The Hotness
Games|People|Company
Eclipse
Gunship: First Strike!
Mage Knight: Board Game
Midnight Men
Agricola: Die Bauern und das liebe Vieh
Hawaii
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth
Wiz-War
Ora et Labora
Rex: Final Days of an Empire
Snowdonia
Barbarian Prince
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
Twilight Struggle
War of the Ring
Agricola
7 Wonders
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (second edition)
Dominion
7 Wonders: Cities
Kingdoms
A Few Acres of Snow
Risk Legacy
Arkham Horror
Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin
1812: The Invasion of Canada
Dixit: Journey
Elder Sign
D-Day Dice
The Castles of Burgundy
Le Havre
Kingdom Builder
Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game
Race for the Galaxy
Cosmic Encounter
Dominant Species
Dungeon Petz
Battlestar Galactica
Power Grid
Mansions of Madness
Last Will
Twilight Imperium (third edition)
Nexus Ops
Agents of SMERSH
Puerto Rico
Star Trek: Fleet Captains
Kairo
Core Worlds
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
The Gamers' Civil War Brigade Series (CWBS)
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Recommend
79 
 Thumb up
0.06
 tip
 Thumb up
The Civil War Brigade Series is the first in The Gamers' series of... ummm.,. series.

The series emphasizes the command and control problems of the American Civil War. Orders are issued by the army commander to subordinate corps and/or division commanders. One then hopes that the orders will be received, accepted, and implemented in a timely fashion, and all will go as planned. But rarely is one so lucky! It may take hours before a command implements the orders, or he may not implement them at all. Worst of all, an impatient commander may decide to go 'loose cannon' and set his command haywire.

The system also implements gradual casualty effects. Over the course of the battle units continually become less and less effective, leading to an eventual sudden breakdown in the line. If one gives his units enough rest, however, they may be able to recover stragglers, ready for battle again.

All in all, a great system which truly captures the feel, frustration, and atmosphere of being an American Civil War army commander.
Your Tags: Add tags
Popular Tags: cwbs [+] multi-man_publishing [+] [View All]
1. Board Game: In Their Quiet Fields II [Average Rating:7.17 Overall Rank:1994]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Antietam/Sharpsburg
17 September 1862
5 scenarios

First game in the series, with a number of versions/printings.
1 
 Thumb up
0.01
 tip
 Thumb up
Steve Bernhardt
United States
saratoga springs
Utah
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Excellent game. After playing this a few years ago, I can still draw a map of the battlefield on a dare. Very meaty. I had a tough time because Burnside activated for some reason and came storming across the bridge. At the time, only had Hood's Division to act as the "fire brigade." Overall, very tense, thank god for corps attack stoppage. shake
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:21 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Pranno
United States
Chardon
Ohio
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Why has the orginal version not been added to the database?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
2. Board Game: Thunder at the Crossroads (second edition) [Average Rating:7.70 Overall Rank:1463]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Gettysburg
1-3 July 1863
11 scenarios

Includes hypothetical 4th Day and Jackson Lives scenarios.

See also This Hallowed Ground for regimental-scale coverage: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12134
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 0 comments
3. Board Game: August Fury [Average Rating:6.46 Unranked]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
2nd Manassas/Bull Run
29-30 August 1862
6 scenarios

This game was incorporated into the Three Battles of Manassas release below.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 0 comments
4. Board Game: Barren Victory [Average Rating:7.51 Overall Rank:2634]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Chickamauga
19-20 September 1863
6 scenarios

Considered by many to be the best entry into the series.

See also This Terrible Sound for regimental-scale coverage: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12141
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
I fought the dice and the dice won
United States
Vancouver
Washington
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This was scheduled for republishing (Barren Victory II: The Battle of Chickamauga), but then was dropped by MMP.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:51 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
5. Board Game: Bloody Roads South [Average Rating:7.03 Overall Rank:3666]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Wilderness
5-7 May 1864
7 scenarios
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 0 comments
6. Board Game: Perryville [Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:2999]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Perryville (Kentucky Campaign)
7-9 October 1862
4 scenarios

A good introductory entry in the series, with only one map and low density.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Rodney Schmisseur
United States
Lewisville
Texas
IMHO the CWB series truly shines when the player is "confronted" with historical leaders like McClellan, Pope, Bragg, Buell, McClernand, etc. Here they shine in all their "glory"...
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:32 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
7. Board Game: Embrace An Angry Wind [Average Rating:6.62 Overall Rank:3919]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Franklin
29-30 November 1864
4 scenarios

Covers both Franklin and Spring Hill. Another smaller-scale entry making good for beginners.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Kurt Over
United States
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Notable for having a solitaire-playable scenario where the player is the Confederate commander and the victory condition is to lose *more* troops than Hood did historically in the head-on attack on the Union position at Franklin.

- Kurt
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:41 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
8. Board Game: No Better Place to Die [Average Rating:7.14 Overall Rank:2184]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Murfreesboro
30 December 1862 - 2 January 1863
5 scenarios
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
oystein eker
Norway
Unspecified
sola
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The best intro game. Low counter density
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:06 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Tom DeFranco
United States
Norridge
Illinois
There are several great intro games to this system - Champion Hill, Perryville and the new 3BOM - but the short scenarios in this one are terrific. They allow the teaching player to introduce the beginner to the combat system without needing the command system and are, at the same time, tough, taut exercises in fire and close combat.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:59 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
9. Board Game: April's Harvest: The Battle of Shiloh, April 6 & 7, 1862 [Average Rating:7.05 Overall Rank:2532]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Shiloh
6-7 April 1862
4 scenarios

See also A Fearful Slaughter for regimental-scale coverage: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/10679
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Pastel map takes a bit of getting use to.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun May 7, 2006 6:43 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
10. Board Game: Champion Hill [Average Rating:7.01 Overall Rank:2805]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Champion Hill
16 May 1863
5 scenarios
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 0 comments
11. Board Game: Gaines Mill [Average Rating:7.31 Overall Rank:2797]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Seven Days Battles, Vol. 1
26-27 June 1862
7 scenarios

First of three volumes for the Seven Days Battles. Includes action north of the Chickahominy, including Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, and Cold Harbor
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 0 comments
12. Board Game: Seven Pines [Average Rating:7.75 Overall Rank:2850]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Seven Days Battles, Vol. 2
28-29 June 1862

Seven Pines
31 May - June 1 1862
5 scenarios

Second of three volumes for the Seven Days Battles. Covers the action due west of Richmond around Seven Pines and Savage Station. Also covers the Battle of Seven Pines a month earlier, before Lee's arrival.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
oystein eker
Norway
Unspecified
sola
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Probably the best of the three volumes.

Need some counters and a map from volume one to play additional scenario.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:11 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
13. Board Game: Malvern Hill [Average Rating:7.40 Overall Rank:3213]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Seven Days Battles, Vol. 3
30 June - 1 July 1862
7 scenarios

The final volume for the Seven Days Battles. Includes Glendale and Malvern Hill.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Tom DeFranco
United States
Norridge
Illinois
Put together, the three games (Gaines Mill, Seven Pines and Malvern Hill) should be considered, IMHO, as one of the finest gaming experiences at the ACW brigade level. Unfortunately, a lot of folks don't have the room for the nine map masterpiece. Do yourselves a favor, and try to find a place that will accommodate such a affair (or play it at Homercon or Consimworld's MonsterCon). It's well worth the effort. Along with Thunder at the Crossroads, Barren Victory and Dave Powell's regimental games, this trilogy should be considered as THE finest ACW wargame, period.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:13 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
14. Board Game: Three Battles of Manassas [Average Rating:7.91 Overall Rank:1562]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
1st Manassas/Bull Run
21 July 1861
6 scenarios

2nd Manassas/Bull Run
29-30 August 1862
6 scenarios

3rd Manassas/Bull Run (hypothetical)
Mid-October 1863
4 scenarios

Incorporates August Fury (2nd Manassas). The 1st Manassas scenarios are particularly interesting for the near lack of any command system, especially for the Confederates.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Eric Brosius
Spain
Needham Heights
Massachusetts
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Yes, 1st Manassas ("Clash of Volunteers") is ideal for teaching the system. You can give the new player the USA forces and he/she doesn't need to worry about the command rules for the first three turns.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:56 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
15. Board Game: Strike Them a Blow [Average Rating:7.36 Unranked]
Steven Mitchell
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
North Anna
23-25 May 1864
6 scenarios
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Keith Todd
United States

Oregon
mbmbmbmbmb
This game is now available at MMP
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat May 26, 2007 6:17 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
13 comments [Hide]
Post Comment
Mark Mokszycki
United States
Snohomish
Washington
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Nice list- thanks for doing this! I'm interested in getting into this series. I just recently became a fan of the Gamers, after playing the TCS series game GD '41. The rules, components, and support offered by this company is excellent, from what I've seen so far. My previous wargaming experience has been mainly with GMT and older Avalon Hill stuff, but Gamers have really captured my attention.

What do you think is the best starting point for this particular series... Perryville, maybe?
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:33 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Tom DeFranco
United States
Norridge
Illinois
To the poster who asked about the trilogy. Yes, I have. It was a great gaming experience.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:28 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Les Lauber
United States
Topeka
Kansas
I agree that NO BETTER PLACE TO DIE is an excellent starting point for getting into this series. I find it to be the best ACW simulation available on the market. I have used both NBPLD and PERRYVILLE to introduce individuals to this series, but I had to get PERRYVILLE from e-bay. And then was outbid on probably 6 copies before obtaining my copy.

Heh. The ones I lost out on were all used and went for more than $50. I got my copy for $12 and it was still shrink-wrapped. And that was back in the old days when $12 would still get you 18 gallons of gasoline.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:47 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Rodney Schmisseur
United States
Lewisville
Texas
I would vote for No Better Place To Die than Perryville as an intro point, although Champion Hill also merits consideration. The CWB series truly shines when the player is "confronted" with an historical leader like a Bragg or Buell. But watching them come face-to-face in Perryville may be too much of a good thing for someone just learning the command rules and chaffing at the bit to "go do something" game-wise. Add the inherent weakness of the exposed Union 1st Corps and you end up with an historical "why bother?". Perryville is one of those moments where what might have happened, given different leadership, far outshines what actually did happen.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:24 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mieke Haveman
Netherlands

I have always loved this series and played several of them years ago. Right now I have a couple of them on Ebay.
Due to an arm injury I cannot play them any longer and I have debated selling them for a long time. Finally decided that I would better like others to enjoy them then them sitting here on the shelf. But it was a difficult decicion. If I had more space I would keep them
cry
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:59 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Front Page | Welcome | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Advertise | Support BGG | Feeds RSS
Geekdo, BoardGameGeek, the Geekdo logo, and the BoardGameGeek logo are trademarks of BoardGameGeek, LLC.