American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

Every subject has its extremist, those who take thier love and passion for a particular subject and take it to a whole new level that those of us who don't share, say, "Isn't that taking it to extreme???" Thus the terminology.
What if war gaming were the same?
Understandably, there has to be boundaries set. No live powder charges or authentic kills. It goes without saying. But just how far would a war gamer be willing to go to get that "authentic feel"?
Examples:
1. The player sets his notification on his phone to a mail call for a bugle (I actually do have my email notifications from the club set to this exact sound ) and must leave his volume on at all times, especially at night, to simulate receiving orders at inconvenient hours (my mind went to General Meade being notified of his assuming of the command of the AOtP before Gettysburg). Imagine being in a nice, deep sleep only to have it shattered by a bugle call, or courier, telling you orders that have to be carried out immediately.
2. Somehow incorporate actual weather into scenarios you are in. Where I live in Ohio, we run the gauntlet of weather, from -16 in the winter to near 100's in the summer, much like some of you as well, I'm sure.
Put on a wool uniform and play Gettysburg outside in July. Wait until December and then play Fredericksburg...outside.
3. Actually limit yourself to a diet of hardtack and salted pork (maybe). You have to wonder after about a week of this, would hunger actually influence your command decisions?
3. Sleep outside in a canvas tent, shave with a straight edge, boil your own water, and live with any modern accoutrements at all...well...except your laptop and phone. You'll need those.
The list could go on indefinitely.
If you have ever read Anthony Hortwitz's Confederates In The Attic to know that even reenacting can be an "extreme" activity so you have to ask yourself, are you a farb or are you hardcore?

*Gents, this wasn't meant to be taken seriously at all. It hopefully gave you a quick chuckle or maybe started you thinking. One does have to wonder if there isn't a group that does this and more.*

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Colonel Jason "Skeedaddle" Campbell
The Mahoning 4th Brigade
3rd Division
2nd Corp
AoT
"Let's fill up our canteens, boys. Some of us will be in hell before nightfall and we'll need the water"

Was in the USMC infantry in the 70's. Been there, done that, or close enough. No thanks!

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Not even for a nice, generous helping of OBD points, General?
All the ex military will probably say the same. Lol

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Colonel Jason "Skeedaddle" Campbell
The Mahoning 4th Brigade
3rd Division
2nd Corp
AoT
"Let's fill up our canteens, boys. Some of us will be in hell before nightfall and we'll need the water"

I have to agree with the general!! Shaved with cold water, slept in the cold rain, I have been woke up in middle of the night, I have looked at my feet in amazement that they still work. That was all when I was much younger. Now, I prefer the couch!!! I do like to see a good reenactment, but that is as close as I wanna get in my middle years!! I really don’t see how the older gents did it, especially back then!!

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B. Gen. W. Stewart
4/2 ANV

I was in the Air Force...

While deployed, we had comfy beds, warm showers, heated (and Air Conditioned) Tents, three hot meals a day; Gosh it was TERRIBLE! No golf course or O'Club, how uncivilized... LOL

Josef Seidl, BGEN, CSA
Commanding Stuart's Cavalry (4th Div / I Corps)
ANV

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Josef Seidl, MGEN, CSA
6th BDE/2nd Div/I Corps
ARMY of Northern Virginia

Landed at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in 1968.(or 1969) We stayed there 2 days while plane was repaired. Sheets, pillows, running water, mattresses, normal toilets, air conditioner, actual plates and silverware, normal cups (NOT metal), cafeteria style dining, then back to reality!!!!

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General Ernie Sands
President ACWGC -Sept 2015- Dec 2020
7th Brigade, 1st Division, XVI Corps, AoT
ACWGC Records Site Admin

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."

USMC Grunt here as well. I am more of the mind to go to the extremes (but maybe not the full extremes here lol).


Eh, kinda close, my ringtone is the Auburn fight song. War Eagle!


I am in Florida, so its either hot or it is hot as hell. Strip down to shirtsleeves for me! When I did ACW reenacting as arty, this was quite typical. No way in hell I would be out in the Florida sun in full wool next to a metal tube with fire blasting out of it. Plus, arty are the hardest workers on the field anyways.


Not by choice, but being a poor grad student (hopefully not much longer), I can upgrade to bacon and whole wheat bread.


Tents? More like poncho liner under the stars lol...I do use a double sided safety razor, so close enough. I also have a tea kettle, electric though because we have this newfangled electricity here in the swamps, be jealous!

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Capt. Steffen van Nix, CSA
Florida Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Hardee's Corps
Army of Tennessee