This is the fourth turn of this years PBM. France appears to be plummeting down the same road to war it did in real life. I am always amazed by the historicality of most MGs. It is probably due to players intentionally making arguments based on events that really happened, but it also reflects the real limits of actions the people on the scene really had. ­ I feel for the leaders of France in 1791. They had all the problems of the ancient regime without any of the traditional loyalty that it enjoyed. Parliament faced the same problem at the end (?) of the English Civil War. One can beat the King in a hundred battles and he is still the King but if you lose even one battle you hang. Killing his royal majesty looks like a quick answer, but it still leaves the nasty constitutional problem "The King is dead. Long live the King!" Let's see what happened this turn. SUMMARY OF EVENTS TO DATE June: The King attempts to flee the country, but was caught. ­ July: The Cordilliers win over the peasants to their faction by accusing the liberal aristocrats of trying to starve them. The Girondlsts establish a private Bank of France to try to stabilize the economy. (just two more positive steps like this and the financial crisis will be over). The Emigres form a "Royalist" Army in Germany. ­ August: The Cordiliers subvert the loyalties of the Paris National Guard and pressure the Jacobins to join their faction. (Danton now controls 12 of the 16 figures in France and 7 of the 16 political power points). ­ ­­ September: The Feuillant government moves the Marseille National Guard to Paris. The Girondists and Feuillants then form a moderate coalition to preserve the Monarchy. Elections are held which the moderates just barely win (Moderates 9 votes, Cordiliers 7 votes). While all this was going on Charles Comte d'Artois invaded Northern France with the Royal army and gained the loyalty of the 3 peasant figures there. It looks like Civil War! ­ ­ WHAT HAPPENED THIS TURN ­ St. Just gives a speech at the National Assembly calling for war against Austria and Prussia! No one can deny that the Royalist Army came from Germany. It is time to start exporting the Revolution. The Parisian National Guard march out of the capital to meet the enemy in Northern France. They drive the Royalist back into Germany without major incident. The Parisian National Guard returns its loyalty to the government when align themselves with merchant class values. ­ The Girondist lead government moderates inflation due to the good work of the Bank of France (Since Chris Morris used the word "moderates" in his argument I am reading this as a move to change the financial crisis from severe to moderate). People are amazed, here is a government that is actually doing something! POLITICAL FALL OUT ­ The Royalists were kicked out of Northern France, but they still command the loyalty of the peasants of that region. The loyalty of the San Culotte National Guard on the other hand has returned to the government. M. Danton gained little this turn. Maybe if the war goes badly, or if the financial crisis worsens then he will be in a position to make hay again. ­ The financial crisis has been altered from a severe crisis to a moderate one. This means that the crisis can be further moderated to a mild problem by a single argument. Or it could be solved outright by 2 more arguments. But the problem could be made worse again by an argument. It only take one argument to worsen a problem, so all you spoilers out there take note. POLITICAL AGENDA ­ The Girondists remain in power so the political agenda of France stays the same... 1. Prevent the return of the Emigres!!! ­ 2. Laissezfaire capitalism. POWER GROUPS: POLITICAL POWER AND MAN POWER ­ Head of State: Roland - controls both National Guards and sets the political agenda. Faction Politics Man Power Pro Government: Feuillants Lib Aristocrats 2 1/2 Pro Government: Feuillants Church 1 1/2 Pro Government: Girondists: Merchants 3 2 Pro Government: Girondists: Middle Class 3 1 Pro Government: Girondists: National Guard 0 (2) . =9 =4 Anti Government: Cordilliers: San Culottes 2 4 Anti Government: Cordilliers: Newspapers 2 0 Anti Government: Cordilliers: Peasants 1/2 5 Anti Government: Jacobins: Paris Radicals 2 0 . =6 1/2 = 9 Anti Government: Royalists: The King 0 0 Anti Government: Royalists: Emigres 0 1/2 Anti Government: Royalists: Peasants 1/2 3 Anti Government: Royalists: Swiss Guard 0 (1) . = 1/2 = 3 1/2 WHERE EVERYONE IS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING Paris: Roland, Danton, Lafayette, and Robespierre. The King Lib Aristocrats - making fashion statements. Middle Class - running the government. Merchants - National Guard (loyal to Gov). San Culottes - Political Debate, Work, Work Swiss Guard - Guarding the King (loyal to him) NORTHERN FRANCE: San Culottes - National Guard (loyal to Gov) Peasant - Farm (loyal to Royalists) Peasant - Farm (loyal to Royalists) Peasant - Farm (loyal to Royalists) SOUTHERN FRANCE: Peasants - Political Debate Peasants - Farm Peasants - Farm ATLANTIC COAST: Merchants - Do Business Peasants - Farm Peasants - Farm EUROPE: Emigres - The Royalist Army in Germany Conservative Church - cheer the Austria army! Austrian Army - Prepare to invade France! Prussian Army - Prepare to invade France! POLITICAL AGENDAS Royalists: 1. Absolute monarchy 2. Restore feudal priveledges of aristocrats Feuillants: 1. Constitutional Monarchy Girondists: 1. Constitutional Monarchy 2. Laissezfaire Capitalism 3. Prevent the return of the Emigres Jacobin: 1. Anti-Aristocratic 2. Anti-Clerical 3. Anti-Business 4. Rouseauian Paradise Cordiliers: 1. Constitutional Republic 2. "Down with the King!" 3. Social Welfare THE MATRIX Talk/Bargain Work/Prepare Do Business Move Have Fun Sad/Happy Shame Make a Friend/Enemy Reputation Victory/Defeat Natural Disaster Social Class Justice Wealth/Power Loyalty/Honor Beyond your abilities Logic "Miracle" "Adventure" Wild Card Heroic Action Cowardly Action Wicked Action Fight Love/Hate Fear/Fearless Envy Advantage Kill Political Agenda Religion Politics Tradition Motivation Personallity Knowledge "Magic" "Monster" Wild Card Wild Card THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE TURNED IN THIS TURN This turn could have turned out a lot different. As it is the moderates again won a good chunk of their arguments. If the radicals had won more arguments then the second revolution would have begun - a year early. On the other hand if the royalists had won then they would have consolidated their hold on Northern France and created a situation similar to the Fronde (in the 16505). What ever the arguments though, this turn marks the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars! Good work gentlemen! Todd Fisher St. Just gives a speech at the National Assembly calling for War against the enemies of France, Austria and Prussia. These are the tyrants that suppress those who would seek to implement the reforms of the Revolution throughout Europe. It is these countries that support the Emigre Army that invades our homeland. Now is the time to export Revolution throughout Europe! Action: Declare War against Prussia and Austria. Result: War is declared! The Army moves to defeat the Army of the Duke d'Artois. Reasons: 1. Those who oppose the war are traitors to the revolution 2. It will be beyond the Girondist government to resist the nationalistic fervor. 3. This will be the chance to even the score against the hated courts the Hapsburgs and Hohenzollerns. Danton says the time has come to decide, "Where are the interests of France? Are they with the King or with the people and merchants? Is it not time to remove those parasites that feed on the life blood of the country and establish a nation which works in the best interests of the merchants and peasants? Down with the Royalists and their puppets, Take all the Aristos to the lamp posts!" Timed to quickly follow this speech at the National Assembly, the tocsin is sounded and the Sections, the National Guard and the Marseille Regiment prepare to storm the Tuilleries palace and remove the last vestige of the Monarchy. Action: The palace of the Tuilleries is stormed and the King is captured and the Swiss Guard is massacred. Result: The Government of the king falls and all Royalists are arrested or flee, and the merchant class supports a National War time Government. Reasons: 1. The rhetoric of Danton makes resistance in the assembly impossible. 2. The people realize that the forces of the King and emigres will trample their new found rights. 3. The war has stirred such patriotism that victory now seems inevitable to the forces of democracy. William Markwell Action: The radicals subvert the Marseille National Guard with revolutionary extremism. Result: They become loyal to the Cordiliers. Reasons: Are WE the soldiers of France, not the King? Does not the government want to keep the King? "Down with the King!!!" Action: The good people of Paris begin a "social cleansing" of aristocrats found on the street by the mob. ­ Result: The Liberal Aristocrats show their true colors and flee join the Royalists! Reasons: "Hang them from the lamp posts!" The people are angry; they refuse to be lead by their ancient oppressors. The Aristocrats are cowards who would rather flee than die like men! Chris Morris ACTION: The National Guard swing away from the Cordiliers and support the Government. Argument: Social Class: They are middle class in composition and do not wish to sabotage their own interests. Fear: If power falls into the hands of the San Culottes their hard-earned savings will be at risk. Motivation: An economic revival is not possible while open political unrest occurs. ACTION: The Bank of France, run by the Girondists, moderates inflation by issuing money that can be trusted. Chris Blair Argument: Knowledge: These are experts who have seen how the Bank of England works. Wealth/Power: They have economic clout. Reputation: They are known to be knowledgeable and wealthy. Action: Move - The Parisian National Guard is sent to Northern France to "Save the Nation!" Result: Victory - The "Royal Army" is forced to retreat back into Germany. Reason: Battle Cry "Save the Revolution!" Political Agenda Prevent the return of the Emigres Politics The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Action: Do Business - Now in control of the Government, the Merchants increase business investment 100 fold! Result: The economy picks up. Reason: Wild Card There is a Bank of France to loan money to honest businessmen. Political Agenda The Government supports Capitalist ventures. Advantage Time of change are times of opportunity to those brave enough to seize the moment! Chris Engle Action: Heroic Action: 2 of the 3 peasant figures in Northern France joint the Royal Army. Result: Prepare: Royal control of Northern France-is consolidated they gain 1 political power point. Reasons Fight: Charles can defend his newly won land. Wealth: The Army enables him to tap into the wealth of the lands. Personality: The people just love to follow Charles, that charismatic guy! Action: Political Agenda: Charles establishes a "temporary" capital in the Fortress of Verdun. Result: The Royalists will have to be seiged out to be driven from Northern France. Reasons Logic: It is always expedient to establish a base. Loyalty: Verdun is a good rallying point for Frenchmen as well as and foreign "volunteers". Advantage: Control of Verdun guards a safe supply line back into the Holy Roman Empire. Back to Experimental Games Group # 22 Table of Contents Back to Experimental Games Group List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by Chris Engle This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com