For The People

House Rules

by Ted S. Raicer
(nicked from the Internet by the Big C)

First, let me say that the following suggested House Rules are just that; rules designed to customise FtP to my own views. Most of these effects are covered in FtP in a broader way, as was intended by the scope of the design. These rules are not intended to "fix" FtP for it certainly isn't broken. I offer them merely as food for thought for those of you wishing to add a bit more chrome. Season to taste. (Note that Mark convinced me and I have decided not to change the cavalry recon rule.)

3.31 Change: The CSA player may not use a Campaign to go first on the first turn of the 1863 scenario. [This is a purely a play-balance mechanism.]

4.43 New Rule: CSA leaders with a Political Value of 1 (Longstreet and Jackson) may never command an army. [This prevents the CSA using hindsight in assigning his army commanders.]

4.54 New Rule: When a Union army commander with a PV of 6 or more is demoted or removed from the game without the play of an Event, he MUST be replaced by the next highest PV leader in that army. [You can't go from Little Mac to Meade if Burnside or Hooker is present.]

6.97 New Rule: Units defending in a supplied fort in a capital space get a +4 rather than +2drm if attacked at less than 1-1 odds. [Perhaps the most significant change, this rule makes it harder, but not impossible, for an outnumbered army to dislodge an enemy from Washington or Richmond. It will have more effect on the South, but see 11.22 and 12.10 below for compensation.]

7.45 New Rule: The following Leaders have their Battle Rating modified as follows. CSA Longstreet has his Battle Rating reduced to 1 if he is not acting as a subordinate in an army. [Longstreet was a failure in both his experiences of independent command.] USA Buell and Halleck have a Battle Rating of 0 for combat (including rule 7.42) when attacking. They use their normal rating for all purposes on defence (including interceptions and retreats before combat). [This reflects the lack of aggressiveness in battle of both these generals.]

7.7 Change: As an exception to the last two sentences of this rule, A.S. Johnston may be killed when commanding an army with subordinate leaders present. Always include him in randomly determining CSA general casualties. [Simply a bit of historical chrome to account in game term's for Johnston's death at Shiloh. Mark considers Shiloh to be a corps level battle in FtP game terms which would account for Johnston's death without this rule, but I note the 1862 scenario does have him commanding an army.]

9.1 New Rule: If McClellan commands the Army of the Potomac in supply in Washington DC, its attrition losses are reduced by 1. [Reflecting both his talent as an administrator and the fact the AoP was "his" army.]

11.22 Change: If the CSA captures Washington DC while Richmond is still the CSA capital, add 5 to the CSA SW.

12.10 New Rule: If the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Lee begins a Political Control Phase in supply in MD, PA, DE, or NJ (not DC) in a Summer or Fall turn (only) add 2 to the CSA SW and subtract 2 from the Union SW.

12.11 New Rule: At the end of the Fall 1862 and 1864 turns, check to see if Banks, Butler and Fremont are face up on the map. For each of these leaders not face up on the map and either commanding an army or in independent corps command (defined for this purpose as being the highest political value leader in a space with no army and at least 1 Union SP) the Union loses 5 SW. Do not deduct 5 SW if the leader in question is dead. [This rule emphasises the political importance of these commanders at election time.]

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