[Consim-l] Thoughts on South Mountain

[Pat Collins]

I must admit, using the regimental rosters is a bit of a pain, but I think 
the gain in realism, as well as unit integrity makes it well worth the 
while. If you assign losses across the brigade, you wont see what happened 
in this game. Some units get pounded, and break, while others not in action 
or luckier are relatively intact. It often happpend that a brigade took the 
opportunity to move a "big" regiment into a key spot when the enemy had been 
forced back by morale checks. I'd hate to give that up.  So also for 
artillery ammo, by canister and shell. That worked out SO well, I would like 
to see that idea ported to CWBS.

It really forced a unit to think if it should shoot, or maybe wait for when 
that canister would be needed. Having to move back 4 hexes from enemy units 
is VERY hard in South Mountain. The map was littered with "low ammo" 
markers, as any unit that was engaged, really could NOT fall back to re 
supply since the congestion would leave a hole for the enemy to move into. 
Low ammo, especially with a unit that has taken some losses, really takes 
out the offensive punch. For cannon, you literally leave them there until 
they are dry. In all this action, the artillery markers were only moved 
once, due to Reno taking Corps attack stoppage. That gave the reb cannon on 
the ridge the chance (which they took) to go get filled up.

The terrain was SO miserable. You always have to think if you can move a 
unit - and how far. Moving Brigades up into action was not a trivial affair, 
and it often took 3 turns to go from column of march, into action. This hits 
both sides, the Union more, as he will have more units sitting in column, 
waiting for a chance to move somewhere.

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this game. I think regimental size does 
well for this sized battle. I dont' think I'd want to do Gettysburg or 
Chickamauga at this scale, but South Mountain size and smaller, I surely 
will.

Regards, Pat
Last Played: Chattanooga, When Tigers Fight, South Mountain RSS