In my spare time (which generally means while in the shower or elevator) I've been developing an idea for a board game. It's far enough along to invite some constructive criticism (and Lord knows you can count on the blogosphere for criticism), so here's the rough draft for your perusal:
Excuse
The High-Stakes Game of Invasion Justification
Overview: Stealing heavily from the game Clue, "Excuse" is played on a grided board. Instead of moving a square at a time into different rooms, however, players move along into various countries. As with Clue, the game revolves around three sets of cards, and the game begins when one card from each of the three categories is secretly selected and placed in a Top Secret envelope. The first player who moves to the appropriate country and correctly guesses which three cards are in the envelope wins.
The card categories include Country, Main Rationale, and Back-up Rationale.
Country: These include the usual suspects: Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, etc. However, there are plans for a Deluxe Edition that will include other countries, like France, Germany, Spain, etc.
Main Rationale: Again, usual suspects to include Imminent Threat, Suspected Cache of WMD, Direct Link to Terrorism, Humanitarian Intervention, Social Engineering, Liberate from Tyranny, Ideological Total War, etc.
Back-up Rationale: These are the filler rationales and they are used to help fill in the holes of the Main Rationale; they include Containment Wasn't Working, Strategically Important (i.e., Has Oil), Broke a UN Resolution, Pre-Emptive Doctrine, Ongoing War Never Really Ended, etc.
Moving around the board: As with Clue, this will be done primarily by rolling two dice and moving one square per number roled, but in addition there will be Transference Cards. Before rolling the dice each turn, a player takes one Transference Card from the stack and follows its instructions. A sampling of the Transference cards includes:
Cronyism: "Your Vice President has close ties with War Contractors. Add 4 extra spaces to your dice roll."
Infighting: "Your Departments of Defense and State are bickering. Substract 3 spaces from your dice roll."
You've Been Had! "An exiled leader you back is found to be passing intel to your enemies. Lose a turn."
Personal Vendetta: "An attempt was made on your father's life. Move immediately to the country of your choice."
Like Clue, I'm sure this game grows old after a few rounds...but, then again, that most likely depends on your disposition.
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