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I am thinking of starting up a small ACW company.Is their any rulesets out their that play like Flames of war or any of the GAmesworkshop games. WFB or 40k.I have never played a ACW game so any advice would help.

If you are after a list based tournament style game for ACW then you may be disappointed. I don’t think one exists. ACW and the rest of the rules for the Horse and Musket period tend to be more focused on historical style games.

It’s been a while since I’ve played anything like that, but I’ve heard great things about Fire and Fury, though I’m not sure if it’s still in print. I’d recommend checking the rules board on the Miniatures Page.

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/topics.mv?id=95

Johhnny Reb if you are looking for skirmish.

Edit: Blackpowder will work for ACW as well. However, I was thinking Fire and Fury first.

Johnny Reb III is not a skirmish game. Each figure represents 30 men.

Fire & Fury is fairly similar but usually considered better for very large battles. There is also a regimental level version of the rules.

I think all these rules may be OOP but may be available as PDFs.

ACW seems to be out of popularity at the moment, but these things go in cycles and the availability of the Perry Bros plastics may help stimulate interest.

TMP is the best place to go for more information, as advised by LuciusAR.

Oh, I must have been thinking of a different game. I was thinking of "Brother Against Brother".

My mistake.

Brother vs Brother is a good set of ACW rules for small actions. I would also recommend the Two Fat Lardies set, They could not hit an Elephant. I have also had good small skirmish type games with 1861-1865 (available via Wargames Vault

From you post it would seem you want to a company sized game - 15mm will do at a pinch but it will be nearly as cheap to just invest in some Perry 28mm plastics.

Here is a list of ACW rules I made a few years ago. It is out of date but at least gives the names.

ACW Rules
DBACW £5.50
Fast Play ACW £3.99
Fire and Fury £14.99
Johnny Reb III £14.50
Lincoln's War £8.00
The Long Endure £4.99
Mr Lincoln's War £11.50
Rally Round the Flag, Boys £11.50
Rebel Yell £9.50
When Johnny Comes Marching Home £3.99
Whipping Bobby Lee £6.99
Honor and Glory Free d/l

We've had fun with 'They Couldn't Hit An Elephant' by Too Fat Lardies.

Its got good command and control mechancis, and fog of war through blinds which means troops move pretty fast until 'contact'. And the mechanics for combat are good.

Like most historical sets, it relies on you to figure out the forces involved (there are scenarios), as there are no 'army lists'

Maybe I should rip off warhammer historicals and make my own rules perhaps?

There was a set of ACW rules being written for Warhammer Historical when they shut up shop...

I think there is a Yahoo group for it.

Personally, I'd wait for 'Longstreet' to come out.

If you're collecting an army the rules don't matter too much. Get a cheap (or free) set to start with and look into other rules as you go along.

Regimental Fire and Fury for sure, also in the very near future Sam Mustafa has a set coming out that lets you start up a small bad and build up campaign style, Longstreet is the title ofthe game I believe.

This thread inspired me to get my 15mm ACW out of the attic for the first time in many years. Shocking the wife!

They need an overhaul and basing on new bases, which is a good excuse to add some cavalry.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sam Mustafa's rules should be worth looking at. I have Grande Armee, and it is full of interesting concepts.

Big P wrote:
There was a set of ACW rules being written for Warhammer Historical when they shut up shop...

I think there is a Yahoo group for it.

Personally, I'd wait for 'Longstreet' to come out.

If you recommmend it is probably pretty good.

Volley and Bayonet is another set that covers ACW.

This is the set,i have been thinking of buying. http://www.thewarstore.com/GordonandHague.html

 col. krazy kenny wrote:
I am thinking of starting up a small ACW company.Is their any rulesets out their that play like Flames of war or any of the GAmesworkshop games. WFB or 40k.I have never played a ACW game so any advice would help.

Black Powder. It's a solid system and so well known that you won't have any trouble learning it or finding other players. Covers 1700-1900.

 judgedoug wrote:

 col. krazy kenny wrote:
I am thinking of starting up a small ACW company.Is their any rulesets out their that play like Flames of war or any of the GAmesworkshop games. WFB or 40k.I have never played a ACW game so any advice would help.

Black Powder. It's a solid system and so well known that you won't have any trouble learning it or finding other players. Covers 1700-1900.

You mentioned Games Workshop. Black Powder is written by old Games Workshop guys Rick Priestley and Jervis Johnson.

Another vote for Longstreet, when it comes out. Sam Mustafa's rulesets all tend to be pretty great.

Well I can tell ya Longstreet is gonna be good... As Im currently doing the final round of playtests for Sam Its campaign allows you to play through the entire war in command of your own brigade!

Its certainly as good, if not better than Maurice, and I love that game... I'd say that Maurice and Longstreet are my two favourite historical games after BG.

Cant recommend them enough... Easy to learn, hard to master, full of period flavour and a unique card system that makes every game very different.

I like Maurice as well and I'm pumped for Longstreet. Longstreet might end up being my first foray into ACW. I'd love to try my hand at painting up some Zouaves!

Not to sidetrack too much, but what did you think of Lasalle, Big P? I haven't played it yet but I have the book and it looks like a great set of tactical Napoleonic rules. I've got a few Austrians and French I'm trying to put together to actually play the game, if I can find the time to actually finish them.

I love Lasalle too... Though it lacks the dynamic of the cards.

Its still great though, and funnily enough, we do the 1809 Austrian Campaign too! Its a very playable set of rules and its replaced the other sets we have been using.

Hoping Sam may consider a second version using cards too.

I shall be in the market for Longstreet too. It has gone to the printers.

Damn you people, now I'm going to get Longstreet too!

I have been counting my 15mm ACW infantry.

I have the equivalent of 14,720 troops at the 1:40 ratio, comprising 18 formed regiments, four regiments in skirmish formation and six regiments that need to be painted. That is the equivalent of a strong corps or two weak corps.

I am going to start rebasing all of them next weekend, on to bases compatible with Stars N Bars and Fire & Fury.

I need to get some cavalry as I don't have any ATM, though I've got plenty of artillery and wagons.

Anyone starting 15mm ACW should take a look at these new plastic figures...

http://wargaming.info/2013/gordon-hague-15mm-plastic-acw-packs/#more-5939

I like how it says available now, when they seem intent on hiding the "unpainted figures" part of their site.

http://www.gordonandhague.com/unpainted-figures.html

seems to be it.

I've sent them a query about the unpainted ones, and also to see if any UK retailers are biting!

Not that I need any more ACW... no no no...

Ugh. Gordon & Hague has been a massive clusterfeth. And now it looks like they've gone from extremely price-friendly, unpainted plastic miniatures to expensive, pre-painted plastic miniatures. I wish he'd just pick something and stick with it.

Yeah, I've been reading into it a bit, from rumours of bankruptcy and complete lack of communications, I'm thinking I'm fortunate in already having more than enough Union troops.

I wish I could get into ACW. Between my WWII and FIW in 15mm, and the plans I have for Napoleonics and SAGA in 28mm, G&H would be a godsend with that $130 unpainted deal.

Have you thought about 6mm or even 3mm?