THE WINTER WAR command simulation was the successor of the B & O WINTER simulation. THE WINTER WAR (TWW) was roughly based on the second half of the Bath-Romney Expedition, but it was not intended to be a historical recreation of that campaign.
THE WINTER WAR simulation was a scored campaign simulation designed for two players that ended in a draw.
THE WINTER WAR II: February 1862
The WINTER WAR II (TWWII) is a carry over simulation using the forces that were involved in TWW.
Take Command Second Manassas (TC2M)
THE WINTER WAR is a command simulation that has its roots in the Take Command Second Manassas (TC2M) game and community. TC2M is an American Civil War strategy game that came out in 2006 as a follow-up and improvement to the Civil War Bull Run game. A thriving community developed around TC2M, with enthusiasts of the game as well as "modders" who were able to use TC2M's flexible system to make new maps, units, flags, and other modifications for use in the game. One of the drawbacks of TC2M was that it was a single-player game. It was eventually superseded by Scourge of War by NorbSoftDev. Scourge of War offered multi-player capability and updated graphics, which led to the slow decline of the TC2M.
TC2M Command Simulations
Before the launch of Scourge of War, some members on the TC2M community forum were looking for ways to involve multiple players in the single-player game. What developed was a form of command simulation in which one person (the host) set up a game on TC2M. Players were then given commands within one of the armies in the game and formed a chain of command. They would receive maps, reports, and screenshots from the perspective of the unit they commanded and then would issue orders for their unit, sending them to the host by email. The host would do his best to implement the orders as issued and run the game for a few minutes. He would then send reports back to the players, who would report up the chain of command and then issue further orders. There is a high level of "fog of war" because the players never actually see the game or the whole picture of what is happening across the battlefield.
Although TC2M has become dated and the forum has gone from severe decline into inactivity, there are still a few left who enjoy the command experience through command simulations. The TC2M game is now 10 years old, but it is still an excellent game and will used to play out tactical engagements in THE WINTER WAR.
Campaign Command Simulation
The TC2M game has a maximum map size of approximately 2 miles by 2 miles. This limited games and command simulations to partial areas of the battlefields. A campaign simulation links multiple battlefields by road, rail, or river networks. It uses a parallel system of moving units from one place to another across a campaign theatre until they meet and engage at a location represented by a TC2M game map.
Campaign simulations increased the "fog of war" aspect of simulations. In a tactical simulation (a battle fought on one TC2M map), you always knew that your enemy is on the map somewhere and probably had a good guess where you would find him. In a campaign simulation, large armies may be spread out over many miles and cavalry screens can prevent players from obtaining accurate intelligence on the enemy's location. When an engagement starts, players don't know whether they are facing all or part of the enemy army or whether other elements of the enemy force may appear to their rear on another road.
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