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Some very big statements there. It would have been nice if Lee could have said those things while he was alive, but I suppose it was enough of a leap for him to put it in his will so you cannot ask too much of one person.
The factory one is an interesting choice and maybe reflects where the CSA wants to go? The plantations owners can loaf around with farming with the slaves, while the rest of the country moves to the cities and becomes a more industrial, modern society?
The factory one is an interesting choice and maybe reflects where the CSA wants to go? The plantations owners can loaf around with farming with the slaves, while the rest of the country moves to the cities and becomes a more industrial, modern society?
Well a little foreign war a good way, surely, to unite a somewhat fractious Confederacy.
A very busy update, as stnylan has covered the handy unifying/distraction aspect of the war I'll focus on this little snippet. If France and UK are opting out does this mean some sort of German state is getting involved?
Shame about young Lionel, he'd get much more support for the abolitionist campaign if he divorced it from socialism. Still that is often the way with zealots, better to remain "pure" and ineffective than compromise to get the job done.
I have very much enjoyed this AAR. Also, I think everyone who takes the time to read a historical narrative AAR like this is well aware that the people of yesteryear - even those we might admire in some respect for certain achievements - had a rather different worldview from the average PDS gamer in the early 21st century. I also don't think it makes sense to pretend that people of the past didn't have these elements to their character. Indeed, I would argue it is important to honestly portray them as they were - warts and all, as it were - because not only is showing the truth of the past important to help us be different from it, I also think it creates more interesting characters.
And remember that in times yet to come our successors will look at us in horror at what they perceive our moral lapses to be. I would hope they would portray us honestly too.
And remember that in times yet to come our successors will look at us in horror at what they perceive our moral lapses to be. I would hope they would portray us honestly too.
As my associate Stnylan has covered the concerns on characterisation and offence, I shall merely nod in agreement and devote my attention to the other areas you invited comment upon.
In terms of plot I would expect the post-Longstreet election to be interesting, so I have applied my intellect to the question and consulted Wikipedia to augment my less than impressive grasp of civil war era America.
Thus far the CSA has gone for ex-military Presidents (Davis then Longstreet), if they do it a third time then that starts to be a tradition. I would therefore expect an ex-General to give it a go (say Richard Taylor or E P Alexander who both look military competent and well grounded realists), running as Longbridge Part II on broadly similar policies, maybe after a bit of arm-twisting "Don't abandon the nation!", that sort of thing. I can also see some regular politician going for it, say CSA Vice-President AH Stephens, running as a 'The confederacy is a normal country so should have normal, political presidents'. To mix it up it could be interesting to see Beauregard go for it, he ticks most of the boxes (civilian before the war, excellent war record, smart) but his attitude on slavery could ruin it for him. As the Patton's have been set up, if one of that dynasty has a 'good' war they could be a candidate, but I expect the older generation of Civil War veterans to be first in line, maybe a Patton as a VP for a 'political' candidate to balance the ticket?
Coming now to your last comments, you can rest assured I wouldn't be bothering to comment here, let along look up old CSA generals, if I wasn't enjoying reading this. One of the few bad effects of improving your writing skills is that it makes your early efforts look less assured, it's a problem I've had myself, but it is a nice problem to have. If you want to change something then go for it, but there is nothing in particular I think needs to be changed.
In terms of plot I would expect the post-Longstreet election to be interesting, so I have applied my intellect to the question and consulted Wikipedia to augment my less than impressive grasp of civil war era America.
Thus far the CSA has gone for ex-military Presidents (Davis then Longstreet), if they do it a third time then that starts to be a tradition. I would therefore expect an ex-General to give it a go (say Richard Taylor or E P Alexander who both look military competent and well grounded realists), running as Longbridge Part II on broadly similar policies, maybe after a bit of arm-twisting "Don't abandon the nation!", that sort of thing. I can also see some regular politician going for it, say CSA Vice-President AH Stephens, running as a 'The confederacy is a normal country so should have normal, political presidents'. To mix it up it could be interesting to see Beauregard go for it, he ticks most of the boxes (civilian before the war, excellent war record, smart) but his attitude on slavery could ruin it for him. As the Patton's have been set up, if one of that dynasty has a 'good' war they could be a candidate, but I expect the older generation of Civil War veterans to be first in line, maybe a Patton as a VP for a 'political' candidate to balance the ticket?
Coming now to your last comments, you can rest assured I wouldn't be bothering to comment here, let along look up old CSA generals, if I wasn't enjoying reading this. One of the few bad effects of improving your writing skills is that it makes your early efforts look less assured, it's a problem I've had myself, but it is a nice problem to have. If you want to change something then go for it, but there is nothing in particular I think needs to be changed.
And of course Mr James had nothing to do with said explosion 
A short, but nicely constructed, scene.
A short, but nicely constructed, scene.
Bit surprised the Confederacy has promoted Jesse James to a General, even allowing for the relaxed definition of General. As the update says, he wasn't a nice chap and definitely wasn't much of a military mind. Things surely aren't so desperate they need to rely on that sort of thug?
There is no wrong way, even the most cliched and copied idea can be interesting if you can find a new way to do it or a different perspective to look at it from. I'd advise go in the direction you find most interesting or most enjoyable to write, for most people it produces better results.
From a reader's perspective I would prefer to see some of the started plots returned to, either to be advanced or to be tied up and brought to a conclusion. The German mercenaries could be an interesting scene, perhaps a chance for an outsiders (non-American) view on the war?
Poor count, he should have known you never think about family back home before a battle - guaranteed way to get yourself killed.
That is an impressively large, and diverse, mercenary army that Deseret has been able to put together. They'd better strike quickly though, in a long war mercenaries get very expensive and the US can probably mobilise quite a large army.
That is an impressively large, and diverse, mercenary army that Deseret has been able to put together. They'd better strike quickly though, in a long war mercenaries get very expensive and the US can probably mobilise quite a large army.
I am sorry to hear your news, I do hope your mother pulls through and recovers. You have absolutely no reason to apologise, it sounds like you have much more important things to deal with. We will all still be here when you are able to get back to writing, so don't worry about that and focus on your family.
I hope the tough times pass quickly for you and your family, and if writing helps you get through them I'll be happy to carry on reading.
If you fell over whelmed then I would recommend focusing on your favourite character - not the one you think everyone else likes or the 'main' character, the only you enjoy writing the most. If that person needs to interact with the wider plot they can hear a speech, visit an old friend or just read a newspaper. Start with there and build back up, things may get easier once you are back in the groove.
Somewhat out of nowhere, but perhaps it is more effective because of that - the important thing is his arm (or lack of it) not the actual battle. I wouldn't worry about the language, it's still relatively mild and as you say entirely justified by the scene.
And as always, don't worry about the frequency or rushing back to the next post.
And as always, don't worry about the frequency or rushing back to the next post.