This is the last turn of this year's PBM. The Napoleonic wars have started but the Royalists are not in the dire position they were in the historical course of events. Rather than becoming more radical, the revolution has remained moderate, for the most part. I would say the moderates were the winners in this game, but as you will see, the war has only just begun. Who knows what would happen in 1792? WHAT HAPPENED THIS TURN M. Rolland calls for the Assembly to restrict the printing of paper money. He stresses the need to follow trustworthy economic policies to curb inflation. This passes and moderates inflation slightly. Merchants in the Atlantic provinces take the initiative in aggressively establishing ties with overseas trading partners. They especially court Dutch Banking interests. These overseas interests join into economic relationships since they find the government in France to be very friendly to business. This combined with the above drop in inflation again moderates the economic crisis from a severe one to a moderate one. The crisis hits! St Just makes a speech in the assembly showing that the King has secretly corresponded with the Austrian Army! Giving away state secrets no less! This disgraces the moderate government since they stand for maintaining this traitor as king! The political fall out reduces their standing in the country. The Newspapers begin to increase their circulation by appealing to the base fears of the lower classes. Their political standing rises at the same time the Girondist's standing falls. SUMMARY OF EVENTS OF THE GAME June: The King attempts to flee the country, but was captured. July: The Cordilliers win over the peasants to their faction by accusing the liberal aristocrats of trying to starve them. The Girondists establish a private Bank of France to try to stabilize the economy. The Emigres form a "Royalist" Army in Germany. August: The Cordilliers 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, Cordilliers 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. October: The Cordilliers call for war with Austria and Prussia since that is where the "Royal"/counter revolutionary army came from. It is time to export the Revolution! The Paris National Guard marches out to meet the enemy in Northern France and drives them back into Germany without incident. The Paris National Guard return their loyalties to the middle class government. The Girondist Bank of France succeeds in moderating the financial crisis from a severe problem to a moderate one. November: The Cordilliers succeed in replacing the Aristocratic Generals of the army with politically reliable (if mediocre) men. These men then ill manage the war effort and throw the economy back into a severe crisis! The Girondists get the assembly to form a small professional army (One peasant figure in the south) rather than a large levy of undisciplined peasants. The Royal army returns to Northern France and forms 2 of the 3 loyal peasant figures into partisan armies! Vive le Roi! December: The Girondists succeed in moderating the economic crisis from a severe one to a moderate one via a combination of anti inflationary moves, and private business connections made with friendly Dutch Bankers. The Cordilliers uncover and expose the King's secret correspondence with the Austrians. Thais treason stains the reputation of the constitutional monarchists. The merchants and middle class lose power Just as the news papers gain power. POLITICAL FALL OUT Chris Morris and Chris Blair are truly dedicated moderates They combined forces and moderated the economy back to a moderate crisis, in only one turn! Good work! It would only take two more arguments to completely resolve the whole issue. The King's indescression greatly hurt the standing government. Just as when he tried to run off, the people around him lost political standing. The merchants and middle class loss of 1 political power point each. The Cordillier newspaper gained political power point by attacking the traitorous King. This swings the national balance of power in favor of the left for the first time. Who knows, maybe 1792 would not be a good year for the moderates after all. POLITICAL AGENDA The Girondist are still in power so the agenda is... 1. Prevent the return of the Emigres!!! 2. Laizefare Capitalism. POWER GROUPS: POLITICAL POWER AND MAN POWER Head of State: Roland - controls the National Guard, the Army, 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 2 2 Pro Government: Girondists: Middle Class 2 1 Pro Government: Girondists: National Guard 0 (2) Pro Government: Girondists: Army (Peasants) 0 1 . =7 =5 Anti Government: Cordilliers: San Culottes 2 3 (4) Anti Government: Cordilliers: Newspapers 3 0 Anti Government: Cordilliers: Peasants 1/2 4 (5) Anti Government: Jacobins: Paris Radicals 2 0 . =7 1/2 =7 (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) Anti Government: Royalists: Royal Army 0 (1/2) Anti Government: Royalists: Royal Partisans 0 (2) . =1/2 =3 1/2 WHERE EVERYONE IS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING PARIS: Roland, Danton, Lafayette, and Robespierre. The King - looking rather chagrined at being caught. Lib Aristocrats - practicing their Dutch and English and keeping their escape plans up to date! 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 - Partisan Army (loyal to Emigres) Peasant - Partisan Army (loyal to Emigres) Peasant - Farm Emigres - Royal Army SOUTHERN FRANCE: Peasant - Political Debate Peasant - Professional Army Peasant - Farm ATLANTIC COAST: Merchants - Do Business Peasant - Farm Peasant - Farm EUROPE: Conservative church - greatly saddened that their pen pal Louis got caught. Austrian Army - Still preparing to invade France. Prussian Army - Still preparing to invade France. POLITICAL AGENDAS AND IF THEY WERE REACHED Royalists: 1. Absolute Monarchy - They are working on it but they have a long way to go. 2. Restore feudal priveledges of aristocrats - not even close! Feuillants: l. Hold elections - They did it! 2. Constitutional Monarchy - That is in trouble. Girondists: 1. Constitutional Monarchy - Its still in trouble. 2. Laizefare Capitalism - This has worked well and gone a long way to solving the financial crisis! 3. Prevent the return of the Emigres - A big bust at this point. Jacobins: 1. Anti-Aristocratic - St Just made some pretty speeches but no substance. 2. Anti-Clerical - nothing done 3. Anti-Business - St Just made one speech, but the reality of France is pro business. 4. Rouseauian Paradise - not even close! Cordilliers: 1. Constitutional Republic - They're working on it. 2. "Down with the King" - Yes! It's only a matter of time now!!! 3. Social Welfare - Well they did approve the army, but I think i would rather have food. POLITICAL PROBLEMS OF FRANCE Down with the King!!! Now the people are really PO'ed at this traitor. But nothing has happened to get rid of him yet...YET! Financial Crisis: This has moderated again and may well be resolved by spring ...if the radicals don't mess it up first! The war with Austria and Prussia. Nothing seems to be happening so don't worry about it. They are all old incomepents anyway. THE ARGUMENTS I will skip writing out all of the arguments this time. Instead, I'll just tell you about the ones that could have happened. Chris Morris Tried to destroy Charles d'Artois support base by pointing out that he is his own worst enemy. He did not learn from the revolution. He was unwilling to concede anything to anyone. His arrogant emigre thug army did not help any. Chris Engle Lost both of his arguments. He first tired to have the Austro-Prussian army cross over the border to link up with 'his Royal army. As Chris pointed out "The Prince Conde did the same thing during the Fronde in 1650!" Chris also tried to establish a royal capital at Metz. Chris' most interesting move was to try to get the Royal Partisans to raid as far as the outskirts of Paris in the attempt to throw the capital into turmoil. Chris Blair Made 2 arguments about establishing close ties with Dutch Banking Interests. William Markwell Won both of his arguments for the Cordilliers side. AFTERWARD Political games are very interesting when done by an MG. At this time though I can tell that I will have to do a lot more work on them before they will be easily playable by other gamers. Right now they are a little too much like RPGs (ie too referee dependent). I'm hopeful though that I'll be able to get them going in another 2 years. Back to Experimental Games Group # 24 Table of Contents Back to Experimental Games Group List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Chris Engle This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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