"ACW (bleep) For Real Men Rules" Topic

For some time now I haven't been completely satisfied with the Fire and Fury rules so I've been looking around at others.

In my papers I have a copy of the "ACW for Real Men" rules (says Version 1.476 Copyright Alistair Ramsden 1997 – 2009) which I would have got as a free download from the internet (seemingly unavailable now). They look okay and straightforward but I've never played a game with those rules.

Has anyone played a game with these rules? Opinions on their playability and ability to represent period tactics would be appreciated.

FTR, the (bleep) is covering a scatological term.

There's a Yahoo group for the rules here: link

It appears the rules were once available in the Files section of the Yahoo group, but I haven't joined yet to find out if that's still true.

- Ix

Unfortunately that Yahoo group is 'restricted' (although I think I was a member at one stage) so I've sent an email seeking entry to it.

The free miniatures rules website (miniaturegaming.com) lists the rules but ends up directing you to the 'restricted' Yahoo group.

I would still be very interested to hear from anyone who has played these rules. Any considered opinions (positive or negative) would be welcome.

If you are unsatisfied by F&F it might be worth checking out Pickett's Charge by Dave Brown. Excellent system with very good support forum over at TFL.

link

I would be interested in what reasons cause your dissatisfaction with RF&F?

Agreed: knowing what you don't like about F&F will help us steer you to a game that might suit.

Otherwise you just get a long list of posts along the likes of "I like game X."

You might take a look at my rules summaries. They give detailed descriptions of how the mechanics work:

link

Also take a look in the general 19th century section.

@Teppsta
I have Picket's Charge as a possibility but fear that it may replicate some of the problems I have with F&F.

@pzivh43
Several issues are, in no particular order: the small-sized brigades seem too disadvantaged; wild variance in what a unit does in the movement phase [I like some unpredictability in a game but this is a bit much, I can have a division moving forward but one brigade is going backwards and no sooner to I get that one in check another one starts]; an effective firing unit seems to run out of ammo too often; and I don't like all the labelling for each battle. That being said, the rules have done me good service for a fair time and I've had some good battles using them.

@Extra Crispy. I visited your site many times and like how your rule reviews succinctly cover the key aspects of scale, basing and turn sequence which are three things I want to know before deciding whether to read further. Game mechanics are then well covered.
The ratio for F&F is okay for me (I use 1 stand = 200 men) but I would like, on occasion to go lower (so I also have RF&F) or higher (say one stand = 250 or 300 men) without doing so having a big impact on outcomes in the game. I already think my usual choice to go with 1:200 instead of 1:150 impacts on a unit's performance. I do not want to rebase my armies.

Check out Bloody Big Battles. Might be what your looking for.

Monkey, thanks for the mention of BBB.

Quaama, the BBB review on Extra Crispy's website is here:
link

Plenty of ACW scenarios freely available in the BBB Yahoo group files.

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
link
bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com

Does BBB (1" square) work with F&F (1' X 3/4") basing?

Yes, it should. As the rulebook says:
'Square bases of 1"x1" are ideal, but any rectangular bases with a frontage up to 1.5" will work, so long as both sides are based the same.'