ACW 10mm NOT 6mm!

[Westmarcher]

Interesting to see about 3 or 4 ACW threads currently kicking about on the forum. Whilst waiting for your order, Grip, here's a 3 minute clip just to keep you in the mood (sorry, no cavalry in this particular clip). Found it via the Krieg Spiel link in the Too Fat Lardies website.

 

btw ianrs54: answer is George Armstrong Custer?

[toxicpixie]

I'd watch Glory a few times, gets one in the mood

[getagrip]

Funnily enough, that's exactly what I've been doing!

[FierceKitty]

OK, tell me (and I'm not being nasty here): what is the appeal of ACW? It's so popular that I feel I must be missing something....

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Lots o Yanks around ?

IanS

[getagrip]

Personally, my first foray into historical stuff.  I was drawn to it because the history is well documented (could say that for many periods), there's a certain "hugeness" to it (again true for others), I love infantry (weird I know) and finally, it looks great.

Don't think this really answers your question very well but that's my 2p's worth.

[Ithoriel]

Arguably the first "modern" war - machine guns, wire, trenches, et al.

Lots of source material, written and photographic.

Extensive secondary sources.

A plethora of rules systems allowing games to be played at any level from "Once Upon A Time In The West" to BBB.

Basic troops are easy to paint but there are lots of interesting uniforms for those looking for such things.

Infinitely more engaging than bunches of savages with fancy-dress costumes cutting each other's hearts out

[FierceKitty]

Infinitely more engaging than bunches of savages with fancy-dress costumes cutting each other's hearts out

Yes, but I'm not talking about fantasy.

[Ithoriel]

Yes, but I'm not talking about fantasy.

Me neither

[fsn]

I like ACW. It's a lovely basic war to fight. You've got yer infantry, yer cavalry and yer artillery. One side dresses in blue. One side dresses in grey. They use the same weapons. 

I use it on the rare occasions when I introduce people to wargames.

Then, you can add levels of complexity. Differentiate between weapon types, add zouaves and other fancy units, butternut for the rebs, etc, etc.

What's not to love about the ACW? 

[Fenton]

I'd watch Glory a few times, gets one in the mood

Or Gettysburg

[getagrip]

Agreed, I really can't quite put my finger on why I want to play it.

Think I'll borrow rationale from my 4 year old; why?  "Because I do!"

[Fenton]

ACW does have some huge battles but it also has have some nice small encounters that can be played in a couple of hours

[getagrip]

Or Gettysburg

Yeah, trying to track that one down too.

I've also ordered the ACW documentary shown on TV repeatedly but I wasn't really interested then.

[Fenton]

The Ken Burns one?