Matrix Games Forums

Hi all,
I been reading up on FOF for some time now...I love the Civil War and gaming and gaming the Civil War...Since you all have already bought it could some of you give me a thumbs up or down on this game...It must be really good I would hope for the price...
And if I order the Hard Copy does it come with a Hard Copy Manual..???
Thanks
Sal

I took advantage of a christmas special where the price was discounted. I've not played ACW games before, and rarely played hex-based stuff, but I found this to be an excellent game to play.

I was playing on the highest level, and found it quite a challenge to play successfully.

I'm not playing at present as I have RL commitments, but once I have the time, It will be #1 or #2 on the list to get back to...

It does come with a printed manual if you order a hard copy.
The greatest thing about the game is that you can adjust the set of rules on your own. You decide how complex it gets though once you play with advanced rules you will stick to it.

The game is very well done. Alot of time and effort went into putting this game together. Aside from fighting the tactical battles i really enjoy reading the bios of the generals and the govenors. The extra touches are all over this game.  You will not be dissappointed in buying FOF. There is a litttle effort in learning the mech.  but you will be rewarded with a truely rich gaming experience.

I would definitely recommend it.  I seldom buy games but recently became interested in the Civil War and decided to try to find a game that would give me a basic feel for the challenges faced by both sides and a basic feel for the military strategies and tactics employed.
 
I took a chance on this game based on some reviews I had read and have not been disappointed.  While I found the manual to be a little convoluted (the same concept discussed 3,4 or 5 times in multiple locations) the rule flexibility and game engine more than makes up for this.

I like the game but it does have a pretty steep learning curve.  Having the manual in PDF format does sometimes make grasping concepts a little more difficult and there isn't a good tutorial.  However, your efforts will be rewarded.  Just don't expect to be figuring it all out in a few hours! [:)]

Thanks all for your response...I think I am going to have to get this game since it is killing me not having it....I loved playing Battleground games but this looks a lot more complex and I think once figured out I should be OK...I like actually playing Civil War board games although I dont really have Civil War freeks around me that want to play them since they really dont know any History about the War and it tends to make it boring for them..This at least can be played pbem...Again thanks for all your responses..
Sal

ORIGINAL: harley

I took advantage of a christmas special where the price was discounted. I've not played ACW games before, and rarely played hex-based stuff, but I found this to be an excellent game to play.

I was playing on the highest level, and found it quite a challenge to play successfully.

I'm not playing at present as I have RL commitments, but once I have the time, It will be #1 or #2 on the list to get back to...

Hey, get to work and leave the games for other people

and Yes it is a very good and enjoyable game, but I am bias as my Avatar may point out

OK...had to buy it...I hope it's in the mail now...Cant wait to get into it..Done deal...Wife dont know yet...She will only shake her head and tell me we dont have the money and I will convince her we do...Had to do that after buying a couple of expensive CW era fifes, a hobby I took up playing them and collecting them..She got over it...So even as I am from PA I tend to be a Southern Sympathizer and think I will start out playing the Rebels.
Sal

Sal,
Your money issues have got me thinking, and I think I hit on just the solution. Let's say that I sell you some copies of FOF at markdown so that you sell those copies to other people and return some of the money to me while keeping the rest for yourself, and then THOSE people get some copies of FOF to sell and in turn give you some of the money, and you then give me some of the money, and so forth. By my calculations, you and I could become filthy rich through this sort of revolutionary marketing tactic, which provides limitless income potential...

Hmmmm..........can i apply this concept to raising money for my AOP?[&:]
 
i never have enough money or men to do what i want.[:@]
 
 

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

... By my calculations, you and I could become filthy rich through this sort of revolutionary marketing tactic, which provides limitless income potential...

I'm afraid Charles Ponzi thought of your tongue-in-cheek scheme first.
From the US Securities and Exchange Commission website:

"Ponzi schemes are a type of illegal pyramid scheme named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands of New England residents into investing in a postage stamp speculation scheme back in the 1920s. Ponzi thought he could take advantage of differences between U.S. and foreign currencies used to buy and sell international mail coupons. Ponzi told investors that he could provide a 40% return in just 90 days compared with 5% for bank savings accounts. Ponzi was deluged with funds from investors, taking in $1 million during one three-hour period—and this was 1921! Though a few early investors were paid off to make the scheme look legitimate, an investigation found that Ponzi had only purchased about $30 worth of the international mail coupons.

Decades later, the Ponzi scheme continues to work on the "rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul" principle, as money from new investors is used to pay off earlier investors until the whole scheme collapses."

And yes, I live in New England.

Gil,
You may be on to something there although I think we should have a name for the concept...How about...Hmmm...AMWAY....No...No...Market America...Getting closer....The concept could be called pyramiding, where as the guys at the top, say you and me, make all the money but the rest are left holding the bag...Great Idea...[&o]
Sal

A few years ago I caught on C-SPAN a talk by an author of a new book on Ponzi. Seemed like a fascinating story.

Wikipedia has two detailed pages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzi_scheme

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

A few years ago I caught on C-SPAN a talk by an author of a new book on Ponzi. Seemed like a fascinating story.

I saw Ponzi's mug shot on one of the Wiki links -- I wonder how many years he got?

Ok FOF arrived yesterday....I looked at the manual...Briefly....I am 55 years old...Will I have enough time left to get the hang of this all...A little overwhelming at first as I read here before but I am enjoying getting my but kicked...Once I figure out what I am doing I may have a chance...[&:]
Sal

ORIGINAL: Sal

Ok FOF arrived yesterday....I looked at the manual...Briefly....I am 55 years old...Will I have enough time left to get the hang of this all...

I'm 53, so the answer is "yes"; start at the basic game, then work your way up. Even at the advanced level, you can still toggle off anything too complicated.

ORIGINAL: Sal

Ok FOF arrived yesterday....I looked at the manual...Briefly....I am 55 years old...Will I have enough time left to get the hang of this all...A little overwhelming at first as I read here before but I am enjoying getting my but kicked...Once I figure out what I am doing I may have a chance...[&:]
Sal

Yup. I bought this game because a wargaming buddy of mine from 30+ years wanted to play THIS ONE.

Okay. Got the manual and it was...well...."different". Not laid out like I was used to. Still finding stuff in it.

We both played vs the computer for a week then started at the highest level settings. I started 5 different games testing out different parts of the game each time. Just learning the game system and not trying to do anything but that.

Now I do an entire turn in under an hour. We do 2 PBEM turns a day usually. That's 2 PBEM turns a day EACH.

This game is easy to play after you get whip the manual.

Good Hunting.

MR

While the single player game is a lot of fun, I must confess that there is nothing I enjoyed more than allowing Gil to put the stomp on me in our epic PBEM AAR. It is very easy to get caught up in the back-and-forth action and find yourself sitting at the keyboard hoping to get a chance to do "just one more turn".

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

ORIGINAL: Sal

Ok FOF arrived yesterday....I looked at the manual...Briefly....I am 55 years old...Will I have enough time left to get the hang of this all...A little overwhelming at first as I read here before but I am enjoying getting my but kicked...Once I figure out what I am doing I may have a chance...[&:]
Sal

Yup. I bought this game because a wargaming buddy of mine from 30+ years wanted to play THIS ONE.

Okay. Got the manual and it was...well...."different". Not laid out like I was used to. Still finding stuff in it.

We both played vs the computer for a week then started at the highest level settings. I started 5 different games testing out different parts of the game each time. Just learning the game system and not trying to do anything but that.

Now I do an entire turn in under an hour. We do 2 PBEM turns a day usually. That's 2 PBEM turns a day EACH.

This game is easy to play after you get whip the manual.

Good Hunting.

MR

    If you want to be overwhelmed, get War in the Pacific!  I have both, and this game is amazingly easy compared to that.  I'm still trying to figure out WITP.  With FoF, you can jump right in and even if you make mistakes, it is easy to restart.

I still haven't quite figured out detailed battles, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of quick battles.  The advantage is I can play a full game in 2-3 days.