SGS Taipings

SGS Taipings recreates the Taiping Rebellion, the Chinese civil war fought from 1851 to 1864 that cost millions of lives. One player commands the Taiping rebels and their allies, including the Nien bandits, seeking to establish a state and build a strong army in central China. The other plays the Qing Empire, trying to defeat the revolt before it threatens the dynasty. Other rebellions and foreign intervention affect both sides.

Campaigns and factions

Scenarios range from 8 turns to more than 164 turns for the 13-year grand campaign. Each turn represents one month, from April 1851 through December 1864. Both sides command land and naval forces and can conduct diplomacy with foreign powers.

The Taipings need to gather forces, encourage other rebellions and defeat the Qing before they recognize the scale of the threat. Speed matters, but leadership problems and internal feuds can endanger their cause over time. The Qing begin unprepared, with weak, dispersed troops and poor leadership. They must recognize the danger through the Qing’s Imperial Concern index, then train new forces, buy better weapons and recruit suitable leaders.

French and British forces begin as neutral, but may become enemies or opportunistic allies, attacking the Qing Empire or turning against the Taipings. Diplomacy with them is important. Neither side is marked as the favored one, and the Qing are the harder side to play.

China and its conditions

The map covers most of China and nearby areas, divided into regions and provinces. It includes ricefields, open land, hills, mountains, highlands, desert, major rivers, coastal waters and ocean, along with hundreds of minor and major cities. A separate display handles diplomacy.

Winter, floods, rain and drought affect play, with changes to weather and climate shown on the map.

Armies and resources

Each side can field dozens of regimental unit types, including levies, militias, Chinese and Manchu Banners, cavalry, bandits, triads, foreign infantry and sailors, old cannons, modern artillery, transport junks, warships, garrison units and supply units. Recruiting troops and ships costs income, and some units need training to develop into more effective models.

Income comes from key cities and regions, especially controlled cities, ports and rich agricultural land. Corruption, imperial spending and other forms of waste can drain these resources. More than 200 events and cards create varied diplomatic, military, political and economic situations across playthroughs.