New: 1870 (free, open-ended, email, human, historical, 000, wargame, economic)

From: donotreply@pbm.com (PBM List Autoposter)

Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 19:13:08 +0000

Name:		1870
Costs:		Free
URL:		http://www.jagular.nl
Frequency:		once per 10 days
Email:		jagular zat jagular.nl
Type:		Free, historical, economic, diplomacy, wargame
Last-Update:		2004Jul13
Keywords: free, open-ended, email, human, historical, 000, wargame, economic

Description:

It is 1870 but for students well acquainted with this world from history
will be startled to look at what has happened over the past forty years. A
divided North America where four republics challenge for political and
military supremacy and European based monarchies attempting it seems to
turn the colonial clock back � at least in the Americas. There is a
Habsburg still on the throne of Mexico � and another Empire in Brazil
believes it too can dominate the southern continent. And in the centre �
an eccentric American mercenary army believe they can re-unite Central
America under the military banners of an eccentric American soldier of
fortune William Walker.

Across the Atlantic � Otto Von Bismarck perhaps regrets resigning as
Prussian Prime Minister in 1862. Until then it seemed he had been a
growing force but despite his confidence that Prussia could beat anyone �
in the right circumstances, his King decided he could not challenge the
old dominance of the Habsburgs.  Perhaps in the future a France
under a new emperor when an unwell Napoleon feels it is time to abdicate
in favour of his son will help Bismarck get even with the Austrians.

As you can see � we at the 1870 Game have been �tinkering� with history at
this game site. In some cases you will see the differences � a United
Netherlands, a fractured Italian unity and the infamous Schleswig-Holstein
issue still as yet unsolved. For the USA � it now faces a state it tried
to crush in a war of re-unification but now can only see the Confederate
States of America challenge it for the as yet unsettled West � and even
perhaps persuade more of the �Northern states� to join them in Dixie.
Perhaps it is just as well Abraham Lincoln did not live to see this � his
after the defeat of General Grant at Gettysburg in 1863 was the last blow.
Despite a brave political speech on the issues the USA was fighting for �
Lincoln died from heart failure a few months later. By then the CSA had
got the political recognition it wanted from Great Britain and the other
Great Powers.

The challenge for players in this game is run a country and turn it into a
success where its economic and political prestige make it a state to be
respected � and perhaps feared as well.
Some players will no doubt wish to seek a military solution to �winning�
the game but it will become apparent that very often that you can lose the
war before a battle has been fought. It was a lesson many were to learn
during this period.

We hope you can enjoy this game � it is certainly the aim of all those
involved in setting this up and devising the general rules want . And if
you have your own ideas � we always welcome a discussion here on the
game�s bbs to discuss matters.

Have fun,
Bob

[ This is a new entry for the PBM List. You can find the list
itself, and instructions for adding games or comments, at
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/pbm_list/ -- greg ]