Civil War OnLine 2001 - Join Today! From: jwfield1861@aol.com (JWfield1861) Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 02:06:00 +0000 "Civil War OnLine" (CWOL) is a military, economic, and political simulation of the American Civil War with both wargaming and roleplaying aspects. The military struggle of CWOL is based on historical facts. The game starts in 1861 and lasts until the end of 1863, the military fortunes of the Confederacy had doomed it to extinction by this point in the war. CWOL uses the years of 1861, 1862 and 1863 for historical background of the majority of the game. This decision is driven by the analysis that after the triple Union victories at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, the Confederacy had little hope of achieving a military solution. Players are challenged to try to alter the outcome, but the challenges each country faced in the 1860's are evident and will remain if the national team does not address the strategic, diplomatic, economic, and political obstacles in their path to victory. CWOL uses twin software programs, "Shot and Shell" (SAS) and "General Quarters" (GQ) to simulate the military aspects of the war. The political arena of CWOL is a more free-form sphere, players act as citizens with voting influence and economic wealth. Arguments over military strategy, or economic spending, or governmental policy, is encouraged among the citizenry. But ultimately, the politicians will call the shots, since each state and country will be required to elect leaders who have authority over the military. The roleplaying rules called "Rostrum And Bivouac" (RAB) provide the political framework for the game. The other aspect of role-playing, the diplomatic conflict, is outlined by a set of rules called "Treaties & Coercion" (TAC). The economic play of CWOL is governed by a quasi-automated set of rules called "Capitalists, Patriots, & Greed" (CPAG). The economic side of the conflict is interwoven into all the modules of CWOL as the rules integrate the procurement of weapons, munitions, warships, as well as allowing the national teams to improve their internal industrial capacity and the pursuit of trade and contracts with the foreign powers. CPAG also contributes to the role-playing aspect of the game as players can pursue riches and its power. It's a great, free game for all ages. Join today. Go to http://www.distance-simulations.com for more information. Up