One of the later scenarios added by the game-makers of Civilization II, World War: 1979 depicts World War III breaking out in the late 1970s. The map depicts all of Earth, so each individual continent is considerably simplified and scaled down. There are several civilizations: Americans, West Europe, Soviets, India, China, Middle East, and Neutral Alliance.
Unlike World War II, nobody is actually at war when the scenario commences. Europe and the Soviets have a cease-fire that is up for renewal, but unless you specifically opt for that as the Europeans or the Soviets, the fighting will most likely start. Also unlike the World War II scenario, WW79 does not mandate that the two major enemies- in this case, the Soviets and Americans- be locked in a state of war until one is defeated. The Americans and Soviets can go to war or make peace at any time, and even (western) Europe and the Americans are not guaranteed to stay allies.
The stakes are considerably higher than they were in the 1940s. Not only can the pace of the fighting move considerably faster and thus do more damage, but just about everybody starts the scenario possessing Nuclear Missiles. A mass nuclear exchange is entirely possible if the Soviets and their two major foes (Europe and the Americans) get into it, and that can rapidly spiral completely out of control. The world will suffer permanent and significant damage if the massive amounts of resulting Pollution are not quickly cleaned up.
More is going on than just the possible war between the Soviets and their enemies to the West. The Neutrals, despite their name, are more than likely going to get into it with the Middle East civilization, which is comprised entirely of countries that are very well known for their hatred of Israel, which is represented as part of the Neutral Alliance along with Japan and the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Americans have a good relationship with the Neutrals, and an American or European player would be well-advised to back them. A Soviet player should support the Middle East, who can not only make a great trading partner but also an ally in a war against the Europeans and Americans.
The one truly neutral factions are China and India. They start the game at peace with all the other civilizations, and while a player of another faction could sway them to their side, an Indian or Chinese player could just stay out of the entire war and commit to alliance with nobody. Not a bad choice when people are quite possibly about to begin launching nuclear weapons at each other.
Players[]
Soviets[]
Despite the name, the Soviets in this scenario actually consists of the entire Warsaw Pact, most likely because on this map, eastern Europe is too small to really work as another faction by itself. Anyone playing as the Soviets may as well be aggressive, because the North Americans and/or Western Europe are liable to just attack you at some point anyway. May as well have the fighting start on your terms.
Get Spies aross the Iron Curtain and get a look at the airbases the North Americans have backing up the rest of NATO, along with strategically-placed nuclear missile units. Begin your campaign against NATO with a series of lightning-fast strikes against these North American airbases, to prevent two separate player turns from being used against you. A mass air offensive by the Soviet Air Force and your Warsaw Pact client states should be enough, but feel free to bring forward all the tanks and howitzers that you like, because if they can get anywhere near the North Americans' airbases, the problem will basically solve itself.
Get the Soviet Navy to sea and blockade Europe off from North America, and in particular, use submarines to destroy any ships the North Americans may try to send across. Once the West Europeans are cut off from their North American allies, you will be able to grind them down easily enough. Try to keep the use of nuclear weapons to a tactical strike or two at most; any nuclear blasts will leave a lot of destroyed city improvements and even more radiation for you to deal with.
If you have surplus units and/or funds, you can always roleplay things and support the Middle East faction as they take a swipe at the Israelis again. Bonus points if you can secure an alliance with the Chinese or Indians, though neither is all that likely to have much influence on a Europe-centered fight between the Soviets and NATO.
North Americans[]
West Europeans[]
Somebody's about to get attacked by the Soviets, and it isn't just the North Americans.
Chinese[]
Indians[]
Middle East[]
World War III has kicked off and you're playing as a collection of Islamic states that all have this problem with Israel (part of the Neutral Alliance). Might as well see if this latest time's the charm.
Neutral Alliance[]
A conglomerate faction consisting of Israel, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Japan, the Neutrals get attacked by the Middle East faction so much that they really don't get to live up to the name. Enjoy watching the North American AI keep overthrowing its own democracy in favor of a theocracy over and over for some reason.