| Bernhard Rauch | 14 Jul 2015 7:31 a.m. PST |
I am considering delving into the Mexican American War. I do not want to learn and teach a separate set of rules which means I will have to modify Johny Reb 3, the rules my group knows. Does anyone have any suggestions? |
| Toronto48 | 14 Jul 2015 7:41 a.m. PST |
Use two different fire tables to represent the disparity in weapons and tactics which are the main reasons for the Mexican loss The US can use ACW data to simulate better weapons, longer ranges and greater expertise The Mexicans can use Napoleonic or even AWI factors |
| Oh Bugger | 14 Jul 2015 8:11 a.m. PST |
I'd say Napoleonic factors much of the Mexican weaponry was ex British from that era. There does seem to have been an issue with powder quality too. The Mexican cavalry was good and sometimes charged straight through American lines. That also tell you that the average USA infantryman was no dead eye dick who never missed. That said USA firepower was consistantly better. Also such events don't seem to have broken the US troops. Grant thought the Mexican infantry to be poorly led rather than bad troops per se. He said something to the effect that Mexican officers would often withdraw their men before they were "licked". Meaning the men would have fought on for longer but the officers chose not too. I have both sides for this and it has a lot to commend it for gaming. |
| PJ ONeill | 14 Jul 2015 8:35 a.m. PST |
Not to forget that the US Artillery was alot better than the Mexican. You might want to modify the figure to man ratio (JRIII- 1 fig=30men)so that the regiments are up at the 12-16 fig range, as that is what the Fire table is normalized for. |
 Saber6   | 14 Jul 2015 10:06 a.m. PST |
I'd look at Regimental Fire and Fury. Should be fairly straight forward |
| Garde de Paris | 14 Jul 2015 11:18 a.m. PST |
I bought an Osprey booklet years ago when I visited the Alamo, and it was noted that the Mexicans OVER-loaded their muskets, causing the soldiers to avoid firing from the shoulder – worry about breaking bones. Firing from the hip was not as accurate. On the other hand, they UNDER-loaded their artillery pieces, dramatically shortening their effective range. This booklet also noted that there were only 2 or 3 non-officers in the Mexican Army for every 1 officer, so lots of "dead wood" and politicians among the officer corps. GdeP |
| vtsaogames | 14 Jul 2015 12:10 p.m. PST |
Mexicans also were sometimes short of lead and issued copper musket balls. So said something by Novak I read once. Copper balls not as deadly as lead. Much US artillery was horse artillery or flying artillery. Mexican artillery, while bravely served, was drawn by bullocks or whatever could be found. The government was nearly bankrupt. |
| Jcfrog | 14 Jul 2015 12:30 p.m. PST |
RFF
Or job done for you as I believe it owes a lot initially to JR
From Buck Surdu. Santa Ana rules. |
| Florida Tory | 15 Jul 2015 11:47 a.m. PST |
To clarify what two of the previous posters have recommended: Regimental Fire and Fury already has a Mexican War variant. link I was introduced to it playing ACWBill's fabulous Chapultepec scenario several years ago. I find myself enjoying RFF more every time I have a chance to play. Rick |
| vicmagpa1 | 19 Jul 2015 9:44 p.m. PST |
ACW Bill does great games! lots of research! miss him up here. vic |
