The Troubles: Shadow War in Northern Ireland 1964-1998

The Troubles: Shadow War in Northern Ireland 1964-1998 is a two-to-six player, card-driven simulation depicting the Paramilitary and Security Force conflict that gripped Northern Ireland for almost 4 decades between 1964 and 1998. Equally foregrounded are the national and international political affairs that saw the British Army undertake its longest deployment in its military history – on its own streets. Each player takes the role of a Faction seeking to guide Northern Irish affairs, whether it is political, paramilitarily or through martial law: the British Forces (including the UDR), the Royal Ulster Constabulary (the RUC was the Government security force), the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Loyalist Paramilitaries (LOY), and the Nationalist (NAT) or Unionist (UNI) politicians.

It encompasses the USA’s involvement in the international aid and arms deals that supported the IRA; facilitates the exportation of terror to the streets of Great Britain and Europe; depicts the complex relationship that existed between the Republic of Ireland, Britain and its northern neighbor. And it provides Developments, a feature that mirrors the increasing technological and intelligence-led advancements on both sides.

Each Faction may use Primary and Secondary Actions analogous to its real world counterparts, or may choose from the 259 rich Narrative Cards, divided into eight key epochs in Northern Ireland’s recent history:

 1964 1970 Struggle & Reform
 1970 1974f The Bloody Years
 1974F 1974O Sunningdale
 1974O 1979 Talks & H-Blocks
 1979 1983 The Thatcher Years #1: Iron and Hunger
 1983 1987 The Thatcher Years #2: Target Mainland
 1987 1992 The Thatcher Years #3: Anglo-Irish
 1992 1997 The Road to Peace

–Description from the publisher