Game Labs, you made a fantastic game....but please read this because there's so much that could be done better. I recently finished the Confederate Campaign, and here is my experience: I won nearly every single battle (playing on easy mode to learn the game) and had a giant army of well-trained troops. At the Battle of Cold Harbor, one of the objectives was to capture 3 different key points. The only problem is that you get about half as much time as you need to capture the 3 objectives. After the time runs out, you lose the battle. Here's the real crappy part: YOU LOSE THE WHOLE DARN WAR TOO. Seriously??? Did you guys even play this before you released it??? Another gripe is the flanking and rout mechanics. It was WAY too easy for a unit to be "flanked" (which really means they weren't attacked from head-on in this game). Even if there are friendly units on the left and right, the middle one can still be hit with the "flank" penalty and routes about 30 seconds later. Last Gripe: Cavalry and Skirmisher units are completely USELESS. Why devote an entire battalion to skirmishers when you can just detach them from an infantry battalion??? Cavalry units take a few shots at the enemy, then literally run away as far as they can get from the battle. You have to micromanage every single movement of cavalry, and even then they are nearly impossible to command. Not to mention enemy cavalry runs right through your lines and now becomes a huge pain in the butt to deal with. TL;DR I put many many hours into this game despite its flaws because it's the best strategy game on the market (other than Civ). But please....Fix the mechanics.
