Matrix Games Forums

I am a Civil War history buff and gamer. I have played most of the existing ACW board and PC games.
Before I purchase this game, I wish to know how this game models the indecision and inactivity of Union generals - such as McLellan - for the first few years of the War.

Do generals have an activation die roll or similar mechanism, so they don't get free movement and the ability to attack, on every turn?

Lincoln was frustrated that, even with constantly superior Union army sizes, over the Confederates, his generals were loath to take advantage of this superiority, until 1864+.

Also, does the game engine allow lop-sided victories for the smaller army, such as the Confederates at Chancellorsville, where Jackson's superior leadership made up for a much smaller army?

Dgold wrote: Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:21 pm I am a Civil War history buff and gamer. I have played most of the existing ACW board and PC games.
Before I purchase this game, I wish to know how this game models the indecision and inactivity of Union generals - such as McClellan - for the first few years of the War.

Unfortunately, that aspect of the ACW where Lincoln was hobbled by politically connected generals and prima-donnas of dubious ability isn't really modeled at all. Somebody like McClellan ( or Banks, or Butler) can be sacked the turn after they arrive by paying a rather modest sum of 60 MPPS. (Military Production Points) You'll never see them again unless you really want to. Any inactivity that takes places is usually only due to the need to replaces losses or upgrade units.

Dgold wrote: Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:21 pm Also, does the game engine allow lop-sided victories for the smaller army, such as the Confederates at Chancellorsville, where Jackson's superior leadership made up for a much smaller army?

They're really aren't armies per se in the game. You basically duke it out brigade by brigade, division by division, and eventually corps by corps. But these units are indivisible. You can't combine them to create higher echelons nor break them down. Despite the large scale of the map, due to the one-hex stacking limit you often get a frontal slug-fest reminiscent of the Great War stretching for hundreds of miles, especially in Virginia. But no compact battlefields as happened in the war involving dozens of divisions and brigades concentrated in one spot. There is no real command pecking order either. Each general (HQ) good or bad, high or low controls the same set number of units on his 'front' although this can be improved by research.