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Spotlight Articles

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

German WWII Pocket Army in 10 / 12mm

Spotlight Article Graphic

"WWII can pass across the painting table at surprising speed compared to other periods and so it makes for a good quick project to fit in between other bigger projects...". Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, discusses a new World War II Pocket Army project he has underway: "...kampfgruppe Schmidt is ready for action..."!

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 4/4/2025


Jack Greene, 1949 – 17 March 2025

Spotlight Article Graphic

Kevin Zucker shares some memories of his recently passed friend, designer Jack Greene.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 3/24/2025


Wargaming Clubs of the Warring Clubs Era 1965-69

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Alan Arvold has shared a fascinating article with us, meant as "...a supplement to the History of Wargaming article..., specifically to the sidebar on Wargame Clubs. It is a listing of the known clubs." Thanks Alan!

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 3/24/2025


My Top 3 Wargames designed by… John H. Butterfield!

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"...focus on creations of one author, whom you can treat as a whole wargaming history in micro-scale." Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, covers his three favorite John Butterfield games. See which game has a feature that "...creates fog of war as you do not know which part of enemy forces can still act in a turn."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 3/19/2025


Wednesday War Stories ~ Iron Ships & Iron Men at the Battle of Hampton Roads

Spotlight Article Graphic

"In some ways the game was frustrating; how could it not produce a clearly superior victor?" RockyMountainNavy, in Armchair Dragoons, has an interesting discussion of the classic "Monitor versus Merrimac" clash, and how that applies to wargaming. Check out what conclusion he reaches, reinforced by the comment: "No better description of the impact of the Battle of Hampton Roads on naval warfare exists than the response of the Royal Navy upon hearing of the battle."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 3/14/2025


The Vietnam War Miniatures Collection (video)

Spotlight Article Graphic

The Dusted Game Shelf dusts off his proud collection of miniatures suitable for table top Vietnam War battles.

Poster: Pat L.
Post Date: 3/1/2025


Rodger B. MacGowan Has Passed Away at Age 77

Spotlight Article Graphic

W. Eric Martin reports the sad news: "Artist/designer Rodger B. MacGowan passed away on February 22, 2025, and if you have been a gamer for any amount of time over the past fifty years, you have likely seen his work."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 2/26/2025


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


Want to Join the Grognard Team?

Do you like surfing the web to find wargame related articles? Grognard is looking for a couple of folks who would enjoy adding posts to our homepage pointing to new and interesting wargame stuff. If volunteering a couple hours a week doing this sounds like fun, let us know by emailing Admin @ Grognard.com!


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 and related games with Noble Knight


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
10
Date: 3/23/2025
Poster: Pat L.
Learn As We Play: Fort Sumter (video)

In this video, The War Room discusses the rules, setup, and game mechanics.
Web Link
9
Date: 3/9/2025
Poster: Pat L.
Let’s Play Fort Sumter!

Avguardian Gaming plays the computer version as the Secessionists. He starts with a nice intro and covers game description, mechanics and strategy.
Web Link
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