Ulrich Blennemann - Aug 3, 2004 1:17 am (#3 Total: 22) Phalanx Games www.phalanxgames.nl Steve, Currently Franz & Imelda Vohwinkel are doing the Rvolution graphics. The game is scheduled for Essen. Revolution: The Dutch Revolt 1568-1648 is a game that simulates, in very broad terms, the independence movement in the Spanish Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries. During these events, which are often known as the “Eighty Years´ War”, the northern provinces became independent and established the present day Netherlands. In the south the revolt was less successful and Belgium did not emerge as an independent state until after the Napoleonic era. Revolution: The Dutch Revolt 1568-1648 is a game of skill for 2 to 5 players. It depicts a power struggle in which each player represents one of the principal factions involved, the Catholics, Habsburgs, Nobility, Burghers and Reformers. Some factions tend to have similar outlooks but they are not allies - each has its own motives and objectives. These may be summarized, very briefly, as follows: · The Catholics want to preserve the status quo in the area, implying the supremacy of the Catholic faith and secular rule by Spanish (Habsburg) masters. · The Habsburgs (who are Catholic) are determined to govern the provinces under their military authority and quell rebellion. · The Nobility are Netherlanders who, initially, owe their position to the Habsburgs and who obviously wish to maintain their own power and estates. · The Burghers want to be free of the excesses of taxation and centralisation so that trade and industry can flourish. They see the value of religious tolerance in helping to bring this about. · The Reformers want religious freedom, which means in practice that many people will become Protestants, and hope that this will bring peace to the region. Initially the Catholics and the Habsburgs are very powerful with the other factions gaining in importance as the revolt becomes more organised. The actual struggle saw periods of open warfare and others of uneasy peace with the reforming factions becoming more established, particularly in the north and along the coast. The once all powerful Habsburg armies were slowly driven out of these areas although the Catholics were allowed to retain some of their influence and the local Nobility, who were initially Catholic but with local sympathies, succeeded or failed according to their willingness to accept the changed circumstances. This game cannot hope to be a detailed re-enactment of the Eighty Years´ War which was an extremely complex situation but it does set out to capture the fervour of the times. The shifting balance of power, the temporary allegiances and the use of available resources, including those of foreign sympathisers and allies, and the need to focus these efforts on objectives of key significance are all well represented. There is an element of warfare in this game in the form of battles and sieges but the main theme is built on a combination of economic and political control. Other Euro type games from Phalanx: Heart of Africa by Andreas Steding (2-5 players, playing time: 60 minutes), should be out this month in Europe Alexander the Great by Ronald Hofstaetter and Dietmar Keusch (2-5 players, playing time: 75 minutes), for Essen Monster & Mythen plus expansion set Die Drachen! by Alan Moon and Richard Borg (2-4 (Die Drachen: 2-6) players, playing time: 30 minutes), for Essen. Note: The English edition, called Warriors will be published by Face2face Games. Uli