War on Terror Blog
Friday 16th May 2008
Edition 2 Game Report: Tom, Ben, Jenn and Andy S
Otherwise known as 'attack of the animals', tonight's game was quite different for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it was perhaps the most well-intentioned, genuinely benevolent game ever played. Ben in particular trailblazed a strategy of 'killing with kindness' after he became unfathomably rich through oil early on in the game.
It seemed to work. Ben's random acts of generosity made everyone else feel profoundly guilty and it was really difficult to be nasty back. The end result is that peace was seriously threatening to break out. Jenn, who normally revels in the lowliest gutters of evildom, was transformed and spent the game exchanging cards, money and even developments with Ben.
Andy S tried to spice things up half way through by nuking Tom (who, at that time was close to winning and having been EVIL four times in a row had about 30 cards in his hand). This failed thanks to Tom's cunning earlier acquisition of a nuclear bunker. Andy S tried exporting democracy, but this only had a short-lived benefit for the people in Western Russia. Tom's dictatorship soon reclaimed the country.
Ben took the game easily in what was undoubtedly the nicest victory ever recorded From there, it was a foregone conclusion - Tom retaliated and wiped Andy S's Empire down to two villages, instead of concentrating on Ben's exponentially growing wealth. Andy S turned terrorist and had to try and keep both Tom and Ben in check, while Jenn nudged close to the final goal with 7 Liberation Points.
Unless someone started acting soon, the game was going to be won pretty quick, with all three remaining Empires looking strong. Andy S tried to pull a truce with Ben, sending him into a deep moral quandry. It backfired (or succeeded, depending on where you stand) when Ben accepted the truce and thus his Empire remained virtually intact.
One round later and Ben had it in the bag. He even had one point more than was required. And in a crass attempt to impress, before he won, he decided to buy off all the terrorists in the world 'just so we'd remember' for next game. Ben took the game easily with Europe, North America and a sprinkling of cities in what was undoubtedly the nicest victory ever recorded. Quizzed about his unusual playing style, Ben claimed 'I just played an economic strategy'. What a smug git.
The military bases weren't used much, but the other rule tweaks once again gave the impression of a faster, more stable game. The big test will be a six-player game lined up for next week, especially as the terrorist player hasn't been given much of a chance to try out the new rules.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 16 May 2008 - 0 comments
Tuesday 13th May 2008
1968 - We weren't there, but we should remember
We had a crackingly good day at Conway Hall, in London on Saturday. The '1968 and all that' conference was a hot pot of revolutionary thinkers, revolutionary doers, revolutionary speakers, revolutionary listeners, peacemakers, pacifists, agitators, activists, children with bagels, books, badges and even a board game besides ours. Outrageous. Everyone appeared to be jolly friendly which was probably due to the excellent real ale, or the excellent bagels.
We entered the main hall to find our good friends Housmans Booksellers were to be our stall neighbours - Their backdrop was a fine collection of artworks from 1968, some of which can be found on the '1968 and all that' site. They were so friendly they gave us a set of posters. The bunker that we hide away in by day has never looked so good, sexy, sixties, revolutionary. Needless to say we got to work and did our best to match these design classics with our own tried and tested stall classics - quality quotes, unexploded bomb signs, camo netting and a rubber vulture, naturally.
We met many good people including Dr Richard Barbrook, who is a senior lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages at the University of Westminster and a founding member of Class Wargames. Class Wargames are great advocates of Guy Debord's board game (a life long project no less), 'The Game of War', which was demonstrated on the day.
We have a little something scheduled in with Class Wargames in July which is most likely to be a visit to The Flea Pit for a talk/Q&A/gaming session so watch this space. He happens to be a very nice chap too with a good story about his sister and the Sex Pistols which, we discovered, he will divulge if you ply him with enough red wine.
The range of talks throughout the day was impressive and the crowning glory was the rally that packed the main hall at the close of play. We caught Adrian Mitchell on film reciting an interesting variation of his classic poem 'To whom it may concern'. The Rally was topped off by the activist and journalist Eamonn McCann, who pulled a corking cry for action out of his left tilting hat. Eamonn gave a rousing speech, urging us not to forget '68 and apply learnt lessons now, as well as adapting our approaches as we face new problems, because lets face it, the need for change is greater than ever before.
Eamonn's oratorial skills were so inspiring that we awarded him the much coveted 'Rousing speech' gong - to you and me that's a copy of our game.
In summary, it was a beautiful day, not just for the sunshine but the general air of camaraderie (which started early with a cry of 'Traffic Wardens outside!'). But for all the nostalgia and hope and excellent speeches - and maybe we're just part of a new, cancerous and cynical generation - we wondered how to apply it all in the face of today's wide-ranging and complex, interwoven problems. Is revolution - especially Marxist revolution - really a realistic or relevant goal? While a shift in mindset would certainly be welcome, shouldn't we be working towards sustainability, regardless of the political/economic model used to achieve this? In other words, is a dramatic, traumatic revolution the best vehicle for progression? Then again, maybe we won't even have the luxury of choice since it looks like (climate) change will be thrust upon us regardless. How we adapt and respond to that change will be the true test of our generation.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 13 May 2008 - 0 comments
Thursday 8th May 2008
Edition 2 Game Report: Tom, Ben and Andy S
We've spent the last couple of months quietly making changes for what will eventually become War on Terror, v 2.0. We have a few aims with this next edition: 1) changing the rules to tighten up the looser aspects of the game and make it more strategically rewarding; 2) introducing some new cards and maybe the odd new rule to keep the game fresh and new; 3) changing the components to make the game lighter. This is our third test game so far ...
It's a school night and a late start. Never a good mix. We're playing with reduced amounts of pieces and money in an attempt to get this thing under 2kg. And there's a new 'piece'. The rumours of some kind of overseas base are correct; War on Terror now has Permanent Military Bases, denoted by two village counters - and boy are they fun.
It turns out to be one of the better games that we've played. There's the classic pattern of peaceful growth, followed by prosperity, followed by fear of losing that prosperity, followed by violence, followed by collapse, followed by a final push to win. This game even saw a 'failed win' as Tom thought he had it in the bag, but his inability to count up to four (developments) let him down and he ended up one point short.
Tom's near miss, opened up the game for Ben and Andy S. Ben was dying to turn terrorist to sample some of the new terrorist cards, but he was prevented by the fact that if he did turn, Tom would automatically win on the remaining points. So despite having been double-nuked by Tom, Ben had to limp on and rebuild his empire. This gave Andy S a chance to slip in under the radar when the entire game had been a two horse race between Tom and Ben... but that's how these things happen. A lucky mix of cards meant that a Regime Change, followed by a free City clinched the game. Andy S gets another win notched on the belt.
There are some lovely new cards, some of which we will divulge, but some we want to keep as a surprise. But we can tell you that moving terrorists around as an Empire is now much more fun. And the 'Democracy Export' card has quickly risen to be the most coveted card in the deck, not quite as devastating as Nukes, but they do have nasty, long-term effects.
War on Terror now has Permanent Military Bases - and boy are they FUN The little changes we've made seem to result in a more stable and tactical game, with slightly quicker round times. All of this is great news if it sticks. Another test game this week should tell if it's a one-off fluke or not.
If all goes well, we'll release the v2.0 rules and instructions on how to 'upgrade' your current game. We'll then be relying on you lot to fine tune our fat-fingered attempts at game improvement and then it's off to the printers ...
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 8 May 2008 - 0 comments
Monday 5th May 2008
1968 and all that...
It's orange jumpsuit time again. We're joining a bloody interesting group of people gathering at Conway Hall (near Holborn tube) this Saturday, 10 May. '1968 and all that' is an international conference and bookfair, celebrating and reflecting upon the tumultuous and rebellious events of May '68 when virtually all of Europe was experiencing strikes, protests and variously successful bids for social change.
With over 47 talks, 7 films and a whole load of other stuff, '1968 And All That' is an event that should excite and nourish lobes you didn't know you had. How can you refuse? Even if you miss us during the day, it's worth it alone if you just turn up to hear these guys at 6pm : Adrian Mitchell - political poet & dramatist ( Here's Adrian in action back in 1965 at the Royal Albert Hall: 'To Whom it May Concern'), Alain Krivine - one of the leaders of the May 1968 revolt in Paris , Astrid Proll - a former member of the Baader-Meinhof Gang, Sheila Rowbotham - a British socialist feminist, and Eamonn McCann - an Irish journalist, author, and political activist.
It's free to attend, but you have to register by emailing them (instructions on their homepage). We're particularly looking forward to hearing Astrid Proll talk - as someone who has turned to violence in pursuing a 'higher cause' and has then lived to reject it, she offers a unique and rare insight into the nature of protest and activism.
So if you fancy whiling away the day, arguing with lefties and reliving the hopes and dreams of a distant, more optimistic age, then do join us. We'll happily shatter your dreams for you. And then we'll laugh at you for being so ideologically naive.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 5 May 2008 - 0 comments
Thursday 1st May 2008
Cafe Press Censorship
Last week, the eagle-eyed among you may have noticed we added a Souvenir Shop to our navigation. This blog entry was to be celebration of that shop. A virtual ribbon-cutting, amid trumpet blasts, champagne cork-popping and rented 'beauties' adding the necessary sexy ingredient to get you all salivating for our new wares.
But, my friends, the inaugural unveiling ceremony has been soured by the lemon-tipped finger of suppression. For, no sooner had we finished work on the shop, than Cafe Press summarily censored one of our designs. No reason was given. It simply disappeared.
After 4 days, we were finally told why: "We find your image in bad taste and at this time we cannot have it on our site."
However, as we're sure you won't be surprised, Cafe Press can happily satisfy the needs of the most bigoted, racist, hate-spreading members of society. But an image that calls into question the widely-condemned (mis)treatment of 'prisoners of war' by America is quite clearly too near the knuckle for such a morally upstanding social network as Cafe Press.
We need your help! This is a clear-cut example of political censorship; a smothering of free speech that Americans hold so dear. Please write to Cafe Press (citing design #27364559) and ask them to explain in their own words why they object so much to our design but apparently endorse numerous pro-violence and pro-hate designs.
We find your image in bad taste and at this time we cannot have it on our site If you get anything other than a stock response out of the customer service team, we'd love for you to forward it on to us.
Thanks for your help and in the meantime, why not take a look at the other splendid War on Terror related and 'war on terror' related t-shirts on sale.
- posted by TerrorBull Games on 1 May 2008 - 9 comments
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