American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

As I pass my third year in the club, I love the games and enjoy the folks. However, I become more convinced as I play the scenarios, that the Confederate artillery is just too damn effective in these games. I have moving arty, they counter-fire and wipe out guns. I sit still, fire at their arty, and get a kill about once for every 5-6 they kill.

They are able to fire almost every time troops or arty cross their LOS.

Hopefully this is a valid observation and not just the groans of despair as I lose games.

MG Elkin
XVI Corp Commander
AotT

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I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies. . . . Let us look before us, and not behind

Funny, as a Reb it seems just the opposite to me. If I engage in artillery duels it seems my losses pile up a lot quicker than the Yanks, no matter how equal the guns in type or number or what kind of protection i have them in. I thought there might be one of those secret modifiers we never hear about to account for the faulty Confederate fuses or something. Of course, I play phase almost exclusively, while it sounds like you play turn. Maybe that is the difference.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

From my limited experience I have seen it both ways. I have been "sniped" at by Rebel arty, but have also, in different games, been able to "snipe back.

I have a belief in what works well. We can discuss this in detail in the union forums.

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Brigadier General Kevin Koch
2/2/VI
AotS

I am more than comfortable for ya all to discuss it here

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General Cam McOmish

Brigade Commander
Alabama State Volunteers
Cleburne's Division
Hardee's Corps
(1/1/1)
Army of Tennessee
Confederate States of America

I'll see you in the Winchester Back room.

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Gen. Drex Ringbloom,
AotS ,Commanding

Can't say as the Reb I have ever had that problem. Usually the Rebel's don't have enough rifled guns to even attempt an artillery dual. My current Antietam games I spend most of my time hiding my batteries so the Yankee guns won't wipe them out. Sometimes the Rebels can put together a local superiority and I have seen a few scenarios where the Rebel guns had better crew ratings although I am not certain how this affects hits. But I still like to play the Union side every once in a while so I can have fun with the rifled guns.

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General Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
AoT II/1/3 (CSA)

I don't get to play as the Yank often, but I know I look forward to using their arty when I do! It just seems to me that I do better with Yank arty than I do with Reb arty. Love the Yank arty!

To address General Elkin's concern, I have three words that may sum up the whole issue, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Yes, the old real estate phrase. No, it is not just that simple, and there are other things that need to be kept in mind, but it so very important. It can make all the difference when you have fewer lower quality long range guns in a counter-battery dual with more higher quality long range guns, Yank or Reb.

In my opinion, that is.

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Lt. Mark Davis
Army of the Potomac

To beat any arty, Reb or yankee, higher elevation, defense modifiers like woods,etc. and massed batteries can do the trick.

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Gen. Drex Ringbloom,
AotS ,Commanding

Fwiw - the CSA achilles heel, artillery-wise in the historical Gettysburg scenarios (in Campaign Gettysburg) is their ammo levels. Less than judicious useage by the Southern player in the 3 day battle results in their side having bingo ammo -and then they are dead meat.

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~Retired~

We have a winner! All you will ever need to know to win an artillery duel is what Drex said there.