Matrix Games Forums

Just wondering if there is a good book or set of books that might give a good accounting for the elements contained in the game? I have the 3 volumes of Shelby Footes history but haven't read them yet. I get the feeling that he deals primarily with the military aspect and not so much the economics.

Thanks for any help

http://www.west-civ.com/ForgeOfFreedom/FOF_Index.htm

The economic model is highy abstracted and you may not be helped too much from reading books about the period.  If you're just interested in learning history, then there are many, but none that I know of will help you with the game, per se.  If you're wanting help about how to build your economy, there are two strategy guides posted on this forum, one for the North, one for the South, that are quite helpful as a place to start.
 
If you are interested in actual history, to be perfectly honest, I'd pick up one of the college texts about the Civil War and Reconstruction.  You'll can find them at Barnes, Amazon, Borders, etc.  The best ones were written before 1985 or so.  Sorry to say that most of them are spendy.  There are good ones to be had that are more recent, but there are also some that have been politicised a little too much for my tastes.  Also be careful that they don't deal with things you may not have an interest in.  I've seen some that deal with music, art, archtecture, etc. of the period, exclusively.
 
There's also an excellent used bookstore in Portland, Oregon, named Powell's Books that WILL have what you want.  Whenever I'm in Portland I spend a day there.  They are on the internet, and have good bargains on almost everything.  Their search engine is pretty good, too.  http://www.powells.com/psection/History.html
 
Once you've gotten a little satisfaction from the first book, whatever you select, use the references in that book to locate more in-depth volumes, if you want more.  A good textbook should give you all you want, though, unless you're really into historical economies.
 
Other folks may have something on their shelves that they like; most of mine deal with the military/social aspects of the war.  That's because many years ago, I came to the conclusion that the North had, the South didn't, and realized that that was all I needed to know.  (A little exaggeration, but not much.)  I HAVE read several excellent volumes about the economic imbalance of the two sides over the years, but don't recall what they were and certainly didn't purchase them -- my bookshelves are packed to the brim without them.
 
Can anybody else help with a specific volume?
 
 
 
 

thanks...

It's a reference work, but Heidler's "Encyclopedia of the American Civil War" is excellent -- very readable and very thorough. Amazon was selling it for just $50, and I assume that deal is still in effect. It's worth it, as you'll agree if you order the volume.

Thank you Gil, I will look into that.

There are a LOT of CW books out there and many are excellent. I do have a favorite that focuses only on the battles fougth - both large and small - during the war. The book is "The Longest Night - A Military History of the Civil War" by David Eicher.

Reading this book, and others that I have seen, highlights a problem (its fixable I am told) in the one of the games AI engines - detailed battle maps. Nearly all of the CW battles were fought around road networks and towns - large and small. The AI produces few roads or towns when engaging detailed battle.

However, this is the best CW game out there in my humble opinion and this little flaw is minor in the scheme of things. I still enjoy it and struggle to master the economics of the game. The detail and history are excellent! Without a doubt, the best CW game out there!

Enjoy!

Semper Fi
Recon

I finished Battle Cry of Freedom 1 month ago and I read it again. Foote's also was suggested and it is my next in line. I would start devouring that if i were you and then move to next "title".

BCoF is a terrific book analyzing *every aspect* of the civil war, starting from the Mexican war.