The War for America

[Hartford688]

Hello

New here, looking to get this game very shortly (heard very good things about it).

I am looking to find out more about the period (always enjoy a game much more after reading up on it) and for the War of Indepence I was thinking of:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803281927/qid=1145716628/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-7637303-6072634?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

The War for America 1775-1783 by Piers Mackesy - has anyone read this, and what were your thoughts? Would you recommend it?

Many thanks

Hartford

[Hartford688]

Or any other particular books you might suggest?

I read the other "books" thread and plan on getting "Crucible", but what are the suggestions for the war of independence?

Many thanks

Hartford

[Hobbes]

If you want a book about the American revolution there are some good ideas here :-

http://home.att.net/~newbooks/AmRevbooks.html

But if you like your history with a slice of adventure I would highly recommend :-

White Devil: Stephen Brumwell - a great history of the FIW with an emphasis
on the ranger Robert Rogers.

Rebellion in the Mohawk Valley: Gavin Watt - just started this but seems very readable - and like above - anything but a dry history book.

Type either into Amazon and you will be well rewarded I think!

[rasnell]

Timely thread. Just got back from the library today with, "The Crucible of War," about the French and Indian War. Totally inspired and motivated by this game. Amazed to see that some of the chapter headings even match the names of some of the game scenarios. Especially impressed by the map details and leader info being so faithful to history.

A great game when you're inspired to dust off the history books. Sure is easier to follow and understand when you know the map locations and the leaders.

[rasnell]

As I reach the halfway point of the book mentioned above, "The Crucible of War," I'm struck even more about how great this game is.

In playing the French Indian War from both sides and then reading the actual history, it is amazing that the game captures the same difficult dilemmas, especially the desire of the Brits to get Louisbourg and stop French reinforcements but how horribly exposed this leaves Albany and New England.

The other thing that I did not realize is how the locked units are truly representing the huge restrictions that the British had trying to get the colonists to support the war. State legislatures would only provide support if it was locked to their territory only.

The inability to hold territory that is won because they were spread too thinly to leave much of a garrison also comes out extremely well in the game.

Again, I'm amazed at the simplicity of the design and yet the depth of strategies that so closely match what the real leaders faced.

To pull this off in a game, when you really didn't know the details of history, is remarkable.

I love a game that challenges me to learn the history even more thoroughly so I can try some alternative strategies.

[Enisign Jumonville]

a number of really useful 18thc texts online -
For all of you interested in more detailed history, there are some fantasic 18th C documents available for free until the end of the month. If you search for Quebec, Carillon, Louisbourg, Montcalm etc. you can find some wonderful stuff!


To use

Go to Web site:

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/

Hit: “Access Now”
Hit: “Others”
Hit: ‘History Biography and Literature”
Hit: “Eighteenth Century Collections Online”
Input your search type, etc.

Note: This is read only. However pages can be saved as 'pictures' (i. e. the illustrations or indevidual pages).