Know then, O Prince, that in a time before Mezaguay there was an Age of Darkness in the Land of Cornwall. Then from out of the dark strode the Mighty Warrior - Neil of Newcastle - who struck a blow for freedom and the right to run silly games about South America! This is his story, in his own hand...
The genesis of this idea began with a pair of articles in Practical Wargamer, describing how a group of gamers had adapted the ideas found in the boardgame Junta to fight out a cout d'etat in a mythical South American country. Whilst lacking access to the boardgame, the scenario stimulated several thinly connected threads. The idea of creating a semi-mythical state has always appealed, endulging ones creative skills whilst remaining within believable boundrys allows one to include elements and reject others, without fear of censure. In my case, I had been collecting a wide range of 1/87th scale modern vehicles and 20mm figures both from several nations and including some WW2 equipment. The thought occured that it might be fun to see them altogether on one large table, and so the idea of the South American megagame was conceived. Using the articles as a basis, I began to plan the forces, substituting vehicles for what I had available and digging unpainted figures out of bags and boxes until I had what would constitute a feasable starting point. I then identified gaps in equipment and figures and proceeded to purcase the necessary models. At each stage it was tempting to add more and more but with close on 30 vehicles, 80 figures and several heliocopter and aircraft to assemble and paint restraint was imperative.
I also spent some time (when not painting) in characterising the leaders involved in the game, establishing their political alignments, personal characteristics as well as alliances and emnities using the results of cards and dice after assembling a variety of charts culled from roleplaying and wargaming books, games and magazines. After some juggling and fudging I managed to assemble an interesting if somewhat disreputable crew!
Eventually after about two months intensive painting, model making and scenery building (including several late night sessions right up to the night before the game) the megagame took place. A full account can be found elsewhere, but needless to say, the game produced several interesting events as well as an unexpected side effect. Danny O'Hara who took the part of the gallant (if somewhat unlucky) air force chief, was galvanized (provoked?) into resurecting a half finished project he had started with his brother based around a fictional South American country, and so the genesis of El Mundo Mythico was born.
Since then it has grown in ways and directions which neither of us planned or expected. A third person, Mark, announced that he too was organizing a mythical South American project, this time set in the 1940's and combining his fascination for 1930's aircraft with an interest in actual conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War and Chaco War, all mixed in with a healthy dose of imagination and inspiration from such unlikely sources as Tin Tin!
Both Danny and myself are interested in obscure and fascinating periods of military history, and also share a sanity defying desire to commence projects in several periods at once. It should come as no surprise that we had both independantly considered expanding our mythical states into other historical periods, such as "Wars of Liberation" (based on Bolivar and San Martan). Indeed the concept is so contagious that I have heard of plans to do a Conquisador v "Meztec" indian game!
Initially I ran the megagame without any idea of a map (apart from that of the city itself) or indeed a name for the country. Since then I have developed the initial ideas, so that now my original state (now named Costa Guana) has been joined on a rudimentary map by two neighbours San Salvatore (communist) and El Catamara (smaller right wing country dominated by the USA and drug cartels). Costa Guana itself is a (mostly) right wing military dictatorship, ruled by a junta of scheming ambitious generals. It has only recently thrown off its left wing allegiances, briefly imposed by a communist revolution/electoral victory in 1979, and is now back within the United States sphere of influence. However, as the setting is the late 1980's, all the states are about to see first hand the effects of the "Cold War thaw", including less aid but a glut of surplus military equipment.
Costa Guana faces both internal and external threats. All three neighbours share a mutual antipathy (as well as common borders), and the threat of foreign invasion is never far away. There is always the possibility of a civil war and both left and right wing backed guerrilla movements exist within the geographical area shared by the neighbouring countries. With the expansion of the original idea onto the WWW (courtesy of Danny) who knows where we will end up. I would recommend anyone with only a passing interest to give designing ones own country a go as there is much to gain and little to lose (except pehaps a little sanity), I would give you the following caution however. Beware of freinds who approach you with the words "that reminds me of the idea I had for ....." as you may find yourself contracting what Danny calls "mad wargamers disease", hopelessly addictive, contagious and incurable (even with cold showers)!
The above is from Neil Patterson