Avalon Hill's 1977 Gettysburg was my first wargame. It was a gift from my Carolina cousins and it remains one of my favorite games. The three different levels of complexity remain what in my opinion is a classic break down of a single game system that is fast hit-and-run combat at the basic level and a grueling, numerical slog at the advanced end of the scale. Even the intermediate level game is engaging and unique enough from the basic game, and all of it is orchestrated on the same map. If I had one critique, it's the lack of impact that terrain has on the battle.
My latest game was a quick playthrough of the basic game. The Union forces set up along Seminary ridge and North of Gettysburg with the Confederates in Herr's Ridge and Rhodes's Division just coming into play to the North. Unlike the intermediate and advanced game, there's no race to Seminary ridge. I didn't like this at first, but given the mechanics of the basic game, this makes much more sense.
Given the lack of importance that terrain plays (still a major blunder in my opinion), I raced both sides to the front as they arrived. Above, the Union forces fall back to Cemetery ridge, screening Rhodes and Heth as they do. With no battle lines to orchestrate in this version of the game (unlike the advanced version), the Confederate player is at the advantage of racing every arriving unit to the front. Time, and neither terrain nor battlefield coordination, is the Confederate player's only adversary to victory.
With the ability to double stack divisions (which the Union player is not allowed to do) the Confederacy gained the upper hand by concentrating it's combat power at the few Union forces on Cemetery hill. A major win for the first day.
The Confederates consolidate and push the few Union stragglers from Culp's Hill. Now it get's interesting as the Union arrives en masse. (The Blank counter represents Meade's HQ since I lost the counter :/)
The Union trades body blows with the Confederates atop Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. They prevent a turn flank by the Confederacy's Cavalry to the West, and while they struggle for progress on Cemetery Hill, they chip away at the position on Culp's Hill.
The Union forces surge on the right, hoping for victory atop Culp's Hill. (The three victory points in the basic game are: Culp's Hill, Cemetery Hill, and Little Round Top).
The high point: the Confederacy's grasp on Cemetery and Culp's hill loosens. Will they fold?
The Confederacy not only holds, but it surges back. Lee's divisions whip Meade off Culp's hill and send them packing for the rear. It then becomes a race of Little Round Top as the Confederacy hopes to win a resounding victory.
The last turn: it's beyond bleak for the Union, but Meade refuse's Lee little Round Top. Game over. The Confederacy won with 73 VPs to the Union's 48.
A fantastic game. Looking forward to the next time I can pull it down from the shelf.