A few beginners questions - from a beginner

[Chortle]

Hello everyone,

I completed the tutorials yesterday and played today. A few things are confusing me.

During the game I'm occasionally told to urgently send forces to a position indicated, or indicated on the map. Is there an easy way of spotting where this position is? I'd expect a flashing light, but nothing grabs my attention. Is there a "go to last indicated/objective spot" button?

At times I please for help from other Generals. But I can't find them. I tried having a look through the ORBAT. Is there a search function, or a "go to him" button that I've missed on these messages?

I send my artillery off to good spots. Unlimber it. Then it limbers up and buggers off. Do I need to shoot the horses to get them to stay put? Am I missing something like artillery not wanting to be within x miles of the enemy?

My lines want to fire through each other, or across each other. Am I killing my own people? What is the effectiveness or partially/fully occluded fire?

Cheers

Neil

[Garnier]

You just have to click the Take Control button on the battery commander, and then give the batter an order to move somewhere. Then the guns will stay put unless enemy troops get too close.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

Welcome to the game.

During the game I'm occasionally told to urgently send forces to a position indicated, or indicated on the map. Is there an easy way of spotting where this position is? I'd expect a flashing light, but nothing grabs my attention. Is there a "go to last indicated/objective spot" button?

There will be a small green star on the map. That's the spot. It may occasionally be at the same spot you are at presently.

At times I please for help from other Generals. But I can't find them. I tried having a look through the ORBAT. Is there a search function, or a "go to him" button that I've missed on these messages?
No there is no magic button. You are already doing the right thing by searching through the OOB. It may be that he is not part of your chain of command. In that case click on the overall commander in the top left corner. Then you can work your way down the entire OOB until you find him. When you do, click on him and press the "go to the unit button." And there you are.

I send my artillery off to good spots. Unlimber it. Then it limbers up and buggers off. Do I need to shoot the horses to get them to stay put? Am I missing something like artillery not wanting to be within x miles of the enemy?

The arty will usually stop when it gets within range of the enemy and begin firing. Garnier gave the right solution to this problem. If they get to the assigned spot and then move off, it means either it really is not a very good one and the enemy can't be seen clearly or someone in the battery's chain of command has ordered it to a different place. In which case just keep the battery commander TC'd. Or you can shoot the horses.

My lines want to fire through each other, or across each other. Am I killing my own people? What is the effectiveness or partially/fully occluded fire?

No. There are no friendly fire casualties.

[Chortle]

Thanks everyone. I tried taking command of artillery and it did what I wanted. It was then trampled by a Reb Brigade;-)

How much of what artillery fires are overhead rounds (e.g. like Shrapnel which can be fired over your own troops). Anything else to be taken into account, like a minimum distance from your own troops when firing overhead? I try to be clear in front so I can fire canister.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

Solid shot is the best arty ammo at distances greater than 200 yd. Order your batteries to use that and you'll see some impressive arty scores.

[Chortle]

It is fired indirectly, right? Most of the time my artillery end up firing over my own troops.

BTW, I keep slaying the enemy but ending up with Major defeats in points terms. I am missing some vital points!

[Marching Thru Georgia]

The arty only uses direct fire, but the troops must be 20 feet below the arty for them to fire over the infantry's heads.

[Chortle]

I tried this last night and artillery seemed to fire overhead of troops on the same level and just 100 yards in front. There could perhaps have been a height difference I didn't see. But I tried this from four locations.