This article is intended for those persons who would like to truly enjoy a "grand tactical' ACW simulation (without using 2-6mm castings), but find themselves frustrated as to rules sets. How many times have you purchased a rules set with the description, "...realistic....complete....all you'll need...etc, only to find that in twelve to fifteen months the rules set will be revised and the rules released again and you find yourself saying and buying "just one more time"? I know I have, and I now own six different and revised rules sets! Admittedly, as new information comes to light and gaming experience is added in, there are bound to be additions, deletions, and other changes as simpler and better ways are found to do the basics. That is to be expected and is alright since no single rules set comes off as the "ultimate". Rules authors, please don't proclaim your set as the "best, complete, etc." It probably won't be and you will ask us to buy again "just one more time". I enjoy the Empire line of rules and books but have wondered (and believe I know) why Stars 'N Bars III (SNB3) was not written in 1:60 scale like Empire III and IV were for Napoleonics. The 1:40 ratio of SNB3 is still really quite tactical as noted in the designer's notes as regards each player commanding one to two divisions. The Telescoping Time Concept (TTC) is great and quite innovative, but to really benefit from TIC one needs a two car garage, two 6'x12' tables, and a couple of thousand figures to get a true "grand tactical" scope. Most of us just don't have all of the above and thus those "grand tactical concepts really don't apply when a player handles one or two divisions per side. SNB3 is really a tactical game and is quite playable and realistic, especially rules additions and clarifications. However, Johnny Reb II is an extremely tough competitor at this level. So what are we to do? Rob Smith, in a past issue of The Zouave, had an excellent idea regarding using SNB3 with 10mm castings....but what of us who have a large investment in 15mm figures? It becomes especially difficult when the detail of the 15mm castings is currently superior to 10mm, and the 15mm lines are now quite extensive - it's been well worth the wait! Do we keep 15mm and drastically shrink the ground scale while increasing the figure scale? That's a possible idea, but it is difficult to have castings 2-3 cm from each other in a scale that represents 300-400 yards there is such a thing as the "look of it all"! Is there a solution? Do we wait for another rules set and "just one more time"? Do we scrap our 15's and buy into 10mm? If you desire the thrill of multi-corps action and still have retention of historical ACW combat, here are some suggestions: 1. Rework SNB3 figure scale to 1:60 instead of 1:40. In 1:60, brigades muster 25-30 figures. 2. Rework artillery, fire-fight, and close action tables on a 1:60 scale (small arms table is O.K.), which is not at all difficult. 3. Rework ground scale to 1:60, such being 1cm = 24 yards. The movement tables, ranges, and other distances will need to be changed accordingly. Key concept: You may still desire regimental action, and it is sometimes necessary, but the brigade is really the unit of maneuver. There is something exciting about struggling with Lee and command problems at Gettysburg, or seeing your reserve brigades "go in", or the reserve artillery massed hub to hub. If anyone is interested in SNB3 "1:60' scale-up modifications, please feel free to drop me a note. However, in the future, when that "new...innovative ...ultimate.. .glossy" rules set comes along, I will find myself buying and saying, "just one more tIme"! P.S. - Special recognition to those rules authors who continue the pursuit of excellence in the hobby! EDITOR'S NOTE: Dear Hal: I just wanted you to know that right after finishing my current rules project, Advance The Colors, I will be working on a new...ultimate. . .all you need. ..innovative and glossy rules set that features the brigade as the basic unit of maneuver. No title has been chosen yet, but my ideas sound exactly, like what you are looking for! Do you think you might be persuaded to buy it when released just one more time"? While the above was just a bit tongue in cheek, the truth is that many people seem to desire a way to play a more grand tactical game in ACW. If you haven't tried OTR as yet, give it a shot - it is a brigade level rules set. If you don't like it, let me know, and I might just write one of those "ultimate.. all you need.. .etc." rules sets with the brigade as the basic element! Back to The Zouave Vol III No. 4 Table of Contents Back to The Zouave List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1989 The American Civil War Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com