Something has changed balance wise.......

[gbs]

I started playing again after the feature patch came out. It really makes playing much more enjoyable. BUT it seems that the engagement balance (for lack of a better description) has changed since the original issue. The yanks seem much more powerful now in comparison to the rebs than before. I like to play the rebs and I'm not a good player. I also like to use couriers for realism of the pace of battle. It now looks like if two regiments approach each other and engage at 160 yds that the rebel unit immediately goes negative and continues that way until they rout. I mean every time. I've watched this time and time again. I'm talking about head to heAD with no flanking or any of that. Also, in hand to hand combat I no longer see the rebels win one of those unless they have a great big advantage in numbers and morale.
To illustrate, I created a balanced, line of sight, brigade vs Brigade battle on cavalry field with Gen Gordon and his Georgia boys. Didn't use couriers this time and I TCd each regiment (6) so as to increase my reaction to the battle. I got my men to the high ground first and the and put four in line with two in reserve in column for quick movement forward. The yanks move into range toward my line. The engagement was 10 to 12 minutes old when my first regiment routed (yanks never seem to rout anymore)so I stopped the battle and took account of my troops. Gordon was -220 and 5 regiments were negative ranging from -6 to -112. The sixth regiment was 0 because he hadn't engaged yet. All seven yank regiments had positive scores totaling +220.
The rebs look like a bunch of wimps that can't shoot straight. I said I was not a good player but I had some measure of success before with the game. Does anyone else see this or is it that I am just that bad?
Kinda sucks really....

[Little Powell]

I'm not sure if it's a bug or something but nothing was touched to change the balance of the sides. The infantry wasn't changed at all in fact except for the fatigue changes, but that effects all units...

Anyone else seeing this? No one reported anything like this during pre-release testing.

[gbs]

Try a set up like I described Mr. Powell. Watch reb vs yank regiments and see if any rebs gain an advantage during the engagement. I'm going to do the same as a yanky unit and see if the opposite occurs.

[Garnier]

The only difference is that artillery is more deadly, which will benefit the yanks more in stock OOBs since they already have better artillery.

Hasn't affected us in MP since we have equal artillery on both sides.

[gbs]

Well, I tried the same set up as yanks...no cannons....brigade vs brigade.....I was some union Col. Who I didn't know...turns out I was up against Gordon.....after 10mins. I stopped the game with a major loss...I was minus 254...my regiments were negative 80, 69, 99, 6 .....i am not doing anything but moving my regiments to the best position to fight.....maybe the AI just does better.......I might try playing with the settings a bit.....I don't think it is me.....if you guys are whipping the AI, I want to know what you are doing.

[RebBugler]

Earlier you mentioned TC'ing Regiments...Big No No when engaged, they can't wheel and concentrate their firepower on the primary target. Otherwise, I've seen no balance changes regarding infantry.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

I agree with RebBugler. Once the firing begins, the AI is no different than before. It does maneuver better now. That sounds like that may be your problem. You indicate that you just march your men up to some nice ground and blast away. In spite of the close formed troops, 19th century warfare was all about maneuver. Stand and deliver went out of style when Fredrick the Great showed up. Get on the enemy's flanks. Maneuver your troops so that two regiments are firing at a single enemy regiment. When that one breaks, move so you can bring superior firepower on the next one. Try to fix the enemy line in place with as few regiments as possible while you bring superior numbers to bear on one of the wings. When you see them wavering, give them the bayonet! A little patience and experimenting and you'll soon be saying how weak the AI is. That's when you'll be ready for the humility of HITS.