Petrograd Nights

 Russell wanted to test his Russian Revolution game before COW, and as it was an excuse to break out some silly hats, how could we resist.... Committee Games aren't generally very photogenic, but here is some delectable eye candy:

Sorry about that. I don't often get a chance to wear my Budvinovka. The assembled multitudes (well, five of us) represented various Russian factions - Tsarists, Liberals etc. I got the Bolsheviks! The general aim was to form some sort of government and vote through a programme of various policies while at the same time garnering popular support in the form of 'roubles' which could be used for various things.

The various political shenanigans could also spill out into the streets. This worked particularly well if things weren't going well for your side in the negotiations for the Provisional Government.

Tim had made this magnificent scale reproduction of the square outside the Petrograd Palace, and 54mm models representing the various factions lined the sides.

Here is my Bolshevik rabble rouser. He looks suspiciously like a young Garibaldi. Ahem.

Social Revolutionaries (Russell). He looks like he means business.

This headcase is one of the Tsarists (John B).

The first round of the political negotiations didn't go well and the Social Revolutionaries called a strike. This led to a degree of agitation in the square. The cards determined the activation sequence and the actions the factions could take. Whoever was left standing in the square after four rounds gained  popular support, unfortunately the forces of reaction got there the fastest with the mostest.

The active factions fought a round of combat each turn. The Bolsheviks got quite a bloody nose. Casualties ended up in the hospital. 

We then reverted to some more negotiating and voting. Winning votes also got you popular support. As a tactical measure the revolutionaries agreed to all sorts of awful stuff with the reactionaries to bank some roubles. 

Time for another strike, a Bolshevik one this time! Each faction was only allowed one strike per game, and only if they had the least political support.

The revolutionaries pooled their roubles and bid against the reactionaries for the support of these fine chaps - a brigade of naval infantry from the Kronstadt garrison.

The Bolsheviks and Revolutionaries came out to march with them whole the reactionaries cowered in their barracks. Hurrah, a successful strike! We blew an awful lot of capital to get those guys, which would have ramifications later.

Back to the negotiations. The Tsarists and Conservatives really pushed their luck and proposed a really regressive programme. Between them they now outvoted both the Revolutionaries and the Centrists.

Time for a Revolution!!

 

The Bosheviks, Socialists and Liberals hit the streets with out brave Naval Infantry. If we could sweep the Tsarists and Conservatives from the streets, we would sieze the reins of power. It was just like Dr Zhivago. We outnumbered them 28 to 16 so the odds were looking good.

There was a bidding frenzy for the second brigade of Naval Infantry. Both sides poured all their political capital into getting the support of the sailors. Sadly we'd blown just a bit too much on the 1st Naval Brigade, and we were pipped by the reactionaries by six points. If only.... the odds were now 28 to 24. Not so good.

Everyone piled into the square for a huge fight.

Round after round of bloody combat saw the faction boxes emptied of figures (those are the Mensheviks lurking in the corner).

The hospital (above) was packed to bursting with casualties. When the smoke cleared and the living were counting, the reactionaries were still in play albeit with just one figure left each, so the Revolution had failed and the Tsar clung on to power. It was sooo close though. Maybe next time.

That went really well. As with any playtest session there was a bit of back and forth and clarification of the some of the processes, but we all go the hang of it in the end. It was a great game, and I'm sure it will go down a storm at COW.