[Consim-l] Re: best gettysburg game?

[Mike NotSpecified]

Battle Cry is really a very basic, generic, tactical game.  The scenarios may 
be named after famous battles, but the connection is thin to the point of 
non-existent.  (If you doubt me, set one up, then ask a knowledgable Civil War 
buff to name the battle.  Then set up the same battle using Across 5 Aprils, 
same friend, same challange.  Bet you the friend has better luck with A5A).

I have not seen a plug for Columbia's Gettysburg game, so let me throw it on 
your "to be considered" pile.  I think it is easy enough to serve as an 
introductory game, yet evocative enough of the battle that buffs will happily 
recognize terrain features and favorite units.

The same could be said for Across 5 Aprils, easy and evocative.  I liked A5A 
when I first played it, but was bothered by the forced combat.  IIRC the turn 
sequence was fight then move, and you had to fight anybody you were adjacent 
to.  So if the other guy had occupied some excellent defensive terrain, say in 
the woods or something, the trick was to move up to him on your turn, then 
watch as on his turn his troops stupidly broke cover and attacked you in the 
open. Nevertheless, this tactic aside, I found the games pretty fun.

On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:13:31 -0500 (EST)
  Aaron Silverman <nishiki at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
>>Message: 4
>>Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2006 02:31:22 +1030 (CST)
>>From: Markus Stumptner <mst at cs.unisa.edu.au>
>>Subject: Re: [Consim-l] Re: best gettysburg game?
>>To: consim-l at mailman.halisp.net
> 
>>Aaron is right in terms of the 2 hours.  However I have to point out that
>>the game that finally convinced me that Battle Cry was not for me (after
>>three different opponents had told me, "this game is pure chance, let's
>>play something else") was a Pickett's Charge scenario where, because I had
>>no cards to do anything in the centre and the Confeds got some multiple
>>moves, the Confederate attack leapt across the battlefield, shot my
>>entrenched units in the center to pieces, all without me having a chance
>>to even shoot at them, and then occupied the Union center for pretty much
> 
> See, I was right in terms of the "if you're looking for something with some 
>semblance of simulation value," too!  ;)
> 
>>an instant victory.  It almost beats Richard Simon's Gunslinger 
>>experience.
>>
> Interestingly, I was in that game.  I think I was the only person who had 
>the patience to take the time to aim my gun.  :)
> 
> -Aaron Silverman
> 
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