Nukes...

[BeirutDude]

I have no real worries about Russia starting anything nuclear and as the US retreats from long-time "foreign entanglements", it should come as no surprise that somebody comes along to fill the vacuum.

Has that ever turned out well? I can think of numerous power vacuums that led to conflict.

[Gunner98]

Has that ever turned out well?

Not that I can recall.

Reading an interesting book that was under the Christmas tree - The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Traitor-Grea ... 8&qid=&sr=

In addition to a fascinating expose on things KGB, it has a very inciteful view on the Exercise Able Archer events. The author claims that it was Andropov's paranoia which was the basis of the Soviet view and that having a spy telling the Brits & Americans about it allowed them to back off. Not sure I buy it hook, line & sinker but it does throw an interesting light on the subject.

B

[BeirutDude]

Thanks Gunner!

[Technopiper]

ORIGINAL: BeirutDude

So just curious about people's thoughts on nukes, here are mine...

1. I know they exist and likely will be used, especially by Russia...

2. ...BUT, for a game point play of view I find them to be kind of too much. If a single shot can destroy an entire task group is that really enjoyable, or do you really learn anything except that nukes are powerful (duh! [:D])?

That is why I have only ever designed on scenario with nukes, and that "Halloween Horror, 1991" had a very specific reason for the nukes in that one, as a rogue sub was holding the U.S. east coast hostage. Also, personally, I rarely play any scenario with them.

So curious on what people think about scenarios with them (as I'm toying with designing one set in in 2021).

I'm sure they are somewhat powerful. Destroying an entire task group shouldn't present a great challenge. Only one nation has ever employed nukes "in anger", so as to speak, and it wasn't Russia.[:D] Oh they are very much in use nowadays. It's the only reason WWIII - war between multiple powers - is only a military fanboy's wet dream. War will be obsolete if every nation out there has some nukes, thank God. That's why we need to punish rogue nations aspiring to achieve nuclear status. Or else we wouldn't be able to throw our weight around the world ever again, right?