"BATTLE IN AMERICA WARGAME - THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR" Topic

These are part of the Paper soldier series of books published by Helion. Soldiers are drawn by Peter Dennis but rules are by Allen Callan. I am especially interested in the rules. Callan wrote Loose Files and American Scramble which are my favorite rules for the Rev War. So I am curious about the rules in this booklet. Are they a updated version of his rules with improvement?

If anyone has bought these please let me know! Many thanks in advance.

Greetings,

I've had "Battle in America: Wargaming the Revolutionary War" in my possession for a little over a week. The idea of putting paper soldiers quickly onto the table top intrigued me, but so did the idea of getting another playable set of AWI rules. Please bear in mind that I haven't taken a close look Andy Callan's latest rules, plus I only have a dim memory of skimming "Loose Files and American Scramble."

Introductory material and tactical notes in "Battle in America" take up two pages of the book. A guide is presented for choosing armies using cards and dice: the Americans should enjoy a 3:2 advantage in numbers, but dice rolls favor the British in giving them better units.

The main rules take up five pages of the book. Infantry regiments have five to eight stands; cavalry, detachments and artillery are represented by fewer figures or stands. Units accumulate disruption points throughout the game. The turn sequence is firing, movement, close combat, then reaction/rallying and morale checks. (If memory serves me correctly, much of this is similar to "Loose Files.") Firing and combat are calculated on a stand basis; movement is determined by the drawing of cards. The cards' colors and types determine what units can or can't do during movement. There are some command and control rules.

A two-page playsheet, three scenarios ("Capture the Heights", "Winter Solders 1776", and "Long, Obstinate and Bloody 1781") and a two-page rules set for beginners are also included.

I know my answers are vague; I'm sorry. But considering that 14 out of 48 pages of this book are devoted to rules, you might find it worthwhile to get a copy. Even if the new rules aren't that different from "Loose Files", they might give you some clarifications or new ideas.

Jeff

Many thanks for the excellent description of the new rules. It is just what I was looking for. Sounds like the author either updated his original rules or just added a few twists. Card movement is interesting and at least one battle report i have read already does this. They sound interesting and I have sent off for a set after reading your comments.

Again many thanks for taking the time to write. It was just what I was looking for.

You're welcome!

Jeff

23rd

I'm a big Andy Callan fanboy and have used Loose Files (albeit with a few tweaks) since it first appeared in WI. I've yet to find a set of rules that beat it, so was keen to get my hands on this as I wanted to see if my hero had improved Loose Files. I was sadly disappointed.

Jeff summarises them nicely, but it appears there is an attempt to change things that deliver unnecessary complication without adding anything to the original set. The biggest problem for me is that there is a whiff of Black Powder about it, including a blunder-type rule. Also, numbers count for more than class, which is a significant change when you consider the number of troop classes has dropped from five to three, so don't expect your outnumbered regulars to last long.

I played about with them for a bit but it didn't take me long to decide they were not for me. It's obviously up to you if you want to try them out, but as a long-time user of Loose Files there is nothing here to make me change and nothing in them I would introduce into my tweaked original.

The buildings are good, though!

Just got my copy today. I think your review of the rules is spot on. A watered down version of Loose Files. I do hope after rereading there may be things I can take out of it. And yes the buildings are great! Worth the price for them alone.

How about a link to the book so the interested can buy one.

No need for the OP to yell out his topic. We can here you just fine.

If you want to buy one I've had my copy on eBay for about two weeks!

As you can download Loose Files free from the Internet, I'm not that surprised it's not selling. Download the rules and spend the money you save on Blue Moon figures ;-)