A Union So Tested

Look, Sarge, No Charts: ACW

Author: John R. "Buck" Surdu Christopher Palmer
Publisher: LMW Works
Date Published: 2006
Period:American Civil War
Scale:Operational
Status: Released July 2009
Notes:Available through LMW Works, Brigade Games, Old Glory, and Amazon.com.

SIMPLE, BUT NOT SIMPLISTIC -- FIGHT THE BATTLE, NOT THE RULES

A Union So Tested is the second rule set to feature the Look, Sarge, No Charts!(TM) rule system. Look, Sarge, No Charts: ACW features dynamic mechanics that allow the players to fight the battle, not the rules. Players command a division or more. In these rules “realism” is gained through simple mechanics that stress the players’ decision making. Do not assume, however, that this means that A Union So Tested is a bag-full-of-dice and “sixes hit” system. Six years have gone into the systems in this booklet. When you play A Union So Tested, you will be challenged and excited.

Look, Sarge, No Charts: American Civil War has a number of unique innovations that together create an exciting experience for the long-time gamer as well as the younger novice. These include: Innovative "double" random card- and dice-based activation system that provides the drama and unpredictability of card-based activation while avoiding having everyone standing around watching one person at a time perform actions. Startlingly simple spotting system that is fast and realistic -- without the need for complex charts with stacks of modifiers. Absolutely unique morale system. There is no morale phase, yet morale is important to the game. Results of morale failure are are quickly resolved. Chartless combat resolution. Everything you need to conduct combat is on the labels on the backs of the bases. This takes into account weapon types and defensive value of terrain without dozens of modifiers.

The net result is a game that allows players to make the decisions appropriate to division commanders. In A Union So Tested, players fight the battle, not the rules. If you pass by a table on which a Look, Sarge, No Charts game is being played, and then come back an hour later, the table will look completely different. This is not one of those systems that looks and feels more like Marathon than Manasas. Good tactics are rewarded; bad tactics are punished.

	These images are good representations of what the table looks like during game play. Notice the lack of big pink rectangles (i.e., chart cards) to clutter the aesthetics of the table. This images is a staged shot of the Angle at Gettysburg.
In this shot we placed some casulaty markers in front of bases that had received hits.
	This shot is an actual game in progress. Again, note the lack of table clutter. This shot was not prettied up for the camera.
This is another shot of a game in progress. You can see pipe cleaners used to mark hits and morale markers. Also note the red dice in the distance. We use red dice to mark retreating units, green dice to mark units in good order, and black dice to mark units that are pinned.
	A final shot of a Confederate brigade in line.
Here is a sneak preview of a LSNC: Napoleonics, which is under development.

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