[GZG] Re: Gzg-l Digest, Vol 8, Issue 61

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Gzg-l@lists.csua.berkeley.edu
http://lists.csua.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lI actually rather
liked the VIP concept for a scenario card. Britain wouldn't have collapsed if
Prince Andrew had been killed, but I'm sure it would have
had some impact on morale - and also led to even more rage and
indignation towards the dreadful "Argies" for doing so. The media would have
whipped up even more dehumanisation and objectification towards the
Argentinians if such an event had occured.

Plus maybe the air group commander or the carrier captain wouldn't have seen
his career advance much afterwards either. So in terms of the fleet commander
that could easily be a "you lose the scenario" personal result.

Of course the morale thing is a bit of a double bind if you go to war while a
royal or other VIP is serving in your military. Solving it by taking them off
the ship just before it sails into harms way or by not deploying their vessel
is a bit obvious and doesn't do much for the morale of anyone else in the
fleet who is bound to notice that they are considered more expendable...

Of course, we should also not forget the plot of the film "Whoops Apocalypse!"
either!

If "war is diplomacy conducted by other means" then it is appropriate to
explore the politics and dilemmas around the war too, and scenario conditions
like this VIP example help do this IMHO.

> Prince Andrew, I think?

That suggestion for the special effect card was SLIGHTLY
tongue-in-cheek, and followed on from the earlier discussions on this
topic.....
I fully agree it's an unlikely scenario, unless you assume that the loss of
said VIP snotty would cause such a huge fuss with the public back home that
the political fallout would outweigh the military outcome of the battle.....
in which case, as John A mentioned, he shouldn't be out in the firing line but
back on some support or training ship in the home system.

For a more realistic view of it, assuming the kid gets into that situation
before he can be reassigned to a nice safe berth, then maybe just a lesser
penalty of some sort on the player's victory conditions rather than an
outright loss. But don't let's all get too hung up on it, it was only one
example suggestion to get the ball
rolling! ;-)

Jon (GZG)