RULEBOOK DESCRIPTION: BLOODY APRIL is a grand tactical,
regimental-level simulation of the Battle of Shiloh (Tennessee), April 6-7,
1862. BAP uses the award for Civil War battle games first introduced in TERRIBLE
SWIFT SWORD (Gettysburg). The system may seem somewhat difficult to those
not familiar with it. However, it is a system the plays quite smoothly and
is easy to learn. It is thus suggested the played first study the Sequence
of Play (4.0), as it is the backbone of the game. Those Players already familiar
with TSS and/or STONEWALL should read the rules carefully, as there have been
some subtle changes and many additions. BLOODY APRIL also contains a large
number of optional rules that players may use to increase historical accuracy
with a impact on the ease of play. In all, BLOODY APRIL, is somewhat more
complex than TSS.
GAME BOX DESCRIPTION: Bloody April is a grand
tactical simulation of one of the most decisive battles of the Civil War:
Shiloh. The Order of Battle is exceptionally accurate, checked against the
Official Records of the battle. The game-system is the same award-winning
system used in SPI's Terrible Swift Sword. The game is played on
a map depicting the area of battle, across which playing pieces move through
a hexagonal grid which regulates movement, like the squares on a chessboard.
Simple probability charts reveal the outcome of various game functions.
YEAR PUBLISHED (EDITIONS): August, 1979. Only one published
edition. Published errata from SPI was taken
from on Web Grognards
CREDITS
Game System & Development: Richard H. Berg
Physical Systems and Graphics: Redmond Simonsen
Additional Development: Tom Walczyk
Additional Research: James, Bowman, Dr. David Martin,
George A. Reaves (Shiloh National Military Park)
Playtesting: Tom Zombek, Eric Smith, Fred Schachter,
Warren Singer, Tom Walczyk, Peter Herzing, Joe Perez, Jon Gautier
Additional Testing: James Epperson and Jamie Adams,
The Northwest Pennsylvania Wargamers
Rules Editing: Eric Goldberg, John H. Butterfield
Special Acknowledgement: Michael Jack (for his help
with maps and the terrain) and Mario Antoniozzi (for sending me the battlefield
relics)
Production: Michael A. Barr, Rosalind Fruchtman, Ted
Koller, Manfred F. Milkuhn, Bob Ryer
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2
WGA COMPLEXITY SCALE (1-10): 7
TYPICAL PLAYING TIME (HOURS): Two scenarios (Confederate
attack 8-10 hours>; and First Day <24hours>, hours) in addition to
the entire Two day (campaign) battle. Six variants are also defined which
either bring in other nearby forces into the battle or delay the arrival of
actual participants.The entire battle will consume 40-70 hours of playing
time to complete the 88 turns. Game box states the average playing time as
12-22 hours.
MAP SCALE: 115 yards per hex.
UNIT SCALE: Regiments, gun batteries, leaders.
TIME SCALE PER TURN: 20 minute day turns, 1 hour night
turns.
NUMBER OF GAME TURNS: Confederate attack-13 turns, First
Day-44 turns; Entire 2 day battle-88 turns.
GAME INVENTORY: 1200 (six 200 piece counter sheets), one
36 page rules booklet, one historical situation briefing booklet, two identical
charts & tables booklets, two different roster sheet booklet, two unmounted
22" x 32" game maps, on die.
PBEM OPPORTUNITES: Contact Wargame
Academy if interested. A Group effort would be required to create a VASSAL
module.
WARGAME ACADEMY COMMENTS: I have no play experience with
this title. However I have played TSS and also the SSI computer Game SHILOH:
Grant's Trial in the West giving me some familiarity with the battle.
The confederates are on the attack on day one. The union, heavily reinforced
during the night have the burden of attack on the second day. Learning this
game should not be a major effort. As a VASSAL Java module for TSS is on my
'to do' list, its completion should lend itself to a BAP module as the components
are nearly identical.
