WHY THESE RULES?

Civil War commanders such as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson depended heavily on trusted staff officers to transmit orders, gather information and coordinate the movement of brigades and divisions. Great generals did not command battles alone, they relied on their Staff Officers. Every order, every rally, every reinforcement and every coordinated attack depended on the officers who carried instructions across a battlefield shrouded in smoke and confusion.

These rules make the Commander and their Staff Officers the heart of the game.

Your staff is a limited resource. Every turn you must decide where they are needed most. Will they rally a wavering brigade, direct artillery, organise reinforcements, coordinate an assault or deliver vital orders? Every choice has consequences, and every decision shapes the battle. The result is a command system that recreates the pressures faced by Civil War generals. Success depends not simply on the strength of your troops, but on your ability to lead them through the effective use of your staff.

Combined with fast, intuitive gameplay and minimal bookkeeping, these rules deliver an authentic command experience where leadership—not complexity—is the key to victory.

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Below are a series of Briefings that introduce you to the game and the key concepts.

American Civil War battle scene with soldiers some on foot and others on horseback, firing weapons and advancing through a wooded area.

Introduction

An American Civil War battlefield with soldiers, some laying on the ground, smoke and fire in the background, and trees and buildings.

Generalship

Black and white illustration of a Civil War battle scene with soldiers fighting, horses, and fallen soldiers in the foreground, and smoke and a landscape in the background.

Staff Officers

Black-and-white illustration of a Civil War battle scene with soldiers fighting among trees, some wounded or fallen, raised rifles, and a tattered flag in the background.

Pre Battle Phase

Historical sketch of a battle scene with soldiers, smoke, and debris.

Command Clock

A detailed black and white historical illustration depicting a Civil War battle scene in a wooded area with soldiers fighting, fires, smoke, and American flags, including a cannon and fallen soldiers.

Fatigue

A detailed black and white illustration of a Civil War battlefield with soldiers fighting, some on horseback, with trees and smoke in the background.

Art of Balance

Historical painting of the Battle of Fort Sumter, viewed through the large letters 'AOW' at night.

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These Briefing Notes are the property of Des Darkin, ShedoWar Games and should not be copied without permission.