Originally Posted by
william pickng
To whom it may concern,
This game was originally intended, it is my understanding, to be a recreation of the HISTORICAL Battle and campaign of Antietam. I believe the developers intended "gamers' to actually fight using Civil War era tactics. You say the players in this community hide too much? Well sir, I believe Stonewall Jackson hid an entire corps in the woods around Sharpsburg and fired from concealment. Even Longstreet's troops positions were originally concealed until the Federals literally stumbled into his troops. Skirmish manuals of the period explicitly state to take full advantage of terrain and cover to protect and conceal your men. This is why knowing skirmish drill and how to use a skirmish line is necessary and effective. Having the ability to conceal a large body is not only accurate but will improve game play as it will prevent rogue players trolls from picking off your men as well as the flag before the enemy actually engages you in force. Why do you think we all need to stand out in the open, Napoleonic fashion as if we are recreating the battle of First Manassas or Waterloo? Have you not understood what happened to the French at that famous demise?! Even in the movie Gettysburg, 1993 the directors strived for and achieved hisctorical accuracy. All the Confeds are hidden, in the tree lines, in cover and WITH THE FLAGS FURLED!! If a Hollywood production can do it right then so can our developers!! Almost all the Confederate positions were ones of Concealment.
The intended purpose of furling a flag was to save the color bearers strength as well as stay concealed. The sleeve was never intended for use in combat, just marching. Furling the flag was done in combat but not once the enemy was engaged w your troops. Why would furling the flag even have to effect the respawn point at all? If a player stays furled too long then have thm get killed by the game, same as the officer if hes alone. The colors were unfurled when the enemy engages the unit not before as the flag was a precious symbol of home and neeeded to be cared for , hence the sleeve. Simply make a game rule that the flag automatically unfules when the mainbody or the color guard is engaged. In my mind the flag as a spawn point shouldnt be avctive until the flag/ guard comes under fire. As the unit is engaged and casualties occurre the need for renforcements arrises and the flag becomes active. Besides, it is more accurate that reenforcements join the main battle line as exactly that; reenforcements marching from the rear. It doesn't take that long thw run from the main spawn area anyhow. Not to mention this would force officers to use skirmishers, flankers, scouts and then their main body; just as it was done during the war, sir.
As far as you not placing your colors in the ranks, well that sir is inaccurate; enough said. If players aren't advancing in line of battle then go deeper into the communal experience, and drill them properly. No officer worth his salt in the Civil War would have detacthed his colors from his troops further than maybe ten paces to the rear in combat; if your holding a defensive position, maybe. But the men of the Civil War armys had huge pride in their regiments flag, being in the color guard and carrying the colors. The men would hav econsidered them discgraced if the colors were always sent to the Rear much more so if the colors were positioned away from the men. The American Civil War was an immensely mobile, fire and maneuver war which used flanking maneuvers and firing plus technology to dispose of outmoded open field, line battles. The officers of our Civil War understood this. I suggest sir you re-read your military history of the war as well as a few manuals and maybe the game can actually be played as it was intended to be, a historical experience in ones home.
"Gamers are going to game"? Okay, granted. But why can we not have historically sound renditions and impressions in this game and let those of us whom are recreating the actual period, as far as this game allows anyhow, and those not interested in the historical aspect as much, to be able to play this fantastic civil war combat game? The only reason why using actual civil war era tactics and manuals hasn't caught on in this game except with the IVR and a few other units is because of officers whom aren't into recreating the actual fight at Antietam, don't or cant understand simple tactics and only exhibit poor at best leadership skills on the field. I challenge you sir to use the tactics of the day in the game and you'll see just how effective these manuals were in combat; over 600,000 dead, wounded, and counting!!!!!
This game needs more historical details to continue its head and shoulders lead over any other game playability while being true to its goal of recreating accurately the Antietam Campaign and letting players be a Civil War soldier. Again I encourage the developers to include the ability to Furl, Unfurl as well as incorporating the needed corporals for the six man color guard. The flag shouldn't be present in combat without its guard and the needed more ability's for the Color Sgt, having a side arm to defend himself and the colors with if attacked. Often a color Sgt would carry an NCO's sword or a small pistol. If the developers choose not to give us a Color Guard then I hope that the Color Sgt has athe ability to defend themelve's.
Regards and respectfully, Wm Picking 2d Lt G Coy 33rd Regt Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
Edited