"ACW in Wargames Mags." Topic

Has there been an upswing in ACW anywhere?
I ask because there seems to be an article almost every month in magazines and I don't see it as a major interest for anyone. The space could more profitably be used on something else. Am I wrong?

The articles probably coincide with the 150th anniversary of the major engagements… Gettysburg July 1,2,3 1863 etc

As far as interest goes.. I like the ACW.. plenty of variety in Action in different theatres with lots of good research to be done.. also great ranges of figures in many scales and sizes and good rules sets… it certainly ticks all my boxes.

Right now it is important in the U.S. here since it is the 150th anniversary of the War. That alone generates interest in many parts of our country and to a lesser extent the world. If you are not so inclined to like this period it probably seems odd to you. To my way of thinking I am always interested to read about it and not so much other periods/topics that you might be interested in. Its all a question of perspective I suppose.

Can never get enough.

Historicon had as many as 25% of the games this year devoted to ACW. In other years the percentage does not move too far south of that. So your impression as to the popularity of ACW is certainly not indicative of reality here in the US. As to its popularity abroad, I ran four ACW scenarios around Grant's 1863 Vicksburg Campaign at Historicon. All were filled; and I had players from Australia, England, Denmark and the Ukraine. Take a look at some of the user names on TMP, including my own. There are many which are directly related to the ACW.

And in terms of 1800mm ACW gaming…

At the BGA re-enactment in June there were several gents from the UK participating and one from Down Under. And that was just on the Union side.

So, that might point to some popularity.

Eric

and I don't see it as a major interest for anyone.

I can assure you that there are many ACW wargamers in the UK. Some of us can even remember when there were only three periods: ancients, ACW and WW2!

It has consistently been my group's favorite period to game. Based on the few conventions I have attended, I would say our group is pretty typical.

"…I don't see it as a major interest for anyone"
You are joking, right?

I hear you loud and clear!
I can understand the popularity in the states and when I started in the sixties (Airfix) it was my favourite too. I just haven't seen as many games around in the UK that would give it the prominence it receives in magazines justification. Are there tournaments for it here?

Civil War gamers don't do tournaments, nosirree Bob!

The ones I know are firmly devoted to refighting disastrously unbalanced scenarios where their great-great-great grandpappy lost a leg when his unit – understrength, unfed for days, with cholera – charged uphill through cannister fire against three times their number of dam' bluebellies* entrenched on a steep hill. And lost 90% casualties and almost sorta reached the breastworks when their beloved commanding officer was hit in the face by a 12 lb ball.

That's proper ACW gaming.

* Replace with 'Rebs' as required.

@sumerandaccad

I've been to a fair number of shows already this year and the ACW has featured at pretty much all of them except the Joy of Six show in Sheffield on Sunday, which I found unusual because the ACW is extremely popular among micro-scale gamers as 10mm, 6mm and 3mm are ideal for showing proper the type of formations and weapon ranges prevalent in the latter 19th century and the sheer number of troops involved over huge areas of ground.

In addition, the ACW is a popular outing at the Wargames Holidays centre in Crete, which has a vast collection. At some shows, I've seen multiple ACW games, though none featuring figures suitable for 'Airfix charades'.

And finally, as has been repeated ad nauseam here and elsewhere, magazine editors publish the articles they are sent, and if ACW articles are amongst the best submitted, they will appear more frequently than poor articles for other periods – and you might be surprised at the periods I get almost nothing sent for – WWII and classical ancients, for example! Maybe everyone thinks that Battlefront and FoW have WWII covered in another magazine and Ancient Warfare and Slingshot grab the ancients… Curious, to be sure.

Anyway, what periods *would* you like to see more articles about?

Henry
Miniature Wargames with Battlegames

A difficult decision Henry which I am glad to leave to you!
Mainly I do ancients in 6mm some renaissance and Napoleonic in the same scale my 25mm ancients not getting an outing for a while.
All these are amply covered on a regular basis as are 2nd world war.
Whatever else is left is the one required!

Oh yes of course not nearly enough coverage of the War of Jenkins Ear.

Sorry for the snarkasim, but it seems what you like is "amply covered" you just don't want somone elses period covered. How is that again.

ACW is quite big in the USA I believe. But also with UK gamers it's always been fairly significant (can it still be a legacy of the Airfix figures ? Might be).

I'm currently playing a solo ACW game.

Then I'm going to try out a set of ACW naval rules.

ACW big with me, since a kid. Airfix, now other 1/72 plastics.

Always good to see "mainstream" periods in the mags for my money.

I have not one single shred of interest in ACW as a gaming period or even oe of much histrical research but I have no objectio to articles on it apearing in magazines.

Lot's of folk seem to like it (I regularly see games at my local club- more than I do for, say, ECW or Renaissance).

Whatever floats peoples' boats, I say!

John T

I have not one single shred of interest in ACW

Wow !

Not even ironclads ?

Not even Ironclad trains ?

Balloon Troops ?

Zouves – everyone loves Zouves (let's go to war dressed as clowns…).

Not even VSF ACW ?

Dug out my 25mm A.C.W last month to put on a game at the local Fate. Lot of interest in it from the public.
glynrr.blogspot.co.uk

Few A.C.W. games played at the club (W.A.R.) some weeks motley 15mm
Do not now if its making a comeback it never went a way at our club.

Dug out my 25mm A.C.W last month to put on a game at the local Fate.

It was fated!

It was Fated…..OK
ACW remains the only period that I have a good collection for.
Why not, have magazine features on that war. You sound very selfish when ACW is so popular not to have articles devoted to it.
I see by your interest that its rather hum drum Naps (yawn)

Gunboat, a fine display, loads of troops plenty going on
@Sumerandaccad
I come back into wargaming a few year typed in acw figures and wow so much choice, shows you how popular ACW is . troops are being added all the time, but you wouldn`t know that.

Fascinating period: I always enjoy reading about it.

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

Miniature Wargames published four feature articles on ACW gaming in the last 13 issues. Hardly excessive, I'd have thought.

Ok – I guess – a shred of interest. But very little.

What I am interested in is a variety of different points of view in a magazine and am happy with that kind of balance and am,on that basis, not worried y the balance in any one magazine issue of any magazine.

John T

Good man !

It's the Ironclad covered with Cavorite though, isn't it ?