CSA or Union ?

[Lord Odin]

Just interested in what side you guys enjoy playing most, myself i like playing Confederates, maybe because they were the underdogs during the civil war. I have noticed on YouTube that the majority of video's are for Union play with not enough video's on Confederates. I haven't played The Union yet and only played them once in Ultimate General Gettysburg. So which side do you play and why

[cromagnonman2k]

I play Union for almost purely political and ancestral reasons: 6 of my ancestors served in the Union army during the Civil War.

[Lord Odin]

Wow, didn't really think about people having reasons like yours, i can understand the ancestral reasons but the political reasons i don't, probably because i am from the UK. Thanks for the reply though really appreciated.

[Throwitinthecooker]

Same as above post, I play Union as of my first playthrough due to family history and the fact I was named after Lt. Colonel Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain who led the 20th Maine volunteer infantry regiment during the battle of Gettysburg that repelled the Rebel charges on Little Round Top. I do however plan to play as CSA as well at some point probably more than once.

[cromagnonman2k]

Originally posted by Wizhunter:

Wow, didn't really think about people having reasons like yours, i can understand the ancestral reasons but the political reasons i don't, probably because i am from the UK. Thanks for the reply though really appreciated.

There was widespread belief in the 19th Century, especially in the wake of several failed liberal revolutions, that democracy was inherently weak and prone to splintering & infighting. Many Unionists in 1861 saw the struggle as a critical fight for the survival of democracy itself - "the last, best hope" for mankind - while European nations viewed it as a last gasp against the superiority of constitutional monarchy. Just as important to my mind, the war became a de facto crusade against slavery, a stain on the the history & soul of the Republic. Because of these political aspects of the Civil War, I would find playing as the CSA to be distasteful - my only attraction to a CSA campaign is that there are different side battles.

[Xbwalker]

Originally posted by cromagnonman2k:

Originally posted by Wizhunter:

Wow, didn't really think about people having reasons like yours, i can understand the ancestral reasons but the political reasons i don't, probably because i am from the UK. Thanks for the reply though really appreciated.

There was widespread belief in the 19th Century, especially in the wake of several failed liberal revolutions, that democracy was inherently weak and prone to splintering & infighting. Many Unionists in 1861 saw the struggle as a critical fight for the survival of democracy itself - "the last, best hope" for mankind - while European nations viewed it as a last gasp against the superiority of constitutional monarchy. Just as important to my mind, the war became a de facto crusade against slavery, a stain on the the history & soul of the Republic. Because of these political aspects of the Civil War, I would find playing as the CSA to be distasteful - my only attraction to a CSA campaign is that there are different side battles.

Pretty much this. Personally, I feel it was a mix of slave owners trying to retain their economic significance. They saw abolition as a threat to their livelihoods. Also, many in the south were "Anti-Federalist" which argued that a strong central government invited things such as monarchies and dictatorship and thus were against the spirit of the constitution and the declaration of independance.

The north was far more in favor of a strong central government and, although racism abounded, most (who were not slave owners anyways) were against slavery. In the end, it was rural/higher slave dependant anti federalists vs urban federalists.

There are some great pieces of writing about the political climate that lead to the American Civil War. Most are quite impartial.

Although, I think we can all agree that slavery is bad. mmmk?

On that note, I'm about to start my first confederate campaign. Let's see how it goes!

[Lord Odin]

Thanks guys for the response, always been interested in the American Civil War as well as the Independance war (which us Brits had a major role in). I suppose most history is good if your not involved with it. I had family that fought in the 2 world wars but i still like playing Germans in some war games. Maybe it's because i like playing losers lol. Thanks again.

[Krieger Von Klapper]

Both are fun. No political reasons needed. But the Union's missions are usually more fun because you can sorta alter the history and the stupid decisions made by pea brain commanders. It's like the "If only I could go back in time" feelings being satiated.

[Gwyd1on]

CSA

[Gar101]

I prefer the CSA qaulity over qauntity and it is harder always up for a challenge.

[FSgt. A. Switz [3rd MAR]]

I like them both. I like the Unions due to the early game difficulty and easier progression, but love the CSA's all around hard campaign that is always a struggle.

I do have family on the confederate side. My great x3 grandfather was in the 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment. That's about all I know about him unfortanatly.

[Ganja]

it really doesnt matter what side you choose. sure we all have some personal reason but in the end the game balances the AI pretty fairly so historical accuracy is not really there. just pure slaughter and gameplay. only historical factor i see in this game is supply and even then your troops never full run out of ammo. **every battle is scripted somewhat to how the actual battle played out. so no matter what you do you need to include those random events.

[Lord Odin]

@ Ganja(8th)... i never said it mattered, i asked which side purely out of interest, from what i can glean it isn't aimed at being acurate overwise the Confederacy would never win, and i have never had a problem with supply yet so not come across that problem yet. I think the game is the best i have played in that type of game and really enjoy it, thing i have found is that i get that enthralled in it that time just disappears, played the Shilo battle plus a couple of others and it was midnight before i knew lol.

[Aethelfirth]

FFS another cause of the war ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thread. I had 3 ancestors who fought for the Union. It has no bearing on my choice of who to play... Or reenact for that matter.
Personally I like the battles of the CSA campaign better, but I like the artillery selection of the Union. I play both but purely for fun in terms of play-style I like CSA. More offensive based rather than defensive.
I'm going to add that I have very little respect for people who think that playing a role in a computer game equals condoning a political perspective. There are countless reasons of why men fought. The average soldier had little to nothing to do with slavery. The war is over. The Union won. Control thy modern bigory over people long dead.

[cromagnonman2k]

Originally posted by Aethelfirth:

FFS another cause of the war ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thread. I had 3 ancestors who fought for the Union. It has no bearing on my choice of who to play... Or reenact for that matter.
Personally I like the battles of the CSA campaign better, but I like the artillery selection of the Union. I play both but purely for fun in terms of play-style I like CSA. More offensive based rather than defensive.
I'm going to add that I have very little respect for people who think that playing a role in a computer game equals condoning a political perspective. There are countless reasons of why men fought. The average soldier had little to nothing to do with slavery. The war is over. The Union won. Control thy modern bigory over people long dead.

I don’t think it’s a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ cause of the war thread, I think the original poster wanted more answers like yours. Since it’s a game, I think it’s fine whoever you play as.

[Lord Odin]

I asked the question out of pure interest, never had much time for politics infact it bores me to death, i have played the Total War games since they started and have asked similar questions without upsetting people. If you don't like the question, do what i do, just stay away from it :)