"Antietam Wargame Maps" Topic

Hello,

When I announced Brave Hearts Trembled: Regimental Wargame Scenarios for the Battle of Antietam I also mentioned a companion book featuring maps where you could design your own scenarios. I'm on track to release both in July (probably late July). I just finished the introduction to Antietam Wargame Maps, and thought I'd share to give you an idea of what it is about.

***

Introduction

Pre-written scenarios are a popular way for wargame enthusiasts to refight the battles of the American Civil War. They provide maps, orders of battle, and special rules for unique units and terrain features. However, there are many player's that love to create games themselves. They have their own opinions on what morale a particular unit might have shown during a battle, or how a hill or rock outcropping may have affected the course of events.

This book was created with the game designer in mind. It provides detailed maps of the landscape outside of Sharpsburg, Maryland where the Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17th, 1862. Maps for two of the most popular game scales for regimental game sets are featured. These are 25 yards per inch, and 50 yards per inch. A compromise scale, for those that believe their chosen rules don't accurately reflect unit frontages, is provided at 33 yards per inch. Several different sized maps are provided, oriented north to south, east to west, and sometimes a skewed to include important features. Some are meant for designing scenarios focusing on a particular area, such as the fighting in The Cornfield. Others are large and broad, meant for grand tactical combat.

A complete order of battle is included. Coupled with the maps, this will provide every tool a designer will need to construct a scenario.

Finally, to round out the book, the last section contains a multitude of period and modern photographs showcasing the battlefield itself. This will provide the designer with a visual context of how the terrain looks and impacted the battlefield.

Hopefully this book will offer endless opportunities to design, create, and replay the Battle of Antietam on the game table. Design, put those miniatures on the map, and have fun!

***

If it sells well, I might do a similar book for Gettysburg. Everybody loves Gettysburg. Everybody has an idea of how Gettysburg should be fought. Everybody should be able to design their own Gettysburg scenarios. :)

Brad Butkovich
Historic Imagination

Sounds great!

After looking at the page count, and trying to decide if gamers would purchase this book at essentially the same price as the Antietam scenario book, I've decided to release this as an electronic book only. So it will be available exclusively from Wargame Vault as a pdf download. I just don't think a lot of people will want to spend that much money on a book full of maps and pictures. Its really a better deal as a pdf that can be viewed on screen, and then printed at per page.

Brad,

That's awesome! I live relatively close to Antietam so its always been a favorite battle for me. I'm excited to see your work. I agree with you on the Pdf vs book for release. I also think Gettysburg is a great idea. As you said, its always popular.

Well, you should have reviews (previews?) of both books rolling out this weekend. Hopefully others will have good things to say about it besides me. :)

I'm just waiting on physical proof copies from Amazon and Ingram. After I approve them, both are on schedule to be released on July 23rd (both print and electronic versions).

If there like your previous books then I will gladly purchase both. I was just at Antietam a week ago so I am really ready to do some scenarios.

I know, right? Antietam was one of my favorite battles to study even before I visited it for the first time last year. Especially the fight for The Cornfield. I didn't expect my trip to the battlefield to affect me as much as it did. Studying and walking the terrain really gives you a feel for what they went through that day.

It was surreal. I have studied, modeled and gamed this battle so many times, that I actually knew where every key part of the battle was without a map to guide me. It is my favorite ACW battle too.

I got my "Civil War Geek" on there. We stayed at a B&B near the battlefield and spent three days going all over that battlefield.

Unlike Gettysburg (which we also spent three days at) there are not that many monuments to spoil the battlefield. The NPS is doing a great job putting these battlefields back to the way they were. My tax money at work and they are welcome to it. Now what is needed is a proper museum like the one at Gettysburg.

Brad,

If your first visit to Antietam had a great affect on your emotions you should stop by, I believe in early December, when they have the usual park tour lighted with candles! Each candle represents a single human loss in the battle! You'll be amazed at how brightly the entire battlefield is lit by so many candles!

It's really a sight to behold! Have tissues handy!

Also, as a follow on to your Gettysburg Book do consider including maps and information regarding Lee's Retreat from Gettysburg!

The Antietam maps book is at the top of my 'to buy' list. Your books are absolutely superb.