Copyrighted to 1965, we played the 1983 edition recently. The players are first dealt their nations population, then the cards dealing with propaganda (which gain or lose segments of the population), defence missiles, delivery systems, warheads of differing mega-tonnage and top secret cards which can also affect the population. Propaganda cards can only be played during the initial peace sequence and are discarded once warfare starts. Cards have to be laid (face-down) two-or-three turns before they can be used, thus events can change before they are reached. When war-heads are deployed a random events table is used to check on results, the weapons can easily be duds, the population safe in shelters or the yield can be increased by an explosion of a weapons store.

     The game is easy to play and quick to learn. My first game lasted around one hour and, although I made some mistakes, I think I could do better next time.

     There are expansion sets of nuclear Proliferation and Nuclear Escalation which update both the weapons and the events controlled by the Propaganda/Secret cards. Yes, millions die in this game but this is what politicians have to consider at all times. Perhaps populations / collateral wealth could be increased as a reward for extending the peace-phase?

Reviewed by Cardinal Cox.