¡Arriba España! 1936-37: A simulation of the first year of the Spanish Civil War 2014

Those are the rules for "¡Arriba España!" (Spanish Civil War), a strategic wargame that simulates the first year of the Spanish Civil War (July 1936 - June 1937).

It is based on the great Game of Phil Kendall and Lee Brimmicombe-Wood Angola with many differences and upgrades.

Game Overview

Concept: This is a game for four players divided into two alliances that control different geographic sectors of Spain during the military uprising.

Factions:

Nationalist Alliance: Blue (Franco's Nacionales) - Andalusia Yellow (Mola's Nacionales) - Northwest Republican Alliance: Red (Popular Front) - Catalonia and Madrid Green (Basque Country/Asturias) - North

Main Mechanics Activation System

Operations Cards: Each player creates a secret deck of cards to activate their units Columns: Groups of units that can attack and conquer territory Fifth Columns: Forces without columns that can only move (not attack)

Game Phases (12 turns total)

Planning: Creation of operations decks, determination of first player Operations: Play of cards to activate units Endgame: Victory points, reinforcements, recruitment, events

Combat

Complex system with:

Preliminary phases: Aviation, artillery, mines, anti-tank weapons Ground combat: Based on balance of power and die rolls Modifiers: Terrain, support, special equipment

Reinforcements and Growth

Basic Recruitment: 4 units per turn per faction Foreign Aid: The losing alliance receives foreign reinforcements Bid System: Competition for additional support Event Cards: Modify specific situations

Strategic Elements Territorial Control

Cities: Sources of reinforcements and victory points Capitals: Seville (Blue), Barcelona (Red), A Coruña (Yellow), Bilbao (Green) Special Objectives: Toledo (Alcázar), Oviedo (Fortress)

Victory Conditions

Decisive Victory: Exceed specific victory point thresholds during the game Final Victory: Whoever has the most victory points at the end of turn 12 Victory Points: Awarded by conquering cities and completing objectives

Historical Features

Transport from Ceuta: Franco's forces must pass naval checks International Aid: Germany/Italy vs. USSR/International Brigades Historical Events: Cards reflecting key moments of the conflict

System Complexity

The game combines:

Covert planning (hidden operational decks) Resource management (units, equipment, reinforcements) Diplomacy (coordination between allies) Military tactics (combination of weapons, terrain, logistics)

It is an intermediate-to-advanced wargame that requires long-term strategic planning and tactical coordination, offering a detailed simulation of the critical first year of the Spanish Civil War.