Okay, so here's the arpeg. What do you think? Battlefront 1861
Battlefront: The military sector in which actual combat takes place. The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861 when the Confederate assault on Fort Sumter brought tensions between the northern states of the USA and the southern states of the USA to a boil, finally kicking off the bloodiest conflict in United States history, and in only four years had claimed the lives of anywhere between 618,000 to 700,000 Americans. Now, it is your turn to enter the war. You must fight for the Confederates or the Union, and turn the tide of the War Between the States.
Name: First and last name, please. Middle name optional. Do not include rank. Age: 14-60. Neither army was very picky about who they allowed to enlist. They needed everyone they could get. Side: Confederate or Union. Home State: Not required. Connected to "side". Rank: Private, unless your class is Officer, in which case you start off as a Lieutenant. Health: 50/50 Class: Look below to see the classes. Skill: See "Classes" Perk: You can have one perk. Check below, in Perks. Weapon: See "Classes". Clothing: Confederate Uniform or Union Uniform, according to your side, Haversack(kind of like a backpack, it's what you carry your stuff in). Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week]. For the rest, see Classes. Allies/Troops: See Classes.
Classes(all the classes are the same for either side). Cavalryman: The horse-riding branch of the military. Used as reconnaissance, or to harrass the enemy slowly but surely, so that they will either slow down or stop. Starts out with a Trained Horse, a Pistol[2/2], and a Saber. Skill is "Horsemanship", the ability to train a horse for battle, and skillfully ride it. Officer: The high-ranking commanders of the battlefield. Used as an in-combat commander, the Officer not only commands troops, but can take out enemies of their own. Starts out with a Saber, a Pistol[2/2], and 10 Troops. Skill is "Command", to control troops on the same side as you to do what you tell them to. Infantryman: The on-foot backbone of the war. Used for nearly everything, from defense to offense to drawn-out battles. Starts out with a Musket[5/5], and a Bayonet. Skill is "Sharpshooter", the ability to reload your weapon faster and aim more accurately. Artilleryman: The "big guns" of the war. The artillerymen must work as a seamless team, because it takes five or so people to operate a cannon, but when it works, it can take out nearly anything. Used for offense or defense. Starts out with a Cannon, a Snake(sharp, swordlike tool that they use to load the cannon, but can also be used as a makeshift weapon), Flint and Tinder, 5 allies, and a Knife. Skill is "Heavy Artillery", which is the ability to load and fire cannons and mortars accurately and more quickly than untrained people trying to operate them. Other: You can create your own class, HOWEVER, it must be approved by me. Please attempt to make it historically accurate and do not make it overpowered.
Perks: A perk is a little something extra. You can gain perks throughout the game by doing amazing feats, but most of you are going to end up with only the perk you pick at the beginning, so choose wisely! Your perk(s) are what set you apart from other soldiers just like you. Sharp: Players with the "Sharp" perk are more skilled with a sword, and can wield it much more efficiently than soldiers without the perk. Resiliency: Players with the "Resiliency" perk are not only more resistant to disease, but if they do get it, it does less damage and goes away quicker. Plus, they can go longer without food, water, and sleep without feeling the effects. Squeaky Clean: Players with the "Squeaky Clean" perk automatically take much better care of all their weapons, meaning they're less likely to malfunction(and blow up in your face). Locked and Loaded: Players with the "Locked and Loaded" perk are better with small arms like pistols, meaning they're more accurate with a pistol and fire faster. Other: As with classes, you can make your own perk, but also as with classes, it must be accurate, not overpowered, and must be approved by me.
Also: I know that in the Civil War, disease actually killed many more people than bullets. However, just to make this interesting, you can and must find some way to make sure that your character doesn't get sick(they will, just not with a fatal disease, as long as you take precautions. If you have Resiliency, chances are you won't even get a minor disease). So, read up, and find out how you can save your character's life with some common sense!
Moderators: This game will start out with one moderator, Piester22, who helped me create this RPG by supplying accurate historical information. He can play the game, but can also respond to other players' scenarios(of course, Pie, you should be fair or you won't be a mod for long) and will also be giving you a dossier before each battle. As the game goes on, I may or may not add more moderators.
Any questions, comments, suggestions, or anything, feel free to post!
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
I send one to the surgeons tent to get bandanged up and i scream and the top of my lungs at the other one and give him "special" duties around the incampment, for a couple days :P
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
Journal of Cpt. James Brown of the Union Army Battle of Bull Run I sighed, "I can't believe I'm actually having to do this." I grabbed the injured private and helped him limp to the medical tent. "Sir, what's going to happen to that other private?" the injured soldier demanded angrily. "I'll deal with it, private," I told him, irritated. I gave him a gentle half-shove into the medical tent. "But he's a traitor, I tell ya sir!" yelled the private. "He shot me!" I zipped the tent behind him, shaking my head, then headed to where the other soldier was waiting. "I'm sorry, sir..." the soldier apologized, taking a strange interest in his boots. "Not good enough," I told him. "Give me your guns. If it was an accident, then you're not fit to carry a weapon." "But sir, I need my gun to do my job!" protested the private. "Who's the officer here, again?" I reminded him, and he reluctantly handed over his musket, bayonet, and pistol. "Good," I nodded. "You won't need them with your new job. You'll need this," and I handed him a shovel. "Digging trenches as a punishment?" he repeated. "But sir-" "Ah, you're wrong. You won't be digging trenches, so no need to argue." "Then what am I doing?" he asked. "We need to keep the camp clean, in order to save our soldiers from infection and disease," I informed him. "Unfortunately we didn't know that when we pitched this camp, so the latrine is too close to the camp for my hygiene standards. We need someone to dig up all the waste that's already there, and move it about a mile away." The private's face twisted with disgust. "Really, sir? That's my job?" "It's an important job," I told him, "but nobody wants to do it. So it's your job now." Grumbling, the private walked out of the tent, shovel in hand. *end of page*
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
I go back to training with my saber and cleaning my gun.
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
Journal of Cpt. James Brown of the Union Army Battle of Bull Run Whistling the new song of the Union, Glory Glory Hallelujah, I went back to cleaning my musket and sharpening my saber. But I hadn't been at it for long before PFC Smith from the trenches rushed in. "Sir!" he yelled breathlessly. "The Rebels have blocked us in, sir. We're surrounded, cut off." "What?" I exclaimed. "It's true, sir. They snuck around and surrounded us before we could do anything about it. We have to break through their blockade to get anything." "Well, that's not good." "Sir, you still have command of the thousands of men in the camp. You just need to make a tactic," PFC Smith reminded me. *end of page* What will you do?
Name:Phillip Vasquez Age: 14 Side:Confederate Home State: Florida Rank: Private Health: 45/50 Class: cavalryman Skill: horsemanship Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Pistol(6/6) Clothing: Confederate Uniform Haversack: *contains the equipment in the "other" category. Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week], Saber, Trained horse Allies/Troops: None
Journal of Pvt. Phillip Vasquez of the Confederate Army April 12, 1861 "Sorry soldier," the CO told me, "but we don't have any spare muskets to give you. You already have one. But we can give you some ammo," and he handed me a few regular bullets. "Thanks sir," I replied, and loaded the ammo into my revolver. I sat on my horse and searched around the back of the fort. I found nothing but corpses, and after only a few minutes I was sickened. *end of page* What will you do?
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
Ah crap...uh..Get the men to defensive positions that we made.We have enough rations to hold out till the general gets back with the reinforcements hopefully...and if not i have a plan..well i don't but i will think of something lol
Name:Phillip Vasquez Age: 14 Side:Confederate Home State: Florida Rank: Private Health: 45/50 Class: cavalryman Skill: horsemanship Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Pistol(5/6) Clothing: Confederate Uniform Haversack: *contains the equipment in the "other" category. Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week], Saber, Trained horse Allies/Troops: None
Journal of Pvt. Phillip Vasquez of the Confederate Army July 12, 1861 Ignoring the nausea rolling up my throat, I stepped gingerly between the rotting corpses. Their glassy eyes stared up at me, never to see again. With an effort, I looked away, and continued to walk further behind the fort. I encountered only one Yankee, who was barely even alive, coughing and just laying on the ground. I felt no remorse as I drew my pistol and shot him in the head. It was merciful. I dismounted and kicked the Yank's body aside and continued looking, but I found nothing else. *end of page*
Journal of Pvt. Jesse McCrory of the Confederate Army July 20th, 1861 With a scream, I ran towards the enemy. Seeing that it was one of the Yankee scum, I stabbed him with the bayonet. His eyes bugged out of his head in shock, and then he started shaking. Blood poured from his mouth, and he reached for his stomach where I'd impaled him. I planted my boot on him and gave a sturdy kick, dislodging my bayonet from the Yankee's body. He groaned, and collapsed to the ground, dying. I left him there in the dirt, and helped up the soldier who had been kicked to the ground. He was a Confederate, an officer at that, grey uniform and all. He picked up his saber from where he had dropped it on the ground, and wiped some of the dirt off it. "Thanks, Private," he grunted, holding his forearm. It was then that I noticed he was bleeding badly, he'd been shot. "Sir, you're injured," I said blankly. "Well, I KNOW THAT private," snapped the officer, "thank you very much for telling me. But don't just stand here flapping your gums, go kill some of those goddamn Yankees! I'll be fine!" I respected the officer's resiliency, but I knew that if I left him, he would die. However, if I did help him, even if it was a good thing to do, I would be abandoning my post and disobeying a direct order from a superior. *end of page* What will you do?
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
Journal of Cpt. James Brown of the Union Army Battle of Bull Run "WHAT ARE YOU ALL WAITING FOR?!" I bellowed at a shocked group of young new recruits. "DO YOU WANNA LIVE OR DON'T YA?! TAKE YOUR POSITIONS! GO! DEFENSIVE STRATEGY!" Immediately after my words ring through the air, the place is abuzz with privates quickly moving about, fulfilling my orders. I saw Cpl. Lansing screaming at a group of soldiers who had dug the trench. They jumped into the mud, which had dried by now, and then he kicked the top mud on top of them as camouflage. Then he cleared a few holes for them to fire through and breathe, and a sort of large hole that would work as a chimney to clear out the smoke. I saw the tips of muskets peeking out of the trench camouflage. I saw a cavalry officer riding in front of a group of mounted soldiers, cavalrymen, armed with pistols and sabers. They lined up in straight rows with the officer in front. Infantrymen scaled trees and hid up in top. Other infantrymen were doing their best to line up mud and barbed wire for makeshift cover. The officers converged near the center of the camp, and I strode there with a purpose. "YOU!" I barked at a young, grim-faced lieutenant. He looked up at me, but his facial expression didn't change. "SIR!" he yelled stiffly, standing tall and saluting. He didn't move from that position. "First, who are you?" "Lieutenant John Cooper, sir, of Vermont." "So, Lt. Cooper, what's happening?" "The Rebels have blocked us in, sir. They have defensive positions and units all around our position on the inside, here," he points to our position in a small bowl-like area where we'd made camp. "In battle, the depression we're in would provide cover, but it had also been our undoing. It had limited our vision out above our camp, which had allowed this to happen. Meanwhile, above their defensive positions near our camp, the Rebels have another line here," Lt. Cooper points again to another point on the map, "outside, so that when General McDowell does arrive with reinforcements, they have to break through another line to get to us." "Well that's a pretty good plan," I sighed. "How do we beat it?" "Well, there is a serious flaw with the plan. The two defensive lines are good for defense, but if the Union soldiers on either side can break through, then we will be able to crush the Rebels who will be trapped between us, both with defensive positions toward one specific area. If we attack from any other area, they're ours. Easily," Lt. Cooper explains. "So we launch an all-out assault?" "Possibly. But if we do that, we have to time it perfectly with Gen. McDowell's arrival to win, and thanks to the Rebels we won't know that. All the Rebs have to do is cut us off from supplies for long enough, and we'll starve, get sick, and pretty much just die," Cooper added grimly. *end of page* What will you do?
Name: James Brown Age: 21 Side: Union Home State: NY Rank: Captain. Health: 11/50 Class: Officer Skill: Command Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Musket[5/5], A Saber Clothing: Union Uniform, Haversack Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week],A Revolver[6/6], 5 Minie Balls, Confederate Officer Hat Allies/Troops: 9
I...dang...well....I invent a tank...lol...well..I...eat a tomato.....yum...um...well...we are just...going to have to hope he is close....and do that plan...
Name:Phillip Vasquez Age: 14 Side:Confederate Home State: Florida Rank: Private Health: 45/50 Class: cavalryman Skill: horsemanship Perk: Locked and Loaded Weapon: Pistol(5/6) Clothing: Confederate Uniform Haversack: *contains the equipment in the "other" category. Other Equipment: Bedroll, Canteen, Rations[1 week], Saber, Trained horse Allies/Troops: None
Journal of Pvt. Phillip Vasquez of the Confederate Army April 12, 1861 I kept going, well past the battle-scarred land surrounding Fort Sumter. I heard a cracked voice, a quiet whisper...I couldn't be sure that I had heard it. "Please..." the whisper sighed. I turned, and saw a badly burned and bloody soldier in a Confederate uniform. At first glance, I thought he was dead. His right arm was encrusted and pooled in scarlet blood, and his forearm lay several feet away from where the Confederate lay, raggedly severed from his arm at the elbow. Next to the dying Confederate, I saw the rotting corpse of a grey horse, shivering with the movement of worms and maggots. I gagged and turned away, the sight and the stench too much for me. The food I'd been given in the medical tent all came up, there was nothing I could do about it. I wiped my mouth and turned back to the soldier. "What happened to you?" I asked, shutting my eyes tightly. "I w-was wounded..." coughed the cavalryman, "at the b-b-battle. I had t-to get aw-away...so I got on my h-h-horse and rode away. B-but the Y-yankees ambushed me, l-l-left me for d-dead..." "What Yankees?" I demanded sharply. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I unholstered my pistol and gripped it with both hands as quickly as I could, but it was still too slow. I saw hidden Yankees stand from the nearby bushes, all pointing muskets at me. I felt the barrel of a musket on the back of my neck, the bayonet on the end pricked me. I felt blood drip from my neck from the cut, and my hands started shaking. I knew this could be the end. "I'm w-with you, b-brother..." the injured cavalryman coughed quietly. *end of page*
