For the People (1998)

(from GMT website:)

"For the People is a grand strategy game of the American Civil War covering the conflict from Texas to Pennsylvania, from the firing on Fort Sumter to the end at Appomattox Court House. You take the role of either President Lincoln or President Davis and command the armies, promote and relieve generals, conduct amphibious assaults, dispatch cavalry raids, and even battle incompetency and political intrigue among members of your own cabinet.

For the People includes a deck of strategy cards for conducting campaigns and incorporating the many events and personalities of the war. The Confederate player can build ironclads, naval mines (torpedoes), submarines, conduct overseas purchases, and work towards foreign intervention. The Union player can build up his naval blockade, his ironclad fleet, fight draft riots, secure the Border States, and issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Relive the history of this exciting time when our nation was torn asunder."

Boardgamegeek introduction:

This is the 4th entry in the We the People system of games, following Hannibal and Successors (but pre-dating Paths of Glory, which is arguably more of a spin-off than a follow-on). The playing area is much larger than say Hannibal, there are lots more forces and generals, and there is a much more complicated political control/strategic will system - as well as quite a few other significant elements. While still clean and streamlined for a complicated wargame, this is nontheless more of a serious hobby game than any of the previous entries in the genre.

Note from Mark Herman:

The game was reprinted and the latest and final version of the rules has incorporated all of the previous FAQs plus has re-written some of the more troublesome rules sections (rivers). To date, after a grueling three-year on-line tournament, no rules questions of note have been forthcoming. The above write up is mistaken when it states that "For The People" is based on "Hannibal v Rome", but was my second game in the "We The People" genre that I created. The game dropped my battle card system in lieu of a more traditional combat results table to speed play and increase historical accuracy.

(from GMT website :)
2006 Edition Note: The 2006 version of For the People incorporates very few design modifications, but considerable "clean up" changes to the game rules. The biggest change from the 2000 version is the addition of twenty new optional playing cards to the deck, and a general rewording of many of the deck's original cards. Players wishing to upgrade but not buy an entire new game may order the 2006 Edition card deck separately. The 2006 Edition rules are available as a free download from the Living Rules section of our website. Together, those two items encompass the vast majority of updates to the 2006 edition.

Expanded by For the People Deluxe Map.

Redux map: http://www.west2productions.com/Mapology/_NEW/MapB1.html.

Online Play

• Wargameroom (real-time)

Awards

1998: Charles S. Roberts awards, Best Pre-World War II Boardgame

Microbadges: