Revolution!: A 1917 Russia Game (Signup/Discussion)

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Revolution!: A 1917 Russia Game

Отречёмся от старого мира! Отряхнём его прах с наших ног! Нам враждебны златые кумиры; Ненавистен нам царский чертог! The old order is throne asunder! The Tsarist throne is torn from it's foundation! The double-headed eagle is de-crowned! The people are rising! Petrograd is filled with throngs of marchers! Government buildings are filled with the meetings of revolutionary committees! The walls of the Moscow Kremlin are shaking with the people finding their voice for the first time. In the vast countryside of Russia, something is changing. The Russian Revolution has begun!

With Petrograd filled with revolutionaries, food riots, and strikes, and the Russian Army in disarray and mutiny across the entire front, Tsar Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russians, attempted to return from Stavka to address the political situation. But it was too late, his train was stopped by a deputation of Generals and representatives of the Duma who requested his immediate abdication. With the Russian nation in grave peril, Nicholas agreed to abdicate for the sake of the country and was soon moved to his estate at Tsarskoye Selo with his family. His brother, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, refused to take the throne without the consent of the people and their constituent assembly. Within a few days, the Romanov dynasty of 300 years had effectively fallen.

In Petrograd, an emergency provisional government has formed from a coalition of conservatives, liberals, and moderate-socialists. It is for now chaired by the respected Prince Lvov, with the support of men like Pavel Milyukov, Alexander Guchkov, Alexander Kerensky, and Viktor Chernov. However they hardly have control of the entirety of the vast Russian Empire. In Petrograd, a council of worker's and soldier's deputies led by socialists of varying stripes, the Petrograd Soviet, has obtained great influence. Worker's soviets have been formed across Russia, spreading the revolutionary movement. Furthermore, with the new government instituting immediate amnesty of all political prisoners in the Tsarist prison system, thousands of agitators, many of whom are deeply radical in their convictions, are returning to the cities, especially the capital. The fate of Russia is in the air, with many factions in and outside the government battling for influence, and fighting to answer the questions that will determine the destiny of Russia. Will the war against Germany and her allies continue? What of the question of land ownership? Will Russia be a Republic? What of the ownership of heavy industry? Where does government power come from? Who will save Russia? What will come of the revolution!?

Welcome to Revolution!, a game simulating the events of the Russian Revolution, starting on March 15th, 1917. While we may start in a historical setting, ultimately, the fate of Russia is up to you, the players. You may play as anyone you please, a General, a politician, a diplomat, an (ex)-royal, a revolutionary, a writer, or a newspaper editor. The world is your oyster. I will reserve some characters at my control for the good of the game, but ultimately his is up to you. I will provide a guide to main factions and key players, but you can apply as anyone from any group.

Bold are taken

Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (Bolsheviks)
The Bolsheviks are hardened, radical revolutionaries. Formed at the split of the RSDLP in 1903, they are dedicated Marxists who believe that all political power should be transferred to the Soviets, the imperialist war should be immediately ended, and the means of production should be popularly owned. They do not entertain notions of parliamentary democracy or western liberalism. Many leading Bolsheviks are returning from exile in Siberia, ready to join the revolution. But most party leaders remain exiled abroad in Switzerland, including their headstrong leader Vladimir Ulyanov "Lenin", who must be returned to make headway.

Key Figures: Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Lev Kamenev, Iosif Stalin, Felix Dzerzhinsky

Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (Mensheviks)
Despite being called "the minority", the Mensheviks form the majority faction in the new urban Soviets. Formed at the split of the RSDLP in 1903 over doctrinal disagreements with the Bolshevik faction, they are Russian Marxists who have long experience resisting Tsarist absolutism. They believe in the convocation of a constituent assembly and the formation of a united socialist government. However, they are more willing to work with liberal democrats than the Bolsheviks, and some even believe in the continuation of the war, but they are entirely committed to the revolution and a radically new Russia.

Key Figures: Julius Martov, Irakly Tsereteli, Nikolai Chkheidze, Georgy Plekhanov

Party of Socialist Revolutionaries
The Party of Socialist Revolutionaries, better known simply as SRs, are a vast leftist coalition that has formed the backbone of the revolutionary movement for decades. Based in decades of Russian radicalism, the SRs are an agrarian socialist party deeply committed to the equal distribution of Russia's vast farmland. They find most of their support among the peasantry, but remain important in the politics of Petrograd. The SRs are a vast political movement, that stretches from moderates perfectly happy to embrace liberalism like Alexander Kerensky and the Trudoviks, to bomb throwing radicals who want to assert soviet power like Maria Spiridonova. They are tenuously united for now on the issue of land reform, but even there there are differences and the question of who really is an SR is an open one.

Key Figures: Viktor Chernov, Maria Spiridonova, Alexander Kerensky, Yekaterina Breshko-Breshkovskaya

Constitutional Democratic Party
The Constitutional Democratic Party, or simply known as the Kadets wield great influence in the new government. While historically constitutional monarchists, in the aftermath of Michael's refusal they have embraced the idea of a liberal presidential republic. However some in the party still like the idea of a British style monarchy. They are led by Pavel Milyukov, a longtime critic of reactionary Tsarist ministries, who is now foreign minister. The Kadets want to a build a unitary, democratic Russia, and favor emancipation of the Jews, an 8 hour work day, and the prosecution of the war to a successful conclusion. They do not have much support outside of the cities.

Key Figures: Pavel Milyukov, Prince Georgy Lvov, Andrei Manuilov, Andrei Shingarev

Union of October 17
The Union of October 17, better known as simply Octobrists, have been the dominant power in the Duma for years. They are conservatives and constitutional monarchists, and find their support among the landed gentry, and industrialists, and many in the army. They were allied with the Witte and Stolypin governments, but sharply opposed later incompetence. They are entirely hostile to the radical demands of revolutionaries, and look to building a strong, united Russian state. They wish to fight the war until the day of victory dawns, and bring stability to Russia. They wield significant influence in the current cabinet but have little support among the people.

Key Figures: Mikhail Rodzianko, Alexander Guchkov, Vasily Shulgin, Vladimir Ryabushinsky

The Army
As the winds of change blow through Russia, many look towards the Imperial Army as a beacon of stability. The army is one of the longest and strongest institutions in Russia, and despite its abysmal failures against the Germans and constant mutinies, it remains crucially important. The man who sways the common soldier may lead Russia into the future. There is also the officer corps, who are largely conservative and fiercely opposed to socialism and the Soviets. Some believe it will take an officer to restore peace to Russia and bring the revolution to an end. A few regiments could truly make all the difference in the future of Russia.

Key Figures: Mikhail Alekseyev, Lavr Kornilov, Anton Denikin, Alexei Brusilov, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich

The Reactionaries
While many cheer as revolution sweeps through Russia, others watch in shock and terror as their Great Russia comes tumbling down. Many weep as Nicholas II abdicates the throne, and stand in shock as socialists openly demonstrate and take government posts. These are the reactionaries, who have formed the base of Tsarist support for years. The Black Hundreds, the monarchists, and the nationalists may be on the sidelines now, but some still retain government influence, and look towards the day when the revolution can be erased from history, or used to serve their own ends.

Key Figures: Vladimir Purishkevich, Alexander Dubrovin, Alexander Trishatny, Roman von Ungern-Sternberg

Players

Alexander Kerensky (Trudovik/SR): RGM2609
Alexei Brusilov (Apolitical/General): Reserved by OBD
Leon Trotsky (Bolshevik Aligned): S019
Lavr Kornilov (Conservative/General): PSOL
Viktor Chernov (Center SR/SR): Mimoha
Vladimir Purishkevich (Black Hundredist/Reactionary): Ishan
Josef Stalin (Bolshevik): NewYorkExpress
Vladimir Lenin (Bolshevik): GotFan
Pavel Milyukov (Kadet): YPestis25
Julius Martov (Internationalist/Menshevik): Devout Centrist
Roman von Ungern-Sternberg (Officer/Reactionary): SlamDunk
Maria Spiridonova (Left-SR/SR): Elcaspar
Georgy Lvov (Kadet): Dereich
Mikhail Rodzianko (Octobrist) JacksonHitchcock
Alexander Guchkov (Octobrist): Kuumo
Felix Dzerzhinsky (Bolshevik): IBizzBee
Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich (Conservative/Army): Kingpoleon

Rules:
1. The OP (Me) will settle in game disputes that may appear

2. No Powergaming, Metagaming, etc. Do not determine other character actions without asking them, unless its something small like dialogue choices (as long as you're consult the other player with what the outcome of your discussions is).

3. Be polite please

, rudeness ain't needed. Be considerate and kind towards your fellow players and blog posters.

4. Be reasonable and stick to decent historical accuracy and realism.

5. If you commit to playing a major character or lead a major party, make sure you know you can stay active

6. There is zero tolerance for out of character advocacy of violent ideology, anti semitism, or genocide. And this should be obvious, but this blog's rules are to be listened to.

7. If you have any suggestions, please provide! If you have any concerns or in game questions, message me!

8. Have fun!

[1] Pinterest, Creative Commons License

[2] All subsequent images are Wikimedia Commons

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