That Mauser is spot on! Any chance of the Gewehr 88 being available? Good for those Austro-Hungarians and Turks.
Actually own a Turkish 88.
Looking forward to this mod! I also do WWI reenacting and it all has me HOOKED.
On the topic of "going over the top", you really are an easy target climbing up that ladder. Do it as quickly as you can and fan out. Just like they did. Also, cover to cover is a no-brainer. Well, the Germans did it by the 16/17 timeframe. 1914 was already a huge bloodbath for those Germans that lined up all pretty and Napoleonic in front of Lee-Enfields rapid-firing.
Grenades, pistols, and billy clubs are musts in the trenches.
Fantastic to hear about gas and gas masks!
Instead of heavy artillery that we see in NW, I suggest use of mortars. Something that can still blow open a MG nest and makes sense for the ranges.
Can't wait to go over the top!