{"product_id":"gathering-storm","title":"Gathering Storm","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor 2-5 players, playing time about 400 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"expandable-envelope\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"expandable-body\"\u003e\n\u003carticle class=\"game-description-body ng-scope\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ng-binding\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edoes for GMT's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhat\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDays of Decision\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edid for ADG's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eWorld in Flames\u003c\/em\u003e. It allows players to simulate the diplomatic, economic, and political maneuverings that preceded the Second World War, either as a stand alone game or as an expansion for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e. (Unlike\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDays of Decision,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecovers only the European events leading to war.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e, both a game in its own right and a prequel to GMT’s\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e, covers the period from 1935 to the outbreak of World War II, whenever that might be. Like\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esimulates the military, economic, political, diplomatic, research and production preparations for the Second World War, allowing the players to explore what might have happened if:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Admiral Doenitz had convinced his superiors of the importance of submarine warfare in the impending war with Britain.\u003cbr\u003e- Germany had pursued the Z Plan earlier and more consistently.\u003cbr\u003e- The development of the “Ural bomber” had been pursued.\u003cbr\u003e- Poland had become a German satellite, rather than resisting German aggression.\u003cbr\u003e- War had broken out over the Sudetenland, or even the remilitarization of the Rhineland.\u003cbr\u003e- Mussolini had given a lower priority to naval armaments, to the benefit of the Italian armor and air forces.\u003cbr\u003e- France had extended the Maginot Line.\u003cbr\u003e- de Gaulle’s arguments to expand and strengthen France’s armor units had been accepted.\u003cbr\u003e- Britain had rearmed sooner.\u003cbr\u003e- Russia had deferred the Great Purges. Or accelerated them.\u003cbr\u003e- The Spanish civil war had been won by the Loyalists.\u003cbr\u003e- A civil war had broken out in Yugoslavia. Or Greece.\u003cbr\u003e- Atomic fission had been discovered earlier.\u003cbr\u003e- The Second World War had begun with a Franco-Italian conflict. Or a French pre-emptive attack on Germany. Or a Russo-German war, with Italy and the Western Allies neutral.\u003cbr\u003e- War comes early. Or later, in 1940 or even 1941.\u003cbr\u003e- YOU had been in command.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecan be played as a separate game in a single session, with its own victory conditions, but\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eplayers will want to press on and see how the war they have created plays out. While using different mechanics,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm's\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estructure is consistent with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand allows for a seamless transition to whatever alternate war the players planned – or stumbled into. Some 30 years in development, with three years of design and playtesting,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e, includes the following:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Six random events each turn, providing unlimited replay value.\u003cbr\u003e- Economics based on tiles and activity counters, eliminating any paperwork.\u003cbr\u003e- Flexible mobilization rules, allowing players to emphasis civilian or military production – each at the expense of the other.\u003cbr\u003e- Unit construction which allows players to activate reserve units for immediate benefits, at a cost of limiting future options.\u003cbr\u003e- Variable research, which can focus on air, naval, military or intelligence projects, as well as short or long term gains.\u003cbr\u003e- A fast-moving diplomatic system, with each player allocating diplomatic counters each turn. Diplomatic targets are public, but the points allocated to them are not.\u003cbr\u003e- Shipbuilding that allows varied fleets, including the possibility of 5-factor super battleships.\u003cbr\u003e- Ahistorical\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecounters, including armor units of different strengths and additional ships.\u003cbr\u003e- A dynamic crisis system, in which the Allies can appease or oppose the Axis, with neither side necessarily being certain whether war might break out.\u003cbr\u003e- No dice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGathering Storm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a must-buy for any committed\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eplayer, an excellent – and possibly dangerously time consuming – introduction to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA World at War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003euniverse for those unfamiliar with that game, and a enjoyable and instructive fast-paced game all on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"GMT","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":30604234954,"sku":"GMT1502","price":96.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1380\/9101\/products\/Gathering_Storm_a4d87a44-0d4e-44e1-b03b-ed6ec5687774.png?v=1569058399","url":"https:\/\/leisuregames.live\/products\/gathering-storm","provider":"Leisure Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}