Brennan SorgeA Digital Display

Hobbies: Grand Strategy

Historical Simulation and Alternate History

Grand Strategy: What is it ? • Genre of strategy game

• A simulation of historical events

• Enables the player to act as the leader of a historical nation

• History will change due to the actions of the player

• Immense complexity in gameplay

Recent Grand Strategy Releases

Understanding the Interface

Using Europa universalis as an example

First: Picking a country. Suggestions for the chosen time period are shown as flag shields in the lower centre of the screen.

Time periods ranging

from 58AD to 2014AD can be played.

Time Periods

shown on the left.

National information is shown on the right.

In Game Display: The map itself is interactive, giving information on each local area you click on. This information will include

things such as tax income, infrastructure, and defences.

On the Left we see a large

number of tabs brought up by

clicking on the

national flag. Each

contains statistics

and controls.

On the right we

see military

and diplomacy

info, as well as a selection of map

modes at the

bottom right.

Military Use: Red arrows indicate the movement of your forces. On the Left, there are statistics shown for each selected group

of your troops.

History and Grand Strategy

Experience history as a leader within it

An Alternate HistoryUsing Europa Universalis, I created an alternate world by playing as Kiev around time of the fall of Rome. In this world, Rome never fell, England won the Hundred Years war, and I forged a small trading city into a world spanning colonial and trade power.

Importance of this: In playing this game, I had to deal with the many problems rulers faced throughout history. In the scenario above, I dealt with the threat of invasion, the black plague, the protestant reformation, and finally a civil war and revolution. It was up to me to determine how to deal with the problems of history, and what my grand strategy would be if I were in a historical scenario.

Why Play the Game?• Learn about history

• Learn about geography

• Experience historical scenarios

• Make your own decisions as if you were a world leader

• Learn strategy and tactics