Introduction

Quebec Libre is a game simulation of the politics and economy of the Canadian Confederation at a time which a major section of the population of the country is questioning the continued validity of the Confederation concept.

Players 2 to 6
Period Canadian politics, 1976-1981
Scale Political and Economic
Turn Quarterly
Map Areas
Unit counters represent products, centers and event markers

Components

Box ziplock bag
Map 22"x28" unmounted on thick paper
Rules one 12 page digest sized
Counters 255 die cut
Errata one small sheet included

Counter Manifest

72 Player markers in six colors each (blue, purple, magenta, red, yellow & green)
27 Material point markers (blue on white)
35 Energy point markers (magenta on white)
19 Production Center markers (red on white)
17 Material Center markers (green on white)

SimCan says:

“In this political and economic simulation up to 6 players participate in the fate of a nation. Players represent the interests of various areas of Canada, dealing with each other for funding, popular support, and power. Anything can happen in a climate of rapidly changing events. Player interaction determines the outcome of this fast moving game of cooperation and conflict, reminiscent of Diplomacy and Kingmaker, but different.”

The Reviewer says:

“Quebec Libre is a worthwhile and valid model … an accurate simulation of Canadian politics, which are evolutionary, not revolutionary. Newberg stresses the disparate goals of the regions through cunningly constructed victory conditions. Quebec Libre presents only a few notes for background … it would have done well to expand upon the textual material. Quebec Libre is a valid, complete lesson in Canadian geographical-economic-political realities.” --David Isby, F&M 23.

Comments

A precursor to the German/Euro type of games that are so popular today, Quebec Libre can offer an interesting gaming experience, even for those who are not enthralled with the topic. The players will deal with concerns like standard of living, popularity, unemployment, energy, production, taxation, consumption, exports, and development. Negotiation, with either secret or open agreements, is vitally important. Forty different random events will provide uncertainty. The game’s counters and map are best described as functional, with some of the colored markers being difficult to read. As a simple model of Canadian dynamics, Quebec Libre has been favorably compared to SPI’s Canadian Civil War.

Collectors Notes

This item was apparently not a big seller, and considering its unusual topic, Quebec Libre is a difficult title to find. Prices can vary widely on this game.

Boone quotes low, high and average prices of 3/13/8.40 at auction and 15/20/17.00 for sale.

Errata & Clarifications

Rule 5.3 incorrectly implies that Transport Points may only be created during one portion of the Production, Taxation, and Movement Phase. Transport Points may be created at any time during the phase. Players may also transfer Transport Points among themselves directly from one track to another as a result of negotiations.

A further designer note: Though the economic system in Quebec Libre is very simplified it is not necessarily immediately understandable. First time players should expect confusion to dominate their first game and the system encourages such a situation for the first two turns even after experience with the system. Forward planning is essential and should be done during the Negotiations Phase of the preceeding turn. With a trial game completed most players should be able to switch their concentration from the economic system to the political situation which it fuels.

Stephen Newberg says:

The second, and last, of our Canadian market games, this one is all politics, economy and humor (the event most likely to cause electoral upheaval is something that messes with the National Hockey League play schedule). Not a gun in the game. Of course it did not sell worth beans. We ended up giving the last couple of hundred away to the school system as a simple model of the Canadian system. I learned. All our other games go BANG.