And now for our next act.....

[Amish John]

I think Gettysburg was the best choice for NSD's 1st game. Historically, the most popular, most written about, most studied, and most visited battlefield of the Civil War. After the release, once you have the wargamers' attention, the question will be what's next? While NSD may have already made this decision, I'm going to have to vote for argueably the second most popular battle of the Civil War...Antietam.

I know there is interest in the Civil War western theater and the Napoleonic era for the next game. However, many of the same units fought at both at Antietam and Gettysburg. That will save NSD some research time. If GB is a success, I'm betting customers will not be able to resist Antietam. Plus, for game research, the battlefield is pretty conveniently located. Because the battlefield is close to major eastern metropolitan areas, history buffs have probably visited it more than any other battlefield except Gettysurg and may, therefore, have an inherent interest in it.

Gettysburg/Antietam should be a 1-2 knockout punch to establish NSD as the premier wargame company today and establish the foundation to expand to those other historic areas of interest. Just my opinion.

[IronBMike]

Follow the same path as SMG-SMA, eh? I wouldn't mind, but it'd be nice to see something different.

[O. O. Howard]

IronBMike wrote:

Follow the same path as SMG-SMA, eh?

This thought came to my mind as well. I would really enjoy Antietam. I use Antietam maps and OOBs in TC2M all the time, but the problem is that it is two separate maps. It would be great to have the entire battlefield in one map. It is an excellent battlefiled for game play.

The units at Antietam are similar, but the OOB still has significant differences from Gettysburg. The 11th and 3rd Corps are not there and there are the 2 year and 9 month regiments. That is one of the things I like about Antietam OOBs; the huge (but green) PA 9-monthers in the 2nd and 12th Corps. Antietam would be great, but... we are still waiting for Gettysburg first.

If you are looking for a quick turnaround in terms of units similar to Gettysburg, Chancellorsville would be the easiest. That could be interesting too, especially if it could somehow reflect the entire campaign with both Chancellorsville and Marye's Heights / Salem Church.

[Ephrum]

As a game player, one thing I enjoy is the "what if" factor. Playing G-burg and Antietam is fun because there's the chance to try, what I think a given commander could've/should've done. Chancellorsville would have the same potential.

For a personal preference, I really enjoy the Second Manasass senarios. Though that battle has a bit less of the "what if" factor. The OOB's are great, and the maps are still my favorite to play on.

However, once the Modders get the chance to do their thing, in time, it's likely we'll see a great deal more.

[CupOHemlock]

My only concern with Antietam is every simulation, computer or cardboard, has had to deal with "Activation Limits" to keep the Union from rolling over the Confederates with a nearly 2-1 troop superiority. Still, I would like to see it for the "What if" possibilities.

[IronBMike]

CupOHemlock wrote:

My only concern with Antietam is every simulation, computer or cardboard, has had to deal with "Activation Limits" to keep the Union from rolling over the Confederates with a nearly 2-1 troop superiority. Still, I would like to see it for the "What if" possibilities.

Very good point. I think a Chancellorsville / Marye's Heights would be a good next step, as already mentioned. It would be the same as Second Manassas / Chantilly / Cedar Mt in terms of having different maps in one game, and the battle allows for plenty of "what ifs".

I love how we're thinking about the next game before Gettysburg is even out!

[Hancock the Superb]

I believe that if you were going to include a campaign mode in the next game, 2nd Manassas would be the best bet. It would be amazingly fun to simulate Jackson, and march your men around the Union forces. (You just need to figure out how the force-marching would work. Or Pope. Have different scenarios where Jackson sweeps around behind the Bull Run Mountains, or maybe even the Luray Valley, or an all out attack along the Rappanhock, or something else, and as Pope, try to get your forces into striking positions, win the objectives (such as hold Manassas Junction, hold Centreville, Hold the fords of the Rappanhock, hold the mountain passes, hold Alexandria, hold Fredericksburg, try to get to Spotslvania, etc.). That would be amazingly fun.

[Armchair General]

Hancock the Superb wrote:

I believe that if you were going to include a campaign mode in the next game, 2nd Manassas would be the best bet. It would be amazingly fun to simulate Jackson, and march your men around the Union forces. (You just need to figure out how the force-marching would work. Or Pope. Have different scenarios where Jackson sweeps around behind the Bull Run Mountains, or maybe even the Luray Valley, or an all out attack along the Rappanhock, or something else, and as Pope, try to get your forces into striking positions, win the objectives (such as hold Manassas Junction, hold Centreville, Hold the fords of the Rappanhock, hold the mountain passes, hold Alexandria, hold Fredericksburg, try to get to Spotslvania, etc.). That would be amazingly fun.

Why do 2nd Manassas again? Choose something else to get out of the box a bit. What about Gran't Overland Campaign?

[Hancock the Superb]

Not too much strategy in that one, as far as I know. It was just a guessing game about where Grant would strike next for Lee, and for Grant, it was just how far on the Lee's left flank should he strike.

[Gfran64]

I think Jackson's Valley Campaign would be great. Smaller maps with more frequent, smaller, interrelated battles would give quite a bit of variability as to how things turned out. You could replay that campaign 5 or 6 times from both sides and get a different result each time. Plus, I don't think it's been done yet, or at least done well yet. Jackson is probably the second most well known general of the war. Also, it would be a lot less work than Antietam and could be released sooner. So Jackson's Valley Campaign gets my vote.

Regards,

Greg B)