<u>Intro</u>
The ACW Club was originally envisioned by Charles Ledford as a promotional system, rewarding players for not only winning games, but for also <i>how well one plays the game.</i> Under Ledford's system, one could lose a battle but still rise in rank.[^]
Taking Ledford's notion appropriately a step further, we should see to at least acknowledge <i>how</i> well a wargame performs, too.
<u>1st Manassas Scenario 103</u>
<ul>"Historical," 6 AM start, fixed units, sectional artillery, w/ weather, phase-based play option.</ul>
I am assuming Tiller really cares about his 1st Manassas "Historical" re-creation. I do, too. All Good so far.
I must presume too, then, that Tiller has played his own 1st Manassas first hand! Still all good.
Now, steel yourselves to be "shocked! ... "shocked!" - as you witness with thine own eyes if not ears, a most rare but god's honest confessional by the man, himself, and on this very public site no less, unleashing words that might make even the shills who sell among us shudder ....
Ahem ... now, where was I? Oh, yeah. Well, according to this hastily scribbled, rainsoaked morning memo just received from a Capt. Dickenson (seemed to be on some kind of a <i>mission</i>), it reads,<blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Damn it to heck! My Manassas is ... well, it's just <i>too</i> ... good. I mean, it's <i>too perfect</i>. Too perfect for the place. Too perfect for the time period. Gentlemen, do you think anyone will notice what <i>time</i> it is ... or care?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
1st Manassas - now more than at any other <i>time</i> or on any other ACW battlefield of his making (TS) or remaking (HPS), reveals Mr. Tiller's massively aching Achilles Headache. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.
<u>The Battle - 6:00 AM</u>
After a perfectly uneventful if pleasant two hour trudge along trails, roads, woods, and muddy grounds-keeping, it is now 8:00 AM.
My worthiest if not most cunning and bold of opponets, has already deployed Tyler's 4 brigades into line, magnificently splitting his divisional command into a visually quite pleasing (see stunning overhead map view! cool!), perfectly aligned, perfectly coordintated, and exquisitely well-timed (perfect!), massive three-pronged assault on Lewis, Balls, and Island Ford. All simultaneously and precisely going exactly as planned! Incidentally, I said "massive three-pronged assault," because Hunter's division, having been countermarched by McDowell from his 7 AM "release" along the Sudley trail, is now right behind Keye's and Sherman's dressed line units assaulting Lewis Ford.
-- CSA Col. Cocke counters brilliantly, himself, however, with 1 "detached" (out-of-command) regiment, above Lewis 'lookout'! [8)]
Heintzelman's division releases at 7:20 AM, and like Hunter, is countermarched to 'backup' Schenk's more cautious battering ram at Balls Ford.
-- Cocke - sure [}:)], as always of himself - again masterfully counters with 1 piece and 2 regiments - one entrenched.
-- His two remaining regiments have been "detached" along with his 3-gun section and placed to the rear in 'reserve'.
-- Beauregard's closest reinforcements (Jackson, Early, and Bartow) are presently more than two hours away over trails to arrive at the Balls-Island ford theater - forget Lewis (besides, without Clark where would he have been?).
The time is now 8:20 AM, Swiss-Standard-Time. The End.
<u>Summary</u>
McDowell's entire army has successfully linked up without a single hitch, all coming together like precision clockwork.
<u>Solutions</u>
<ol type="1"><li>One thing that might help to slow down or impede McDowell's 21st century Gen. Patton kind of juggernaut is to provide more CSA VP incentives on the Union <i>side</i> of Bull Run - in hopes of forcing McDowell to split up at least elements of his early morning juggernut to "historically" act and behave more cautiously as per his real life counterpart. Beauregard currently has <u>no</u> realistic VP incentives whatsoever to conduct a morning demonstration of his own across Bull Run if only to think or try to distract an otherwise perfectly manageable and uninhibited McDowell machine.</li>
<li> As for BG Tyler - toss him out - along with the other Union Division commanders - or just disable Tiller's now (because it's 1861) a-historical "In Command" bonus feature.</li>
<li>Let's not pretend or claim to be designing an "historical" battle around an unmodified hardwired code that is being asked to do and serve more battle formulas than it was cut out to do. Without an additional <i>formula</i> to properly address the myriad friendly command and control nightmares, logistical challenges, and subordinate troop/officer inertia, the "Historical" 1st Manassas is a bull without a prayer's run.
Because Even the most capable of scenario designer(s) among us can't force a "historical" 1st Manassas silk purse out of a ... perfectly-cast Achilles Heel.</li></ol id="1">
As for the "fun" factor. We have no problem with that. The overheard view of my opponen'ts magnificently coordinated, streaming 3-prong attack alone was worth the ride! Go for it!
Otherwise, all we got here is a digitized precision-like swiss-wristwatch to admire.
And just in case no one noticed, it too keeps <i>perfect</i> time.
Fld. Lt. D. Shoeless, CSA
Secretary of the Cabinet (Ret)
1st Tenn Provisional Army
<center><i>From a certain point onward there is no turning back. That is the point that must be reached.</i> --F. Kafka</center>
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