I was watching an impressive July 4th fireworks display from a friend's deck last week -- I was in White Rock, B.C. looking across the water to Blaine, WA -- when I felt a sudden desire to time-travel to 1776, grab a flintlock musket, and refight the U.S. War of Independence. (Yes, some alcohol was involved that night.) After the beer was out of my system, I promised myself I would search out and download a suitable first-person shooter mod to let me achieve this goal.

The very next day I found a terrific total-conversion Half-Life 2 multiplayer add-on that met all my criteria and which I herewith present it to you. Happy belated 4th of July folks!

Battle Grounds 2 v1.1b (Half-Life 2)

Originally built as a Half-Life 1 add-on, Battle Grounds has been kicking around the Internet for several years. Battle Grounds 2 -- an upgraded Half-Life 2 version of the mod -- is quite a bit fresher and was designed to take advantage of the later chapter's improved graphics. The 272 MB download features 13 unique maps set against early colonial farmyards, open meadows, and pastoral New England countryside. You can play as one of three classes for either the Continental troops or British Army, and the game's slow-loading muskets will force most participants to adopt different offensive and defensive strategies than they're currently used to.

The Continental Army classes include Soldiers, Officers and Frontiersman. The former is equipped with French Charleville muskets fitted with bayonets and is the most effective class in short-distance firefights or for any scenario requiring a bayonet charge. Officers carry a pistol and sabre and, unencumbered by heavy gear or longarms, can move much more quickly through the battlefield. Frontiersman are hunters and backwoodsmen packing lethally accurate Pennsylvania longrifles and hunting knives and are the closest thing to a "sniper" that the game offers (although good luck hitting anything at more than 100 yards).


BG2's British Army classes are comprised of Infantry, Officers and Jaegers. Royal Infantry troops pack Land Pattern Muskets with bayonets and can put up a fierce fight over short distances but aren't terribly adept at skirmishing. The British Officers, like their American counterparts, carry just a pistol and sabre and have an advantage when mobility and speed are required. The Jaegers (mercenary German hunters) wield rifles and small swords and, although not as accurate from long distances as the American Frontiersmen, are nevertheless excellent skirmishers and marksmen.