How do you choose your generals? (Full Version)

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Drex -> How do you choose your generals? (6/28/2007 6:59:29 AM)

Its time to fill some general slots for division, corp and army commands. Famous names aside,(ratings are random) what attributes are more important for each level of command?
for division commander- who tends to be in the field, I look for the highest rating in tactics, then perhaps initiative then leader or command. But others will look at this differently. what about choosing a Corp commander? How do the attirbutes line up in importance for you? then for Army command? I usuallyt go with historical ratings , but am considering going the random route so I am looking for guidance here.



Gil R. -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/28/2007 8:03:17 AM)

One thing to remember is that the way it's programmed, generals with more special abilities to teach have a greater chance of teaching one. (The Leadership rating also factors in to this chance.) So, a guy like McClellan who has top-notch Leadership and all five abilities-slots filled is far more valuable in this respect than a general with better ratings but just 1-2 abilities.



Drex -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/28/2007 4:19:49 PM)

I often choose generals based on their special abilities too, especially the famous names but lets say you have a group of unknown and unproven generals to choose from. All you have to differentiate them are their ratings of terrible to superb on each of the categories of leader,command ,tactics and initiative. the special abilities slots are blank. How do you rank the categories in order of importance in your selection process for division commander? for Corp commander? Army? Sorry if I'm having trouble articulating this. Often I have to fill a general's slot but the pickens is slim. There are no ratings of great or superb or excellent, only some good ,fair. poor or terrible, but its under what category that is important. A divsion commander might not need a high initiative rating but needs a higher tactics rating - that sort of thing.



Twotribes -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/28/2007 8:32:39 PM)

For Army and Corps I want them to have high Command, reasonable Leadership, at least ok Tactics and depending on west or east I look at initiative.

Division commanders I do not worry to much about command, I tend to use any available that I have, the really bad ones go into Forts or cities. The advantage with Division Commanders is they can easily be promoted. Corps and Army Commanders you risk losing if you demote them, so I am more picky with them, THOUGH early on as Union I will use what I have available.

I do not fire Fremont for example, Once I have a 5 star slot Fremont goes to a Division. I do fire the guy in Fort Monroe though, Banks? Butler? Can't remember. Chances are I am not going to get him out of there anytime soon anyway so he gets demoted , I take the political hit and do not worry if he resigns.



Drex -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/28/2007 10:22:16 PM)

Thanks Two Tribes. that's more of what I was after. Often I will have some choices between no-name commanders with mediocre ratings and I have to choose the best of the worst. for Army I look for high initiative and leadership, less on command and tactics. for Corp, perhaps high on leadership and command less on initiative and tactics, and for division I look for tactics and initaitive first before leadership and command. Butler, Banks, and Fremont I usually use until the first battle or an empty slot then I will transfer them to garrison duty for training. I rarely demote them.



dude -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/28/2007 11:10:33 PM)

For a Unit that needs to move I want a high Initiative. So my Army commanders I try to make sure are pretty good for that. For Divisions, since they will be moving with the army or cops in most cases I care less about the Initiative and more on Leadership and Command.

Corps are a bit tricker... if I plan on having an independant Corps then I want high Initiative. If the Corps will be remaining with the army... then I don't care as much. So usually what I do is have 2 corps per army one with a good inititive so I can detatch and operate independently if needed, and one that remains with the army.

I still like high Leadership and Command ratings for my Army and Corps. Tactics is what I'm willing to sacrifice if need be if the other scores are good.

So if I had to rank them:

Leadership/Command, then Initiative, and lastly Tactics. Leadership/Command I find important if I want to prevent my untis from routing or need to have them rally. Leadership also impacts their chance to train troops.

But it really depends on what I expect the unit to be doing. Putting a low initiative guy in command of any unit you "NEED" to move is asking for trouble. He may not get there. But using the same guy for a unit that is static or is part of another container is just fine.

If you are worried about the moral of your troops and their chance to break then you need to make sure the commander is capable of rallying them. He's not much good if his tactics and inititive are high but his entire army is running away...

So even guys you may consider lackluster as a leader may have their use as a subordinate even at the division or corps level. That's what's really been fun about the random stat option. It's made me think more about the "stats" than the guy's name... "Oh if I wait a turn I'll have Sherman!" and since you don't know what you will be getting you really learn to work with what you do have instead of waiting for that great commander to show up.

I have to admit that in some of my early games I would hold off doing things until "Insert Name" showed up that I just knew would be here next turn... It started to take some of the fun out.

But like I said it all boils down to what you need the container to do as to what type of Stats the commader needs. If you have some good tactics guys as 1 star then perhaps you can sacrifice this at the Corps or Army commander level.

Dude



Drex -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/29/2007 12:22:20 AM)

I use to play strictly historical ratings but now I am willing to go with random as you (dude) suggest to get away from gaming the arrivals of Sherman, et.al. It makes you pay even more attention to the ratings.



cesteman -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/29/2007 7:00:03 AM)

Reading Dude's post made me think about the random option as well. I wonder how many people are using it?



General Quarters -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/29/2007 8:18:26 PM)

For me, random/hidden generals adds both to the historical feel of Lincoln or Davis trying to find a general who can win and to replayability.



cesteman -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/29/2007 9:51:40 PM)

Good point for using the random option!



dude -> RE: How do you choose your generals? (6/30/2007 8:23:44 AM)

yea the random stats adds a great deal to the game.  I would really recommend using them as it adds to flavor. [:)]  ... and gives you a much better feel for having to deal with the general you have.



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