"American Civil War Wargaming Survey" Topic

Following on from the success of our Napoleonic Bicentenary Wargames Survey (see MW&BG 396) we've decided to run another survey but based around the American Civil War.

Since 2015 saw the 150th Anniversary of the end of the American Civil War we reckon that there's a good chance that the last 5-6 years will have seen many 150th Anniversary wargames, So, as with the Napoleonic survey, we thought it would be interesting to get a survey of all the ACW wargames that have been played in the last few years, see how they turned out, and compare that to the historical result.

The survey has five pages, and should only take 10 minutes to complete.

The survey will be open until 20 Aug 16, and we'll try to post updates on the survey to my blog as to how many responses we're getting. We'll then aim to write up the results during Sep/Oct. We aim to publish the results of the survey online, and hopefully also get a summary into one or more of the wargaming magazines.

We hope you find can find the time to complete it, and we look forward to sharing the results.

You can find the survey at link

Please feel free to pass the link/email on to any ACW wargamers you know in the UK, USA or elsewhere in the world, post to forums/social media etc

David & James

Done

Done

Done – the hardest thing was going back a number of years to remember outcomes.

Done.

I have run all of my games and campaigns more than once with various winners. I could not answer that part of the survey.

Done!

Done.

How far are we supposed to go back? If it's been more than a year or so, I couldn't tell you what I played.

Done

Done

Done as well!

Done and Done

Done

Howdy,

Done. The poll seems decidedly biased, as any ACW gaming must fit in their predetermined boxes.

Much of my ACW gaming did not fit. Examples: Volley & Bayonet not listed as a major rules set?!? Shenandoah Campaign of 1862, or Tullahoma Campaign of 1863. What of peninsula gaming besides Gaines Mill?

JAS

Done! No mention of Black Powder!?!

Done….a couple of comments, though

You list a variety of actual battles to be refought, but don't have the option to develop your own scenarios, which is most of what we do.

Also, you don't have "regiment" listed as a maneuver element, but you list battalion. In the ACW it was rare to maneuver as a battalion -- regiment was MUCH more common.

Have to agree with Ponder here, the survey does seem restrictive in places.

I've done a lot of ACW gaming over the years, but didn't/ don't play any of the rule sets listed (currently Black Powder, but there have been others). With some memorable exceptions, most of our games have had us field a division or so at best. I think I played a scenario from an actual battle once- a bathtubbed Antietam where I successfully defended Burnside's Bridge.

Most of our scenarios have been home-brew or even scenarios that have been adapted from other periods.

I can't remember how a lot of the games played out, although they were always fun, which is what we aim at. Chances are the winning side was the one I wasn't commanding, though.

They missed the first battle of the war, which I have read done many times, John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.

Done

Done

Done

Probably the people who started the survey don't know enough about the Civil War to do it properly.

Probably the people who started the survey don't know enough about the Civil War to do it properly.

Ooh, can't you just feel the love?

There's nothing that can foster that warm glow of satisfaction which comes helping fellow enthusiasts, than by sharing a bit of constructive criticism, is there?

Done.

I put down Wilson's Creek as a battle refought but not on the list (that was a blast!) but I forgot to put down Olustee. D'Doh!

Olustee is a great battle for wargaming. Small forces, easy terrain to model on the tabletop, and a real challenge for the Union player.

Thanks for the contributions and the comments guys. have had 112 responses with data on 302 wargames already.

Hands up re lack of ACW knowledge, perhaps we should have posted a test here in the first place. It's got to be said that the ACW responses has far out-stripped the Napoleonic one at this stage and if we'd known you guys would be so enthusiastic we'd have been tempted to engage more first!

If a rule set isn't listed just add it in the other/comments section of that question.

If units unusually moved by regiment then suggest you use battalion, as in number terms that's a lot closer (given a 400-1000 man regiment) than a Brigad. I'll see if we can retrospectively add the option.

If you missed battles/remember stuff then feel free to fill out again but only fill out that question so we dont double count on other bits. – or just email or message me.

I guess we assumed that most people develop scenarios anyway, and from a historic analysis they're probably not really useful. However I could see a broader wargaming survey looking at the balance of historic vs fictional scenarios played.

Thanks again, some great data coming.

Not done. Although very interested in the subject matter I don't give my personal information on line.

Normally I would tale the survey, but I draw the line at providing personal information.

DONE!

Done. The question; What is the smallest unit used? Regiment wasn't a choice. Which is a very odd omission. Most players rules are either brigade, regiment or skirmish scale. Some of the more popular sets of rules are regimental unit scale.

The question of which battle you gamed and their outcome? It did not take into account how many times you did the same battle. For example we have done 1st Bull Run many times and the victories are evenly split. It also did not take into account that you have played the entire battle in parts, instead of all at once.

There were a huge number of historical scenarios we have played over the years that were not listed. I did not have the time nor the memory to list them all. It could run into the hundreds.
We rarely play non-historical scenarios or pick-up games.

Also watch your semantics. I don't think you were you using the term "wargame" correctly. Then again I often use the word "game" as a verb.

Survey Monkey would allow me to go back and just view the questions. So I am commenting from my memory. My memory is really bad. What were we talking about?

Don't ask for personal information. Most people will just make it up anyway. I am not about to give you my actual personal information. I don't know you from a whole in the wall.