Post by Cromwell on Jan 5, 2022 16:50:47 GMT
I have come across the "De Bellis Americanus Civilis" rules by Craig Cartmell. I have long had a desire to wargame the American Civil War but I have never really found a set of rules that "Did it" for me, and although I love DBN for Napoleonic conflicts I really did not take to their ACW version.
My desire to find a suitable set of rules was increased when I painted up and based Union and Confederate armies using Irregular Miniatures 2mm range.
Craig's rules have hit the spot. It plays as DBA but with some interesting subtle differences. Whilst there are elements they are already grouped for you before battle commences and no other groups are allowed to be formed.
Infantry are organised into regiments of four elements who can be deployed in line or column. One element is the colour party.
Cavalry regiments are also four elements and again can be column or line. You need to have figures to represent the elements dismounted and one of the four elements is then designated the horse holders.
Artillery is formed into batteries of two elements, one the gun the other the limber.
Command is represents by one element depicting the general and his staff.
Armies are made of 12 regiments and batteries which according to Mr Cartmell is the equivalent of a small division. As and example the Union Army has up to two regiments of cavalry, three batteries and seven infantry regiments with an additional Commander element. The Confederate forces are allowed more cavalry but less artillery.
Pips are decided by rolling 2D6. movement and shooting are done by battery and regiment. Pips used to move and change formation.
Combat results cause attrition with by using fall backs and or loss of a regiments element. When down to just the colour party the regiment is effectively lost.
Victory is when the opposing army has lost when 6 of it's regiments and batteries are lost.
I have played three battles using these rules and the game play is fast and easy to pick up. There are additional rules for using elite troops and Zouaves.
Using elements based on 40mm wide bases giving an in line regiment a frontage of 160mm a 4'x4' or 3'x4' table is really needed.
I really enjoy these DBA derivative rules and feel they have a real period flavour.
The rules can be found here thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/de-bellis-americanus-civilis/
My desire to find a suitable set of rules was increased when I painted up and based Union and Confederate armies using Irregular Miniatures 2mm range.
Craig's rules have hit the spot. It plays as DBA but with some interesting subtle differences. Whilst there are elements they are already grouped for you before battle commences and no other groups are allowed to be formed.
Infantry are organised into regiments of four elements who can be deployed in line or column. One element is the colour party.
Cavalry regiments are also four elements and again can be column or line. You need to have figures to represent the elements dismounted and one of the four elements is then designated the horse holders.
Artillery is formed into batteries of two elements, one the gun the other the limber.
Command is represents by one element depicting the general and his staff.
Armies are made of 12 regiments and batteries which according to Mr Cartmell is the equivalent of a small division. As and example the Union Army has up to two regiments of cavalry, three batteries and seven infantry regiments with an additional Commander element. The Confederate forces are allowed more cavalry but less artillery.
Pips are decided by rolling 2D6. movement and shooting are done by battery and regiment. Pips used to move and change formation.
Combat results cause attrition with by using fall backs and or loss of a regiments element. When down to just the colour party the regiment is effectively lost.
Victory is when the opposing army has lost when 6 of it's regiments and batteries are lost.
I have played three battles using these rules and the game play is fast and easy to pick up. There are additional rules for using elite troops and Zouaves.
Using elements based on 40mm wide bases giving an in line regiment a frontage of 160mm a 4'x4' or 3'x4' table is really needed.
I really enjoy these DBA derivative rules and feel they have a real period flavour.
The rules can be found here thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/de-bellis-americanus-civilis/
