From: farrell@penguin.cis.ohio-state.edu (christopher k farrell)
Subject: EiA: Variant Chits?
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 18:55:33 GMT

	I was spending some time thinking about EiA, and was thinking that one
of the problems is, of course, that hindsight is 20/20; France can easily 
avoid the mistakes they made in the real thing (like just not being stupid and
invading Russia).  Third Reich takes care of this by having variant chits;
why not EiA as well?  Each nation could draw one chit at the beginning of the
game (to be kept seceret until played) that would somehow alter the historical
situation and also alter his victory points.   So, #1 might be:

	1)  Spain:  Increase Cav morale to 4.0; play any time; increase VP
		total needed by 8 if played.
	    Turkey:  Nizammi-Cedid corps Infantry morale increased to 3.5.
		costs remain the same.  +8 VPs.
	    France:  Better Dutch training; the fleet is considered equal to
		French fleets (but with 4.0 morale) if the optional naval rules
		are in play, or equal to British fleets if not. +5 VPs
	    Russia:  The feudal system starts to decay earlier; after play of
		this chit, decrease Russian Money and manpower by 10 for the
		next year, after which increase the Money by 10.  +20 VPs.
	    Austria:  In a rash of patriotism, Austira may declare war against
		France even if at an enforced peace.  +15 VPs.
	    Prussia:  More inspired new leadership.  Play only at the beginning
		of the game; increases the Strategic and Tactical ratings of
		all Prussian leaders except Bluecher by 1.  +8 VPs.
	    Britain:  Better realitions with North African states.  If any 
		minors that would be part of the Ottoman Empire are made free
		states, their Morale for Infantry and Cavalry are increased
		by 1.5 (to a maximum of 3/4) after two consecutive years of
		being a British-controlled free state.  +10 VPs.

	And so on.  The idea is to bring in a little uncertainty to the game;
not much, but at least let France and others worry about things that might have
happened.  Like maybe give Austria a variant that allows for some a few
Artillery, or expands their cav capacity to 3 in the first 3 corps.  Give
Prussia a second quality leader (although not better than Bluecher), or allow
France to forment a revolt in Ireland.  Or some more generic chits ... one that
forces France to move in the proper sequence, or allows a one-time increase
in the amount of money/manpower available (sort of a watered down levee en
masse for Russia or France).  Or increase the morale of some minor corps, or
decrease the morale of others.  You name it.  If you could come up with enough
of them you could have each nation draw one or two, and then have some
"universal" variants, which would be drawn and revealed at the start of the 
game.

	If you have any ideas for such chits, mail me.  Maybe we could get an
article to the General together here.  I always thought the variant chits it
3R were a good idea.

							Chris



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Organization: Doctoral student, Mathematics, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA