Democracy under Siege

About this board game

Democracy under Siege is a card-driven strategy game for 2–3 players, with games lasting about 240 minutes, that explores the political and geopolitical struggles of Europe from 1933 to 1940.

Each player represents one of three competing ideologies: Democracy, Nazism, or Communism. In a two-player game, Democracy and Nazism are controlled directly, while control of Communism alternates between players from turn to turn according to specific rules.

Each turn represents one year and contains three or four rounds. Players choose a political action and an event in each round. Events take effect immediately, while political actions require a die roll modified by the situation and may be supported by spending political prestige. Whether successful or not, political action cards also provide political points for later activities.

• Influence the political allegiances of minor countries.
• Exploit economic resources and generate military resources.
• Recruit and activate coup cells to challenge minor-country regimes.
• Send forces into local conflicts or intervene in civil wars.
• Build ideological influence and pursue victory points through control and conquest.

At the end of each turn, players check outcomes, calculate military-resource production, and maintain the allegiances of minor nations. Remaining resources can provide additional victory points or support intervention in future conflicts.

With 108 strategy cards and an abstract combat system, Democracy under Siege combines historical events, political maneuvering, diplomatic networks, and the race for armaments. The result is an interactive simulation of the forces that shaped the road toward the Second World War, while allowing players to explore alternative outcomes.