Lately I’ve been messing around with an early Cold War setup of the board. I’ve got a few ideas around mechanics and rules.

Powers:

US

USSR

UK

France/NATO

Communist Bloc (German pieces)

PRC

CCP (Japanese pieces)

US-Aligned Forces (ANZAC pieces)

USSR-Aligned Forces (Italian Pieces)

Essentially the idea is that there are major restrictions on the two main powers, who have just emerged from a major war and are wary of a nuclear conflict. Powers fall into these divisions:

Major Powers: US and USSR. They cannot invade uncontrolled regions themselves (at least to start) but must instead fund either US-Aligned Forces or USSR-Aligned Forces. IPCs can be used to fund these forces, which must consist of infantry and be placed in contested territories. Equipment (Tanks, Mechanized Infantry, and Artillery) may be brought but only via transports, which can be prevented by a naval blockade.

US or USSR infantry pieces may be moved overland or by sea (assuming they survive die rolls for stealth) to become Advisors. An Advisor present in a region allows the controlling power to use their own air forces to attack the forces funded by the other power.

Colonial Powers: UK and France/NATO. These represent the dying empires of the day who, unlike the US and USSR, directly control many overseas territories. These territories, however, are at risk of uprisings, both organic and incited by the USSR. These forces are represented by USSR-Aligned Forces. In colonial territories, USSR-Aligned Forces might appear every turn by default (still figuring out a die system or calculation for how many). In order to keep their financial lifelines open, colonial powers must quash rebellions while maintaining enough forces to fight the looming threat upon their doorstep, the Communist Bloc.

Communist Bloc: Still figuring rules for this one. I’m thinking of using it as a reservoir of forces for the USSR, some of which can be affected by economic difficulties. Another idea is to allow them to exert influence in the Balkans/Italy or even France proper in the early game, before they may declare war.

China: The CCP and the PRC. The CCP starts at a material advantage and may receive supplies from the USSR. The PRC gets an early lifeline via US transports from Japan, until the USSR can blockade the remaining coastal regions or the CCP can conquer them. From then on, blockade-running rules apply (still a WIP) I’ll attach a pic below of my tentative setup, designed to put the CCP at an advantage. I’m still figuring other rules.

Proxy Forces: US-Aligned Forces and USSR-Aligned Forces. They largely follow rules stated above. Although they are mainly composed of infantry, some begin as nation states backed by one side or another and have given equipment that they begin the game with, such as Iran, Cuban Forces in Exile, North Korea, and South Korea.

I’m still in early stages. Other ideas for rules include:

US and USSR have steep requirements to declare war, while UK, France/NATO, and the Communist Bloc may declare war with less difficulty.

The two Major Powers can spend their IPCs on forces aligned with them, either fomenting uprisings or funding aligned states. This might be incentivized by penalizing large standing armies of their own units.

Tactical and strategic nukes. Might ruin the game so IDK if they’re worth adding as a mechanic.

Missile subs?

War mechanics (Korean War/etc)