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Spotlight Articles

Outstanding articles that are not necessarily linked to one particular game, but may have broad appeal to gamers.

John Hill (game designer)

Spotlight Article Graphic

Here is a reference page for John Hill, a war game designer, who designed games in the early 1970’s including Bar-Lev and Squad Leader.

Poster: Pat L.
Post Date: 2/15/2025


My top anticipated wargames of 2025

Spotlight Article Graphic

"It is a pretty broad selection, containing solitaire, two-player and multiplayer titles, recent conflicts or very ancient ones." Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, takes his annual look at his most anticipated new titles. Check out which game has him concluding "I simply could not pass on this."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 2/5/2025


RBM Studio Update: The Palisades Fire

Spotlight Article Graphic

Rodger MacGowan has seen his home and RBM Studio facility destroyed in the Palisades fire in California. His son Steven has set up a gofundme account where you can learn what happened and offer recovery help if you wish.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 1/24/2025


Obituary: Alan Emrich, game designer and writer, has died

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The site Game Developer brings us news of the passing of this industry titan.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 1/10/2025


2024 Christmas Newsletter

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"Hopefully all the socks and after shave that one could ever dream of, have graced your Christmas stocking and perhaps a wargame treat or two has sneaked in and brought a smile!" Norm Smith, in Battlefields and Warriors, brings us another entertaining sum up of his wargaming year!

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/25/2024


Pournelle on “Does it matter if you call it a wargame?”

Spotlight Article Graphic

"Much of what the Department of Defense calls wargaming is not actually wargaming, and that matters." Rex Brynen, in PAXsims, taps in on a discussion by analyst and former officer Phil Pournelle on what passes for "wargaming" in the DOD. "Failing to wargame properly in advance may mean having to learn in actual combat and risk it all."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/20/2024


Princeton 1777

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"...this one proved to be the decisive battle that really cemented the American survival in the early months of the Revolution." Jeff Berry, in Obscure Battles, covers the fascinating follow-up engagement to Trenton. Check out the action as "Just when everything seemed to be falling apart, Washington came galloping up."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/13/2024


More Spotlight articles...


Gaming Conventions

Gaming Conventions

Another new feature for Grognard.com, the Gaming Convention calendar will make it a snap to keep up with all the latest gaming conventions in your area. But we need your gaming convention information, so please contribute.



Grognard News

Grognard Challenge - Expanded Room for Comments! (6/25/2023)

The Comments entry area has been resized to 512 characters.

Grognard Originals

In addition to our links to great content all around the internet, expect to see more Grognard.com "originals" in the future.

PE TANG 1900 Q&A with Marco Campari

Some Q & A between myself and Marco Campari, designer of Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Strategy Tips

This is the strategy I developed after playing Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Optional Line of Sight Table

Here is an optional table to make it a little more difficult to eliminate the Boxer artillery.

PE TANG 1900 Introductory War Game Review

My review for this great introductory war game concerning an obscure siege of a cathedral during the Boxer Rebellion. Use this game to recruit new war game players.

More Grognard Originals...


Grognard Challenge

Latest Challenge

Have a look at the graphics for the latest Challenge and see past solutions and contest winners.

Recommended (archives)

Wargaming - General Info

Board Wargames

Miniatures Wargames

Computer Wargames

Academic Gaming

Board Games

Internet Based/PBEM Games

Individual Wargamer Blogs

Wargaming Magazines

Asst Software/Player Aides

In Memoriam

Grognards Lost


A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z '-9

Game: Fort Sumter: The Secession Crisis, 1860-61



(f10029)
 
 




Publisher: GMT Games
Game Type: Board
Designer(s): Mark Herman
Search for this game with GMT Games


Description:


Fort Sumter is a two-player Card Driven Game (CDG) portraying the 1860 secession crisis that led to the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the American Civil War. Fort Sumter is a small footprint game (11x17” mounted map) that takes approximately 25-40 minutes to play. The game pits a Unionist versus a Secessionist player. Each player uses the area control mechanic pioneered in my We The People design and immortalized in Twilight Struggle to place, move, and remove political capital. The location of political capital determines who controls each of the four crisis dimensions (Political, Secession, Public Opinion, and Armaments). After three rounds of play, the game culminates in a Final Crisis confrontation to determine the winner.


Articles


Article ID
Pub Date
Article Description
Source
8
Date: 2/23/2025
Poster: Pat L.
Unboxing: Fort Sumter from GMT Games - The Players' Aid (video)

Grant Kleinhenz from The Players’ Aid unboxes and covers game mechanics for this card driven game from GMT Games.
Web Link
7
Date: 2/9/2025
Poster: Pat L.
Fort Sumter - Solo Mode play (video)

Michał Kowalczuk from The Boardgames Chronicle, plays the solo version and wins a close contest.
Web Link
6
Date: 1/26/2025
Poster: Pat L.
It's OK to be Light. Fort Sumter with Solo rules. (video replay)

Scott Waddell plays Fort Sumter using the optional solitaire rules. Waddell prefers the 2-player version as a light war game.
Web Link
5
Date: 1/12/2025
Poster: Pat L.
Live Playthrough of Fort Sumter (Digital version)(video)

Alexander and Kyle, aka Playdek recorded this live stream replay. It was a nail-biter to the end with Alexander prevailing. Playdek created this digital version of the board game published by GMT games. Available on Steam, and for Android and Apple phones.
Web Link
4
Date: 2/13/2022
Poster: Pat L.
FORT SUMTER: You Gotta Keep Em Separated! Playing the Secessionist side / GMT Games (video)

The Legendary Tactics Youtube blogger replays this card driven strategic simulation. The game addresses the factors that led to the secession prior to the American Civil War. Although the game's computer opponent is weak, the review is mostly positive as the reviewer calls the game “quick playing” with a “fun strategy to it”.
Web Link
3
Date: 6/2/2019
Poster: Mark D.
Fort Sumter - Playing Digital and Analog Versions

"So I got Fort Sumter as a part of GMT 2018 Fall Sale and from the start got hooked by this short, nice and challenging game. I played already pretty extensively the “analog” version – mainly during New Year’s Eve convent with my wife which I was not able to beat despite multiple attempts. So when I heard GMT announcement about the digital version – and by Playdek company – I did not hesitated for moment and purchased..." Nice comparison article by The Board Games Chronicle site...
Web Link
2
Date: 8/11/2017
Poster: Doug Holt
The Shot Heard Round Charleston Harbor…Fort Sumter Design Notes and AAR (Part 4)

"...Fort Sumter has the Carole Herman ‘normal person’ seal of approval." Designer Mark Herman continues a replay/strategy discussion of his GMT Games' Fort Sumter: The Secession Crisis, 1860-61, which looks to be a fast-paced, fun game that will help bring new gamers into the hobby. But, is Mark giving away an under-the-hood secret when he discusses "…a way to come from behind…"?
Web Link
1
Date: 7/26/2017
Poster: Doug Holt
The Shot Heard Round Charleston Harbor…Fort Sumter Design Notes and AAR (Part 3)

"It is usually bad strategy to let a side control Washington..." Mark Herman continues his demonstration of the ins and outs of his GMT Games' Fort Sumter: The Secession Crisis, 1860-61, to include the results of domestic life interruptions we've all encountered: "I exceeded my ability to multitask and I made some mistakes…"
Web Link