Gathering Storm

Gathering Storm does for GMT&s A World at War what Days of Decision did for ADG&s World in Flames 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 A World at War (Unlike Days of Decision Gathering Storm covers only the European events leading to war) Gathering 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 - Admiral Doenitz had convinced his superiors
of the importance of submarine warfare in the impending war with Britain - Germany had pursued the Z Plan earlier and more consistently - The development of the “Ural bomber” had been pursued - Poland had become a German satellite rather than resisting German aggression - War had broken out over the Sudetenland or even the remilitarization of the Rhineland - Mussolini had given a lower priority to naval armaments to the benefit of the Italian armor and air forces - France had extended the Maginot Line - de Gaulle’s arguments to expand and strengthen France’s armor units had been accepted - Britain had rearmed sooner - Russia had deferred the Great Purges Or accelerated them - The Spanish civil war had been won by the Loyalists - A civil war had broken out in
Yugoslavia Or Greece - Atomic fission had been discovered earlier - 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 - War comes early Or later in 1940 or even 1941 - YOU had been in command Gathering 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 - Six random events each turn providing unlimited replay value - Economics based on tiles and activity counters eliminating any paperwork - Flexible mobilization rules allowing players to emphasis civilian or military production – each at the expense of the other - Unit construction which allows players to activate reserve units for immediate benefits at a cost of limiting future options - Variable research which can focus on air naval military or intelligence projects as well as short or long term gains - 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 - Shipbuilding that allows varied fleets including the possibility of 5-factor super battleships -
Ahistorical A World at War counters including armor units of different strengths and additional ships - 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 - No dice Gathering 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