Daily Archives: December 12, 2011

Battlegrounds: Thailand

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

Experienced players know that the road to Asian domination begins and ends in Thailand. Assuming that the USSR keeps Pakistan, India, and North Korea (generally safe assumptions in the Early War), the US needs both South Korea and Thailand to … Continue reading →

Posted in Battlegrounds | Tagged | 6 Comments

General Strategy: DEFCON

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

One of the most important rules in Twilight Struggle is that you lose the game if DEFCON drops to 1 on your turn.  It doesn’t matter who “caused” it: if it happened on your watch, you’re responsible for humanity’s destruction. … Continue reading →

Posted in General Strategy | Tagged | 25 Comments

General Strategy: Turn 1

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

The first turn of Twilight Struggle is arguably the most important one.  An empty board means that the board is rife with both opportunity and pitfalls.  Even the smallest mistake early on can have dramatic ramifications: misplaying into Asia on … Continue reading →

Posted in General Strategy | 36 Comments

General Strategy: Opening Setup

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

Each side begins the game with the ability to place Influence in Europe.  (Note that this is Influence, not Operations points for influence.)  The USSR can place up to 6 in Eastern Europe, while the US can place 7 in … Continue reading →

Posted in General Strategy | 73 Comments

Regions: Europe

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

Europe Scoring Some Cold War historians view the entire struggle, costing millions of lives, untold trillions of dollars, and conflict around the globe, as a struggle for the future of Germany. While that view may be too myopic, it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, Neutral Events, Regions | Tagged | 7 Comments

Five Year Plan

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

Five Year Plan 1946-1950 Beginning in the 1920s, the Soviet Union became obsessed with centralized planning of its economy and industrial development. Twelve such plans were adopted by the USSR during its history. While economists differ, it is largely agreed … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, US Events | Tagged | 25 Comments

Duck and Cover

Posted on December 12, 2011 by theory

Duck and Cover 1950 The US Congress passed into law the Federal Civil Defense Act, in reaction to the first Soviet tests of nuclear weapons in 1949. Duck and Cover is perhaps the most memorable of a variety of civil … Continue reading →

Posted in Early War, US Events | Tagged | 17 Comments