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Lord Fearless

Sergeant
73 Badges
Aug 6, 2008
94
1
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Well here is my try at an AAR.

I will try to be as accurate as possible to describe my actions and what I did, and since it's my first I hope you guys be a merciful and won't burn it into the ground. As always, constructive critisism is very welcome.

The are is played using CSABadass's Southern Revolutions mod, and if the reactions to this AAR are any good, I will pretty sure continue this game in Hearts of Iron Armageddon, that is, if I survive until 1935. It's a dangerous world and the Union seems all mighty at the game start.

My Goals for this Game are not very high at the start.

1. Survive the American Civil War and the inevitable War for Reunion.
2. If Goal 1 is achieved: Become a great Power.
3. Survive until 1936.
4. All goals are achieved without cheatcodes. (well not a goal, just a statement)

So at the start, let's focus on winning this war.

Since the Union is bigger than the Confedaracy, I needed to convert a few POP's to soldiers to increase my Manpowerpool. Luckily, I was able to recruit a general and will be able to do so again in a little while. I mobilised 4 new regiments and started to research in the army tech tree. This because the USA has superior numbers, and I have to make up for that.

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Once my new divisions are trained and mobilized I will add those divisions to the Army of the Potomac, to even their odds a little. My tactics at this point are: Dig In, and let them charge up hill against the stone wall. (Fredricksburg?) Whilst defenmding at all odd's I will convert population to soldiers and build up a nice army behind my lines, and once completed will try to use it to capture washington and SMASH the Union.

All I do now is Dig in and wait, both for the Union to attack and my troops to have completed training.

On July 6th 1861 Nueva Leon offered to secede from Mexico, resulting in more CSA terretories and hopefully an Increase in Manpower and armies. However this will also bring the CSA to war with Mexico. After careful consideration, I accepted, Hoping that snatching 1 or 2 more provinces from the Mexicans would get me to a white peace with them, and that I will be able to use my new gathered men and resources in the war against the North.

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The Union is invading Virginia and held at bay, and Mexico is wreaking havoc in the South, on a here goes nothing basis I offered a peace proposal to the Mexicans, letting me keep the seceeded state, and if accepted would let me focus on the war in the North. Luckily the Mexicans were on the verge of being beaten into submission and they accepted my proposal. The confederacy gains a new state in the sound, Divisions there are instructred to go fight the Yanks. August 1861 is a good month for the glorious south.

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Finally my mobilised forces are able to be deployed. I will add these 4 extra divisions to the Army of the Potomac in Manassas, and will move the Army of the Peninsula, now stationed in Norfolk over to Manassas as well. As soon as both armies are there, I will invade Frederick with the Army of the Potomac and keep the Army of the Peninsula in Manassas, hoping that they will at least keep the Yanks away for another month.

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On November 12th 1861 The army of the Potomac liberated Frederick and was order to assault washington. The army of the Peninsula was ordered to leave Manassas and reinforce Frederick, so that there was no breach that the Union could use to invade confederate territory from Maryland or Philadlephia.

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For those who wonder how the western territories are doing here is an overview. My western tactics are Invcade and capture. Every captured province is a loss for the Union and a win for the Confederacy. Hopefully the Yanks will focus on their capital instead of minor provinces, allowing me to take them and hopefully triggering a secession event.

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Now I am just waiting for the conscription act to fire. With Washington under siege, and no ability to recruit soldiers whatsoever, I am stuck to reinforcing my armies with a declining manpower pool. However, the odds still are with me, so I am doing whatever I can to keep it that way.

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Yeeeeehaw!
Washington is Captured, and I decided to take a gamble. I will split up the Army of the Potamac in two armies, keeping one to defend Washington and the other to capture Salisbury. Hopefully this will trigger the Maryland secession.

Finally! On april 2nd 1862 The conscription act had arrived. Giving me a huge division boost, Now I have a big enough army to smash the Union. Of course, the act was passed.

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Placing 5 divisions in the western theater (where 2 of my armies have been annihalited) to continue the war there and using the other 5 divisions to strengthen my Armies in and around Virginia, the CSA was ready to kick some more ass.

Biggest problem is still manpower, wich I use to reinfoce armies after a battle. I can convert more POP's but by doing so I will undoubtly go in debt pretty soon. Since I want to avoid that, I decide to take the war a little more into Union territory.

Atlantic city is undefended, so I send My army of Manassas there to capture it.
Philadelphia has only 2 battered regiments, wich should prove no problem for the army of the Potomac
Harrisburg has 3 battered regiments, only 2 of them are leaving (hopefully for wheeling, where they will be smashed by my dug in army) I hope they have left once my Army of The Peninsula gets there, otherwise my plan will fail. If these provinces are captured I will have no undefended line to my real territory or captured ones in the North. The battle in west is pretty easy no armies there so most of the land there is free for grabs.

The Union has a war fatigue of 38% where mine is 9%. I think I will win, but again, this is a war and all can change.
Keeping my fingers crossed for a succesful end.

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Crud! My plan is about to fail. The Yanks deployed another 4 regiments in Harrisburg, outnumbering me by far. Luckily I captured Wilmington just after they arrived, so now I am moving my Army in Wilmington to Philadlphia to relieve the Army of the Potomac, wich will go to Harrisburg to help out the Army of the Peninsula. Here goes nothing

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For those who wonder, this how the war is going. Everything that is more west than Jacksons Army (the one with the arrow out of it) has no troops whatsoever, Allowing me to use my small army to snatch California, hopefully triggering a secession event for that state. Since everything is focused in the war in on the north it's easy to take the provinces and states there. The yanks left an opening in the north, allowing me to invade up to New York, without exposing my territory. Looks like this is turning into a war where the one who makes the first mistake looses. Starting to play a little more careful now. Luckily Manpower pool stays steady, allowing me to keep my divisions up to about 80% strength. counting their dug in bonus and experience, together with the battered and inexperienced divisions the union sends at me I am confident that I will win.

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WOW!
I am popular in the Union, 2 states seceed! Missouri and Kentucky. Welcome to the CSA, and please send your boys to the front!

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Seems like July 1862 is a good month.

Well, I don't know what is happening, but Maryland decided to Join the CSA as well on september 26th. Looks like the Confederacy are just a bunch of cool guys. Welcome Maryland! I feel a bit sorry for the Yanks, now they will have to look for a new Capital..

Still no action in the west. except me taking provinces that are up for grabs.

Well it seems that the extra manpower and divisions the seceeded states provided me with tipped the balance hugely into my favor. now even the northern provinces are up for grabs. So I ordered my armies to attack.

164430.jpg


And here is a full picture of the war.
Except for a revolt in Austin, TX, everything is okay in the confederacy. I am balancing between a +2 Profit and a -1 loss on my daily balance, but with this kind of balance, I am able to sustain the war a lot longer.
CSA war exhaustion: 18.2%
USA war exhaustion: 64.0%

Hurrah for the South!

YAY! Europe started meddling in our affairs and France and Great-Britain Recognized the Confederacy. The Union bastards, however chose to continue the war. Well, if they want blood, they got.

CSA Morale +1

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Well, the Yankees are in full retreat now, and for me it's just becoming a plain and simple conquest. An occasional uprising will occur, but I am able to crush them in an instant. Poor Unionists don't know what hit them

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Luckily due to the secession of Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky, my Manpower problems are as good as over. Now my problem is my daily balance. Can't train much more armies before going into the deep red. As it looks now I can manage with my current armies, and reinforcing them after every conquest or battle, so training Infantry is put on a temporary hold. Just hoping for the secession of California, for a little income boost and the possible acquisition of another division.
Well, only the future (or by changing the game mechanics, I, XD) can tell what will happen.

Crud. The Union also used their conscription act. I can't see results from it at this moment, but 10 new fresh divisions might be trouble. In the end, It's only postponing the inevitable. Confederate Victory.

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In attempt to create jobs and fight unemployment, we decided to get a new flag. Cotton farms and Textile manufactures can't handle the demand for the new flags, unemployment shrunk like a drop of water in the desert.

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Well, as usual the Mormons rang the doorbell and wanted to talk to me. This time not about the Lord but about Joining the Confederacy. Everybody is welcome in the South, so we gained a new state. Now Only New-Mexico and California have to seceed, for making this war the best ever.

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Well as you can see, the war is going well, and it sucks to be a Yank in this war

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Even Union scientists lost their faith. Thanks for the tech Billy Yank

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Peace.

On February 1864, after having declined several peace proposals by the Union, The Confederacy made a peace offering. In return for the acquisition of California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas the CSA was willing to lay down their arms and start rebuilding. Since this was a 186% peace offering I thought they wouldn't accept it. Strangely they did, but you won't hear me complain about that. Anyway, War's over let's start rebuilding!

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I hope so too, but I will let them to the DOW-ing, I will maintain the army in its shape, maybe expand it a little bit, but my main focus lies on builing up an Industry. Unfortunately Laissez-Faire is not the best way to do so, but I'm not Taxing the rich class at the moment, giving them the funds to build factories and railroads.

I guess I was just lucky that the USA focused on the eastern part of the conflict allowing me to snatch the west, building up their war fatigue and being able to get such high demands out of a treaty.
 
phargle said:
That's a long border to fortify.
Yes it is a long border, but the USA makes a habit out of focusing on Virginia, so mys tronghold will be there. I think I wil place a division every other province to have some support close by. Then again, as soon as my Industry starts running, I might be able to reinforce the entire border.

I am just hoping the USA does DOW me before that time.
 
Wow, basically everything south of 40 degrees and the Mason-Dixon is yours. That's what, 23-26 states? I would consider taking on Mexico and gobbling the rest of her up then moving towards the Caribbean and eventually considering reunification under Richmond instead of Washington City!

There is a real chance you could unite North America if you play your cards right...
 
Well done.

I have no excuse for not trying CSAbadass' mod yet, but one of these days I'll get to it. It looks like a lot of fun!

*Subscribed*
 
First of all thanks for the support.

second, I would like to mention that I've been extremely lucky. Normally, when I play CSA I am lucky if I survive the civil war. I have no Idea how this could have happened, but sometimes you just get lucky. By the way, enjoy the new update in my next post.
 
There isn't a lot happening after the war, Capatilists start building factories, I demobilised the reserve and am starting to recruit divisions. Also I am using the money available to build fortifications at the border and deploying fresh recruits to man them Hopefully the Union will wait with declaring war after they are completed and dug in. Off course I am also increasing my mobilisation pool, for the inevitable war of reunion. Although building up these fortifications is draining my funds, I am still staying in the positive numbers with my daily balance, albeit in a small margin. Capitalist start building factories as well, and at the moment I am focusing my research on Industry and commerce. Since the succesful last war left me enough provinces to match the Unions Manpower pool, I can lay back a little on the Army Tech. Since it is possible for me to take them with sheer numbers. As it looks now the Confederacy is digging in, preparing for the next war, quelching the incidental uprising and building up the Industrial Monster to fund it.

164442.jpg


Well It seems that things are heating up in Europe, Prussia went to War with Austria in a challenge for leadership. Let's see what happens over there. The Confedaracy is staying out of this one. If it's not in America, It's none of our business. Who cares about what happens in Europe, the CSA is what the world is all about.. right?

164443.jpg


The government decided to Install a High Court, lowering the militancy and gaining 2 prestige. Government turns out to be good for something eventually.

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Yay. Democrats win the election, letting me keep the army for another 4 years!

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I knew not taxing the rich people would prove profitable someday

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Well, the peace treaty with USA expired. It was bound to happen, but leaves an uncertain future. Let's hope the Northern Agression stays low.

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How dare they! The Spanish boarded the Virginius and killed the crew, Confederate Citizens! This is something we can't let go unpunished and we declared war onto the Spanish Agressors!

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The Spanish turn out to be quite annoying. Having my small fleet of transports with troops (12 divisions) and their escort under constant attack of frigates results in me destroying their frigates but being unable to land my troops on Cuban soil. Since I was focusing on the naval battles more than the confederate borders I missed them having dispatched a few landing parties at coastal provinces. Since my mobilised regiments are busy in Cuba, I had to take two armies from the border with the USA. Hopefully the USA won't exploit this weaknis in my line of defense and lets me destroy the Spanish invaders and reinforce my border again. The Confederacy is not taking this action lightly.

164449.jpg


Ah yes, the Spanish suffer a monarchal crisis. France is at war with Prussia and Northern Germany, so they won't be able to send forces as a loan to Spain. Hopefully this crisis will trigger revolts in the Iberian peninsula, greatly improving the odds for a quick confederate Victory.

164450.jpg


The French, although occupied with their war with the Germans, found the time to mediate in the Spanish-Confederate conflict. The President attended at the Convention in Paris and demanded that the Spanish realesed Cuba and Puerto Rico.

The Spanish agreed and Cuba and Puerto Rico seceeded to the CSA, but the Cuban people demanded their Independence. As the CSA thinks that everyone should be entitled to his own government, but felt that the Cubans first needed to built op a strong economy before gaining independence they signed a treaty in wich Cuban independence was promised when they were strong enough to manage on their own. Once that was the case, the Confederacy would grant them their independence.

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Tragedy has Stricken, General Robert E. Lee has passed away, and was given a state funeral. The Confederacy has lost one of the greatest men the world has ever seen.

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Democrats won the Election Again. Manpower is lower than ever, but regaining strength. Mobilisation pool now holds 20 regiments, and For those who care about Europe, The German Coalition is winning the war against france.

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Germany is unified. Something here is giving me a hunch this might prove interesting in the future. Still, this rules out a few great powers into one, Making me gain a rank in the Great Power lobby.

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The German Communist Karl Marx has riled up the slaves and Mexicans in our country. We shall have none of this nonsense, we should deal with out own affairs, as should he.

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OH NO! The Yanks declared war on our beautiful nation once again! Luckily our borders are fortified and our Mobilisation Pool has enough Manpower for 20 divisions. We have beaten them once, and sure as hell can beat them again! But let's hope that our border defense holds until February, once my army of Southern Defenders is completed. The Stonewall is still alive at this point and he has the honor of bringing the fight to the Yankees for the Glory of the Confederacy! It also looks like the Yanks cut their defense budget, since the armies they posted at the border are about 3000-4000 man strong. Luckily my defenders are at full strength. Confederate Confidence is rising!

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This is it! If you defeated the Yankee aggrssors last time you can surely do it again. :cool:
 
The Union is foolish to fight this war. Their strategic depth is very shallow and it'll be easy to divide and conquer - two columns, one to the Great Lakes, one to Canada, with individual armies mopping up.

They are weaker in every way than 1861 and you are stronger in every way.

None of the remaining states are logically Southern states, so maybe winning this war should result in the Union collapsing - or joining the CSA en masse. I dunno.
 
Well, I hope I can force a ceasefire and gaining a few provinces before the Union Collapses. Since their collaps will undoubtly ensure the rise of Columbia and New England, I will have three Yankee Countries to defend against, instead of one.

I'd rather send half of my force to the west coast and the other half to the eastcoast, hopefully triggering secession events instead of declarations of Independence.

The plan is (and I will post an explanatory screenshot asap, am at work at the moment, unfortunately no Vicky there) to have a huge army quickly take a province, then moving the defenders (from the defensive line) in to guard the province, so I will take territory but won't leave a gap in my defenses.

This may take longer than an all out assault, having my fulls strength defenders attacking their border provinces equipped with just a few battered divisions. Statistically I should win such a war, but I don't think my luck will hold out that long, and I can't risk a breach in the line and Unionist swarming into confederate territory.

Thing is taking too much of my time though, can't stop making up strategies to win this war.
 
If they try to reiforce those men to full strength, they will be pushed back, and if they try to hold the line with what they have, they are dead. A nice choice for the Union to make.
 
New England might be the toughest region to integrate into the CSA, but I think you could still grab the Great Lakes and everything west of the Mississippi (if not west of Pennsylvania?) should you move quickly enough. New England alone would probably end up as a British satellite that you could eventually target along with Canada should the need arise.