Pickett's Charge Wargame Rules.

Well after the unpleasantness of earlier posts, onto something more relevant and far happier. My erstwhile wargaming arch enemy John Reidy is a bugger for trying out wargames rules, both commercial and self generated. While I am more interested in the feel of a wargame, John has always collected wargames rules which he will try out. I often think if we weren't conjoined at the hip I would still be throwing clods of earth at my plastic soldiers. [well probably not that extent ] but you get the idea.
 Anyway for yesterdays game at John's he hosted a large ACW game using the new Pickett's Charge Rules by Dave Brown.
                                 

 I was lucky enough to meet Dave at The Wargames Holiday Centre last year at the Donald Featherstone weekender. He umpired the re fight of the Battle of Leipzig using his newly released Napoleonic rules. [he's a busy guy ] I found him a good sport as I ribbed him terribly once I knew he worked for the Met. Anyway I enjoyed that experience a lot, and more importantly I was able to understand his Napoleonic rules very easily.Always a good sign.
   Now John knows I love the Blackpowder derivative for the ACW, I was also impressed by his amalgamation of them with the old Fire and Fury so when he said we were going to use new rules, I was a bit concerned about rule overload.
 Well what a lovely surprise, the battle was extremely tense, I was the Union this time, very frustrating [ same old story, ones when I needed sixes and vice versa] but fast moving. Dave has captured the friction brilliantly, and has given a great feel for a period where the armies were heroic at times, panicky at other times, and in the early years, just not well trained. I cannot recommend these rules enough, yes I will still use Blackpowder, but these wargame rules just feel right for my understanding of the period [ which doesn't say too much]
 Don't expect your troops to march where you want and do the things you expect. A great game even though I was whipped, let down by the Iron Brigade!

                Another Texan unit completed, this time Elite Miniatures by Pete Moreby.

                                In the background is some newly completed picket fencing.