How do I market a War/Diplomacy game and to Who/Where?

[william the wie]

It started as a Steam-punk civil war novel. The south becomes a hotspot for ramp launched kites that uses hot-air balloons for extra-lift and propulsion/maneuver. Because this is a 19th century aircraft the radiator pipes that heats the balloon break/crack easily. Therefore the boilers are normally lit after getting into the air. Three or more aborts per eight launches is the usual result. VTOL is possible but is not advised for ground based aircraft. Special ships are built to give air support for naval and amphibious operations to deal with the five out of eight aborts per attempted VTOL launches that lead to emergency fixes.

The stated war aims of the South are:

Unimpeded emigration of slave owners and their chattels. Those who refuse to emigrate to Cuba, Brazil or wherever will be paid eminent domain rates for their slaves. Reparations will be paid for abolitionist atrocities as well to all rightful claimants at the eminent domain rate including underground railroad workers. This shall be paid for by a federal land tax. The tax will be doubled in all states who fought against the south in the last six months of the war.

Tariffs with total exemptions for certain goods as determined by congress for both external trade and interstate commerce with total exemption for self transportation down steam to a port.

The unstated war aims are:

Building naval and air forces that can and will enforce the Monroe Doctrine in anyone's despite as in British military Interference in the Americas will no longer be tolerated.

What is the proper market for such a game?

 

[Mushroom]

For one, change from hot air balloon to Zeppelins. Hot air balloons do not have the lifting capability needed, so that concept should be discarded. Lighter than air craft with hydrogen however do not have the same problems.

As far as publishing, I am not sure there. You can try contacting a friend of mine, he published a game last year and his second game is currently being written. He might be able to give you some pointers:

Galaxy Incorporated

 

[william the wie]

The primary problems are propulsion and Maneuver the extra lift is to make crashes and landings more survivable. Using pressure release valve florets means that smaller engines to heat air in the balloon can be used to run the aircraft. Weapons payload for bombing runs are @ 50-60 lbs of 1/2 pound spikes, moonshine and finely ground hot peppers to stampede draft animals. Aerial combat is by rifle. I should have mentioned that there has only been one effective canal at a time connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi watershed to feed the Northeast.

At the time of the Civil war there was one bad canal, the Michigan--Illinois, and two monstrosities the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh and the Ohio-Erie. Take out those three canals and food in the Northeast will get scarce fast and only farms that can switch to New Orleans/Baton Rouge will survive to keep prices down in the UK.

A marginal mass-produced aircraft can do that job. And food riots will usually topple any government. Losing favor with your foreign sponsor is also a bad idea. Losing both is extremely hard to survive.