A Game of Proxy Conflicts

Part of the HCW Proxy Warfare topic

Hegemony: Cold War is a boardgame I've been working on and off for the past 15 years. It has gone through many iterations and draws heavily from my ongoing historical and political research. The gameplay is also heavily inspired by old-school RTS and overly complicated nerd games. Honestly, this project could have a website of its own. But for the moment, it has taken a back seat to my novels and academic work. If this page generates enough interest, I might invest some more time in this project.

The main feature of HCW is the use of proxy factions to build your powerbase and attack your enemies indirectly. 2-4 players control one of the great Cold War era powers: the United States, the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, and the European Commonwealth. All of them have considerable economic weight and powerful armies, but the post-WII international political order ensures the sovereignty of all countries, making it difficult for larger countries to engage directly in regional conflicts. Blatant aggression against other countries bears a heavy cost, necessitating the use of internal proxy factions to expand one's influence.

Proxy conflicts are initiated by randomized global events. During an event, each player directs their proxy faction within the target region. The strength of one's proxy can vary based on event, creating many unique situations. Players always have the option to bolster their proxy through aid, but this action can come at steep material and diplomatic cost. Often times, players will have to weigh these costs against the benefit of increasing their control in the region.

Proxy conflicts typically start at a certain level of calm, but can quickly spiral into chaos. Proxies are reliant on sub-factions, agents, and militants to spread their control. Sub-factions are powerful political actors within their state that heavily influence growth and strategy. Agents work to promote the proxy's interests through political means. Militants provide security and can be utilized for more heavy-handed tactics at the risk of escalating the conflict.

When the player's proxy seizes control of the state, the player gains an allied country in the region. Allies provide resources, diplomatic support, and a base of operations in the region. This can make it easier to expand further and built up one's powerbase.