how many figures do I need for a decent sized game
A very basic question I'm afraid gents particularly as the rulebook seems to be taking an age to get to NZ! I'm a megalomaniac GdeB gamer who made the usual mistake of ... oh look nice shiny metal ACW figures :shock: I might get a few to see how they paint up :roll: well how shall I say it got a bit out of hand :oops: and so I have figures from BH, Peter Pig (still in the post) and Scale Creep for both sides. now that I'm committed (and maybe I should be) I intend to follow this through so pray tell what sort of figure numbers do I need for an average size game I understand infantry regiments are around 20 figures, how many should I aim to field? What about cavalry - what number would you aim for in the way of mounted and dismounted regiments and what size? How many gun models/ side? How many of you buy horse holders etc just whett my appetite a little more please as there's still no sign of the postman and there'sa long weekend ahead

vb, I had a great deal of fun building my GaG armies last year :-) I dipped my toe in the water with a basic force, then filled it out into a larger force for more complex scenarios, Phase II if you like. I would summarise my approach as follows: 1. Phase I, a force of 12 infantry regts, about 24 skirmish based troops and two batteries per side. I had sufficient mounted officers for 4 brigades + CinCs each. My battalions were based on a historical order of battle for the Gettysburg campaign and varied from 16-24 figs, based in fours. 2. Phase II, I went up to 16 regts each side. My historical research showed me that I would need some bigger battalions so I built a couple of 30s for each side. With spare figs, I also made up some extra command bases, allowing me to fill out each army to 18 or even more regts. 3. My two forces were based on brigades drawn largely or entirely from particular states. My reb army has NC, TX, Va, and Ga Bdes + one or two other units. My Union has Pa, NY, and so on. In each case the look of the figures was designed to allow shifting around of bases within the brigades to build units to 28 or even 32 figs or to add to the extra command bases. 4. I didn't introduce any cavalry until Phase II. They are a lot of work (horses, mntd figs, dismounted figs, dismounted horse holders etc to paint for each unit). I went for two 18 fig confederate units and two 24 fig Union ones. 5. I added guns in Phase II so that I can now field up to 5 confederate batteries and 4 Union ones with an extra battery of sailors that could be added to either side. 6. I have two 'unusual' infantry units that can be used on either side. All of this means I can boost one side as high as 19 or 20 regts if the scenario requires it. I find I really don't need any more than this larger force for any scenario I'd like to try. I found the ACW forces easy to paint, fun to collect and - this is pretty much unique in my collecting experience - I managed to complete the project according to my 'Phase II' aspirations with almost no spare figs left at the end ! EC

Also, EC's ACW experience shows that it is possible to actually finish a project.... :shock:

Thanks for your help EC, that was precisely the sort of advice I was looking for, I also got my rules today and can see that the US cavalry I already have for Pony Wars will be fine as the base sizes are a match :D Giles - I am nearing the end of my Napoleonic project you know - I only want a few more Prussians, Austrian grenadiers, a couple of Nassauer battalions, a few more Brits, maybe some marines and....well almost I suppose - unless of course I strip some of the figs I painted 20 yrs ago!