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The Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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While researching wargames based on the American Civil War, I discovered the highly regarded "Great Campaigns of the American Civil War" series. I thought it would be useful to have a list of the titles together with gamers comments and preferences.

Your comments are appreciated. Tells us what you think of these titles. Which are your favorites and why? Which don't you like? Which would be the best introduction to the series? Which are the most complicated, simplest, quickest, most rewarding?

Thanks, and game on!
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Popular Tags: gcacw [+] series [+] [View All]
1. Board Game: Stonewall Jackson's Way [Average Rating:7.61 Overall Rank:931]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The first game in the series covering the 2nd Manassas campaign.
Released in 1992
Average Rating: 7.91
Standard Deviation: 1.37
 
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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An excellent member of this outstanding series of games.

Stonewall has almost super human powers, but it captures the spirit of these early engagements. Several great scenarios of varying length. All challenge the Union player, but attempting to "repeat history" is not as easy as the Confederate player might think.

My second favorite member of the family (after HCR).
 
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  • Posted Sat May 24, 2008 3:16 am
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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After the release of Battle Above the Clouds this title is planned for refitting and re-release. New scenarios will include the First Battle of Bull Run.
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  • Posted Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:18 pm
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2. Board Game: Here Come the Rebels [Average Rating:7.62 Overall Rank:943]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The second game in the series covering the Antietam campaign.
Released in 1993
Average Rating: 7.84
Standard Deviation: 1.21
 
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The first member of the series I acquired, and still my favorite. I picked it up here on the Geek 3 years ago for 20 bucks. McClellan's Opportunity and South Mountain are in the series' top 10 scenarios in my opinion.

I still prefer playing with the rules from this version, after SiV they just started getting overwrought.
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  • Posted Sat May 24, 2008 3:04 am
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3. Board Game: Roads to Gettysburg [Average Rating:7.82 Overall Rank:1029]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The third game in the series covers the battle of Gettysburg.
Released in 1993
Average Rating: 7.83
Standard Deviation: 1.20
 
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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A solid member of the franchise, but to really, really appreciate the game it has to be played with hidden forces as described in The General (v30 no3) and again in Skirmisher #2 article "Fog of War" by BGG's own Patrick Hirtle.

The campaign game is excellent, and the most playable campaign of the GCACW series. Random entry of the AoP, die roll for movement, and random weather all makes for a very replayable game
 
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  • Edited Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:16 pm
  • Posted Sat May 24, 2008 3:07 am
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4. Board Game: Stonewall in the Valley [Average Rating:7.66 Overall Rank:1054]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The fourth game in the series covering the Shenandoah Valley campaign.
Released in 1995
Average Rating: 7.87
Standard Deviation: 1.49
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Seth Owen
United States
Norwich
Connecticut
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This one is a little different from the rest because it involves very small armies fighting over a very larhe area for an extended period of time. This give sit a somewhat different feel from the rest.
 
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  • Posted Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:20 am
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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I like this one as it has a very different feel from the other games. The Valley is a huge space for the game's small units and maneuver, a real strength of the series, is king here.

Calvary isn't dwarfed by the other units either, its excellent mobility makes it a real asset in the Valley as well.

Probably my third favorite member of the series.

Cross Keyes/Port Republic is one of the series' top 5 scenarios.
 
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  • Edited Tue May 27, 2008 2:45 am
  • Posted Sat May 24, 2008 3:11 am
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5. Board Game: Stonewall's Last Battle [Average Rating:7.61 Overall Rank:1207]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The fifth game in the series covering the Chancellorsville campaign
Released in 1996
Average Rating: 7.83
Standard Deviation: 1.19
 
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Steve Malton
United States
Pleasant HIll
California
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I believe Ed Beach designed the scenarios to be shorter for tournament play.
The map used in SLB is the same as one of the maps used in SJW.
Since I bought this game, we've had a child and there's another on the way so this game is up for trade.
 
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  • Posted Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:46 am
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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A decent member of the franchise, as it has some good tournament, i.e. short, scenarios.

But it's worth getting for the very dynamic calvary scenario "Brandy Station" alone. the color player's aides (by the designer of Hannibal: CvR) are a must have for any series aficionado as well.

 
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  • Posted Sat May 24, 2008 3:15 am
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6. Board Game: On to Richmond! [Average Rating:8.01 Overall Rank:1307]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The sixth game in the series covering the Peninsula campaign.
Released in 1998
Average Rating: 8.11
Standard Deviation: 1.15
 
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7. Board Game: Grant Takes Command [Average Rating:8.02 Overall Rank:962]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The seventh and most recent installment of the series covering Grant's overland campaign on Richmond.
Released in 2001
Average Rating: 8.81
Standard Deviation: 1.01
 
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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I own it, I love the color coded counters, I wish they'd color coded the commanders to their Corps though.

The map is the least attractive of the franchise, the engagements consist of huge stacks (or cluttered force tracking cards) full of units, and maneuver - the series' great strength is down played in many scenarios as the antagonists hammer away in set piece battles.

Probably my least favorite of the gang. I gave it a try, and then pulled out SiV - which is the antithesis of this title.

I find people prefer one or the other ... I'm definitely camped in the Valley.
 
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  • Posted Sat May 24, 2008 3:20 am
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8. Board Game: Battle Above the Clouds [Average Rating:8.35 Overall Rank:1555]
Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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The 8th game in the series covering the 1863 summer/autumn campaign around Chattanooga and Chickamauga. The first member of the series set in the Western Theater.
Release planed for 2009
Average Rating: TBD
Standard Deviation: TBD
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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Update:

This game passed it's preorder goal in less than three months and is entering the production queue. The map and counter graphics are said to be complete/near complete so it may well hit stores by this Autumn.
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  • Posted Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:57 am
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12 comments [Hide]
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Seth Owen
United States
Norwich
Connecticut
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As far as simplicity or game mechanics go there is very little to choose from between the titles. While the system has evolved somewhat through the games, there has not been a big change in complexity. It's a very good system, interesting to play, reasonably authentic and challenging. They are, however, very intricate in the way that only wargames can be and are therefore not for everybody.
 
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  • Posted Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:18 am
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Iain K
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I've only played a few of the games myself, been meaning to leave comments / a synopsis but just haven't had the time. Can you say "baby" ?
 
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  • Posted Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:57 pm
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phil paulsson


North Dakota
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I used to have these games, but unfortuantely they were damaged when my basement flooded. Does anyone have the setups for the various scenarios that they could email to me? Since they are out of print I can't get replacements from MMG, and I refuse to pay someone $70 on ebay for a new copy.
 
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  • Posted Sat Jun 2, 2007 6:16 am
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Elijah Lau
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There's a possibility of SJW being reprinted with a 1st Manassas module. Here's hoping...

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1676238#1676238
 
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  • Posted Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:55 am
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Steve M
United States
Lubbock
Texas
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I know this list is extra old, but I wanted to let you know I really appreciated it. I was looking for an ACW series and needed more info about them, and your opinions were really helpful for all the games.

I decided on GCACW and I preordered the new Battle Above the Clouds and got a copy of Grant Takes Command to start. Really glad they're going west now.

I would love to get a copy of On To Richmond, just like everybody else too...
 
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  • Posted Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:31 pm
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