Matrix Games Forums

This topic comes up every now and then during multiplayer games. If a player has a large empire but their capital is threatened, it would make sense to have the ability to relocate the seat of the government.
This is something that happens in real life wars, governments continue even in exile if the whole country is taken.

I don't see a reason why we shouldn't be able to relocate the cabinet in Shadow Empire. As it stands, losing the entire cabinet severely disincentivizes the losing player even if their nation is still in an overall strong position to continue the fight.

Anyway this could be implemented? Perhaps by building a new Headquarters building?

Good idea.

I've just lost my capital zone and whole cabinet. Indeed, this would be a good feature to move capital zone before it falls into enemy hands.

Yes, I agree with this and have been on the receiving end of the conquest - I never really recovered in that game.

In subsequent games, if it's clear my capital was going to fall soon, in addition to moving goods from the SHQ in the capital to another SHQ and disbanding assets in and around the capital, I've gone ahead and relieved as many of the cabinet and governor personnel as possible (PP allowing) on successive turns until the collapse occurs. That way, most of the important councilors/governor escape. I've been rationalizing that process in my mind as simulating the chaos in the capital as the enemy approaches.

However, it seems reasonable to me that a more orderly evacuation could be planned and executed. There is certainly plenty of historical precedence for that in history.

For example, the British had plans to move the government and royal family to Canada should it become clear London would fall in WW2 (Operation Fish?). They actually did transfer a lot of wealth to Canada. If I'm not mistaken, the French government actually did evacuate briefly to Tours and then Bordeau before the fall of Paris in 1940. Similarly, and more successfully, the Chinese government in WW2 first evacuated from Nanking (Nanjing) and continued the fight from Hangkow (Wuhan) and then later Chunking (Chongqing) as Japanese forces approached. I believe the Soviet government actually began a disorderly evacuation from Moscow as the Germans approached, but Stalin chose to stand fast in the capital.


If such an evacuation capability were implemented in Shadow Empire, I think it should come with some severe morale hits to defending forces near the capital.

-Mark R.

Intersting

There is a similar problem with ATG, which I guess reflects the two games' common heritage.

Besides making it impossible to move the capital, as per the examples you have provided, it makes a true guerrilla war impossible, as there is always one hex which *must* be defended.