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Almost exactly one year ago I spoke of a project that I would be undertaking to play through Forge of Freedom as the Confederacy, using exclusively Quick Combat, while making adjustments to the Confederate infrastructure and manpower, to see if I could defeat the Union and gain total independence for the Confederate States of America. What I have done is create a fictional what-if, that begins with the Compromise of 1850. What I explore is what if the Compromise had included an extension of the 36 30'parallel to nearly the Pacific Ocean, and South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun's call for a lighter tariff upon the Southern states had finally been realized. Also, what if the Southern people had finally began to listen to James Dunwoody Brownson DeBow, and began to industrialize the South? The results of the war may have been very different. I know that the South could not prevail in FOF using exclusively Quick Combat unless modifications were made to the economy. So, in essence, I have done that, by creating an ahistorical story that will lead up to the scenario "The Coming Fury - July 1861". I have been working on this project off and on for one complete year. I have tried to write a plausible story and I hope it is entertaining. Perhaps some of it is even plausible. The war is far from complete as I write this post today, so the outcome is not pre-determined. I may just lose. I'm probably a better writer than player of the game, although my writing skills are fair at best. I will try to post a newspaper a day for awhile to get caught up. I am playing at the level of "First Sergeant" so neither side gets any bonuses beyond the already mentioned tweaks to the Confederate infrastructure and manpower. All in all the Confederacy will be strengthened on average about 15%, not at all excessive, and still way below the Northern economy and infrastructure, and still just over a third of the manpower. Hope you enjoy.

Patrick

Here is the First Edition of the Richmond Confederate newspaper. it is a Special Edition highlighting the results of the Compromise of 1850.

Patrick

PJ, I just decided to start studying FoF for about 2 weeks now. Is that the consensus that CSA cannot win using Quick Combat?

Considering PBEM is Quick Combat, are you saying the CSA cannot win in PBEM?

If that is correct, that is very depressing in that I like PBEM, and thus I have wasted lots of time preparing for a PBEM on this with me as the North.

Thank you for any information you have on this. I am greatly interested in what you and others have to say about this.

ORIGINAL: balto
Considering PBEM is Quick Combat, are you saying the CSA cannot win in PBEM?

CSA can indeed win in a pbem game (both done so myself as well as lost as the Northern Agressors). In my oppinion the greatest setback for the CSA is to play with Randomized stats on their generals as you are wery unlikely to get another Lee or Jackson.

Terje

No, I am not refering to PBEM. I am reffering to playing against the computer with the difficulty setting "First Sergeant". Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think in this circumstance the South would lose. I do not doubt that in PBEM a superior player could win with the South.

Patrick

Initial results from the lower tariff.

Patrick

Lower trade tariff effecting northeastern cities.

Patrick

The Southern Commercial Convention.

Patrick

Struggles in the new Southern Territories.

Patrick

Tredegar Iron Works. Ruins of the Ironworks remain to this day in Richmond. It has a museum as well.

Patrick

Southern Construction Begins.

Patrick

Cool! Always great to see another AAR go up. And nice to see the fancy approach.

Expansion of Southern Territories.

Patrick

Federal Protection for Territories.

Patrick

The President catering to his own party.
Aren't you glad those days are past? [;)]

Patrick

Gold found in new Mexico. There really was/is gold there.

A foundry for Montgomery, Alabama.

Patrick

A very interesting alternate history, although the residents of California would have had serious issues with not being allowed statehood immediately. (I'm also very curious as to the details of your alternate Fugitive Slave Act--would there still have been an Underground Railroad?)

And shouldn't there have been a book review of Uncle Tom's Cabin?

Two more states added to the union.
I would think that with a stronger Fugitive Slave Law there would be an even greater need of the Underground Railroad. Yes, California had to wait about 3 years longer, but to gain Kansas as a free state without any "Bleeding Kansas" would surely have been a blessing for free-soilers. Also, the promise that the rest of the Unorganized Territories would be organized as free soil would surely have made it worth the compromise I think (except maybe to Californians, especially those from Los Angeles [;)])

Patrick

Discovery in Arizona. You may notice the New Mexico flag from the last issue is a little different.

Patrick