Designing Your Own ACW Scenarios

Considerations and Tips

by Scott Mingus, Sr.

I started playing miniature wargames in the late 1970s back in my college undergrad days at Miami (OH) University, beginning with playing in George Nafziger's classic 25mm Napoleonic games. Soon I bought my first 20mm Civil War figures from K+L / Thomas. As my kids grew up, we often played wargames (by now, we had switched to 15mm and JR). I began writing scenarios for my kids and their friends to play, concentrating on Gettysburg and Antietam. My notes and playtests grew more sophisticated, and eventually, I was encouraged to compile them in what later became the Enduring Vaior series. Through it all, I followed a relatively simple formula for designing these scenarios.

1. Select a battle or skirmish to model. The decision can be based upon personal interest, ancestors at that particular battle (as in my case of Antietam and Gettysburg), geographic proximity, or gaming potential.

2. Research, research, research! Start with exploring the context of the battle. What were the aims of the overall campaign? What other battles preceded and succeeded the fight that you are researching? What were the political and military consequences? What were the strategic objectives associated with the battle? Campaign books, general texts, and the like are of value.

3. Perhaps the most important step is to next research the tactics of the fight. The Official Records are an excellent starting place. Find a good set of maps for the battle in question (the OR Atlas is useful, as are the battlefield historical associations, park rangers, local historical societies, and libraries). Many times, good resources are in the mail after only one phone call. Read battle accounts in regimental histories, dedicated books, officers' personal biographies, local newspaper archives from historical societies, etc.

4. Research the OOB. Orders of battle can at times be tricky, but the OR is a good start, as are brigade and regimental histories, books, and similar resources. For Antietam, I scanned over 100 documents and found several previously unpublished (in wargaming scenarios) details as to armament and number of effectives in the regiment, often contradicting popular opinion.

5. Now write the historical setting / background for the scenario. Then, determine victory objectives and conditions based upon what you have found regarding the commanders' interiotions for the fight.

6. Add in the time frame - when did the fight start, when did it end? What portion are you modeling? Had units been previously engaged that day so that they were not fresh, or had sustained casualties or ran low on ammunition? Which units at the start of the scenario are entitled to an opening volley bonus? When did reinforcements arrive? By what route did they enter the field? In what formation?

7. Study the maps and battle accounts (particularly the soldiers' accounts). Were the streams fordable? Did any terrain feature stand out as an obstacle, cover, or objective? What was the weather? How were the roads for movement? Are there accounts of fences or stonewalls that played any significance? Did the soldiers describe any particular hindrances with the terrain (plowed fields, orchards, etc.)? Translate this information into the scenario set-up details.

8. Draw your terrain map. Add troop placements, key terrain features, roads, a compass, and other pertinent details. Pay particular attention to woods, hills, streams, and roads.

9. Finally, write out the OOB. Include as much as you can find on regimental strengths and armament. In many cases, it is easier to find brigade details, and simply allocate these men across the regiments in a suitable fashion. Assign officer ratings based upon historical performance and / or rank and influence.

10. Add any final details found in your research, and begin playtesting. Rework the scenario based upon your initial playtests and then play it again. Finally, re-read the most pertinent resources and books / accounts of the fight to see if there are any hidden gems of information that would make the scenario even more accurate and interesting.

11. Some gamers will strive for balance, and after historical settings, troops strengths, reinforcement schedules, objectives and the like to provide both sides with a reasonable chance at victory. Others will keep the historical settings and conditions and try their luck at besting the actual outcome.

Remember that the ultimate objective is to provide a scenario that is fun and entertaining, and that creates an atmosphere for fellowship among the players. Alter the scenario as you see fit to achieve those ends. Some suggested on-line resources for the ACW scenario designer...

Official Records - www.ehistory.com/uscw/library/orrindex.cfm
Some selected orders of battle - www.fortunecity.com/victo6an/pofterv/1080/a_battles.htm
Regimental index - www.civihNararchive.com/re-Clim.htm
Confederate Veteran (useful eyewitness accounts of certain battles) - www-americancivitwar.50megs.com/CVM.htmI
Old Civil War battle and campaign maps - www.memory.loc.gov/americancivilwar.50megs.com/home.htmI
Modern topographic maps of battlefields - www.topozone.com/default.asp
Battlefield panoramas (helpful for some battles in viewing the terrain) - www.civilwaralbum.com/panoramas.htm
Photos of leading generals - www.generalsandbrevets.com/default.htm


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© Copyright 2004 by Scott Mingus.
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