Scourge of War Boards

How does everyone feel about the hand to hand fighting in the game?

Personally, I feel that it occurs way too often and that the Rebels are really overpowered.

I know there is a consensus/myth that the confederates were generally better fighters, but I just watched an entire fresh and high moraled Union brigade of mine get utterly torn to pieces by a small rebel regiment. I'm talking over 200 casualties in less than 30 seconds, with no attempts to fight back from the blue side, for each individual fight. I've seen stuff like this multiple times now.

I understand that most of the union brigade was probably only volunteer level, and that the rebels might have had a better shot in melee, but this just seems like an instant win tactic for the gray side. They charge, they slaughter, they win, they repeat. No use for tactics.

Is this how it really was? I could understand the amount/overpowering if the game were late in the war, but by the Battle of Gettysburg, did the confederates have such a flawlessly dominating and factual record in melee? I f anyone knows, I'd love to be informed, so that I can just accept it and try to overcome it.

What does everyone else think? It bugs me a good bit right now.

I have had quite a share of victories in melee with the Union as well. It probably just happens too fast with calculating casualties and morale loss, on that I perfectly agree with you but on my personal opinion the rebs are much stronger but not really so overpowered as you said.

Terrain, fatigue, morale (and the eventual boost from a commander) and unit experience are also factors to keep in mind when a melee takes place and not just the edged skill of the rgt.

I have had a certain degree of success in stopping multiple charges from the rebs if your regiments are properly placed. As soon as the reb wins the melee it gets under fire from all the regiments behind the defeated one and I seldom saw two charges in a row both winning, on the contrary that charging reb regiment when unsupported is routed more often than not. The problem is that the AI is quite skilled in advancing in compact formations.

Do like I do, if you see that the Melee is about to take place, retreat your regiment, they will quickly regain their morale , and reform into battle-line.

This works a lot better than risking a loss of half their strength, or the regiment surrendering.

BTW – In the real battle of Gettysburg – the confederates walked away with thousands of union prisoners, if I remember correctly, but it’s been years since I have read about the battle. I think that most of them were within the first day of battle.

davinci

Hi,

Melee should be rarer, very rare. If my reading has been correct.

What should happen is that just before contact is made one side or the other should chicken out and turn and run. Near melee was no doubt quite common but actual man to man combat has should be very rare.

Bayonet casualties were tiny in the Civil War. But no doubt many were shot at very close range. Melee should be over quickly.

All interesting stuff,
All the best,
Kip.

Kip wrote:

Hi,

Melee should be rarer, very rare. If my reading has been correct.

What should happen is that just before contact is made one side or the other should chicken out and turn and run. Near melee was no doubt quite common but actual man to man combat has should be very rare.

Bayonet casualties were tiny in the Civil War. But no doubt many were shot at very close range. Melee should be over quickly.

I agree, Kip, melee in the Civil War was rare. Very few bayonet casualties. The overwhelming tendency of any charge was to stop short of contact, stand and fire, even at short range, rather than close. I think there could be a morale check which should stop most charges before they melee. Even TC'd, you shouldn't be able to make flesh-and-blood men do that very often.