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This is the new edition of SPI's 1978 monster game of the American Civil War. The following is from the publisher:
War Between the States, 1861-1865, simulates the American Civil War from the opening shots at Fort Sumter to Lee's surrender at Appomatox. It uses three maps to cover the major theaters of operation from Galveston, Texas, to St. Joseph, Missouri, and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jacksonville, Florida. A total of 1400 counters represent various units and game effects. Game turns represent the passage of a week of real-world time, with "cycles" intervening during which players carry out such routines as production, blockade, construction, politics, etc. Each game turn is divided into two player turns, during which one player or the other may move his ground and naval combat units on the map and attack his opponent.
There is an off-map roster system to track the fluctuating strengths of the ground combat units. The combat system requires both players to secretly and simultaneously choose one of several combat options. Cross-referencing those choices determines which combat results table is used to resolve each battle, thereby determining the extent of strength point casualties to be assessed against each player's units, as well as other combat effects. Heavy losses normally result only when both players desire a major battle.
Logistics is crucial in the game. Supply must be expended in each cycle on existing forces or they are exposed to possible attrition or elimination. Combat supply may be expended as a result of battle, and it's difficult for a force of any size to operate for long when out of supply. It is the slow movement of supply trains, coupled with the time necessary to repair railroads and fund supply depots, which limits the extent and depth of each player's strategic offensives.
The game can be played as a huge campaign using all three maps and simulating the entire war from beginning to end. That requires hundreds of man-hours. Alternatively, six scenarios are also offered, covering the eastern campaigns of 1862, 1863, and 1864, along with three others covering the western campaigns of those same years. The scenarios vary in length from eight to 24 game turns. When playing them, players don't execute the intervening cycles, since production and related matters are built into their systems. The scenarios are also designed to play on just one or two maps.
1400 counters, three 34x22 inch game maps, lots of large charts and play aids. 1 to 2 players.
Our comment: If you're looking for a good simulation of the whole war this is one of the best, probably only one game better—The Civil War by Victory. Don't expect the graphics for this game to be any better than the original.
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