Inspired by UFO Enemy Unknown and the more recent XCOM computer games. Both games, whilst great at the tactical level are naturally thin on high level politics and diplomatic action.
Hence a megagame.
The basic premise is that aliens (The Beta Reticulans or 'greys') are increasingly visiting earth to abduct, investigate, terrorise and ultimately to subvert and take over or render earth weak enough to invade.
The main part of the game is about how humanity as a collection of political entities decides to react to this.
“At least you don't see them f*cking each other over for a percentage...” Ripley
Human nations involved will be able to gain technological knowledge by shooting down alien craft and/or capturing aliens alive or dead and key items of their technology. That knowledge can be used to improve the economy (selling alien tech to corporations), develop improved counter-measures to the alien threat or to upgrade national defence.
Additionally, no human nation is precluded from taking the view that its better to be on the winning side from the start, and to be welcoming their new Reticulan masters.
Game Play
The main element of game play will be the different national contingents attempting to coordinte their responses whilst at the same time meeting national objectives. This will involve high level diplomacy.
And the Aliens will be getting up to the usual unspeakably devious and alien activities. Abductions, probes, infiltration, cattle mutilation and terror raids cannot be ruled out.
Humans get to upgrade their capabilities by researching captured alien equipment and personnel and thereby gaining knowledge. These can be shared or held – depending on how much the human players cooperate. Humans also have to decide how to use their resources to build better bases, upgrade existing weapons and so on. And who knows - maybe bring the war to the enemy?
The game will be on quarterly turns so decision-making will be strategic - primarily about resource allocation, doctrine, policy making and, of course, diplomacy. Team members of a typical 4-player human team will consist of a Head of State, Foreign Minister, Military Chief and Top Scientist - each responsible for different aspects of the crisis.
Main teams (The number of human teams will depend on overall numbers)
- China
- USA
- United Kingdom
- Russian Federation
- France
- Japan
- The Aliens
- World Media
- Control
