GARPA 17 – GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory

by Dan Pinkham and Lloyd Sabin, 26 April 2013
As April comes to a close we look forward to those May flowers, dancing around the Maypole and the much anticipated Mayviation here at GrogHeads. In the meantime, we bring you another installment of your favorite bi-weekly wallet emptying column.
Tabletop Gaming
Lincoln’s War by Brian Youse and MMP
$37,562 of a $40,000 goal funding ending May 2nd
In the midst of the 150th anniversary remembrances of the American Civil War comes a boardgame with a unique look at the conflict. Instead of focusing strictly on the battles and military operations, Lincoln’s War takes a look at the political and logistical side of the war. Opponents take on the roles of Davis and Lincoln and spend political currency (PCs) to lead their nations through the war and ultimately to victory. PCs are, “used to promote worthy commanders, purchase war material, restore confidence or be translated into direct support for commanders in the field. Driving an opponent to 0 PCs may bring on auto-victory, but most games rely on a variety of geographical objectives.”
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game’s premise has China finally making good on threats to use force to take control of “the First Island Chain – that string of islands which runs from the Ryukus south through Taiwan, the Philippines and then curls back to the mainland via Malaysia.” Since the Cold War, China has claimed sovereignty of these islands much to the chagrin of several Southeast Asian countries and many western powers. Now, Breaking the Chains brings you a detailed look at this possible conflict.