American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

FELLOW GAMERS

I am Grateful for the Internet in that it allows us to game more. WDS does a great job IMO in allowing recreation of the battles fought.
I do however miss the FTF aspects in that the table banter was fun. It seems that that does not exist as much anymore.
I often keep a paper log of my thoughts while playing but rarely share it . and my typing skills suck so a digital remarks file would take me longer than playing the game

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COL. R.T Coyne
7th Brigade 4th Division" Coyne's Cavalry Rangers"
1st Corp Army of Northern Virginia

Richard <salute>

You are quite correct in all you say, the Internet has indeed made many things possible and WDS created some of the best games ever. The face to face banter across a wargames table is indeed missing however I believe. I suggest this might not necessarily be so, even allowing of the worldwide location of other players, other than for the Internet itself ! It has spawned, allowed, and even fostered, perhaps, anonymity, impersonalisation and IMHO downright bad manners and respect for other players and opponents, generally and within the Club also I propose. This would never have been tolerated in a FTF environment, certainly none I was even involved in. You are a member long enough at this stage to have doubtless encountered 'those players' who bang a game file back and forth, no change in file name, file number or otherwise to reflect the new turn or player and especially a total lack of interaction.....silence reigns supreme !

This has become, in my personal opinion, far more pronounced in the ACWGC now than was the case when I joined some three and a half years ago. Ladder systems of play in other venues were counterproductive, creating unnecessary competitiveness and a win at all costs outlook & approach. I tend to think the same has crept into the ranks of the Club here.

Wargaming is a 'Game', first and foremost, to be savoured and enjoyed, to be experienced and become immersed in, who wins or loses at the end of it matters little, if not at all, if all involved can say the game was good and they enjoyed being a part of it.

Not a popular view I know, but my view nonetheless.

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Karl McEntegart
General
2nd Brigade
2nd (Gator Alley) Division
Army of Tennessee





Make my enemy brave and strong, so that if defeated, I will not be ashamed.

A great response from Karl to which I agree. I would add the following two comments.

Network Play
The games do seem to provide an opportunity for real time communication between players, see User Manual 6.2 Network Play (p64). I've never used it so cannot comment any further. You could also consider face-to-face internet connections. I don't know much about them, but they seem to work well for those who use them. [My computer has no microphone or camera so it's not something for me.]

Other Communication
I had to learn to type in my thirties (when access to typists was denied to me as their jobs were phased out). I'm still not great but I'm a lot better now. Like most things, you improve with time and practice.
I often have meaningful, and sometimes fun, communications with opponents. Sometimes the file returns between us are a simple 'Back to you' or similar phrase. However, there is also often discussion, not just on the game we are playing and the games in general, but many other things as well. I still correspond with other Members (both sides) on an ad hoc basis. We might have arguments and disagreements about things, but the discussion goes on. I've never had any 'bad manners' problems with those people. If I did, I probably wouldn't bother to contact them ever again.

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Paul Swanson
Lieutenant-General
First Division
First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia

I am determined to crush your rebs along the Wolf River. No quarter asked, none given!

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Brigadier General Richard Walker
II Corps, 4th Division, 6th Brigade
Army of Tennessee
(JTS/WDS Scenario Designer)