TDG: The U.S. Civil War

[@banksixdeis94]

I'm "one of those people" -- this is one of the greatest war games ever made, man. Good review as always.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@craigartl1348]

Your comments pretty much mirror my feelings about this game. I've read the rules and set it up a couple times and then I just stare at the board with no idea what I should do! After a few days of this, I pack it all up and that's it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!

[@AndyP998]

that happened to me with Empire of the Sun, it was just too much.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I'm with you on USCW. Empire I do fine for the first 3 turns then I'm lost.

[@douglaspearson4853]

I just heard an interesting Civil War story and was wondering if you heard it. General Edgar Sickles married a 16 year old girl. She was cheating on him when caught by Sickles and Sickles shot and killed the man. A Mr; Keyes. Here is there where the story gets interesting. The man killed was the son of Francis Scott Keyes who wrote the Star Spangled Banner. To top it off Sickles got off. Sickles was a NY lawyer who was the 1st person to get off a murder charge with Temporary Insanity plea. If you didn't know this I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yes, I was a aware of that story. A few years ago biography came out about him, and I saw an interview with the author and he talked about that story. Very interesting indeed.

[@douglaspearson4853]

​@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Two things I really enjoy and love to talk about History & Games.

[@MrDragoon73]

It is indeed a complex game. But as soon as one studies the rules 4-5 times and has over 20 hours of gameplay under their belt, the game SHINES. It is a masterpiece where every move and decision becomes intuitive once you have deeply understood the game. After that point you think as you were a commanding general and never again in terms of game rules.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fantastic!

[@nok6151]

I love your reviews, thank you for making them 🙂

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

No K Thank you for your kind comment. It’s stuff like that that keeps me going.

[@IceNiner199]

"A recent Osprey games review and now a GMT game?!! It just don't git no better n' this!!" (said in a Foghorn Leghorn voice) This Civil War game seems very similar to GMT's "Napoleonic Wars", which my game club plays on a regular basis. We are into the deeply detailed war games (made up of middle aged/older veteran players-probably some of the few left in the USA that are, you don't usually find younger players that are into the deep thinking/highly detailed games unfortunately), so thanks for the review! More GMT & Osprey type game reviews would be deeply appreciated! :-)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I love GMT Games and I am really warming to Osprey, so expect to see more.

[@johnsakelaris7]

I have not seen this game played beyond looking at the various playthroughs available on KZbin. They confirm your warning: This is a very complex game. Cody, it was good for you to admit that you were often having to go back and correct omissions in your play. For myself, the pleasurable alternative to getting into that kind of complexity is the wonderful game "A House Divided." It is also a strategic game of the Civil War, but with a rules set that is really manageable. Playing it is a joy. (Folks should see Cody's review on it.) Fans of this new GMT game "The US Civil War"are invited to respond to me concerning why one would want to put aside "A House Divided" in order to try to figure out this new creation.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed, A House Divided is a lot of fun!

[@genxman7211]

Love A House Divided!

[@johnsakelaris7]

@@genxman7211 Oh, but see my latest comment above.

[@phd_angel4192]

Thanks for the review. Its complexity and epic scale resembles Dark Valley also by GMT, super interesting but with so many distracting rules and turn mods, wouldn't you agree? Is this even more complex than Dark Valley?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven’t played Dark Valley. Sorry.

[@carrickrichards2457]

'Complexity' is a cost. It buys 'depth'. Not everyone has the currency nor does everyone want the goods. I rather prefer 'For the People' (also by GMT).

[@rode8173]

Great job! I like complex wargames. Most of my friends don't. I would still want to play this. Cheers! 🍻

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@rode8173]

@The Discriminating Gamer I'm curious whether or not you own any hex and counter games?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@rode8173 A few. I've owned more in the past, but generally I prefer lighter war games. Check out 1944 Battle of the Bulge from Worthington.

[@rode8173]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I have looked at that game. Sold out. Reasonable price. Beautiful production.

[@johnsakelaris7]

Okay, gang, now I have to say that even with its complexity, I finally broke down and I got The US Civil War game five months ago. I am really starting to like it. Yes, I must play it slowly and refer often to the rulebook to avoid mistakes, but it is worth it. It is a great historical simulation experience. Now my problem is finding available opponents for it. I do have one opponent fifty miles away, but I can use more. Anyone else in Oklahoma have this game?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@timothysmith6211]

I used to have a copy of The Civil War by victory games, if I am not confused this is the same game correct?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I don't think it is.

[@douglaspearson1647]

Cody did ever play Across 5 Aprils? It covers Bull Run, Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Gettysburg, and Bentonville. My favorite ACW games. Game is easy to learn and plays great solitaire as well as 2 player due to the chit pull of leaders. This command control rule can have 1 player playing several moves before the 2nd, so it may not be for everyone but adds a new wrinkle to planing. The biggest scenario Gettysburg and my favorite game played lasted from 9:30am to 6:00pm (My opponent suffered from AP). Not planned but I formed the hook, Confederates were held at Culp's hill & failed with Pickett's charge. The game ended at Little Round Top CSA kicked me off and I was able to retake it only to be thrown off and not able to get reinforcements in time to retake. So I lost at the end of day 2. What knocked me out was how it developed like history (except Little Round Top). Without AP game play is fast. I played Bull Run in about an hour. Before AH/Victory games went under there was a sister game in the works. If you ever get the chance try it out.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Haven't played it, but sounds like a lot of fun!

[@Jubilo1]

Time to play Battle Hymn !

[@AjaxLefeuf]

I thought this was an Avalon Hill game? That's what I came looking for as I have that version. I assume this is a remake, looks nice. That version includes the Far West, don't know if this does. One of my top 5 all time favorites. I like them complex...

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

This one is on the more complex side for sure.

[@TrevorJust]

Well done

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you, sir.

[@xPEACExTSM]

You should give it another whirl!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I don’t have it any more. If I get another chance, however, perhaps I will.

[@stevendolges8372]

Any opinion on how this compares to For the People?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Unfortunately, I have not played For The People, though I do own the old Avalon Hill copy.

[@D-Martin]

The Discriminating Gamer I was just given a copy of For the People as a Christmas gift. Would love a review if you can find the time!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I don't know. I'm pretty busy right now, but if I can I will.

[@D-Martin]

No worries! Just always enjoy your reviews-especially for games I'm wanting to try or buy.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Danke!

[@griefjunkie]

Nice review! Believe me, this is an absolute masterpiece of a game - but yes, it's a 'proper' wargame, and not for the lilly-livered!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

D'oh! You may be right.

[@msa4998]

TDG: This looks like Paths of Glory on steroids. Is that accurate?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

M Allen I don’t know. I haven’t played PoG.

[@msa4998]

The Discriminating Gamer I think you would really enjoy PoG. Deep but any rules complexity is pretty much overcome after one play.

[@douglaspearson1647]

I was wondering if this a revamp of Civil War by Victory Games. I think you might like We The People. It is a simpler game than the Civil War (VG), Sounds like it has some of the same things like replacing Generals but simpler and faster play. Perfect fit.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Douglas Pearson I don't know if it is a riff on the VG game. I have a copy of For The People but I've never played it. Maybe if i get a chance down the line.

[@boyerwulf66]

It is a riff on the VG game and in my opinion not nearly as good. The automatic promotion and withdraw of the leaders based on history itself, just doesn't do it for me in the GMT version. In the VG version, leaders could be promoted and could die randomly if in battle. Finally the leadership ratings and rules do not reflect how much better some Generals were, then others (Hooker for example is just -1 in DEF and ATK worse then say Lee). In the VG version, leaders not only had ATK and DEF ratings, but Army command ratings as well that let them reroll dice. A big advantage that reflected the importance of the great Army commanders (Lee, Forrest, Grant, Sherman, etc.) during the Civil War.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Good to know. Thanks!

[@douglaspearson1647]

Thank you

[@indy_go_blue6048]

Bryan, you touched on my reason for not going gaga over this game despite there being so many things to like about it. For the record I always use variant entry rules when I play VG's TCW, so the limited number of leaders and their scripted roles simply limits what to me is the most fun part of playing a strategic level ACW game. JMHO. Btw, yes it's pretty much a revamp of VG's ACW as Mark Simonitch gives many kudos over the ideas and sometimes direct transference of rules/concepts from the older game.

[@benfoster6715]

I feel like Mark Simonitch's games are pretty good introduction to wargames proper, since they can be relatively streamlined. It's hard to get used to the genre's magnitude of rules internalization though. Still gotta play my copy of US Civil War though!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@welshknight1456]

Time consuming game, i've read the rules several times and still trying to get my head around the game.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

"Time consuming" isn't necessarily a bad thing for me. My favorite game is Twilight Imperium 4th Edition.

[@welshknight1456]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Does this game play solo? if not can you recommend a good ,not too difficult military solo game, thanks.

[@welshknight1456]

I have thought about putting the board from US Civil war in a frame and hanging it on my wall.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@welshknight1456 It is a beautiful board, not doubt. It's been a while and I don't recall if it has a solo variant or not. I can't think of a straight wargame with a solo mode, though I'm sure they're out there. I would recommend some of Victory Point Games' States of Siege games, however. Great solo games, many with war themes. Habsburg Eclipse is probably my favorite, though Cruel Necessity and Zulus on the Ramparts were also very good as well.

[@peterterry7918]

You look like you have lost some weight, are you feeling ok?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! I shoot batches of these reviews several weeks apart. Since the last time I've shot I've dropped about 20 lbs. Working with my doctor, and with diet and exercise. Thank you for your concern.

[@peterterry7918]

That is awesome, good job!