How well can this game model history?

[FM WarB]

I have been following this forum with interest as I consider buying the game.

I understand players will attempt to change history...kick McClellan in the ass to get him moving, or not bottle up 39,000 men in Vicksburg. But lets say Pendleton IS that stupid. Can Grant run ships past Vicksburg, march his army west of the river, then cross, fight some battles and then besiege Vicksburg, given the game mechanics?

Does invading the north for Lee become prohibitive, in terms of cohesion/attrition losses (which may well be realistic)?

How often do the Brits or French intervene in favor of the Confederates with fighting forces?

[Jabberwock]

The answers to any of those questions depend heavily on the optional rules you use.

Generally, with the standard rules:

Yes (all but the ships part)

No

It is very rare

[Coffee Sergeant]

I have been following this forum with interest as I consider buying the game.

I understand players will attempt to change history...kick McClellan in the ass to get him moving, or not bottle up 39,000 men in Vicksburg. But lets say Pendleton IS that stupid. Can Grant run ships past Vicksburg, march his army west of the river, then cross, fight some battles and then besiege Vicksburg, given the game mechanics?

I'm not a big civil war buff, but yes this is possible in game terms, although running a large fleet past fortifications is a risky. In my current PBEM my opponent did just that with Farragut in New Orleans.

Does invading the north for Lee become prohibitive, in terms of cohesion/attrition losses (which may well be realistic)?

Its possible, but you gain little in game terms unless the Union player is exceptionally stupid and you somehow manage to capture Washington. The burden is on the Union player to go on the offensive. All the CSA has to do is defend. And the tactical defense is king in this game, probably even more so than in the real civil war. If you are thinking of invading the north as CSA, it probably means that you have captured both Harpers Ferry and Alexandria; that is a great defensive line, and it makes little sense to risk an offensive and abandon your entrenchments for little gain. Theres very little in western Maryland/southern Pennsylvania; no objectives, few structures to guard your troops against harsh weather, little industry. And it is relative isolated and difficult to supply from the Southern base.

How often do the Brits or French intervene in favor of the Confederates with fighting forces?

Its difficult, and personally I've never had it happen. It takes time, holding off the Union from strategic cities and winning battles to tip the balance in your favor and a good amount of luck. I think you can make it happen mid 1863 if you get lucky with the political options.

But it if does, its pretty much game over for the Union, as it pretty much indicates they were losing anyway.

[marecone]

Hmmm... Interesting. "Rebs invading north" part is probably the weakest part of historical game. Perhaps our modders could change this.
If it would be possible, it would be great to add some string on yankee towns that if captured by rebs then chance of England and France entering war would getmuch higher.
This would make this game even more historical.

Even without it, this is the best game on ACW market ever saw and I bet that in long long time no game on this theme will be better .

[Clovis]

Hmmm... Interesting. "Rebs invading north" part is probably the weakest part of historical game. Perhaps our modders could change this.
If it would be possible, it would be great to add some string on yankee towns that if captured by rebs then chance of England and France entering war would getmuch higher.
This would make this game even more historical.

Even without it, this is the best game on ACW market ever saw and I bet that in long long time no game on this theme will be better .

I'm thinking for the long run to a "Northern panic" event in case of Confederate invasion of the North, with inflation, raise of foreign intervention level, loss of NM for the North and raise in the South and so on... But I would like too to create reverse event for the South in case of failure of the invasion.

But as events can be based on a battle defeat, i've yet to exactly figure how to implement this. i've some ideas but I need to test them before...

[Coffee Sergeant]

A major defeat in northern territory one way or the other should probably swing the foreign intervention level appropriately.