Politics by Other Means: The rules

Politics by other means ... A Miniatures Battle Matrix Game Figures
Figures are fixed to individual figure bases. Each base is called a stand. These can be grouped together to form units. The numbers of stands per unit shown below are all approximate.

• 1 stand = 100 men = a company/battery/troop
• 6 stands = 600 men = a battalion/regiment
• 20 stands = 2000 men = a brigade
• 40 stands = 4000 men = a division

The basic rules
Each player in turn activates their units. This continues until each player has activated their units. This marks the end of a turn, and the next turn can begin.

When a player activates a unit, it may move then fight or fight then move.

The effects of moving and fighting are immediate, so being able to activate your units earlier than your opponent can be an advantage. If a stand is destroyed before it can be activated, it is removed … subject to a saving argument!

Movement
The player rolls 1 or more D6 dice to see how many inches their troops can move. Players may roll for each stand individually or each unit or roll once for each troop type. Stands do not have to move. (Aircraft that do not move are assumed to be flying in a circle over their current position.)

Players may move in any direction they wish and end up in any formation they choose. With certain notable exceptions, terrain does not block or slow down movement … but there is always the risk of something unexpected might happen!

• Civilians: 1D6 – 1
• Artillery: 1D6 – 1
• Infantry: 1D6
• Cavalry: 1D6 + 1
• Vehicles: 2D6
• Aircraft: 4D6

Fighting
Players may fight an enemy stand or unit with all stands that are in range and that can see the enemy stand or unit. Roll 1D6 per stand. All scores of 6 are hits. Stands that are hit are destroyed immediately unless the player to whom the stand belongs can make an argument to save them. Different attacks have the following ranges.

• Hand to Hand Combat: 1"
• Thrown/Dropped Weapons: 3"
• Bows: 6"
• Muskets: 6"
• Rifles: 12"
• Smooth Bore Artillery: 24"
• Machine Guns: 24"
• Rifled Artillery: 48"
• Rockets: 48"

Saving stands that have been hit
When a stand is hit, the player to whom the stand belongs can make an argument to save them. In the absence of an umpire, the player picks an enemy player to decide how strong the argument is. (If an umpire is present, they decide on the strength of the argument.) The player then rolls 1D6 to see if he has saved his stand. (NOTE: This is where cover, formation, range, training, morale status, and armament come into play)

Argument Strength Roll needed to save a stand:

• Very Strong: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Strong: 3, 4, 5, 6
• Average: 4, 5, 6
• Weak: 5, 6
• Very Weak: 6
• Stupid: 7

Unexpected Events
Once every turn, each player can propose a matrix argument (an ACTION, a RESULT, and three REASONS) that may make something unexpected happen. Players can try anything – even rewriting the rules as the game is being played! This can make what is others a very simple game into something far more complex and unpredictable.

Players can propose their argument at any time during a turn. They may interrupt another player's turn or even another player's argument … but once a player proposes an argument, they cannot propose another one during the same turn. Unused arguments are lost at the end of the turn (i.e. players cannot hoard unused arguments to be used in later turns), and players are able to propose new arguments during the next turn.

In the absence of an umpire, the player picks an enemy player to decide how strong the argument is. (If an umpire is present, they decide on the strength of the argument.) The player then rolls 1D6 to see if his argument has been successful. If it is successful, then it takes effect immediately!

Suggested Unexpected Events

• Cause an enemy unit to surrender or run away.
• Force an enemy unit to check its morale.
• Make the enemies supplies run short.
• Dig a trench.
• Us a terrain feature to hide a unit
• Send out scouts to find any hidden enemy units.
• Set up an obstacle to block an enemy unit’s movement.
• Infiltrate through or past an obstacle.
• Give a stand a higher status.
• Cause a disaster to befall the enemy commander.
• Improve your D6 dice rolls for this or the next turn.
• Increase the range of the weapon used by your units.
• Increase the rate of movement used by your units.

Campaigns
Players can easily link a series of battles together to create a mini campaign. When this is done, any changes made to the rules in one battle carry over to the next battle. As a result, the rules of the mini-campaign evolve as it unfolds.

In between battles, each player rolls 1D6 to see how many arguments they get to make to prepare their troops for the next battle. After all, it is proper preparation – and not fighting – that wins wars.

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The rules published above are © Chris Engle, and may not be reproduced commercially without his written and explicit permission. In this instance they are reproduced for information purposes only and to allow wargamers to experiment with the tactical version of the basic Matrix Game.