"Best Ruleset for Introducing New Gamers to the ACW?" Topic

If you wanted to introduce some wargamers to the American Civil War, which ruleset would you use?

Black Powder! So long as you have somebody knowlegeable to research all the period detail BEFORE the game, the game itself will be fast and fun, and not require too much experience or knowledge from the Bde Commanders, but will still give a good period feel.

GETTYSBURG SOLDIERS was written for this purpose.

Visit our Forum: forum.gettysburgsoldiers.com

Larry GettysburgSoldiers.com

Which set would I use? Volley and Bayonet, naturally. Everybody gas heard of Gettysburg and I can point at the battlefield and say "There's Lee and that's Little Round Top, etc.

On To Richmond. Published by The Courier years ago. A very rich and fun game in itself, with low complexity and an elegant system. Ideal to learn on, with the advantage of being Corps level so you could play battles someone might have heard of.

I second Black Powder

Fire and Fury, easy to learn and no one has to make up the stats like in BP.

Second OTR, played for nearly 20 years, simple but still learning. Introducing new gamers to ACW Is the primary quality.

For a bit of colour, make up cards with commander's name image on it- "Sheridan – move your division!".

Volley and Bayonet or On To Richmond.

I would also recommend Black Powder.

I suggest Battles with Model Soldiers by Donald Featherstone, which includes rules for all arms ACW battle.

Very simple, easy too follow, inspires one to develop wargaming interest further. Then progress to Fire and Fury

Blue light Manual!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(*sarcasm*)

I would say F & F, but I've heard good things about Gettysburg Soldiers and would like to try them out.

Volley and Bayonet. Going with 1 base = 1 brigade is perfect for beginners. And so is the buckets o' dice combat system. No "command control" rules beyond keeping units close to ones general.

On To Richmond, yes.

Battlecry.

By "new gamers" is it meant people who have NEVER wargamed ? If so, well then perhaps something different.

Brand new, no experience with any mini's rules gamers -
On To Richmond, obviously (hey, I ain't been giving
them away for nothing ! Trying to kindle interest in a
simple, fun set of ACW rules).

They are what I always use for newbies.

It has been a while since I last played F & F but not sure I'd recommend these to a new player. So far my choice would have to be GETTYSBURG SOLDIERS. Simple, straight forward and well organized rule set.

Duane

Black Powder?

Fire and Fury is what I use to introduce people to the period – but would not use it for small unit action.

From experience, Battle Cry:

What do you mean by "wargamers?" Have they ever played any historical rules? Are they Fantasy/Sci-Fi types? Board gamers that never played miniatures before? It makes a huge difference as to how to introduce them.

"Rally Round the Flag" would be my choice for a new player but why use a different set of rules than you normally use only to have them learn a new set of rules later?

The best way to introduce a newbie is to use the rules you know the best and just set up a game. Run the charts and make strategy suggestions. After several games they should get the hang of it.

Fire and fury

Gettysburg Soldiers. Takes 5 min to read through quick. 10-15 min to read through taking your time. (I actually retread it yesterday on a whim). Has all the basics of wargaming. Nothing too complicated to mess folks up. Once they are hooked, introduce more complicated rulesets.

I only know Fire & Fury, and like it a lot. How can you not love a rule set where one of the possible combat results is, "One stand skedaddles?"

Brother against brother.

I'm with Battle Phlox on this one. BAB is a great introductory game. Now if only they would put out a second edition!

There really is only one set of rules, regardless of period, to start players out with… whichever one you find the most fun. Don't worry about simple, worry about fun. People tend to imprint on whatever they start with

If they haven't played complex rules before (or are averse to them), then "Rank & File" by Crusader Games.

If they don't mind a bit of complexity, then Regimental Fire & Fury.

On to Richmond is also a great set of rules, but it might be better suited to people who already speak a bit of gamer.

Despite its current popularity, I'm not at all convinced by Black Powder. Regardless, I think it's a better set for experienced gamers than anyone new to the hobby or a particular period.

Fire & Fury (Brigade) is the best for ACW by a long shot. For the next level detail I would recommend Fire & Fury Regimental.

Gettysburg Soldiers

I also recommend Gettysburg Soldiers. I run a lot of Convention Games and it is a great set of rules to be able to teach to new players and they can get it down in a round of playing and the game runs very smoothly. The fast learning curve also does not take away from the game play and I have really enjoyed the games I have played and ran using the rules.

NICK

I started Civil War gaming with savethetumbleweed's "Call to the Colors" when I was about 8. It has a yahoo group you can join and download everything you need for free…

Billy Yank

Regimental Fire & Fury. Terrific set of rules that move quickly once you learn the routine. IMPORTANT: start with a small number of units though (perhaps a bridge on each side).

I've introduced a good few into wargaming with Fire & Fury (the old 'Brigade' set). After a few turns, they're up and running.

Fire and Fury or Black Powder

Black Powder worked for me.

There are many rule sets to choose from, and of course there are large followings around a number of them like Johnny Reb and Fire & Fury.

Your first question has to be what scale do you want to play at, and secondly how detailed/complex do you want the system to be? Thirdly you also need know if you want the rules for use at conventions or at home locally with a game group of friends. Convention games benifit greatly from simply and easy to understand systems without a lot of fuss, where as at home you can run stuff as complex as you want it to be.

Depending on the above I would firstly recommend Gettysburg Soldiers as has been already mentioned a number of times. It's a great simple system that takes only a few minutes to explain, the rule book is very nicely done and easy to use in play, and best of all the scale is still regimental level. The rules are also very cheap for what you get, so price shouldn't be an issue. I have 3 copies of the rules so multiple copies can circulate around the table during play.

It's a great system and one your won't regret adding to your rules library!

Rally 'Round the Flag. It's an oldy, but a goodie.

DBX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not as sarcastic, but close!

I'll second Blue Light Manual.

Just tell them it is the worst game system possible and every other game they ever play will be better. Set the bar low. Its a winning tactic I think!

Our club uses Black Powder for all our 28mm games with amendments to give more flavour to particular periods (mainly ACW and Napoleonic).

You can find copies of our club amendments here: -

sites.google.com/site/contemptables/Home/files

…and a gallery to pictures of some of our games here: -

sites.google.com/site/contemptables/Home/gallery

Played about all here. Battle Cry is the best hook I know.

On To Richmond. Especially with some of the mods made by Paul Koch to the morale table. Still the best feel of ANY set of Civil War rules out there as far as I am concerned. I just hate it when by Texans under Hood make a revenge charge.

I just purchased Gettysburg Soldiers. I must say I think it is the perfect rule set to introduce someone to ACW gaming. It is very well laid out and has very nice photographs. Very simple and elegant rule set. I think it would be especially nice for introducing youngsters to ACW gaming. I am going to have to pick up some more copies for running intro games at conventions. I highly recommend this set of rules! Well done Larry!

I'd start with Battle Cry (assuming they were truly "new" gamers who had never played any wargame before).
From there I'd take them to a convention and try out multiple games to find one they were most comfortable with.

Yes,I kept asking back then 2012 where do people play OTR? Apparently not at our cons.