American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

How do you prepare for a Battle?

If you don't know the Battle your about to Fight.....do you Read up on it? Google it? Roku Civil War search ? Re-watch Ken Burns Civil War series?


Listen i'm a Big Fan of the Civil war...but i'm not to sure on all the Battles....I usually look up the Battle online...and see how it was fought and try to improve on it ...If i can.


What are some of your Preps?

_________________
Lt. Col. D. J. Hawkins 6/3/II
ANV "Jackson's Corps"
Chief of Staff ,CSA

I look at the info online and read some (more skim than read) of my reference books to get a feel, but that is about it.

_________________
General Ernie Sands
President ACWGC -Sept 2015- Dec 2020
7th Brigade, 1st Division, XVI Corps, AoT
ACWGC Records Site Admin

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."

As a newer member of the club, and having a limited cache of games, (currently Peninsula) I am taking a total immersion approach before moving on to the next campaign. I am trying all kinds of scenarios and have started a couple campaign games, all the while reading up on as much of the campaign as I can. My goal is to master the current campaign I am in before moving on/ buying the next campaign.

_________________
Brigadier General Kevin Koch
2/2/VI
AotS

I very rarely do any form of preparation prior to a battle, which maybe a reason my win/loss record is not that flash.

_________________
General Cam McOmish

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

Very Cool...Suh!.....I like that approach.....

_________________
Lt. Col. D. J. Hawkins 6/3/II
ANV "Jackson's Corps"
Chief of Staff ,CSA

I'm in the same boat as you are Suh!......

_________________
Lt. Col. D. J. Hawkins 6/3/II
ANV "Jackson's Corps"
Chief of Staff ,CSA

We will see how my approach lasts. HPS has already placed two more Civil War titles on Direct Download and part of my approach is due to the fact I only own one title!

_________________
Brigadier General Kevin Koch
2/2/VI
AotS

My preparation is to research my opponents, confir with my MP pards, make command assignments and develop a plan of attack or defence and then do all in my power to exicute same. Hardy ever works the way it should but heck it is a lot of fun.

Regards,

_________________
With Highest Regards;
Allan Hovey
Army of Tennessee, CSA
Commanding

LoL!...I hear ya...I plan..I plan ...and Boom should have Zig'd when i Zag'd....

_________________
Lt. Col. D. J. Hawkins 6/3/II
ANV "Jackson's Corps"
Chief of Staff ,CSA

I urge the study of the historical battle but it is really irrelevant to the battle you will actually fight. Your opponent probably knows the setup, knows the strength of your forces and where they will come from or where they are at. He may have fought the battle many times and it is most probable you will not fight the historical battle but some other manifestation of it. The only similarity is the terrain and the OOB. This is actually more fun because the outcome is not foreseeable in most cases.

_________________
Gen. Drex Ringbloom,
AotS ,Commanding

Agreed! To All points Suh!

_________________
Lt. Col. D. J. Hawkins 6/3/II
ANV "Jackson's Corps"
Chief of Staff ,CSA

I may take a quick look at the map to get an idea of a VERY basic strategy, but thats about it. I'm not a detailed planner, so I come up with a basic strategy to jump off with, and then change it as the battle evolves. Those battles, they will rarely go as they did historically.

That said, one of the most enjoyable things that I do accompanying my battle is to find a fresh 'read' on that battle. I love studying battles of the Civil War and when I start a battle I will try to find a book I have not read on it before, and read it. Sometimes I will re-read one of my books if it has been awhile... I don't do this to 'prepare' for the battle. It does give me a familiarity with the historical battle and how it evolved, but I do it specifically to learn about the OOB and the commanders involved, and that makes the gameplay much more enjoyable for me. It takes it way beyond blue and butternut colored counters, now seeing the units bring to mind knowledge I have of how that unit fought, and the commanders even down to BC's, I almost feel like I know because of the knowledge I have of their personality.

Does it help me win the battle? No. Does it notch up the fun factor for me? You bet.

_________________
Lt. Mark Davis
Army of the Potomac

LoL! That's what i'm about too!

_________________
Lt. Col. D. J. Hawkins 6/3/II
ANV "Jackson's Corps"
Chief of Staff ,CSA