Hey guys, good thread learned a lot, which I had read before, Id like to clarify a few things, but first some background on the game in Ver 1.2
Currently playing as Spain it is 1856. Consolidated my forces, destroyed the rebels, whipped and sphered Haiti for the prestige, same with Colombia.(Which was before I learned I cant attack sphered nations - should have read this thread before) Ive turned Cuba into a province as well as have annexed Panama and Suez for clear reasons. I also have Portugal, Two Sicilies, Brazil and USCA as spheres. Currently 6th GP.
I looked at the situation and it seemed like America was a natural rival in a battle between Anglo NA and Latin America. I've gotten most of the Americas under or going to be under my influence and I suspect if all continues by the mid 1860s I should have total diplomatic dominance over that part of the region. It appears the other GPS have allowed us full autonomy in that part of the world.
When the CSA was launched in 1855, I decided to fund their war, but with only two brigades they got slapped down and the Union made massive strides early (Eds.... please give the CSA more armies, I know they are supposed to lose, but come on now, 2 Brigades?). I was unable to wait until my status was at friendly for us to intervene nor could I wait any longer as the US main army started to grow rather quickly.
With their war going poorly, a sleeping US about to become an industrial and military giant, I decided to launch a war to humilate the US, tie down their forces and give the CSA a chance. Ive blockaded their ports, occupied Long Island and drew their Armies away from the south (which in a year still hasnt made another brigade even with my funding.) Britain, who I have carefully cultivated (along with Russia and France) as friendly GPs, granted Spain military access.
At this juncture, Im certain I wont be able to destroy their armies. I will need to grab land, keep their armies moving and get them to attack us in points of our choosing such as digigng in and using rivers as defence (Hello the Spirit of General Lee). There has been several battles and despite having 3 more bridages in their army, we've beaten them rather soundly causing their armies to retreat. Nonetheless, they obviously replenish their stores and keep coming back the next turn. With casualties and attrition becoming a problem the move now is to draw them farther North and use my access to British Canada to keep their army away from the CSA until they hopefully get another army to regain their lost lands. I've got a 4 brigades from the Army of Suez en route, but they really wont be much of a game changer.
The questions I have are:
What is the best way to grow my the number of Brigades? One to sustain over the long term, the other the quickest way to get there.
Ive got Cuba producing soldiers (the other NF is craftsmen in Spain to keep improving my industrial score, but when I restart tonight I suspect that will change to Soliders) but I need more and with a mil pop of 18, we will not be able to continue the war for long. I need I suspect a number of about 30+ and Id like to keep that number growing. Id like to be able to field a massive land army and seeing as I dont think we will be able to tech up quick enough Ill need numbers. Also, what is the best way to sustain and slowly grow my military population. I figured with all the illerate people in Spain they should be flocking to the the Army. I do not want to mobilize reserves, not before the US does as I hope they dont, I dont think we could compete.
Ive got my taxes at 80/80/50 ( in peace time I had them at 70/70/50 ), tariffs at 25% (peace time at 0%), the stockpile etc are all at 100%. Ive got about 90.5k in the bank and am just breaking even.
Second question, do blockades weaken the US economy? Aside from adding to my war score, how much do the blockades hurt the US?
Third, even though the CSA and I are both are war with the US, it is not the 'same' war. Will my forces be able to liberate CSA lands?
Fourth and somewhat unrelated, Ive read here and there about Ibernian Union, is this able to happen or just fanciful discussion and a theoretical thing people do as a "goal". I'm hoping for a final clarficiation on that.
Thank you and sorry for any redundancies.