Global 1940 Cold War goes Hot Scenario

Hey folks,
I’ve been hammering out a scenario based on a Third World War breaking out in 1946. Please try it out and let me know what you think.

COLD WAR GOES HOT SCENARIO

Turn Order
Ussr
Usa
Nato
Uk
Anzac
Communist China
Nationalist China
First a few notes before the setup:

National Objectives – All of the Global objectives are in play with a few revisions.  First, the Soviet Union will not get the National Objective for controlling Archangel and zone 125, as the allies will not be sending them any lend lease. Second, the UK national objective regarding German submarines now requires that no Soviet submarines be present on the board. Third, the anzac objectives can be met even if NATO controls Dutch New Guinea. Fourth, the US gets its +30 ipcs national objective once it goes to war with the USSR. Fifth, Nato will get the French and German national objectives. Finally, communist China has a national objective. They will receive 6 ipcs and the end of their turn as long as both Amur and Manchuria remain in communist hands.

Victory – The allies win by conquering Moscow. The communist win by holding 12 victory cities and at least 2 allied capitals while still controlling Moscow at the end of any round.

Neutrals – Almost Every unoccupied Neutral territory in the game is considered to be pro allied. The one exception is strictly neutral Switzerland.

Political Situation – Nationalist China and Communist China are at war when the game starts. The USSR or the US may declare war on one another during their turn. It costs 60 ipcs to declare war on the other bloc. Whoever attacks first gets a first turn surprise attack advantage. Their surprised enemies will only hit at a one or less during the aggressor’s first combat turn.  Once a war breaks out between the superpowers the nationalist Chinese will join the allies and the communist Chinese will join the Soviets.

Allied Faction – USA, United Kingdom, NATO (technically NATO hadn’t been formed yet, so sue me), Anzacs, and Nationalist China
Communist Faction – Soviet union, Communist China

Special note on Chinese factions – both Chinese factions may now build every unit type. Infantry and artillery may be built in any starting Chinese territory (including Formosa), but other units may only be built at an industrial complex. Industrial complexes captured by the Chinese are no longer destroyed. Infantry build by the Chinese don’t count towards the build cap of industrial complexes. Neither Chinese faction has a capital and both may continue purchasing and placing units until they are completely wiped off the board.

Pieces – I don’t like seeing t34 on t34 violence, so I suggest using French markers and German pieces for NATO, French pieces for communist China, and Italian pieces for Nationalist China.

Note on placement of Industrial Complexes – Some complexes have been preplaced on territories that they could not be built on in the rules. It is not my fault that Larry didn’t give Amur or Novosibirsk enough ipcs. Additionally, some territories that had major industrial complexes in 1940 have been downgraded to minors because of the damage inflicted during the Second World War and demilitarization policies carried out during the occupation.

Note on technologies – This scenario uses the same technologies as global. Each player will be able to pick a certain number of technologies to begin the game with. The number of free technologies varies by country and are given in the Country Setup section below.
Now, without further ado…

COUNTRY SETUP

USA
Cash on Hand: 42 ipcs
Starting IPC value: 84
Capital: Eastern United States (Victory City: Washington)
Starting Territories: All original US territories plus all of the South American neutrals, Iceland, Greece, turkey, Western Germany, Iwo Jima, Marshall islands, Caroline Islands, Paulau island, Marianas, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Liberia
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 8 technologies to begin the game with
Starting Forces:
Iceland – 1 infantry, 1 airbase
Chile – 2 infantry
Argentina – 4 infantry
Brazil – 3 infantry
Venezuela – 2 infantry
Saudi Arabia – 2 infantry
Central America – 2 infantry
West indies – 1 infantry, 1 naval base
Eastern US – Major industrial complex, Naval Base, airbase, 2 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 armor, 1 fighter
Central USA – Major industrial complex, 2 infantry
Sea zone 91 – 2 Aircraft Carriers, 6 transports, 2 fighters,  2 fighters, 2 tactical bombers, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 1 Battleship, 2 submarines
United Kingdom – 2 infantry, 2 bombers
Western Germany – 6 mechanized infantry, 2 armor, 2 infantry, 1 artillery, 2 fighters, 2 tactical bombers, 1 minor industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun
Northern Italy – 2 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 fighter
Greece – 4 infantry, 1 fighter
Turkey – 8 infantry, 1 fighter, 1 minor industrial complex
Korea – 2 infantry
Alaska – 2 infantry, 1 airbase, 1 naval base
Western USA – 1 major Industrial complex, 1 naval base, 1 airbase, 2 infantry
Midway – 1 infantry, 1 airbase
Hawaiian Islands – 2 infantry, 1 airbase, 1 naval base
Marshall islands – 1 infantry
Caroline Islands – 1 infantry
Marianas – 1 infantry
Guam – 1 air base, 1 infantry
Iwo jima – 1 infantry
Okinawa – 1 infantry, 1 air base
Kiangsu – 1 infantry
Philippines – 2 infantry, 1 air base, 1 naval base
Paulau – 1 infantry
Japan – 1 minor industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun, 1 naval base, 1 airbase, 2 infantry, 1 mechanized infantry, 1 artillery, 1 armor,  2 fighters, 2 bombers
Sea zone 6 – 2 aircraft carriers, 2 fighters, 2 tactical bombers, 2 submarines, 6 transports, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 2 Battleships
Sea zone 26 – 1 aircraft carrier, 2 fighters, 1 battleship, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 2 transports
Sea zone 10 – 1 aircraft carrier, 2 fighters, 1 destroyer, 2 transports
Sea zone 101 – 1 aircraft carrier, 2 fighters, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, 2 transports

ANZACS
Cash on Hand: 10 ipcs
Starting IPC value: 10
Capital: New South Wales (Victory City: Sydney)
Starting Territories: All original Anzac Territories
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 2 technologies to begin the game with
Starting Forces:
New South Wales – 1 minor industrial complex, 2 infantry, 1 armor, 1 naval base
Queensland – 1 naval base, 1 airbase
Sea zone 62 – 3 cruisers, 2 destroyers, 2 transports
New Zealand – 1 airbase, 1 naval base, 1 tactical bomber, 1 fighter

UNITED KINGDOM
Cash on Hand: 22 ipcs (Europe) 17 ipcs (Pacific)
Starting IPC value: 34 in Europe and 17 in Pacific
Capital: United Kingdom (Victory City: London)/India (Victory City: Calcutta)
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 6 technologies to begin the game with
Starting Territories: All original British territories (except Belgian Congo) plus siam, Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland, Iraq, Persia, Eastern Persia, Tobruk, Libya, and Sierra Leone
Starting Forces:
Gibralter – 1 infantry, 1 naval base, 1 airbase
Borneo – 1 infantry
Malaya – 1 infantry, 1 naval base
Siam – 1 infantry
Shan State – 1 infantry
Kwangtung – 2 infantry, 1 naval base, 1 airbase
Sea zone 20 – 2 transports, 1 submarine, 1 destroyer, 2 cruisers, 1 aircraft carrier, 1 fighter, 1 tactical bomber
India – 1 major industrial complex, 1 airbase, 1 anti aircraft gun, 1 naval base, 6 infantry, 1 fighter, 1 armor, 1 mechanized infantry, 2 artillery, 1 bomber
Eastern Persia – 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Persia – 2 infantry
Iraq – 3 infantry
Cyprus – 1 infantry, 1 fighter
Egypt – 2 infantry, 1 armor, 1 naval base
Malta – 1 infantry, 1 fighter, 1 naval base, 1 airbase
Ethiopia – 2 infantry
Union of South Africa – 1 minor industrial complex, 1 naval base, 1 air base, 2 infantry
Quebec – 1 minor factory, 2 mechanized infantry
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – 1 naval base, 1 air base, 1 fighter
Western Germany – 2 mechanized infantry, 1 armor
United Kingdom – 3 bombers, 1 major industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun, 1 air base, 1 naval base, 2 fighters, 2 infantry
Scotland – 2 infantry
Sea zone 110 – 2 destroyers, 1 battleship, 2 transports, 3 cruisers, 1 submarine, 1 Aircraft carrier, 1 fighter, 1 tactical bomber

NATO
Cash on Hand: 23 ipcs
Starting IPC value: 46
Capital: France (Victory City: Paris)
Starting Territories: All original French territories plus Sumatra, java, Celebes, Dutch new guinea, Belgian Congo, Sicily, Sardinia, southern Italy, northern Italy, Holland- Belgium, Denmark, and Norway
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 5 technologies to begin the game with
Starting Forces:
Norway – 3 infantry
Denmark – 1 infantry
Western Germany – 1 armor, 1 infantry, 1 mechanized
Holland/Belgium – 3 infantry, 1 minor industrial complex
Normandy/Bordeaux – 2 infantry, 1 naval base, 1 minor industrial complex
France – 1 major industrial complex, 1 airbase, 6 infantry, 1 tactical bomber, 1 artillery, 1 armor, 1 anti aircraft gun, 1 mechanized, 1 bomber, 1 fighter
Northern Italy – 6 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 minor factory
Southern Italy – 1 minor factory, 1 anti aircraft gun, 2 infantry, 1 fighter, 1 airbase, 1 naval base
Sea zone 93 – 1 destroyer, 1 submarine, 1 aircraft carrier, 2 fighters, 1 Battleship, 1 cruiser, 2 transports
Algeria – 3 infantry and 1 artillery
Belgian Congo – 1 infantry
Syria – 1 infantry
French Indochina – 2 infantry
Sumatra – 1 infantry
Java – 1 infantry
Celebes – 1 infantry

COMMUNIST CHINA
Cash on Hand: 30 ipcs
Starting IPC value: 12
Capital: NA
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 1 technology to begin the game with
Starting Territories: Sikiang, Tsinghai, Kansu, Suiyuyan, Jehol, Manchuria, Shantung, Kiangsi, Kwangsi
Starting Forces:
Sikang – 1 infantry
Tsinghai – 1 infantry
Kansu – 1 infantry
Suiyuyan – 2 infantry
Jehol – 1 infantry
Shantung – 2 infantry
Kiangsi – 1 infantry
Kwangsi – 1 infantry
Manchuria – 1 major industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun, 2 infantry, 1 fighter, 2 artillery, 1 air base, 1 naval base

NATIONALIST CHINA
Cash on Hand: 18 ipcs
Starting IPC value: 12
Capital: NA
Starting Territories: Formosa plus all Chinese national territories (marked with the Chinese roundel) that are not under communist control.
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 1 technology to begin the game with
Starting Forces:
Szechwan – 2 infantry, 1 artillery
Kiangsu – 2 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter, 1 major industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun, 1 naval base
Formosa – 1 infantry, 1 air base
Shensi – 2 infantry, 1 artillery
Chahar – 2 infantry

USSR
Cash on Hand: 120 ipcs
Starting IPC value: 60
Capital: Russia (Victory City: Moscow)
Starting Territories: All original Soviet territories plus finland, all of Mongolia, northwest Persia, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia, Romania, Slovakia-Hungary, Poland, Germany, and Greater Southern Germany
Starting Technology:  Player may pick 7 technologies to begin the game with
Starting Forces:
Northwest Persia – 3 infantry
Turkmenistan – 2 infantry
Caucus – 3 infantry, 1 artillery, 2 armor
Volgograd – 1 minor industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun, 2 armor
Novosibirsk – 1 major industrial complex, 1 tactical bomber, 2 mechanized infantry, 3 infantry, 2 armor
Manchuria – 6 infantry, 2 mechanized infantry, 1 artillery, 2 armor
Amur – 1 minor factory, 1 anti-aircraft gun, 1 air base, 1 naval base, 6 infantry, 3 armor, 3 tactical bombers, 3 fighters, 1 bomber
Soviet far east – 2 infantry, 1 fighter, 1 airbase, 1 naval base
Buyant-Uhaa – 2 infantry
Ulanbaatar – 2 infantry
Central Mongolia – 2 infantry, 1 armor
Tsagaan–Olom – 2 infantry
Olgiy – 2 infantry
Dzarhan – 1 infantry
Yakut SSR – 1 minor industrial complex, 2 infantry, 1 armor
Albania – 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Sea zone 100 – 3 destroyers, 1 battleship, 1 transport, 1 submarine
Bulgaria – 4 infantry
Romania – 2 infantry, 1 armor
Ukraine – 1 minor industrial complex, 1 naval base, 1 air base, 1 anti aircraft gun, 3 infantry, 1 tactical bomber, 1 fighter, 1 artillery
Belarus – 2 infantry, 1 mechanized infantry, 1 armor
Russia – 1 major industrial complex, 1 anti-aircraft gun, 1 air base, 2 armor, 12 infantry, 3 mechanized infantry, 3 artillery
Archangel – 2 infantry
Novgorod – 1 major industrial complex, 1 air base, 1 naval base, 1 anti aircraft gun, 12 infantry, 1 armor, 1 mechanized infantry
Finland – 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Baltic States – 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Poland – 2 infantry, 2 armor
Sea zone 115 – 3 destroyers, 4 cruisers, 1 battleship, 2 transports, 3 submarines
Slovakia-Hungary – 2 infantry, 1 armor
Yugoslavia – 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Greater Southern Germany – 2 mechanized Infantry, 12 infantry, 5 artillery, 2 armor
Eastern Germany – 12 infantry, 4 artillery, 3 armor, 3 Mechanized infantry, 2 tactical bombers, 3 fighters, 1 bomber 1 minor industrial complex, 1 anti aircraft gun

I need some play testing help to balance it.

Some interesting ideas here.

Personally, I’d prefer to set the scenario prior to Stalin’s death, because I think a Third World War loses some of its “whimsy” if Uncle Joe isn’t in charge. Maybe “Korean War goes global” is the best time line for this? Start the game with Communist China’s turn assaulting the US in Korea? Setting it then would predate SEATO/WARSAW PACT, however.

The 46 start was based in part on operation unthinkable, which I think would make an awesome game in general.

If the scenario starts after decolonization you’ll have the problem of how to classify countries like Indonesia or India. Tito was one of the leaders of the non aligned movement, so Yugoslavia wouldn’t be pro Soviet after 1948 or so.

If you set it during the Cuban missile crisis wouldn’t the whole of the civilized world be essentially destroyed after the first few hours of the outbreak of hostilities?

Re: nukes I think they should do a ton of strategic damage and the amount of damage they can do should exceed the normal limit of 20 levels of damage (for Major factories anyway). Maybe an Abomb does 4 or so dice of strat damage and the H bomb does like 10? Maybe even include the Tsar bomb?

Maybe a third tier of techs should be added that require the completion of all original techs? these are my thoughts on those.

Once you have developed all of the original techs its assumed that you have developed the A bomb. Atomic bombs cost 20 ipcs apiece. You may stockpile as many as you want but they cost 2ipcs/turn/bomb in upkeep. Abombs do 4d6 in strategic damaged when launched from an icbm or a bomber.

Tier 3 Techs
1 - Hydrogen Bombs - Hydrogen bombs may now be built. They cost 25 ipcs and do 10d6 of strategic damage. You may stockpile as many Hydrogen bombs as you like but they cost 5 ipcs/turn/hbomb in upkeep.
2 - Armoured personnel carrier - Mechanized infantry attack and defend at a 3 when paired with tanks. They also have a move of 3 when paired with a tank (provided you have developed main battle tanks).
3 - Main Battle tanks - tanks attack and defend at a 4 and have a move of 3.
4 - Nuclear Powered Naval Vessels - all naval vessels have a move of 3.
5 -intercontinental ballistic missiles - anti aircraft guns may make one icbm attack on an enemy industrial complex per turn. The range for this attack is 10 territories. Your icbm attacks may use atomic weapons if you also have the hydrogen bomb tech.
6 - Super Sonic Aircraft - all aircraft have their move increased by + 1 per turn (stacks with long range aircraft)

Additionally if we set this after/during de-colonization then maybe you could try to influence countries to your allignment? You spend 5 ipcs per influence dice and, if you get a six you move a country 1 space towards you? So the USSR could turn a pro allied neutral into a neutral with a success and into a pro soviet neutral on a subsequent turn (assuming they got at least 1 sucess each turn).

You can’t enter neutral countries until war breaks out so there is a chance of using some influence/coups to ruin things for a rival in the third world before war erupts.

What do you all think of these ideas?

I’m working on a mid 1960s scenario. There would be several playable neutral powers, so diplomacy would play a larger role.

The playable countries:
1 USA
2 NATO
3 USSR & minor allies
4 Warsaw Pact
5 SEATO
6 South Africa
7 Nonaligned Movement
8 People’s Republic of China
9 Organization of American States

Allied Powers: USA, NATO, Seato
Communist Powers: USSR, Warsaw Pact
Neutral Powers: South Africa, Nonaligned Movement, PRC, organization of American States

The starting Territories would look something like this:

USSR - Normal USSR territories + Dzavhan, Ulaanbaatar, Olgiy, Tsagaan Olom, Central Mongolua, Buyant-Uhaa, West indies, French indochina

Warsaw Pact - Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Slovakia Hungary, Poland, Germany, Greater Southern Germany

organization of American States: all south American territories that do not have french, Dutch, or English roundels on them + Southeast Mexico and Mexico

USA - all US territories that are not mentioned as belonging to someone else + all Japanese territories that are not mentioned specifically as a part of a different power + transjordan

NATO - Holland Belgium, Denmark, France, Normandy Bordeaux, Southern france, Sardinia, Iceland, Greenland,  
Northern Italy, Southern italy, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, Scotland, Greece, crete, Malta, Turkey,
West Germany, all Canadian territories, British Guiana, Suriname, French Guiana, Gibralter, Angola, Mozambique, french and British islands in the Pacific (that aren’t mentioned as belonging to another faction)

South Africa- Rhodesia, South West Africa, and Union of South Africa

PRC - all territories marked by Chinese roundels plus Hainan island

SEATO- Starting Anzac Territories + Siam, Philippines, Formosa, Korea, Japan, iwo Jima

Non Alligned Movement- Afghanistan, Burma, Shan State,Ceylon, Cyprus,Egypt, Alexandria,Ethiopia,
India, West India, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Dutch New Guinea,Northwest Perisa, Persia, Eastern Persia,
Iraq,Liberia,Libya, Tobruk,Saudi Arabia, Syria, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Yugoslavia, Algeria, Belgian Congo,Gold Coast, French West Africa, Morocco, Italian Somaliland, British Somalialand, Tunisia

Neutrals- Madagascar, Nigeria, French central Africa, Kenya, Tanganyika, Spain, Sierra Leon, Malaya, finland, Sweden, Eire

Korea, French Indochina, and Germany would have communist and allied forces coexisting in them at the start. If French indochina or Korea are conquered by allied powers then they go to SEATO. All European territories conquered by the allies go to NATO and all European territories conquered by the communists go to the warsaw pact (by European I mean literally in Europe, not all territories on the European map- if the Soviets conquer Persia then they get to keep it).

DIPLOMACY
Neutrals would have NOs that would encourage them to go to war with either side. IE China would get NOs for owning Formossa (Taiwan) as well as (USSR owned) Mongolia. Non aligned movement would get NOs for owning transjordan (ie, conquering Israel) but also for owning Albania and Bulgaria (Titos dream of a Greater Yugoslavia). Organization of American states would have NOs for taking both Cuba and the Panama Canal (though they’d probably be wisest to join the allies, given their neighbor to the north). So diplomacy would play a big role. Will the neutrals throw their weight in with one side or try to team up against the superpowers?

The nonaligned Movement and the PRC would be able to build infantry in any of their territories but would be limited to building other units at industrial complexes. They would not have conquerable capitals.

I may replace South Africa with Israel - which would be more fun to play as? Obviously, a playable Israel would have to get some NO for just existing, as 1ipc aint enough to defend itself.  Which would be more fun?

I’m working on techs to cover the time period better. Nukes would be optional. Maybe dropping too many nukes results in everyone losing?

Any ideas about victory conditions?

@poloplayer15:

just finished playing and it is amazing!!! its pretty much balanced except for the part of NATO having nothing in southern France. just wanted to say keep up the good work because you mod to the game is AWESOME!!!

Hey tell me more! How did it turn out?