Matrix Games Forums

Since I like polls, I thought I'd post the first one: Of the four early Civil War battles included in "Brother Against Brother 1: The Drawing of the Sword," which one is of greatest interest to you, from either a historical or gaming perspective?

I cant really seem to answere cause I can't remember much.   Bull Run I remember because both sides fought like total amateurs.  The only real map that sticks out in my mind is Kernstown, since that was the only battle Jackson lost, and I loved playing that one over and over with the odds stacked against you.

I had to vote Bull Run because it's the only one I know.

I have read an ACW book recently (last year and a very good one as well) but my mind doesn't retain info very often - so I forget alot of books as soon as I turn a page.

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I had to vote Bull Run because it's the only one I know.

I have read an ACW book recently (last year and a very good one as well) but my mind doesn't retain info very often - so I forget alot of books as soon as I turn a page.

Not surprising, since Bull Run is the only one everyone knows at least something about. At some point I'll post some bibliography on these four battles, for those who are interested. Also, the game itself will include lengthy summaries of each battle (three so far from Battleline, who wrote so many of the FOF bios).

ORIGINAL: Obsolete

I cant really seem to answere cause I can't remember much.   Bull Run I remember because both sides fought like total amateurs.  The only real map that sticks out in my mind is Kernstown, since that was the only battle Jackson lost, and I loved playing that one over and over with the odds stacked against you.

I think our best "odds stacked against you" battle might be Mill Springs, where the Confederates had inferior weapons and troops. Williamsburg is one, too, since the Union has a larger force with reinforcements arriving throughout the day, though the Confederates have some good defenses.

I had to choose Wilson's Creek as I seem to recall playing an old SPI game by that name. (it maybe have been in their S&T mag).

Looking forward to seeing more about this series, though I have to admit I'm not really familar with WCS's games.

Rick

Williamsburg for me - if the Union had won that one...

ok - I'll tell you what, I shall not be so lazy. I'll wiki the battles and come back with a more informative answer [:D]

Mill Springs and Wilson's Creek since I'm a "student" of the Western/Trans-Mississippi theaters.

Wilson's Creek.

Not only the second major engagement to occur in the whole war, in an oft-neglected theatre, but with a Confederate-aligned state militia in a non-seceding state!

I know it's only 22 votes so far, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see Wilson's Creek getting substantial interest. The battle itself is a very interesting one, but the whole back story (Missouri's politics, Lyon's actions back in St. Louis, the soured relationship between Price and McCulloch, etc etc.) is perhaps even more so.

And it's good to see Mill Springs getting some love. Having read a 500-page book about that battle as my research for this game I have come to have a healthy appreciation for its importance as well as how the battle developed.

Gettysburg, Fredricksburg, all those really really big battles, and make those company level please......LOL

Waiting to purchase, not that I will have time to play, but will have it for next winter.

Wilson's creek has my vote, for sure.
It's a forgotten battle with many interesting factors to it.
Nathaniel Lyon himself for one.

Wilson's Creek. I live in Missouri, I have visited the battlefield many times and I have gamed it often. The historical battle almost plays out like Little Bighorn - split forces trying to surprise a large camp of sleeping enemy. The hard part to get right in a game is the initial Confederate/Missouri State Guard's confusion. It took them quite a while to recover from the initial surprise and muster their troops into line to attack Sigel and then Bloody Hill. Can the Union forces make enough hay while the Rebs are organizing? Makes for a great game.

I chose Williamsburg because it is the only one that I have not played multiple times on other games.....

I picked Wilsons Creek for Nathaniel Lyon of course [:)]

Good answer. I voted Williamsburg for similar reasons.

ORIGINAL: hmssws
I chose Williamsburg because it is the only one that I have not played multiple times on other games.....

I'd vote for the 7 Days battles, if that were an option.  1st Bull Runs has been covered so many times in games that it is not drawing my attention so much anymore.  The Madminute Games 1BR, TC2M and new the new Gettysburg all had the 1st Bull run either as main action, or later modded.  Therefore all but the famous ones (1BR, 2BR, Antietam, Gettysburg) is my 1st priority.  Also, 7-Days could allow for a nice campaign mode that could include all of Johnstons, McClellans and Lees moves from March throughout July, and maybe even be promising for a later addon "Jackson in the Shenandoah"...

Edit: Ok, just saw your comment on the latter in another thread.

We knew that 1st Bull Run is not exactly a battle that hasn't been covered, but it still made sense to cover it. We hope that for people such as yourself who have played it a lot the other battles will give sufficient novelty. And as I guess you saw, we'll definitely be doing the Seven Days Battles (well, most of them), almost certainly in our next release.

I haven't played these other 1st Bull Run's, but it occurs to me that there is a chance that our version will be different if other games' maps are more focused. Ours goes from west of Chinn Ridge all the way to Centreville on the east-west axis, and from the flanking march to the various fords on the north-south axis -- about 50 square miles. That should lend itself well to numerous scenarios and mods. So that might be something worthwhile, though admittedly I don't know the ranges of these other versions.

I voted for Wilson's Creek 'cuz you can only pick one. Any of the other 3 except 1st Manassas/Bull Run would be fine - especially Mill Springs. I've read about that one and though I don't remember the details I do remember Shelby Foote (I think that's who) commented that the battle had ramifications that far exceed the sideshow rep it's gotten (though I don't remember the details).

If the 1st iteration of BAB is 1st Manassas I will wait until the next iteration to purchase. Not interested in replaying a battle that was essentially a major Cluster *&^%$% for both sides and served little more purpose than as a wake up call for both armies and the civilian population of the north.