Drums of War: An All-CPU Playtest of the Civil War

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

First Ballot of the 1844 Democratic Convention

Need 399 to be the nominee

• Sen Thomas Hart Benton- 318 (frontrunner and party leader)
• William Marcy- 163
• Sen Silas Wright- 72
• Sen William Rufus King- 62
• Hendrick B Wright- 52
• James Iver McKay- 44
• Rep Linn Boyd- 33
• Sen Aaron V Brown- 26
• James K Polk- 26

Benton received -1 momentum for being the front runner and not sewing up the nomination.

Former party leader Marcy gets a +1 for being second.

Edited June 26, 2022 by Ich_bin_Tyler

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

The Agrarians call for a rules change: 2/3s rule to win.

Agrarians 4 Aye

Conservative Democrats 4 Aye

Popular Sovereignty Democrats 5 Nay

Free Soil Democrats 7 Nay

Ayes 8 to 12 Nays

No rules change

[Willthescout7]

Senator Benton offers Senator William Rufus King the position of Sec of the Navy if he withdraws his name from the convention. King accepts!

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

James Polk of TN will withdraw and endorse William Marcy.

William Marcy will attempt to influence the smoke filled rooms and succeeds with a 6, +1 momentum.

Benton attempts to whip the party into compliance but rolls a 1 and fails.

Rep Linn Boyd will appeal to the will of the people but rolls a 1 and fails.

Sen Aaron Brown will appeal to credibility but rolls a 4 and fails.

Marcy will appeal to integrity and credibility. Rolls a 5 and 1 so +1 momentum.

Benton will appeal to integrity and credibility. Rolls a 3 and 5 so +1 momentum.

Sen Silas Wright will appeal to credibility but rolls a 4 and fails.

Edited June 26, 2022 by Ich_bin_Tyler

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

Second Ballot of the 1844 DNC

• William Marcy- 402
• Sen Thomas Hart Benton- 85
• James Iver McKay- 84
• Sen Silas Wright- 72
• Sen Aaron V Brown- 61
• Hendrick B Wright- 60
• Rep Linn Boyd- 32

William Marcy will be the Democratic nominee in 1844.

[matthewyoung123]

"The Daily Democrat"

June 1, 1844- New Orleans, LA

In a stunning turn of events yesterday, former Governor William L. Marcy of New York won the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.  Although Senator Thomas Hart Benton led the voting in the first round, Marcy had a strong showing, placing second.

Before the next ballots were voted on, former Tennessee Governor James K. Polk left the race and endorsed his friend, Marcy.  Senator William Rufus King of Alabama also declined to run on the second ballot, endorsing Benton in exchange for the promise of a cabinet post as the Secretary of the Navy.  More back room deals were made in smoke filled rooms, and the ballot counting began again.

Marcy's sponsor, former Vermont Governor Paul Dillingham, was hopeful going into the second round.  As one of the Vermont electors, he had been strongly advocating for Marcy since before the convention began last week.  As the master of ceremonies called the roll in alphabetical order, it was clear to everyone that Benton was not having much success.  Marcy seemed to have the momentum.

The two men were running neck and neck when "MAINE" was called, and voted to give 9 votes to Benton and 9 votes to Marcy.  This didn't help either man.  The real turning point seemed to be "OHIO."  Ohio's delegation voted to give 35 of its 46 votes to Marcy while the other 11 went to Benton.  Marcy began to pull ahead.  But onlookers wondered would he be able to get to 399 votes, the threshold to secure the nomination, or would he come up just short?

As the roll call continued in the alphabetical order of states, it was clear that the voting would come down to three states; Tennessee, Virginia, and Vermont.  The Polk supports threw their weight behind Marcy, giving him 356 total votes.  The shock came when Virginia was asked to vote.  In the first round, many in Virginia had supported Benton.  But the second round was different.  Virginia voted to give 17 votes to McKay, 17 votes to Benton, and 34 votes to Marcy.  That left Marcy only 9 votes shy of securing the nomination with one state left.  Dillingham's state, Vermont, with 12 votes.

Dillingham himself was the 399th vote for Marcy.  It was his vote that helped the former NY Governor secure the nomination.  Dillingham was thrilled and so was Marcy.  Marcy ended up with 402 votes and became the Democratic nominee.  Now the convention would retreat back into the smoke filled rooms and decide who was to be the Vice-Presidential nominee.

 

 

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

Mr James Guthrie of KY wins the VP nod over Former Rep James Iver McKay of NC with kingmakers voting 16-4.

Pres Harrison wins unopposed at the 1844 Whig Convention. He chooses unilaterally as his VP Mr. Abbott Lawrence of MA.

Scoring to determine VP Impact:

• Both Guthrie and Lawrence are from different factions than the Pres (+1 both).
  • Guthrie is from the Conservative Dems, which are at the lowest enthusiasm for the party, so Cons move +1 Blue.
• Both tickets have a Mod, Cons, or Lib (+1 both).
• The age difference are less than 20 for both tickets (Whigs 19 years and Dems 6 years) (+0 both)
• Each ticket has someone younger than 60 and older than 50 (+2 both).
• Neither ticket is the incumbent Pres and VP (+0 both)
• Both Dems are not holding office (+0) but the Whigs have one not holding office (+1).
• Neither ticket is a Big-Small state pairing (+0 both).
• Both tickets have two different regions (+1 both).
• Both VPs are obscure
  • James Guthrie: loses obscure, gains leadership, gains charisma. (+2)
  • Abbott Lawrence: keeps obscure, gains lackey, gains pliable. (+0)
• Whigs 6 points, Dems 7 points: Dems gain +1 Party Preference.

Platform creation time: @OrangeP47 @matthewyoung123 @Willthescout7 please follow the CPU rules for platform creation.

Also please select the keynote speakers.

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

For being the frontrunner and losing at the convention, Sen Thomas Hart Benton gets a permanent -1 in primaries and cannot get a convention speech boost. For being runner-up he also gets an additional -1 in primaries and no convention speech boost in the next convention and gains uncharismatic.

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

DNC Keynote speaker is Henry Dodge from the territory of Wisconsin. Rolls a 6, so he gains +1 in the next primary election for president, loses obscure trait, gains orator, and gains +1 command. Additionally, Dem ticket gains +1 in the upcoming general election.
 

[OrangeP47]

The Dem keynote speaker is Henry Dodge

Their platform is Create a non-partisan, independent treasury to handle the banking and financial wellbeing of the country (Econ), Sell land in the West to the Highest Bidders (Foreign/Mil), Remove Mormons for Judicial Offices so that Polygamists can be Prosecuted (Judicial), Rev War General Circle (Washington Circle) (Domestic), Military Draft (exec action)

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

The Democratic platform scores 2 points (fulfilling platform scores Dems more points than Whigs and lowest scoring Dem faction is higher than lowest scoring Whig faction).

Moderate ideology would score -200 with the platform so Mod enthusiasm moves +1 Red (now perfectly neutral) and Conservative ideology would score 900 points with the platform so Cons enthusiasm moves +1 Blue (now Red+1).

[matthewyoung123]

The Whigs believe the future is bright under a 2nd Harrison administration.  We are in the middle of two major wars, something the country has never experienced before.  Don't change horses in mid-stream!  Give him another term and General Harrison will win the day!  Harrison/Lawrence in 44!

Attorney General John J. Crittenden of KY, the keynote speaker, announces that the Whig platform is-

Executive Action- Give Major Speech to Encourage Morale in War.

Economics- Set average tariff rate to 25% (Walker Tariff) and standardize and reform tariff system.

Foreign Affairs/Military- Embargo Mexico.

Justice- Ban Spanish Immigrants.

Domestic- Fund a federal waterway improvement of the Tennessee River.

Once the war against Mexico and Spain is won, it will open up new territories for the American people.  We can control the continent from ocean to ocean!  Furthermore, we will help to improve America by funding the construction of new waterways, railroads, and highways so that goods can be easily transported to market to be sold.  A new 25% tariff will help fund the growth of the nation.  We will keep the foul Spanish from our shores and claim what is rightfully ours.  Whigs for prosperity!  Whigs for America!

 

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by matthewyoung123

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

The Democratic platform scores 2 points (fulfilling platform scores Whigs more points than Dems and lowest scoring Whig faction is higher than lowest scoring Dem faction).

Conservative and Traditionalist ideology would score -100 and -150 with the platform so Cons and Trad enthusiasm moves +1 Blue (Now at lean Red and +2 Blue) and Moderate ideology would score 300 points with the platform so Mod enthusiasm moves +1 Red (Now art lean Red).

WNC Keynote Speaker AG John Crittenden rolls a 5 and gains +1 in the next primary election for president, if he chooses to run and loses obscure trait (but he already lost it).

Both platforms score 2 points so no party preference movement.

The final party preference meter ends up with a potential 3rd party challenge from the Conscience Whigs, but sadly they only have two options for Pres and VP but both are from PA and they cannot field two candidates from the same state.

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

1844 Presidential General Election

Turn 1 Actions

• Harrison will use the power of his office to help earn support. Rolls a 1 so nothing happens.
• Lawrence will shore up support in New England. Rolls a 6 so +1 in RI.
• Marcy will seek help from the media. Rolls a 4 so nothing happens.
• Guthrie will shore up support in the Upper South. Rolls a 4 so nothing happens.

Scandal Rolls

• Harrison rolls a 2 so no scandal.
• Marcy rolls a 6 and gets a scandal. Rolls a 6 so it is a major scandal with a -2 everywhere. Marcy avoids the chance at controversial.

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

Turn 2 Actions

• Harrison will use the power of his office to help earn support. Rolls a 5 so party preference moves +1 Red.
• Lawrence will shore up support in New England. Rolls a 4 so nothing happens.
• Marcy will seek help from the media. Rolls a 3 so nothing happens.
• Guthrie will shore up support in the Upper South. Rolls a 2 so nothing happens.

And thus concludes the two action phases.

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

In a somewhat shocking defeat, Pres William Henry Harrison has been defeated by former NY Gov William Marcy. The electoral votes were 223 for Marcy (55.7% popular vote) and 58 for Harrison (44.3%). Harrison lost 6 Whig leaning states. His defeat can mainly be attributed to having a lobby that impacted 0 states whereas Marcy and Guthrie had agriculture and military-industrial which impacted the agriculture and maritime states (which is an overwhelming majority).This does not bode well for Whigs downballot.

[10centjimmy]

7 hours ago, Ich_bin_Tyler said:

In a somewhat shocking defeat, Pres William Henry Harrison has been defeated by former NY Gov William Marcy. The electoral votes were 223 for Marcy (55.7% popular vote) and 58 for Harrison (44.3%). Harrison lost 6 Whig leaning states. His defeat can mainly be attributed to having a lobby that impacted 0 states whereas Marcy and Guthrie had agriculture and military-industrial which impacted the agriculture and maritime states (which is an overwhelming majority).This does not bode well for Whigs downballot.

What was party preference and momentum ahead of the election?

And also what was the CPU reasoning behind the Lawrence pick?

[matthewyoung123]

8 hours ago, Ich_bin_Tyler said:

In a somewhat shocking defeat, Pres William Henry Harrison has been defeated by former NY Gov William Marcy. The electoral votes were 223 for Marcy (55.7% popular vote) and 58 for Harrison (44.3%). Harrison lost 6 Whig leaning states. His defeat can mainly be attributed to having a lobby that impacted 0 states whereas Marcy and Guthrie had agriculture and military-industrial which impacted the agriculture and maritime states (which is an overwhelming majority).This does not bode well for Whigs downballot.

This looks like an ass-whuppin! 

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

3 hours ago, 10centjimmy said:

What was party preference and momentum ahead of the election?

And also what was the CPU reasoning behind the Lawrence pick?

Party preference was at 4, so no one benefitted, and the enthusiasm meters are not mentioned explicitly in the rules anymore beyond highest person enthusiasm and allied faction enthusiasm at lowest so I did not include them.

And for Lawrence the CPU picked from the faction with the lowest points that had a candidate not from the President's region. So it was basically random. Was thinking maybe have a chance to keep a VP but make that more likely to happen in the Nuclear Era and onward.

Edited June 27, 2022 by Ich_bin_Tyler

[10centjimmy]

20 minutes ago, Ich_bin_Tyler said:

So it was basically random

Always a solid bet for vp

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

I think we've narrowed it down to a new change in the elections regarding crises. It is -1 for each one started so Harrison got hit with -3 all over. That seems relatively steep but that's just me.

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

Harrison receives a -1 penalty in all presidential elections (that he's alive for).

Lawrence gains uncharismatic for being the losing VP pick (poor guy's been hit with lackey and pliable from this election).

Marcy gains +1 Command from being elected.

[matthewyoung123]

1 minute ago, Ich_bin_Tyler said:

Harrison receives a -1 penalty in all presidential elections (that he's alive for).

Lawrence gains uncharismatic for being the losing VP pick (poor guy's been hit with lackey and pliable from this election).

Marcy gains +1 Command from being elected.

I'll make the necessary changes for my two factions...wow

[Ich_bin_Tyler]

@vcczar I noticed that in 2.9.5-8 that there are seemingly two sets of pre-primary rules for deciding party nominees: one that only mentions kingmakers and most politicians in the state and the other under "inter-party elections". I assume use the "inter-party elections" section?

[vcczar]

1 hour ago, Ich_bin_Tyler said:

@vcczar I noticed that in 2.9.5-8 that there are seemingly two sets of pre-primary rules for deciding party nominees: one that only mentions kingmakers and most politicians in the state and the other under "inter-party elections". I assume use the "inter-party elections" section?

inter-party is pre-primaries. So the 1772 and 1840 playtests would use those.