My World War Three
I use the V1 as a base, but modify a few things, due to the tone I want for my game (a bit more hopeful and focused on rebuilding).
1. The strategic nuclear exchange happens but is less extensive (for example, no strikes around LA). Its still enough to cripple the US, USSR and Europe (and cause China to collapse), but there is more a foundation left to rebuild on.
2. The Soviet incursion in Alaska happens, but is carried out by much smaller units, mostly Spetsnaz and small airborne units sent in to (successfully) disrupt oil production and tie up some Allied forces.
3. The Mexican invasion is more "Red Dawn" in that it is a coalition of Latin American Soviet clients, backed up by some Soviet units. The end result - parts of the southwest occupied and still an active warzone - is similar, but this seems more reasonable than Mexico deciding to take on a nuclear armed country on its own.
4. The 2000 offensive in Europe is partially successful, in that it leads to a coup in the USSR and a ceasefire in-place. NATO forces are still burned out, but the Soviets are not an active threat. Of course, Europe is still heavily damaged and there are enough marauders, warlords and rouge military units to keep player busy.
5. No US government split. There is still NA - as well as other, smaller extremists and separatist movements - but the main tension is between a crippled Federal government and various regional groupings. It's a little more like the situation in the novel War Day.
6. Italy and Greece declare neutrality, but do not go to war with NATO. There are some border skirmishes. In this case, the "fast convoy" battle happens (starving allied forces in the Balkan for resources) but is carried out by Soviet subs in the Med. The practical changes are in Africa, where the Greece-Italian Alliance is active, moving into resources rich areas. In some ways, they are another France, countries that managed to avoid the worst of the war and are major players in the immediate post-war world.
Overall, the idea is to focus more on trying to rebuild a devastated world and not just the depressing survival mode that the base game can easily drift into.
|