Post WtT: The Xi'an Incident

[Arthrodira]

First off, let me just say I am really enjoying WtT - this is probably my favorite expansion to any paradox game. That said, something has been really REALLY bothering me about the present state of the Chinese Civil War. As far as I understand it (please correct me if I am wrong), the Xi'an Incident is not modeled at all in the game, and this is a HUGE problem.

For those who do not know, this was when Zhang Xueliang (the young marshall) kidnapped Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, forcing him to end his campaign against the Communists and form the Chinese United Front (giving the communists aid) against the Japanese.

Apart from its simple newsworthiness, this is the event that turned the Chinese Civil War into a temporary Cold War. Right now, as I understand it, the historic-route Nationalists take the United Front national focus, which is mutually exclusive with the anti-communist focus - this is the reverse of what should happen. Historic AI should attack the communists, unlocking a Communist China national focus to instigate the Xi'an Incident. This will then force the nationalists to white peace the communists and form the United Front. Without the Xi'an incident modelled in game, the nationalists cannot fight the civil war and form the United Front, they need to do one or the other. This isn't historical, realistic, or fun.

 

[Admiral Piett]

I believe it does trigger if you hold off on either focus. I could be wrong though, as I was only speed running that game for testing and didn't really pay close attention to the pop-ups I was clicking on. The decision between fighting the CCP or forming the United Front is overly binary though.

 

[FelixNix]

First off, let me just say I am really enjoying WtT - this is probably my favorite expansion to any paradox game. That said, something has been really REALLY bothering me about the present state of the Chinese Civil War. As far as I understand it (please correct me if I am wrong), the Xi'an Incident is not modeled at all in the game, and this is a HUGE problem..

If you play as Yunann or the New Gaungxi clique you have an option under decisions to do it. I don't know if it's under anyone else, but I've played as those two, and tried it both times... though it ends up that somehow he knew about it, and pretends he has a cold. I play with historical focuses off, however, and that could change with them turned on.

 

[Arthrodira]

you have an option under decisions to do it

That's very encouraging. At least it IS modelled then. The question then becomes, why doesn't the AI ever use the decision under historical focuses. I suspect that the problem is the "Chinese United Front vs. Civil War binary" focuses then. I hope I am not the only one frustrated with the civil war, it just doesn't work right now. You need to have a civil war that is resolved with the formation of the United Front, not one or the other as it is now!

This is a pretty big over sight. Not having the Xi'an incident happen in a game is akin to not having the Spanish Civil War fire; this is just one of those key turning points in history that simply NEEDS to happen for the game to feel realistic. You could argue that this single event is the reason the CPC ultimately won the Civil War!

 

[FelixNix]

... I hope I am not the only one frustrated with the civil war, it just doesn't work right now.

You're right in that. Even as a Warlord, it feels a bit underdone. The other warlords give you their vote way too easily, and than they never vie for political power in China for the control of it.

This is a pretty big over sight. Not having the Xi'an incident happen in a game is akin to not having the Spanish Civil War fire; this is just one of those key turning points in history that simply NEEDS to happen for the game to feel realistic.

I was unaware that in never happens playing as China. I was going to try them as well, but I wanted to get the warlords and Manchukuko (with the true emperor) out of the way first.