Great Battles of the American Civil War - the Next Generation
Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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This list tracks the second generation of the popular regimental American Civil War game system that started with Terrible Swift Sword (SPI) in 1976. (The list following the original system (1976-1986) is available at http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listid=75...
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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The Horse Soldiers, in 3W's S&T 119, was the first change in the venerable TSS system. Gone was the sequential movement system, and instead the impulse movement system. The results? A new era in the GBACW system begins.
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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Baton Rouge makes its appearence in 3W's S&T133, featuring supporting fire by an Ironclad. The real draw, though, is the actual battle in the streets of Baton Rouge. But by the time this game sees print, the GBACW has turned into a road show....
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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...with the release of The Guns of Cedar Creek by Simulation Designs Inc. Officially listed as Volume 13 in the GBACW system, Cedar Creek breathes new life into the system. Berg's super treatment & great maps are well received, as is the revival of a terrific system. But it is the paper-thin counters that are the main chatter!
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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First Blood is the second release of the new SDI GBACW system, boasting 4 maps on slick quality paper - and 6 sheets of super-thick laminated counters! With the basic and exclusive rule books, the game commands the attention of ACW fans, redeeming the goodwill the poor counters in Guns cost SDI.
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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The Dead of Winter, also known as the battle of Murfreesboro. Last of the SDI games? Berg jumps to GMT, and in 1995 releases yet another version of Gettysburg -and again to aclaim!
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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But it is another 4 years before the next actual development. In 1999, GMT releases the Battle of Chickamauga, a fan favorite.
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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Red Badge of Courage follows in 2001, which is a prickly problem, since it re-creates the same games as First Blood (the 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas!)
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Russell Gifford
United States
South Sioux City
Nebraska
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The system comes full circle, with the third release of the Gettysburg battle - still three maps, still regimental, still a great game - but oh so many changes by then!
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The end result is counters that look incredibly busy and loud. More importantly, the colors are so close in appearance that it is difficult to organize the units by brigade without a lot of squinting. The original TSS counters had no problem showing the formation.
Berkeley
California
Burnsville
Minnesota
So, if I were going to suggest this system to a new player, I'd go with Pea Ride or Wilson's Creek. Small, fast action and a way to get your feet wet. I still see punched copies available for reasonable dough.
Laval
Quebec
Seattle
Washington
Next, I'd probably go with one of the Gamers/MMP CWB series games. It's got a large rule book, but one that's fairly easy to digest. For your first playing, skip the command and control rules and just go to a short scenario where the troops are already in contact to learn the combat mechanics. I think No Better Place to Die (battle of Stones River) is currently on sale at the MMP website for $10.
After that, I'd go for Red Badge of Courage. It's a fairly digestable (2 maps) game with some small learning scenarios and the two full battles of 1st and 2nd Bull Run. I think the current GBACW games work pretty well as there is no record keeping (everything is kept track of by markers on the unit counters). The system does a nice job a showing the chaos on the battlefield with the orders system and chit pull activiations. The graphics on the GMT games are far superior to the older SPI, SPI/TSR and SDI games.
The Gamers/MMP regimental series is also good, but the only reasonable sized one is A Fearful Slaughter (Shiloh)with two maps and a price tag of under $100.
New York City
New York
you can skip BattleCry if you are over 8 years old...
There are plenty of gamers here to help you along and these are two terrific games. You just have to ask...
After that is played, and you have decided on which direction you want to go - you can look at the premier ACW games out there - GBACW (as listed here), The Gamers CWB (although I would grab a $10 copy of No Better Place to Die now - that is a price worth jumping at)...or Summer Storm (a third complex game type that people don't mention here often but worth a passing thought)...we'll be here to tell you about those three when you are ready.
Adam