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[Servant Corps]

This is just a post to test if there is interest in the concept of a Cold War battle between the USSR, USA, and Nazi Germany. Here are the rules and the backstory. If you are interested, just post laying a claim. Enough interest, and then we'll start.

Spoiler: Backstory (click to show/hide)

WWII was a slaugtherhouse. At its end, both the Eastern Front and the Western  Front began to look remarkably similar to the Great War: the Allied forces would, after a  massive sacrifice, gain territory, only to overextend themselves and lose territory to the  Germans. These assaults was nothing more than a prelude to the D-Day invasion, what many  historians called the most ill-fated attempt ever. Most of the Americans who landed on the  beaches of Normandy died on those beaches.

But despite those battlefield victories, the Third Reich knew that they could not win, and  instead strove for survival. After Hilter's 'untimely' assassination, a shadowy clique  known as the "Kreisau Circle" gained control over the Third Reich and quickly began  negogations with the Allied forces on behalf of Fascism everywhere. A hastily-drawn  armistice was signed, and the globe was divided up between the forces of Liberal Democracy,  Communism, and Fascism. The "Kreisau Circle" did not offically acknowledge that the  Holocaust has occured, but began to distance the Third Reich from the excesses of Nazism  and racial purity, instead desiring for a unity with all right-wing and reactionary forces  throughout the globe.

WWII was finally over. But nobody won.

Soon, the superpowers of USA, USSR, and Germany gained nuclear weapons, thereby ensuring  that a Third World War would never occur...if only due to Mutually Assured Destruction. But  each Power secretly lust for the destruction of the other two Powers, and each nation tried  to expand their power through fighting 'proxy wars' in Asia and Africa.

One of these proxy wars began in the province of Angola, controlled by an ally of Fransico  Franco, the Portugeese "Estado Novo" (New State) under dictator António de Oliveira  Salazar. The colonial empire of Portgual began coming under much strain, with more and more  protests over right-wing oppression, forcing Salazar to begin seeking closer relations with  the "Kreisau Circle". Both the United States and the Soviet Union worried that the  Portugese colony of Angola could provide valuable raw resources necessary for Germany to  rebuild itself, including the most valuable of resources: Oil.

So the United States and the Soviet Union began backing insurgencies within Angola, hoping  to liberate Angola from the Portugese and bring it into their sphere of influence.  Meanwhile, the Germans begin sending in military advisors to establish a puppet fascist  state within Angola, in order to try and peserve what's left of Portugese rule. In 1955,  the Angolan War for Indepedence was about to begin.

http://www.dholmes.com/master-list/angola.gif

There are two basic players, Superpowers (which are Species in E-Lite) and Factions (which are Entities in E-Lite).

Spoiler: Superpowers (click to show/hide)

There are three Superpowers: Germany, USA, and USSR. While I did write a little bit of backstory, that only exist to explain the alternate timeline, once you gain control of one of these powers, its future direction is up to you. Superpowers start off with 50 Evolution Points that it can then use to invest in 'traits', and evolve. You may focus on economic softpower, properganda warfare, sending military advisors, etc. in its quest to influence events in Angola, and thereby win this Cold War. These varying "approaches" are represented as Traits, divided into Tiers. If you are familar with "Evolution Lite", this would be easy, but if not, I copy and paste this in this Spoiler.

Traits are again different in E-Lite.  Instead of single, general traits getting exponentially more expensive, traits can now only be levelled up to 10 points but now exist in tiers.  Similar traits on the same Tier do not stack, they overlap.  e.g. Two Tier 1 traits, Digestion and Long Tongue, both increase Food in a region.  Digestion has 4pts, Long Tongue has 6pts.  They do not stack to provide 10pts (and +2 Land in hexes) but overlap to provide 6pts (+1 land in hexes).  Related traits from different tiers do stack, so if the long-tongued race also has the T2 trait Sticky Tongue with 5pts, the traits stack to provide 11pts (and +2 Land).  Traits higher than T1 require foundation traits with double or more points.  e.g.  To invest 6pts in Sticky Tongue (T2), the Longtongues need to have a combined total of 12pts or more in related T1 traits (e.g. Digestion and Long Tongue).  Because the Longtongues have 6pts in Sticky Tongue (T2) already, they can invest up to 3pts in a new T3 skill; Prehensile Tongue.  However, even if they max out Sticky Tongue to 10pts (requiring 20pts in T1 skills), Prehensile Tongue can only reach a 5pt max unless more points are invested in another T2 trait to act as a foundation.

Another change is that traits are now divided into spheres.  The three core spheres are Population, Martial and Religious, but as many additional spheres can be created as desired (potentially at the cost of specialising in the core spheres).  Example spheres might be Economic, Psychic, Diplomatic, Academic or Magical.  In general, each sphere has eight types of trait that can be invested in.

Action traits are used to accomplish tasks and overcome resistance from the environment or other species.  Example traits might be Pioneering (Population), Swordfighting (Military) or Proselytism (Religious), with the intended tasks of settling a new region, conquering one's opponents or converting individuals to a new faith.

Reaction traits are used to resist imposed changes or challenges from the environment or other species.  Example traits might be Hut Building (Population), Shieldfighting (Military) or Dogma (Religious), with the intended tasks of surviving storms, defending against attack or resisting conversion to a new faith.

Power traits increase the force behind actions based on Action traits.  It requires a successful Offensive trait roll to succeed at an action, but the Power traits behind it define how well it succeeds.  Example traits might be Leadership (Population), Swordsmithy (Military) or Zealotry (Religious).

Armour traits are used to reduce the effect of imposed changes or challenges.  If a Reaction roll is failed, enough Armour trait may reduce or negate the damage done.  Example traits might be Granaries (Population), Armouring (Military) or Conviction (Religious).

Perception traits are used to resist rolls based on Stealth traits.  On a successful roll, spotted lone scouts or spies are neutralised instantly and larger forces attempting to evade detection can be engaged.  They are additionally used by scouts to notice useful or dangerous features of a hex relating to their sphere of influence.

Stealth traits are used to scout dangerous hexes unseen, infiltrate another species' hexes and potentially engage in sabotage, espionage or theft.  Either lone scouts/spies can attempt to stealth or whole units.  Lone scouts and spies will be neutralised instantly if discovered, whilst units may attempt to fight their way out of the situation and continue with fresh stealth rolls.

Range traits increase the number of actions a unit can take per turn above the base 2 points for all units.  For example a military unit can travel one hex from its home hex (1 action) and attack the settlement there (2nd action) for free, but with 10pts in Logistics (+2 actions) it can attack a settlement three hexes away (three move, one fight), attack the first settlement (1 move, 1 fight) and then one in a hex next to it (1 move, 1 fight) or scout 4 hexes away (4 move).  Moving one hex counts as an action, as does anything that would require a roll. 

Generation traits increase the number of sphere units a hex generates.  With the exception of the Population sphere (which increases the rate of Pop growth), each point of Population in a hex can support a number of sphere units equal to the number of points in Generation traits divided by 5 (rounded down).  e.g. A hex with Pop 6 and 6pts in Recruitment (Military) can support up to 6 Military units, but with 10pts in Recruitment this number increases to 12.  With another 5pts in a T2 skill, Conscription, the number increases to 18.  Where unit counts have been reduced (e.g. through war) they are replenished at a rate equal to the hex population per turn.  So where the hex of Pop 6 can support 18 military units, if there is a war and unit count is knocked down to 10, next turn the hex will have 16 military units and the turn after it will max out again at 18 (unless the population of the hex has risen).

In all actions, the number of units risked in the action directly multiplies all the traits (Action, Reaction, Power, Armour, Stealth and Perception), so greater numbers can generally achieve more than smaller groups.

An important point to note is that Tiering is not sphere-specific; it is possible to use traits from one sphere as a foundation for a trait from another.  e.g.  The Longtongues have 10pts in Stored Wealth, a T2 Economic Armour trait, and 8pts in Cartography, a T2 Military Perception trait.  Using these two skills as their foundation they can invest up to 9pts in Expeditions, a T3 Population Action trait, since private investors are willing to back colonial expeditions with good maps of the area.

The most basic resource on the Superpower level is "Resource Points". Different provinces within Angola produce different resource points. However, only Faction Players can claim and control Provinces. For every 10 Resource Points you receive...you get 1 Evolution Point, which you can then invest in researching Traits. However, certain traits, at the determination of the GM, may cost additional "Resource Points" to use...

Spoiler: Factions (click to show/hide)

Factions are players of great influence within Angola. They can be churches, schools of war, merchant companies or anything else relating to a "sphere" currently in existence that could conceivably span generations. Factions start off with an "avatar" on the map, representing the leadership of said Faction, as well as 10 free Evolution Points in order to invest in its Faction traits.

Unlike the superpowers, Faction have the ability to claim and control provinces, however, gaining the support of the Superpowers is necessary in order to trimpuh. Factions can produce Units based on their "sphere" they have points invested in, for example, a Chrisitan Church may have Religious Units. If the leadership is destroyed, the Faction would be reliant on all its Units in order to enforce its will...

A Faction needs to produce units in order to protect the Provinces that it controls [or convince a Superpower to lend them some Units]. Control (or the lack of) is a major determinat in how many Resources Points a Faction may be able to extract from a Province. For example, if they have "uncontested control over a Province" (meaning there are no hostile forces), the Faction gains all Resource Points within such an Province. Otherwise, if there are hostile forces, then the amount of Resource Points will be diminished until the Faction 'remove' the Hostile Forces.

Factions share the traits of offence, defence, power, armour, perception, stealth and range within spheres.  Importantly, an Faction can have traits in spheres other than its primary sphere, but can only produce Units of its primary sphere. For every 3 Resource Points, a Faction may invest 1 point to improve its traits. Certain traits, at the determination of the GM, may cost additional "Resource Points" to use...

Spoiler: Special Rules (click to show/hide)

*Factions: Owning one of the coastal provinces of Angola (Zaire, Luanda, Bengo, Cuanza Sul, Benguela, Namibe) allows you free access to attack the province of Cabinda. Owning Uige, Malange, or Lunda Norte also allows you to attack Cabinda...IF you receive premission from the Free State of Congo, currently controlled by Beligum (a puppet of Germany). Superpowers can attack Cabinda any time but cannot extract Resource Points.
*Resource Points can be freely tradable. A faction that gains resource points may share them with any or all of the Superpowers...or decide to keep it for themselves.
*Secret actions and secret deals are allowed! If you want to do a secret action, just PM me. A secret action counts as part of your quota of "3 actions/turn". And there is no guarrante you won't get caught doing it, or that the action will succed. Either way, you'll get your results via PM.
*Doomsday Clock: This clock represents the risks of a nuclear war. The clock starts at 5 Till Midnight. If it reaches Midnight, a three-way nuclear war erupts, and everyone loses. To everybody: Don't escalate the situation in Angola needlessly, or you'll provoke a strong reaction.
*The game starts in 1955. Every turn represent 3 in-game months. The game ends when one Superpower has managed to to restore 'peace' in Angola, either by destroying or co-opting all Factions that are opposed to that Superpower...or if Angola gets reunited under one governmnet, regardless of if said government is allied to a Superpower or not.

"Remember the cardinal rule of Evolution: Anything is possible! If you can think of it as an action or a trait, go for it and I'll figure out a way to make it fit within the framework of the rules. Just be aware that I also set the difficulty by which tasks can be accomplished, as well as the costs of accomplishing them."

I accept applications for the superpowers of USA, USSR, and Germany, as well as unlimited applications for Angolan Factions. You do not need to know about Angola in order to make up your Factions, you can just make stuff up, and I'll deal with it.

EDIT: Fixed the borked tags, and fixed an error in the rules.

[Aqizzar]

YES!  First in!  I call Germany right the fuck now!

Hang on, wut?  Let me read this more...

Why did you just copy Iituem's E-Lite rules for factions?  Maybe some clarification for the different setting?

EDIT:  Well, with the tag's all busted up, I'm not quite sure what parts to pay attention to.  Clarification: Do we call Superpowers?  Or factions beholden to Superpowers?

[webadict]

Since I'm a Species in another E-Lite, I'm totally a Faction! I'm totally helping out Germany with a Military War Factory!
Ne'er mind. I'm too confused.

[webadict]

YES!  First in!  I call Germany right the fuck now!

Hang on, wut?  Let me read this more...

Why did you just copy Iituem's E-Lite rules for factions?  Maybe some clarification for the different setting?

EDIT:  Well, with the tag's all busted up, I'm not quite sure what parts to pay attention to.  Clarification: Do we call Superpowers?  Or factions beholden to Superpowers?

Okay, so far as I can tell, there are three Superpowers. They are equivalent to Species in E-Lite. Each faction would thereby be an Entity equivalent, which is that all of the Factions powers come from the Superpowers.

[Servant Corps]

Okay, so far as I can tell, there are three Superpowers. They are equivalent to Species in E-Lite. Each faction would thereby be an Entity equivalent, which is that all of the Factions powers come from the Superpowers.

While you are true about Species, the Factions are different from the Entity because they need much assistance of the Superpower, but they can also attempt to gain power by themselves, via the seizure of provinces and using Resource Points. So they are a little more indepedent, but in the end, Factions are Entities are basically the same thing.

[Aqizzar]

Suggestion: Knowing a bit about proxy-wars, I'd say 1 year is a better reflection of a turn, maybe half a year or even less.  Superpower funded pocket wars burn hot and fast, no civil war in the modern age has lasted more than a decade.  At 5 years each, it'd be the 21st century in 9 turns.

Because I really shouldn't commit myself to a lot of writing, I'll go with just a faction.  Do we pick our starting locations ourselves?  If so, Lunda Norte is the place to be.

Name: Afrikanische Solidaritätsvorderseite, Angolische Gruppe – ASVAG
Where the glad-handing Amis and Russian dogs go, the Iron Hand of Germany will follow to squeeze them out.  Dispatched to secure northern Angola is one of the Reich-Außenministerium's finest Afrikaans agents, a Die Spinne alumni known only as Oberst Eule.  Armed with a crack division of specially trained and equipped SS and a bottomless suitcase of Reichsmarks, his orders are to turn the jungles of Angola to a living hell for any foreigners trying to usurp the state before Germany can.

Alignment: Nazi Germany
Sphere: Military

Generation: 2
Though technically a covert operation, ASVAG can call on local Belgian support, and buy or hire whatever else it needs with it's funding.
Action: 2
Germany's Waffen-SS foreign action units strike hard and fast, using guile and special equipment.
Reaction: -
ASVAG relies on stealth to avoid enemies, and scatters to defend itself.
Power: 1
Armor: 1
Though well trained and armed, ASVAG is a principally infantry force, and small in size.  Their locally recruited units are rather ineffective.
Perception: 1
Newly deployed, ASVAG  is still getting the lay of the land, with assistance from Belgian law enforcement.
Stealth: 3
ASVAG's greatest strength is fading into the jungle, emerging only to pick apart foes at the best opportunity.
Range: - (1?)
With little mechanization or industrial support, any activity can only take place around the deployment area.  Obviously, this will change.

[Gantolandon]

I'd have USSR, please.

Food:
Farming (T1, 2)
Kolkhozes (T2, 1)

Population
Action:
Reaction: Civil Protection (T1, 1)
Power:
Armour: Civil Protection (T1, 1)
Perception:
Stealth:
Range:
Generation: Live Birth (T1, 2)

Military
Action: Fighting (T1, 4)
Reaction:
Power: Tanks (T1, 3)
Armour:
Perception: Scouting (T1, 1)
Stealth: Espionage (T1, 2)
Range: Logistics (T1, 1)
Generation: Conscription (T1, 5)

Academic
Action: Research (T1, 3)
Reaction:
Power:
Armour:
Perception: Intelligence (T1, 4)
Stealth: Intelligence (T1, 4)
Range:
Generation: Education (T1, 3)

Social
Action: Revolution (T1, 4)
Reaction: KGB (T1, 3)
Power:
Armour:
Perception: Police State (T1, 2)
Stealth:
Range:
Generation: CCCP (T1, 3)

Religious
Action:
Reaction: Atheism (T1, 1)
Power:
Armour:
Perception:
Stealth:
Range:
Generation:

(50 points... it's somewhat too few, but I tried as I could)

My question: which countries officially support which block? With Germany unconquered, I suppose a lot would change. It's not something very important, but it would be helpful when writing flavour posts.

[Servant Corps]

Suggestion: Knowing a bit about proxy-wars, I'd say 1 year is a better reflection of a turn, maybe half a year or even less.  Superpower funded pocket wars burn hot and fast, no civil war in the modern age has lasted more than a decade.  At 5 years each, it'd be the 21st century in 9 turns.

Good point. Changed it to each turn being 3-months

Do we pick our starting locations ourselves? 

Yeah sure. Less work for me.

My question: which countries officially support which block? With Germany unconquered, I suppose a lot would change. It's not something very important, but it would be helpful when writing flavour posts.

I haven't thought of that. My half-baked view, altough it is subject to change is as followed:

In Europe, Germany has an expanded empire and owns Austria, Beligum, Denmark, and Northern France, and has allies like Finland, Hungary, Vichy France, Spain, Portgual, and Fascist Italy. USSR owns the rest of Eastern Europe. Another proxy war is happening in China, between the Japanese puppet government, the Maoists, and the KMT.

In Africa, decolonization has not happened yet, altough it could happen based on the effects of this War. Congo is owned by Germany due to Germany's control over Beligum, while Zamibia and Zimbawae is under the rule of England (also an ally of USA). Zambia, to the east of Angola, is controlled by the UK, and South Africa (because of its control over Namiba, lies to the South of Angola) while indepedent, is offically still supportive of UK, altough it is sympatethic to Germany.
***
So, we got one German-allied Faction and one Superpower player (the USSR). I'm going to need to type up a sample turn to try and make the rules easier to understand soon.

[Aqizzar]

Bumping for activity.

Come on people, this is a cool idea.  I was planning to make something like it, don't discourage me.

[Dwarmin]

This game is so confusing lol, I'll try to make a faction...I probably did this wrong, so feel free to correct.

Starting Area: Huambo
Name: UNITA
Alignment: United States
Sphere: Military

Generation: 1-Recruitment=UNITA propaganda secures many willing fighters. As of now, they lack the will to conscript citizens for fear of damaging relations.

Action: 2-Fanaticism=UNITA troops are brainwashed enough that they care little for casualties. Soldiers routinely execute their own poor commanders, and are rewarded if it was deemed necessary.

Reaction: 1-Power Base=UNITA makes a point of controlling resupply, rail and transportation networks, allowing for reinforcement and relief.

Power: 2-Black Market=Western and Eastern weapons regularly end up in the hands of UNITA soldiers, often obtained with American help.

Armor: 2-Light armor=UNITA has obsolete WW1 era light tanks and flatbed trucks, used more for propaganda and logistics than actual combat

Perception: 2-Local Connections=UNITA maintains excellent relations with native Angolans, and can count on their eyes and ears.

Stealth: 0
None=UNITA lacks any significant espionage branch

Range: 0
None=UNITA has immense difficulty with funding and logistics.

National Union for the Total Independence of Angola-dedicated to destroying Portuguese rule and avoiding becoming a puppet under Germany or Russia, UNITA is mostly comprised of farmers and rural workers. This alternate version is far less guerilla than the real world one, relying on overwhelming force, at least as much as they can manage with human wave attacks. Receives support from the United States, but in truth would rather see Angola completely free from foreign intrusion.

[Gantolandon]

My suggestion for players leading the factions: you may want to pick one not so closely connected with one of the superpowers - it will give you more possibilities to manoeuvre. And I don't write this because I'm jealous the other superpowers will have ardent supporters which I lack. Really! Believe me!

[Pandarsenic]

So how might I sign up as a Faction?

[Gantolandon]

1. Think up one (from what Servant Corps wrote, anything's permitted that may have something to do in Angola).
2. Decide it's prime sphere of influence. A political party would be Social, a pack of guerillas - Military, a wealthy corporation - Economic. A raiding party of telepathic cats from Venus would be propably Psychic, but I don't advise them, as it would be easy for a superpower to employ more dogs.
3. Distribute 10 points into your primary sphere. You can also pick up some secondary spheres and employ them too (f. e. if your party is supported by some wealthy businessmen, you could add something to "Economic" too). Just don't bother with generation trait in your secondary spheres, as you can only produce units from your primary area of influence.

[Servant Corps]

My suggestion for players leading the factions: you may want to pick one not so closely connected with one of the superpowers - it will give you more possibilities to manoeuvre. And I don't write this because I'm jealous the other superpowers will have ardent supporters which I lack. Really! Believe me!

I back this suggestion. Plus it would make the game more fun as well, with much more political paranoia.

Dwarmin: Perfect. Application accepted.

Pandarsenic: Aqizzar and Dwarmin provides great examples on how to make a faction.

[Pandarsenic]

I'm making a Soviet-aligned "Political Party" more focused on Military action and installing its leader as Angola's dictator than political maneuvering. Sound good?