{"product_id":"gathering-storm","title":"Gathering Storm","description":"\u003cp\u003ePrequel to the main event \"A World At War\" in the European theater of operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eGathering Storm, both a game in its own right and a prequel to GMT's A World at War, covers the period from 1935 to the outbreak of World War II, whenever that might be. Like A World at War, Gathering Storm, simulates 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\r\n\u003cp\u003eAdmiral Doenitz had convinced his superiors of the importance of submarine warfare in the impending war with Britain.\u003cbr\u003eGermany had pursued the Z Plan earlier and more consistently.\u003cbr\u003eThe development of the \"Ural bomber\" had been pursued.\u003cbr\u003ePoland had become a German satellite, rather than resisting German aggression.\u003cbr\u003eWar had broken out over the Sudetenland, or even the remilitarization of the Rhineland.\u003cbr\u003eMussolini had given a lower priority to naval armaments, to the benefit of the Italian armor and air forces.\u003cbr\u003eFrance had extended the Maginot Line.\u003cbr\u003ede Gaulle’s arguments to expand and strengthen France’s armor units had been accepted.\u003cbr\u003eBritain had rearmed sooner.\u003cbr\u003eRussia had deferred the Great Purges. Or accelerated them.\u003cbr\u003eThe Spanish civil war had been won by the Loyalists.\u003cbr\u003eA civil war had broken out in Yugoslavia. Or Greece.\u003cbr\u003eAtomic fission had been discovered earlier.\u003cbr\u003eThe 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\u003eWar comes early. Or later, in 1940 or even 1941. \u003cbr\u003eYOU had been in command.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGathering Storm,can be played as a separate game in a single session, with its own victory conditions, but A World at War players will want to press on and see how the war they have created plays out. While using different mechanics, Gathering Storm's structure is consistent with A World at War and 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, Gathering Storm, includes the following:\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSix random events each turn, providing unlimited replay value.\u003cbr\u003eEconomics based on tiles and activity counters, eliminating any paperwork.\u003cbr\u003eFlexible mobilization rules, allowing players to emphasis civilian or military production - each at the expense of the other.\u003cbr\u003eUnit construction which allows players to activate reserve units for immediate benefits, at a cost of limiting future options.\u003cbr\u003eVariable research, which can focus on air, naval, military or intelligence projects, as well as short or long term gains.\u003cbr\u003eA 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\u003eShipbuilding that allows varied fleets, including the possibility of 5-factor super battleships.\u003cbr\u003eAhistorical A World at War counters, including armor units of different strengths and additional ships. \u003cbr\u003eA 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\u003eNo dice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGathering Storm is a must-buy for any committed A World at War player, an excellent - and possibly dangerously time consuming – introduction to the A World at War universe for those unfamiliar with that game, and a enjoyable and instructive fast-paced game all on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GMT Games LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52845678756204,"sku":"GMT1502","price":154.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0440\/6493\/1998\/files\/467.jpg?v=1762462010","url":"https:\/\/www.goodgames.com.au\/products\/gathering-storm","provider":"Good Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}