Organization and Chain of Command
Chief of the Army - General
Commandant of West Point - Major General
Commandant of Union War College - Major General
Army Commanders - Lt. General
Corps Commanders (2-6/Army) - Major General
Divisional Commanders (2-6/Corps)
Brigade Commanders (2-6/Division)
Chief of the Army may brevet other officers as appropriate
(i.e., Executive Officers or General Staff)
The Chief of the Army (CoA) duties will include (may delegate):
Serves as Military Leader (one CoA per CSA/USA Army).
Serves to coordinate Corps and Army commands.
Maintains database of military ranks/roster.
Assigns all new Officers.
Responsible to ensure training of new recruits.
Monitors Army/Corps web pages to ensure that data is up-to-date.
Administration points (15) are to be awarded to CoA's on a monthly basis.
A member of, and reports to, the Cabinet.
Nominates officers for the rank of Brigadier General, and above, to Cabinet
Army Commander duties will include (may delegate):
Serve under respective Chief of the Army as commander for all assigned Officers.
No restrictions to gaming or campaigning in ongoing CSA/USA matches.
Serves to coordinate Corps and Divisional commands, may promote Officers to Corps Commands upon approval of the CoA.
Assigns all newly graduated West Point 1st. Lts. to Corps or Divisions.
Monitors Corps web pages to ensure that data is up-to-date.
Administration points (15) are to be awarded to AC's on a monthly basis.
Report to the CoA any useful information for publication on Web site.
Army Commander will manage his own web page. Command structure, updating Officer's status, games being played etc. In addition, each Army should maintain their own Army Forums.
Commandant duties will include (may delegate):
Serve under respective Chief of the Army as commander for all assigned Officers.
No restrictions to gaming or campaigning in ongoing CSA/USA matches.
Serves to coordinate Corps of Cadets and Faculty members.
Assigns all new Officers to the various Armies upon the instructions of the CoA.
Responsible to ensure training of Cadets and other junior officers as appropriate.
Monitors West Point Forum and Web page to ensure that data is up-to-date.
Administration points (15) are to be awarded to CO's on a monthly basis.
Report to the CoA any useful information for publication on Web site.
Commandant duties will include (may delegate):
Serve under respective Chief of the Army as commander for all assigned Officers.
No restrictions to gaming or campaigning in ongoing CSA/USA matches.
Serves to coordinate faculty members.
Assigns all new faculty members to appropriate discussion forum.
Monitors web pages and forum to ensure that data is up-to-date.
Administration points (15) are to be awarded to CO on a monthly basis.
Report to the CoA any useful information for publication on Web site.
Corps Commanders are responsible for their Corps. Duties will include (may delegate):
Serve under respective Army Commander as commander for all assigned Officers.
No restrictions to gaming or campaigning in ongoing CSA/USA matches.
Propose match challenges with their available Officers (single or multi-player).
Serves to coordinate Divisional commands, may promote Officers to Division Command upon approval of the AC.
Assigns all new Officers to Division or Brigade Commands.
Report to the AC any useful information for publication on Web site.
Administrative points (10) are to be awarded to CC's on a monthly basis (with an additional 5 Conduct Points available by nomination from their AC).
Corps Commander will manage his own web page. Command structure, updating Officer's status, games being played etc.
Corps will be organized into divisions. The Divisional Commander (DC) would assist the Corps Commander with his functions.
The duties of the Game Commander (GC):
The Game commander will be nominated for the Multi-Game format.
The main role will be as Officer commanding, overseeing the Officers under his command, determining strategy, assigning, units, reviewing performance for promotions. Reporting regularly to his Corp Commander about the game.
GC's will be under the command of the respective Corps Commanders (CC). Officers under the GC will be evaluated by the GC with an OBD completed for each Officer under his command.
Officers upon graduation from West Point will be assigned to a brigade (the Officer may request assignment to a particular command at this time). Points accumulated will allow for promotion per the Military Rank schedule detailed below. Officers agree to the following:
Read and comply with club rules, respect superior officers.
Minimum agreement to participate in one sanctioned on-going game.
Is present for duty, as required, and will obey orders and the regulations given herein by the CoA/AC/Corps/Division commanding Officers.
Gives their word not to intentionally divulge information to the opposing side (Confederate Army). In other words, the Officer is considered a gentleman and will not be a spy for the other side.
There are two discussion boards for the exclusive use of the CSA and the USA. A CSA HQ discussion page as well as a USA HQ discussion page. These two pages are used to communicate to the respective Officers. They should be checked often and responded to. Senior Officers will post their orders. These pages are restricted to the respective HQ's Officers (Confederate and Unioin, respectively)
The Confederate and Union may have a number of other discussion boards available for their members, especially at the Army-level (AoP, AoT, etc.).
In addition, the "MASON-DIXON TAVERN" board is used for any informal discussions and can be used to initiate challenges. A general membership vote would be done through the M-D-T Discussion board. Members who wish to make a proposal regarding club rules or operation should send them to a Cabinet Member.
The CSA / USA War Game Club favors a promotion schedule that offers an historically intriguing if colorful alternative to win/loss point-differential calculation schemes. Members gain points by participating in single or multi-player games (Engagement Points), or for good performance as an officer of the respective armies regardless of win/loss (Conduct Points), or for administrative duties (Administrative Points).
Training: Training games are undertaken by newly commissioned Officers as organized by his commanding Officer or designate. Once the training scenario is completed, to the satisfaction of the Commanding Officer, a promotion to the rank of Field Lieutenant (Confederate) or 1st Lieutenant (Union) is approved with the associated points. The training of an Officer includes how to participate in club activities, allows for an immediate game start and provides any needed assistance for file transfers etc. Corps Commander may waive this requirement. Individual's wishing to become Union Officers may report to the Commandant of the Union Army West Point Military Academy for their training assignments through the recruitment page on the ACW web site.
Battle: Battles are games undertaken by commissioned officers of one army verses the officers of the opposing army. Only Field Lieutenants (Confederate) or 1st Lieutenants (Union) of the respective armies are eligible to engage in battle. Eligible Officers can challenge or advertise for opponents at the Mason Dixon Tavern or other Army/Corps web pages. One a match has been agreed to the challenger must register the game at the ACW web site on the New Game Form.
Maneuver: Maneuvers are considered games played by players of the same camp or different camp switching sides. Points will be awarded at 1/2 the rate for a "standard" engagement. This will allow for the CSA or USA Officers to learn about the enemy by playing opposing sides.
An End Game Form (found on the ACW web site) must be completed for every finished engagement. The victor of the completed engagement will complete the End Game Form. Completed engagements will receive 10 points plus their Win/Loss points and the SLM, excepting short-engagements -- those 14 turns or less -- which will have their points halved).
Score
Win/Loss Points -3 to +3
a) Draw: 0 pts.
b) Minor Victory: + 1
c) Major Victory: + 3
d) Minor Defeat: - 1
e) Major Defeat: - 3
Scenario Length Modifier (SLM) = # of turns completed divided by/5
+ 10 bonus points
Points awarded will be calculated as follows:
"Standard" Engagements 15 turns or more: (Win/Loss + Scenario Length Modifier + 10) = Engagement Point Total
"Short" Engagements of 14 turns or less: (Win/Loss + Scenario Length Modifier + 10)/2 = Engagement Point Total
"Maneuver" Engagements: (Win/Loss + Scenario Length Modifier + 10)/2 = Engagement Point Total
In keeping with the Club Philosophy that "promotions are based on quality of play and leadership, not on the number of games played," each Corps Commanders are able to nominate their officers for a maximum of 15 Conduct Points each month. Corps Commanders will be notified by their Army Commanders of how many points their Corps is allotted. Corps Commanders will then provide a list of officers nominated for Conduct Points to their respective Army Commander, who will in turn nominate the officers to their respective Chief of the Army (CoA).
Conduct Points are awarded in addition to points received from Engagement Points (Battles, Training, or Maneuvers).
Corps Commanders will use the following criteria in the selection of Officers to receive Conduct Points.
1 Officer Reliability -- i.e., prompt/regular pbem conduct
2. Officer Deportment -- i.e., relationship with division and corps commanders and/or game commanders
3. Officer Battle Tactics -- i.e., application of relevant tactics
Various points for government duties will be added to an officer's total points on the 1st of each month for duties performed during the previous month. No officer shall receive more than 15 points each month through any combination of Conduct or Administrative points.
Points are to be awarded monthly for each of the following positions.
Chiefs of the Army - 15 pts.
Army Commanders - 15 pts.
Corps Commanders - 10 pts.
(Army Commanders may approve Corps Commanders for an additional 5 Conduct Points -- up to the maximum of 15 pts. per month.)
Points from engagements (battles, training or maneuvers), conduct awards (awarded monthly by Army/Corps Commanders) and administrative duties are added to the Officers total points to determine their current military ranks. Officer points will be maintained by the CoA's of the respective armies, or their designees.
CoA's must nominate, and Cabinet must approve promotions to the rank of Brigadier General or above. The best way to ensure nomination and confirmation of such promotions is by service to the club in a leadership role (leading a division, corps, army, or by involvement in other staff positions -- such as Executive Officer).
CSA-USA Points
General*
800
Lt. General*
600
Major General*
450
Brigadier General*
300
Colonel
150
Lt. Colonel
75
Major
60
Captain
45
Field Lieutenant
1st Lieutenant
30
Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant
15
* = Cabinet approval required
While it is encouraged that all players attempt to play to the conclusion of the battle, consistent with our emphasis on "Officer Reliability", a resignation, or early withdrawal from the field of battle, is permitted where the battle appears otherwise hopelessly lost.
An early "resignation" by one side is scored as a Major Victory for the opposing side and a Major Defeat for the resigning side.
An Officer resigning in a multi-player game before completion of the game will not receive any points.
If there is no response to an official inquiry within 2 weeks, that Officer will be considered AWOL/MIA. If there is no response after 4 weeks then the Officer is stricken from the rolls. If the Officer decides to come back he comes back at the lowest rank with no points or record. Officers in reserve status are exempt from this policy.. This policy is at the discretion of the CoA's and the AC's.
Please notify your CoA for individuals that have fallen in battle and re no longer manning their posts.
In addition the CoA's have 50 Award Points per month which they can use to decorate deserving officers for additional duties performed during that calendar month. The maximum any individual can be awarded is not to exceed 20 points per month (however, this may be in excess to any other points given during the month for Engagement, Conduct, or Administrative). These points could be used to attach point awards to medals awarded by the respective CoA's.
Each Army may develop its own set of campaign and service awards (medals or ribbons) to be awarded by the AC's of those commands. In addition, the CoA may award the Union Army Medal of Honor to gentlemen with exceptional battle skills, and the Union Army Service Award to gentlemen who have done immeasurable service to aid the Union Army.
The reason for the existence of the Union Army's West Point Military Academy is to ensure that newcomers to one-on-one or multi-player gaming vs. on-line opponents will be assisted in learning the rudimentary technical knowledge needed to join the clubs activities (specifically, defeating Confederate opponents at Battleground games!) as well as learning how to develop and implement a battle plan. Graduates of West Point will be assigned to an Army and may then contact Rebels and engage in "sanctioned" game play or may enroll at the Union Army's War College for advanced maneuvers/training.
Union Army -- West Point Military Academy
Code of Regulations
1.) New Recruits enter as "Cadets" to the Corps of Cadets at West Point Union Army Military Academy. The Commandant can excuse new Cadets with relevant experience with other similar on-line Wargame Clubs (i.e., Leadeaters) and promote them to 2nd Lt. (with 15 points total) at his discretion.
2.) Year One: The Commandant contacts the Cadet and assures that the Cadet is able to zip files and communicate with a chosen faculty member/opponent in a mutually chosen short training scenario (completion of the first turn is considered graduation from first year). The training scenario is preferably at least 10 turns (with a maximum of 20), 32 bit, ADF, FOW, all options on -- making for a quick match. Games do NOT use a password.
3.) Year Two: The Cadet communicates with the Commandant or his assignee (ie., a neutral faculty members/game commander) to develop a short written battle plan (with assistance from the Commandant or "game commander" in developing appropriate tactics). The battle plan should be short and flexible -- for example: Meade's Division will secure Nicodemous Hill while Ricketts Division moves into the Cornfield, supported by elements of Manfield's Corps -- 25 to 50 words.
4.) Year Three: The mutually chosen training scenario is restarted with the faculty member/opponent and played until completion -- or until the faculty member/opponent feels that the "instructional" objectives have been accomplished. Each turn of the game is saved if required by the faculty member/opponent (remember, no password so both sides can review the opponents movements/actions in the game upon completion). The Commandant or his assignee may review game files, if necessary, and offer comments/suggestions to the new recruits as to tactics to be employed (use of troops, leaders, terrain effects, etc.). Upon completion of the match the Cadet is promoted to 2nd Lt. and receives 15 points.
5.) Year Four: The cadet produces (with faculty member/opponent support) a summary of the key points of the battle -- reviewing battle turns as necessary (from the saved game files), producing a short posting on the West Point Union Army Military Academy page's Forum (approximately a 25-50 word paragraph).
6.) Upon the posting of the Battle Summary the Cadet is "graduated" from West Point with the rank of 1st Lt. with 15 points is added to his total points -- he should now have 30 points total (Commandant or assignee gets 5 points, and the faculty member gets 10 points).
7.) At any point the Commandant or his assignee, OR the faculty member/opponent may require the Cadet to either restart their match or to play an additional match until the Commandant or his assignee, or the faculty member/opponent feels the Cadet is well qualified to handle the rigors of battle vs. the Rebels.
8.) Upon graduation the newly commissioned 1st Lt. will be then be assigned to an Army, which will then assign him to a Corps, Division, and Brigade. The 1st Lt. will be able to access more information at this point from other Union Army Forum's and may either be able to start playing battles vs. the Confederate Army OR be required to attend further maneuvers at the Union Army's War College by the Army's commanders. In any case, the Cadet is probably well advised to seek further training at this point at the Union Army's War College.