The Weekend Is Here!

 And the weather is forecast to be cold and damp, good indoor wargaming weather!  

Having had time and opportunity this week to test each of the variations that I have been considering, I now understand why they worked for some purposes previously and why they aren't working for what I want to do now.  Essentially, giving each of the 3 stands in a unit the same fighting power and endurance as a single unit in the Square Brigadier, increases the average longevity of the units while still leaving a small possibility of a quick collapse or a heroic stand, all of which seems to mesh well with the history I read. Unfortunately, with some 40 or 50 units in play, it also tends to make the game both longer and less exciting for a solo player.

The first attack is struggling and the last Confederate brigade is late to arrive but the game is playing more quickly and feels a bit edgier.

So I turned back to the solution that I have been deliberately avoiding for the sake of variety, an ACW variant of the  Square Brigadier. It is basically the same game, but with each multi-stand unit being treated like a one stand unit. The result is more uncertainty and a quicker pace. 

I played through 2 more turns today and will finish the game on Saturday then set up something for Sunday. (Yup, dog shows are making a comeback!! Yay!)