American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

Gentlemen:

While I am in total agreement with the present "club rules" regarding 'gamey' play and things of this nature, I don't want us to get to the point where there are so many 'house rules' that I have to keep diving for a rules booklet somewhere. I left that world in the BoardWar gaming hobby, and I don't care to return. Supply wagons and routed units to block retreats etc. I would hope that we have not encountered too many players utilizing these tactics. If so that person may eventually find themselves playing the AI a lot.

I like the game engine "to shake out" some of these problems if possible, and yes I know that the present engine doesn't always do this. Usually game play of this nature backfires on someone using those kind of tactics. But please, let's not go back to simply playing Board Wargames on the computer. One could use "Cyberboard" or "Aide de Camp" for that.

Two house rules I've used in games several times that I like are
1. Units of a Brigade who's officer failed his command check cannot move adjacent to the enemy. (easy to tell as his command rating is yellow)
2. D'd units cannot move adjacent to the enemy. (they can stay there if already adjacent)

This cuts down on the total control you have in the game. When I used this I find fewer casualties and less melees as often one brigade is able to advance but the one next to it isn't. So either you make an unsupported advance or stay put.

Lt.Gen.Ken Miller
Veteran's Divsion
VIII / AoS

I am also not terribly fond of House rules. They clutter up the clean game play offered by using a PC. Patches to address game play issues are fine, but I prefer house rules be kept to a minimum, especially overly specific, exacting and complicated house rules. I do observe the No Lone Officer scouts (forward of friendly lines) rule, the no drawing of ADF fire with supply wagons rule & rules regarding the misuse of wagons and officers to block access routes and to isolate enemy units preparatory to a melee. I also feel that exiting the map to preserve a shaky victory is not often sporting and should therefore be discussed before the game begins. No pre-game discussion, no map exits. Other than that, I have enough minutiae to keep track of at work, and prefer that my leisure time not bear too great a similarity to a bureaucratic exercise. Of course, not everyone will agree with my take on house rules. In my experience most club members are able find opponents whose attitudes regarding the general topic of house rules, as well as the appropriateness of specific house rules, are in general concurrence. Heck! People can’t even agree on using the Turn vs. Phase modes of play. For that matter, I avoid multiplayer games like the plague. Say it with me folks……… Discuss your preference in rules with your opponent before the game is begun.

Gen'l Callmeyer
4th Bgd.-1st Div.-XV Corps-AoT

I'm currently playing 7 Days Battle with these house rules.
1. Infantry can melee only from battleline except through hexes that would disrupt or prohibit line formation movement, i.e. town, marsh, abbattis, bridge.
2. Leaders, wagons,limbered artillery cannot block retreat for melee.
3. Units used to block retreat in melee cannot move further that turn.
4. A vague can't attack at night rule that we are still trying to work out the details on.

So far, i really like the melee rules. Easy to remember but they really do slow down the column blitzkrieg melee. This is the first time that i've played explicit house rules this detailed but i'm increasingly in the camp of those who think the HPS melee dynamics need to be made "more historical". My take on house rules is that once agreed upon, any that make the contest less "gamey" and more historical are good.

Col Ed Lytwak
2/2/XV/AoT/USA

All.

While I wasn`t looking for a debate on House Rules many weighed in on not likeing them. I suspect they are used rather infrequently( not counting the "official" ones from the club). I too am not an offiendo of house rules but when I did use them I found they were easy to use once one got into the flow, added realism( prevented gaminess) and actually made for better games.

Field Lt. Tony Best