Hi folks...........

[steamboateng]

I'm steamboat....or Mike....a new member of the Forum.
I've been a fan of the American Civil War for over 30 years. I have dragged myself and the family across every major Virginia battle feild from the Penninsula to Petersburg; visited Gettysburg twice and have actually read all four volumes of 'Battles and Leaders...' as well as the various Civil War accounts of Lee, Grant, Longsteet, Custer, Forrest...etc. I have a pretty good collection of books on the ACW, but haven't added anything to it in many years.
I found SoWG quite by accident,on U-Tube while researching tools for uploading videos. I watched the SoW videos over and over for two days, captivated by the action, before downloading the game and trying out the Tutorials. Sunday last, I finally bit and purchased the Gettysburg game licence.
I have always been fascinated by this battle, and its various evolutions; from Buford's bold holding action at the McPherson farm to Logstreets reluctant charge (Pickett's Carge!) which defined the 'Highwater Mark' of the Confederacy.
I have successfully completed all the Tuorials excepting the 'Corps" one, which is a little much for me at his point. and yesterday I completed the first scenario, with Buford's calvary stubbornly holding off Archer's and Davis's brigades until the Reynolds and the Union 1st Corps arrived on the feild. I scored a 6600+ in that battle, which I considered to be quite good, but most likely beginners luck and the draw of a relitively easy scenario script.
I am looking forward to my next battle, which I will follow in sequence. I'm sure the Rebs will sorely test my command as I attempt to hold 'McPhersons'ridge.

[born2see]

Welcome! Glad to see you're enjoying the game. I think you'll find this to be a great community to be part of.

B

[RebBugler]

Welcome, great to have more history buffs, keeps us designers on our toes. You are starting off much better than most, sometimes folks flounder for weeks and squeal that the game is too tough, or broken, because they can't ace it right off. We are proud to say that we make Generals here, not armchair whiners... :S
...especially my scenarios, heh heh heh

[2nd Texas Infantry]

Welcome aboard!

[Amish John]

Hi Mike. Welcome. Pretty friendly and helpful bunch here. I don't know how many other Civil War games you've played, but I've had several over the years and Scourge of War blows the rest away. I'm lucky to live close enough to Gettysburg to be able to get there whenever I want and have done volunteer work there for the NPS from 1981 thru 2008. Based on my time on the field, I can attest to the accuracy of the maps within the limits of the game system. Enjoy the frustrations of realistic field command.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Welcome! Glad to see you're enjoying the game. I think you'll find this to be a great community to be part of.

B

I'm with B, best of the lot here. Welcome to the SOWgb stables steamboateng.

[redcoat]

welcome mike from o'er the sea in england!
they are a nice bunch of chaps here so i think you'll have a good time.
and prepare to have your life sucked away by this game! cheers

[steamboateng]

Gentlemen and fellow grognards,
Thanks for the warm welcome. I feel fairly comfortable amongst you already; knowing that war gaming and by extension, history, is a common ground for discussion. My own war gaming roots lie in the old Avalon Hill games, with Gettysburg being published in several variants, over the years. In the early eighties, I would spend hours on the map board, arranging infantry brigades in file and line, positioning artillery batteries for effect, and rushing commanders to the sound of guns. In that sense, I see SOW as being similar in concept. There was a time when I could rattle off nearly the entire OOB, Rebel and Yankee alike, down to Brigade level and their commanders, so immersed was I in this epic battle. Of course, the computer age brought with it the likes of Sid Mier's Gettysburg, which became an early digital favorite, although, at least to me, it never quite captured the grand scope or vast area of the battle. When Microsoft converted it's OS over to the .NET framework, I was quite disappointed that Gettysburg would never again load into my machine. I still have the game CD and its excellent game manual, which included Reynold's Rifle & Light Infantry Tactics, which was a course in 19th Century battle tactics in itself.
I, probably like many of you, have been through the 'Total War' gamut, finally calling it quits at 'Empires'; seeking a more challenging experience; although I must admit, 'Empires' certainly provided a clear exercise in the fundamentals on 19th Century linear tactics.
I'm looking forward to gaining some mastery over the game.....errrr......simulation, so that I might appreciate the subtleties, as some of you propose, which it might offer.
I certainly will seek your experienced advice in matters SOW, hoping your patient and learned replies will head off any any frustrated outbursts of sailoresque epitaphs which I might occasionally direct at my blue and/or gray sprites as they march across my monitor.

Regards to all, and again, thanks for the welcome.

[2nd Texas Infantry]

Stay tuned for more great action in the near future. Check the links for Antietam, and Pipe Creek map and scenario official release packs, if you haven't already. And for free, our mod community has put out some great maps. And the crusty old salts in the multi player group are always looking for some fresh opponets. Thanks again for your post of your past gaming experiences, it was a familiar trip down memory lane...No 'Blue & Gray" circa early 90's? Any questions; technical or otherwise, are just a click away. Thanks again Steamboat, and welcome.
-2nd Tx

[Michael Slaunwhite]

And the crusty old salts in the multi player group are always looking for some fresh opponets.

You must mean FRESH MEAT! These guys are killers on the battlefield.