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Is anybody out there a fan of the Alt. History/Sci. Fi. novelist Harry Turtledove? I have read a number of his books, and have particularly enjoyed thus far the "Great War" series. Granted, there may be legal/copyright issues in dealing with the work of a living author, but I believe the events in the "Great War" series would make for a terrific scenario (or scenarios) involving the conflict between the USA and CSA during the Great War -- had the Confederacy successfully left the Union in 1862. Descriptions of all the books I'm going to describe are available over at Amazon.com and other sites. IMHO, the beauty of Turtldove's writing style is that he makes all these events plausible and believable.
I myself have no experience in scenario design, but I would seriously consider working on timelines, events, ideas, and graphics with anyone out there willing to look into this (Hey, did I ever say I have a life
). Anyone good at WWI era graphics could really help here.
"How Few Remain:" This book is predicated on a second war between the USA and the CSA, Britiain, and France in 1882. The confederates have purchased two Mexican provinces, Sonora and Chihuhua, in order to gain access to the Pacific ocean. Enraged, the Union declares war. I'm going to spill the beans on the ending here, but basically, the USA gets basically its arse kicked in: Canada (loses most of Maine, Cleveland bombarded by British ships across Lake Erie; Louisville (a bloody slugfest leading nowhere - Kentucky is in the CSA). In Utah, the USA grapples with rebellious Mormons, while in its new "Mexican" provinces, the CSA struggles to squelch an Apache Indian revolt.
IMHO, the events in "How Few Remain" make a good "prequel" scenario before the fun really begins.
"Great War: American Front:" It is 1914. The USA, allied with the central powers, has declared war on the CSA, the British Commonwealth, and France. All hell breaks loose as the USA strikes far and wide - perhaps overextended -in its efforts to gain revenge on the Confederacy and its allies. Fighting erupts again in Utah, the Mexican Deserts, Kentucky, Virginia, Sequoyah (CSA state now known as OKlahoma). A Confederate blitz northwards, though resulting in the occupation of Washington DC, is stopped at the Susquehanna River. In the north, US forces slog their way towards Toronto and Quebec City against Canadian and British forces. Most of Quebec has fallen under US occupation. Across the waters, a swift and decisive US strike has seized the Sandwich Islands (aka Hawaii) from the British. Confederate submarines prowl the Atlantic, which US, CSA, British, French, and occasionally German forces stalk.
"Great War: Walk in Hell" picks up where "American Front" left off. The USA cleaves Kentucky from the Confederacy (more beans spilt here), and squashes the Utah revolt in a pyrrhic (sp. ?) victory. A wide-scale communist rebellion of oppressed Negros threatens to bring down the entire confederacy. Across the seas, the US defeats the British and Japanese fleets in the South Pacific's "Battle of the Three Navies), while US destroyers smuggle arms to Catholic rebels in Ireland in order to "give the King of England a kick in the balls" (paraphrased from text) The blood slugfest on the Virginia-W. Virginia frontier continues to devour young lives. Armor appears on the Kentucky front. The Confederacy pursues an offense-through-defense strategy, while Canada teeters on the edge of defeat. CSA subs are still really nasty. Desperate for men, the CSA enrolls Negros into its ranks.
"Breakthroughts" (release Aug. '00) and other books. I'm waiting for the rest of this series to come out -- I suspect it'll be a four-part series, like the "WorldWar" books. I imagine that the US makes deep cuts into the CSA and that the Negro soldiers for the CSA make an impact. A few surprised, too. But, just b/c all the books haven't been released doesn't mean we can't start scenario ideas now.
I would venture to guess there will even be a WWII series, as General Heinz Guderian, of "Red Front" infamy, is introduced as a character, along with other "real" historican figures.
As far as the specifics for the Great War on the American continent, I'm envisioning these civilizations and some unit specifics:
USA: Lots and lots of units ready for revenge on two fronts. President Teddy Roosevelt is is peeved and about to "go postal!" Maybe a wonder that allows Democracies to better support units afield. Big navy. Democratic government. Introduces gas and armour, gets better air units from German Cargo subs as scenario progresses. Some "all-as-road" movement units (Irving Morrell's commandoes). Riverboats needed along with ocean fleet.
CSA: Democracy. Cannot negotiate w/ USA. Defensive-minded: Hurts the USA more while withstanding attacks. Very tough defensive fortifications needed. Nasty subs. Marines needed as well. Negro units introduced in 1916. "Indian" units from "Sequoyah" would make nasty partisan types as well. Major factory and iron works in Birmingham, Alabama. Better artillery than USA (French design - (at least the French can do something right) ). Riverboats needed along with high seas fleet.
British Commonwealth: Democracy. Units can appear as British and Canadian infantry and air types. I'm thinking the Canadians could maybe have improved mobility in wintertime, a la the Finns. Partisan units needed as well. Perhaps some "refugee" types.
All 3 above should have settlers/engineers to build railroads.
Utahians: Largely partisans, probably not a human player. Some tough defenses needed. Like "Kentuckians" in the "American Civil War" scenario in CiC.
Mexico: A Few units, not to be human player. There is a spot of fighting the USA in Baja California.
Germans: Ditto. Some naval units (not to be played by humans). Perhaps cargo submarines?
Japan: Ditto
Barbarians: Negro "Red" and Irish Catholic partisans, although maybe the USA could control the Irish and a few of the Negroes.
Map: Very large, stetching from Ireland to Hawaii (and beyond). Detail needed, stretching from Canada to Mexico. The Mississippi and Ohio rivers should be fully navigable, as should the Great Lakes.
Specific Events: Negro and Irish Rebellions (like Yugoslavs in "Red Front"), Arrival of better Air Units for USA, creation of armour?
I'm just cranking out some basic thoughts here. Anyhow, in the big picture, any feedback or ideas on this one?
I myself have no experience in scenario design, but I would seriously consider working on timelines, events, ideas, and graphics with anyone out there willing to look into this (Hey, did I ever say I have a life
). Anyone good at WWI era graphics could really help here. "How Few Remain:" This book is predicated on a second war between the USA and the CSA, Britiain, and France in 1882. The confederates have purchased two Mexican provinces, Sonora and Chihuhua, in order to gain access to the Pacific ocean. Enraged, the Union declares war. I'm going to spill the beans on the ending here, but basically, the USA gets basically its arse kicked in: Canada (loses most of Maine, Cleveland bombarded by British ships across Lake Erie; Louisville (a bloody slugfest leading nowhere - Kentucky is in the CSA). In Utah, the USA grapples with rebellious Mormons, while in its new "Mexican" provinces, the CSA struggles to squelch an Apache Indian revolt.
IMHO, the events in "How Few Remain" make a good "prequel" scenario before the fun really begins.
"Great War: American Front:" It is 1914. The USA, allied with the central powers, has declared war on the CSA, the British Commonwealth, and France. All hell breaks loose as the USA strikes far and wide - perhaps overextended -in its efforts to gain revenge on the Confederacy and its allies. Fighting erupts again in Utah, the Mexican Deserts, Kentucky, Virginia, Sequoyah (CSA state now known as OKlahoma). A Confederate blitz northwards, though resulting in the occupation of Washington DC, is stopped at the Susquehanna River. In the north, US forces slog their way towards Toronto and Quebec City against Canadian and British forces. Most of Quebec has fallen under US occupation. Across the waters, a swift and decisive US strike has seized the Sandwich Islands (aka Hawaii) from the British. Confederate submarines prowl the Atlantic, which US, CSA, British, French, and occasionally German forces stalk.
"Great War: Walk in Hell" picks up where "American Front" left off. The USA cleaves Kentucky from the Confederacy (more beans spilt here), and squashes the Utah revolt in a pyrrhic (sp. ?) victory. A wide-scale communist rebellion of oppressed Negros threatens to bring down the entire confederacy. Across the seas, the US defeats the British and Japanese fleets in the South Pacific's "Battle of the Three Navies), while US destroyers smuggle arms to Catholic rebels in Ireland in order to "give the King of England a kick in the balls" (paraphrased from text) The blood slugfest on the Virginia-W. Virginia frontier continues to devour young lives. Armor appears on the Kentucky front. The Confederacy pursues an offense-through-defense strategy, while Canada teeters on the edge of defeat. CSA subs are still really nasty. Desperate for men, the CSA enrolls Negros into its ranks.
"Breakthroughts" (release Aug. '00) and other books. I'm waiting for the rest of this series to come out -- I suspect it'll be a four-part series, like the "WorldWar" books. I imagine that the US makes deep cuts into the CSA and that the Negro soldiers for the CSA make an impact. A few surprised, too. But, just b/c all the books haven't been released doesn't mean we can't start scenario ideas now.
I would venture to guess there will even be a WWII series, as General Heinz Guderian, of "Red Front" infamy, is introduced as a character, along with other "real" historican figures.As far as the specifics for the Great War on the American continent, I'm envisioning these civilizations and some unit specifics:
USA: Lots and lots of units ready for revenge on two fronts. President Teddy Roosevelt is is peeved and about to "go postal!" Maybe a wonder that allows Democracies to better support units afield. Big navy. Democratic government. Introduces gas and armour, gets better air units from German Cargo subs as scenario progresses. Some "all-as-road" movement units (Irving Morrell's commandoes). Riverboats needed along with ocean fleet.
CSA: Democracy. Cannot negotiate w/ USA. Defensive-minded: Hurts the USA more while withstanding attacks. Very tough defensive fortifications needed. Nasty subs. Marines needed as well. Negro units introduced in 1916. "Indian" units from "Sequoyah" would make nasty partisan types as well. Major factory and iron works in Birmingham, Alabama. Better artillery than USA (French design - (at least the French can do something right
) ). Riverboats needed along with high seas fleet.British Commonwealth: Democracy. Units can appear as British and Canadian infantry and air types. I'm thinking the Canadians could maybe have improved mobility in wintertime, a la the Finns. Partisan units needed as well. Perhaps some "refugee" types.
All 3 above should have settlers/engineers to build railroads.
Utahians: Largely partisans, probably not a human player. Some tough defenses needed. Like "Kentuckians" in the "American Civil War" scenario in CiC.
Mexico: A Few units, not to be human player. There is a spot of fighting the USA in Baja California.
Germans: Ditto. Some naval units (not to be played by humans). Perhaps cargo submarines?
Japan: Ditto
Barbarians: Negro "Red" and Irish Catholic partisans, although maybe the USA could control the Irish and a few of the Negroes.
Map: Very large, stetching from Ireland to Hawaii (and beyond). Detail needed, stretching from Canada to Mexico. The Mississippi and Ohio rivers should be fully navigable, as should the Great Lakes.
Specific Events: Negro and Irish Rebellions (like Yugoslavs in "Red Front"), Arrival of better Air Units for USA, creation of armour?
I'm just cranking out some basic thoughts here. Anyhow, in the big picture, any feedback or ideas on this one?
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