"New to ACW need a little help" Topic

My two oldest sons (both in elementary school) and I have started an ACW gaming project together in commemeration of its 150th anniversary (I know we started late). I few years back I purchased a very large lot of 1/72nd scale plastics in anticipation of doing a father son project (thank you ColCambell). We've gotten started and painted some minis and I hope to do some gaming with them this summer. Now I need to start looking for a set of rules that would move quick enough that a ten year old could stay interested in and clear enough to allow him to make decisions. Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated.

CC

If you have a 'large lot' of figures then it sounds like you are not planning to do small skirmishes. For larger battles, I like Black Powder. The basic rules are very basic, indeed, and ought to be within the grasp of a ten-year old.

Have to recommend the Fire and Fury brigade rules. Might be hard to find, but they occasionaly show up on ebay.

CC, I think we have what you are looking for. We have used our "GETTYSBURG SOLDIERS" rules to introduce many school groups and novices to ACW gaming.
You can call or email me through our painting service website.

Hope you enjoy your project with your boys,
Larry GettysburgSoldiers.com

Lots of rules out there – first determine how many troops you want to put on the table at once and if you are more interested in a Skirmish, Regiment or Brigade level game.

For anything but Skirmish I like Fire and Fury

Fire and Fury – Brigade Level – at fireandfury.com/store.php

Scale is 1 / 150 or 1 / 200

You can also find the regimental version there as well

I would suggest, "A Union So Tested", our ACW version of "Look,Sarge, No Charts"

Figures are mounted on stands representing battlions, and players control divsions. Our armies are made up of 10mm figures but other folks I know have used 1/72 figures and they work just great.

For more details see:

link

And scroll down to the blue box near the bottom of the page.

Find a copy of the BATTLECRY game. It has lots of plastic soldiers -- which you already have -- but also a nice set of generic rules and terrain tiles that can be set up in lots of different battles.

CC, send me your e-dress and I'll send you a copy of
_On To Richmond_, a brigade-level set of ACW rules
which is fairly simple and has a lot of explanatory
information as well.

eamohrmannATmindspringDOTcom

If you want to go with brigades or even divisions as your basic units, try my free rules, available here in your choice of format:
link

Great call for period

We use a set of home-made rules modified from the Perry Firepower rules – they are good simple rules for regimental level combat – if you want a copy, send me a PM and I will send them along

Thanks for all of the generous responses.I'm always astounded by the generousity of the TMP community. I should have noted how many minis we will have at our disposal. We have about 200 infantry per side, 50 cavalry per side, and around a dozen guns per side. That's a pretty conservative estimate but it's all we'll get painted by this Summer. I have Battle Cry and have played it with the kids. I plan on using it via a hex mat to introduce ACW miniature gaming wih the hopes of spring boarding into another set of rules.

CC

^^^I think that is a great idea.

CC, I sent you that file about 20 minutes ago (1635 EST).

I taught my son Volley and Bayonet when he was 7. He enjoys it a lot and it has the added benefit o allowing you to do full battles that recognizable from history.

CC, just in case you haven't seen it here is a link to the unnoficial Battle Cry support page full of extra scenarios and play aids. thewargamer.com/BattleCry

I would recommend Junior General, having used these rules myself with my boys and their friends.

juniorgeneral.org

There are three sets of rules for ACW land battles that would work (they are almost all the same with minor tweats). The site is maintained by a teacher so the rules are designed for Children in school setting but the can be modified as you see fit.