Here's the next set of character capsules for Eyeball to Eyeball: the Intermediary roles in the game. Ray's commentary on the role is in italics below the description, as before.
U Thant
U Thant: The first non-European Secretary General of the United Nations. You are a firm believer in the UN Charter and its mission of global peace. Can you keep the world from ending in flames?
The Intermediary Contingent is the Swiss Army Knife of this game. You can play entirely without them if you want to focus on US-Soviet-Cuba engagement, or if you want to emphasize more media engagement. But for folks whose curriculum or group composition lends itself to a more internationalist perspective, the Intermediaries offer LOTS of possibilities.
Adlai Stevenson
Adlai Stevenson: Longtime lawyer, Democratic politician and U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN. You joined President Kennedy’s Administration out of a sense of national duty. Can you beat the Reds?
In a longer-form game, I definitely would have given Stevenson a larger role. He's absolutely fascinating to me as a person and as a politician. He definitely is not as prominent in the game as he was in real life.
Valerian Zorin
Valerian Zorin: A legendary Soviet diplomat who has represented the USSR at the UN since 1956. Your service gives you unique insights into the minds of capitalist leaders. Can you secure victory for the Rodina?
Zorin had the actual nickname of "Mr. Nyet" because of his copious use of the Soviet veto in the U.N. Security Council. That being said, he had a reputation of being easy to talk to and work with on matters of common ground. It would be fun to create a two-person debate game between Zorin and Stevenson where they square off on the issues of the early Cold War.
Mustafa İsmet İnönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü: Prime Minister of Turkey. Over a lifetime of public service, you’ve nurtured a modern economy and a strong sense of hard-won independence. Can you get your way?
Kimberly came up with the idea of adding İnönü, and it adds a great wrinkle to the discussion of the Jupiter missiles in Turkey. During one playtest, the US just casually announced to the world that they were getting rid of them, and İnönü lost his mind. The Soviets successfully exploited that to get the Turks to leave NATO. Awkward.
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt: Mayor of West Berlin since 1957. You have championed development of West Berlin as a showcase of capitalism and a stark contrast to the gray drabness of East Berlin. Can you get your way?
There's a point in the game where Berlin potentially becomes a significant issue, and Willy Brandt gets a chance to shine. Always fun to see what players do with that opportunity.
Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito: Founder of the post-war Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. Always the pragmatist, you have also nurtured good ties with the capitalist powers as well. Can you get your way?
Tito is a great role because he underscores just how complex the politics of the Cold War really was. It wasn't always "with us or against us." It really breaks some players' brains.
Julio Lobo
Julio Lobo: Sugar tycoon and recent Cuban exile. Your outsized ego is exemplified by your massive collection of Napoleonic artifacts, the largest in the world. Can you get your way?
Oh, man, Lobo. This guy is the closest thing to an actual Bond villain I've ever seen in real life. From his giant collection of Napoleonic-era artifacts to our complete inability to find an actual picture of him, the whole character just reeks of "sharks with frickin' laser beams."
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: Russian author and former political prisoner. You hope that publication of works like yours will correct the worst excesses of Soviet power and lead it on a better path. Can you get your way?
I’m a Russian/Soviet historian by training, so you KNEW I was going to get extra Russians in here somehow, right? When I realized that "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" came out in 1962, I knew Solzhenitsyn was perfect for the Intermediaries.
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi: President of the Indian National Congress. You are keenly ambitious to follow in your father’s footsteps while maintaining India’s strict policy of non-alignment. Can you get your way?
Sigh. The lone female role in the game. We tried and tried to improve representation in this game without breaking historical plausibility, and this was the best we could do.
