Political Aspects of Civil War: How modeled in game?

[Q-Ball]

I am very much looking forward to this one! But I do have a question on how the political aspects of the Republic are handled in game....IRL, it was very complex and tricky, so curious if there is a way to model it

Thinking of Basques and Catalans, who had their own specific agenda, plus the infighting among PCE, POUM, and Anarchists (CNT).

Is there any modelling of that?

How about issuing orders to Militia Units? Particularly in the early months, Militia units were often doing their own thing independent of an attempt at a centralized Republican command

All this chaos is very difficult to model

As the Republican militias became more professionalized, and incorporated into the Republican Army, is that also modeled? Or is that mostly in the process of forming larger formations, and improvements to morale/experience?

Many thanks in advance!!!!!

[Piteas]

Hi, Q-Ball

Is there any modelling of that?
This game is a wargame, so the political aspects are barely outlined. Of course, there are plenty of historical militias, but political events are limited to news at the beginning of certain turns. Example: The fighting between anarchists and communists in Barcelona in May 1937 takes place and is reported on, along with other historical events, but they aren´t the basis of the game.


How about issuing orders to Militia Units?
You lead the militias, but they arise spontaneously.


As the Republican militias became more professionalized, and incorporated into the Republican Army, is that also modeled?
Yes and It occurs in its historical moment.

[Nikel]

This game is a wargame, so the political aspects are barely outlined. Of course, there are plenty of historical militias, but political events are limited to news at the beginning of certain turns. Example: The fighting between anarchists and communists in Barcelona in May 1937 takes place and is reported on, along with other historical events, but they aren´t the basis of the game.

But the political, historical,... events have any impact on the game?

Or are they just informative?

[Piteas]

Political events are informative.
Historical events (creation of the People's Army, arrival of the International Brigades, Germans, Italians...) have impact, much impact.

[Nikel]

I think you should consider adding some more value to the political events in VPs or morale (sorry, not sure if there is morale counter for a side).

The example you commented should reduce VPs or morale for the Republican side.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Days

[RangerJoe]

I think you should consider adding some more value to the political events in VPs or morale (sorry, not sure if there is morale counter for a side).

The example you commented should reduce VPs or morale for the Republican side.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Days

If that would be done and the other side know of the effects, then that player would just time their play to take action on the future effects even though they weren't actually known before the event actually occurred. Even during or immediately after the event, the opponent may not know of the effects either.

My understanding is that this is more of a military game and the politics that some people are describing are not modeled very much if at all. Except for units being created, disbanded, and/or with units at the beginning of the war.

[Nikel]

To avoid that the effects may be random.

Just an example the May days.

Reduce VPs for the Republican side between 100 and 500.

The fact that it is a wargame does not mean that politics have no consecuences.

[Q-Ball]

Appreciate the responses, and I also appreciate that really modelling politics is very difficult, and also creates "foresight" for both players that they wouldn't have IRL

Does the game at least model some of the military impacts of politics, for example:

1. Are Basque and Catalan units restricted to those regions?
2. Do the POUM units disband/disappear in 1937 (after the May Days)? (as well as some leaders?)
3. CNT.....I don't recall if anarchist units disappeared completely, but some anarchists sided with the POUM, and IIRC their influence was less after the May Days. Is there a military impact there?

It could be some of the national distinctions also disappear as the EPR (People's Army) is ramped up.....is that right?

On the NATIONALIST side I guess I shouldn't ignore those factions....some quesitons:

1. Are there CARLIST and FALANGE units early? Are they slowly incorporated into the Nationalist Army?
2. Are the Moroccans treated as a separate "Nation"?
3. How are the Italian Naval Forces modelled? By that I mean, they were supposedly on neutrality patrol so were not full-on combattants, but they definitely fired on ships, especially the "volunteer" Italian Subs

[Piteas]

Appreciate the responses, and I also appreciate that really modelling politics is very difficult, and also creates "foresight" for both players that they wouldn't have IRL

Does the game at least model some of the military impacts of politics, for example:

1. Are Basque and Catalan units restricted to those regions?
2. Do the POUM units disband/disappear in 1937 (after the May Days)? (as well as some leaders?)
3. CNT.....I don't recall if anarchist units disappeared completely, but some anarchists sided with the POUM, and IIRC their influence was less after the May Days. Is there a military impact there?

It could be some of the national distinctions also disappear as the EPR (People's Army) is ramped up.....is that right?

On the NATIONALIST side I guess I shouldn't ignore those factions....some quesitons:

1. Are there CARLIST and FALANGE units early? Are they slowly incorporated into the Nationalist Army?
2. Are the Moroccans treated as a separate "Nation"?
3. How are the Italian Naval Forces modelled? By that I mean, they were supposedly on neutrality patrol so were not full-on combattants, but they definitely fired on ships, especially the "volunteer" Italian Subs

REPUBLICANS
1-Basques have independent OOB and officers. But no "Pacto de Santoña" event and they can fight anywhere. There are units of a catalan army, but under total republican control (Historically, they weren't as independent as basques in the war).
2.POUM units disband: they are "disband" in People's army units.
3. CNT: like POUM.

NATIONALISTS
1. Yes and yes.
2. Not moroccan side, but there is "African army" with own OOB and officers (morocans+legion units)
3. Italians are an army with own OOB, air force and Navy. As Historically, they are nationalist allies and their Navy will "stop" republican convoys, but not all the war and they are a few ships (not all the Regia Marina in game).

[Piteas]

To avoid that the effects may be random.

Just an example the May days.

Reduce VPs for the Republican side between 100 and 500.

The fact that it is a wargame does not mean that politics have no consecuences.

Politics has consequences in the game, but the player cannot control it, only manage the consequences.

Regarding random events, that's not the philosophy of the game team, who tend to prioritize historical accuracy over any alternative. But the game has an event editor, which can be used for any alternate storyline.