Let's Play! Red Dust Rebellion | Tutorial Playthrough | Solitaire

This is a tutorial and solo playthrough from the first Event Card to the first Dust Storm card of the 1-4 player, science fiction wargame Red Dust Rebellion. Designed by J. Carmichael and published by GMT Games. This is the 12th game in the COIN (Counter-Insurgency) series of asymmetrical wargames.

Red Dust Rebellion is volume XII of GMT's acclaimed COIN Series and tells the story of the Martian revolts of the 2250s and the rise of Martian nationalism. It is 2250 and the bicentennial celebrations of the first human colony on Mars are about to begin. 200 years of human achievement, but also 200 years of hardship. Mars is an unforgiving world, a barren wasteland on the surface, therefore the people live in vast underground cities known as labyrinths.

Over the years, the people of Mars have formed their own culture and identity and want more say in their own rule. To many, Earth is a remote world with too much control over Martian affairs. Furthermore, Earth’s corporations have too much power over life and death. Some long for a green Mars, covered in oceans and life. While others recoil at the idea that humanity will destroy the climate of another planet.

Red Dust Rebellion tells the story of the Martian revolts of the 2250’s and the rise of Martian nationalism. Up to 4 players will take part in this game and control the following factions:

The Martian Provisional Government (MG) believes it has the best interests of Mars at heart. Made up of bureaucrats appointed from Earth and locally-elected officials, they are walking a political tightrope of representing Earth interests while keeping the local population happy. They need the support of Martian locals to effectively administer the planet. The MG has the backing of Earth and access to their resources, but Earth is far away, and shipping is a time-consuming process, so they will need to manage their flow of resources carefully. They will rely on their sometimes-allies the Corporations to help stabilize Mars and protect against raids from the Church of the Reclaimer.

Mars is the future for humanity, and with rampant climate change events on Earth, the push to further colonize and terraform Mars is growing. The Corporations (CORP) are Earth-controlled companies with vested interests in Mars. And while they have a bottomless amount of resources to commit to the conflict, they ultimately have to answer to their shareholders. This means that profits are their primary motivation. Replacing units costs money, so they want the Mars Government to fight their battles for them. The Corporations also wish to extend their infrastructure to ready the planet for eventual terraforming.

Native-born Martian workers form the backbone of the Red Dust (RD) movement. The so-called "Dusters" demand a government for Martians, by Martians, without Earth interference, and they are willing to take it by force. Nominally a worker's movement, the Dusters are an organized and determined force within the labyrinths of Mars and must rally the unions, guilds, and various popular assemblies to their cause to force the Earthers out and secure a free Mars for Martians.

And finally, many look at the mistakes of old Earth and do not wish to repeat them. We have poisoned our home world and are planning on poisoning another. Human history is a process of making the same mistakes over and over again. These ideas have created The Church of the Reclaimer (CR). A post-humanist faith, they seek to adapt humanity to Mars, not the other way around. And they are opposed to all terraforming and further colonization on Mars. While the moderates of the faith seek to block this progress using peaceful protest and political action, the more extreme elements are not above using violence to achieve their goals—a Mars returned to its natural state with human impact kept to an absolute minimum.

Support me directly!
Monthly:
  / wargaminghansen  
One-time donation:
https://paypal.me/wargaminghansen
Shop for Wargames at Amazon (Affiliate Link): https://www.amazon.com/shop/waynehans...

The game on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...

The game on the publisher's website: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-893-red-du...

Contact me: On BGG at username "wtjbatman", or via email at [email protected]

0:00 Introduction
0:58 Overview
15:13 Playthrough