however, you may wish to charge it.

Artillery is the most difficult element of the enemy's defence. As you get close, it becomes incredibly deadly. You've probably noticed that it's possible to take a hundred casualties in two seconds from artillery at close range -- likely breaking your unit. I have not yet discovered a complete answer to this problem, and I doubt there is one. You must simply avoid attacking into artillery whenever possible, avoid getting close enough for canister shot, and take every opportunity to destroy artillery when it is vulnerable. If your own artillery is well positioned, you may be able to systematically destroy enemy batteries that are more exposed (you must avoid this happening to your own guns). Sometimes the AI will leave its artillery around unsupported -- jump on this! But be aware that even just other artillery batteries nearby are strong support, considering the effects of canister at close range. Use large brigades to attack artillery; depleted brigades can't get enough shots off to destroy a battery in one volley and thereby avoid return fire. Try to catch artillery as it's moving via horse ('limbered') so it can't shoot back.

Mind that your own artillery is firing continuously throughout the battle; over time it can inflict great losses. Concentrate large amounts of artillery against an area you have determined to attack while you rest your units and/or wait for reinforcements. Meanwhile, reposition your infantry so that they will be attacking from converging angles. It may be helpful to bring artillery with you when you launch the attack, if you are careful. As your infantry gets close to the enemy, it may obstruct the fire of your guns behind. If you can slip a battery into the slight space between two of your units and maybe slightly back (not in front!), it may be able to fire shell or canister into the enemy. I have found that the AI doesn't usually target the artillery when I do this, but you must be very careful, because if your infantry breaks and falls back, your valuable battery is toast. I'd wait till you feel very comfortable with attacking with just infantry before attempting this.

Above all, send many units to attack the enemy in a coordinated fashion, preferably at a weak spot.

In the opening scenario, try to attack the Oak and Seminary Ridges from the ends, not the front, with artillery all along McPherson's Ridge.

Hope that helps.

[Hugh de Salle]

Dont make the mistake of commiting all your rebel forces in the intial attack , The union first corp is very strong the game gives you a false impression that you outnumber the union , While this is true in reality you will will be cut to pieces by superior cannon and musket fire.

The real problem im having playing the rebels is that its great strenght of better morale and melee attack dosent work in this game which to be fair is exactly how the real Gettysburg unfolded with valiant rebel charges repulsed by superior cannon and musket fire.

[TheHumanHydra]

Originally posted by Hugh de Salle:

Dont make the mistake of commiting all your rebel forces in the intial attack , The union first corp is very strong the game gives you a false impression that you outnumber the union , While this is true in reality you will will be cut to pieces by superior cannon and musket fire.

The real problem im having playing the rebels is that its great strenght of better morale and melee attack dosent work in this game which to be fair is exactly how the real Gettysburg unfolded with valiant rebel charges repulsed by superior cannon and musket fire.

I agree. Wait for II Corps to attack Oak Hill. But when you do, you are now at the only point in the game where you will actually have a superiority in numbers. You must crush the I and XI Corps and drive them off Cemetery Hill now.

The AI doesn't necessarily seem to defend Seminary Ridge strongly in that scenario (the second), so it may be possible to walk onto it at some point. I've also observed that the Union tends to defend too far forward or to hang on a little long north of Gettysburg and is liable to encirclement. If III Corps can get onto their hinge of Seminary Ridge and the eastern part of II Corps (the division with the Louisiana Tigers and those sharpshooters) can swoop in behind them and even get into Gettysburg, you can achieve at least a partial encirclement and really chew them up. Then attacking Cemetery Hill becomes easier. I'd do this carefully, but I'd do it now (i.e. on the first day, but you can wait for the third scenario to get ready to go up the Hill).

[Sry_Im_Late]

I think charging is pretty darn good in the beginning as a confederate but u have to be quick and have the high ground to hold back the reinforcemments