@ Double A:
How correct!
Province-busters are NOT nukes, at least, not entirely. They kill 99.9% of everything in the province they hit, but have none of that ugly radiation.
...granted, I am making it so they will leave the province uninhabitable for a few turns. Not sure how much.
To imagine a province-buster's effect - picture a huge wall of fire just sweeping across an entire province. It incinerates almost all life, plant, bacteria, animal... destroys nearly all structures.
At the same time, imagine an earthquake coming through right after, breaking roads, buildings, mines, irrigation ditches, etc. apart.
You are left with a land with barely any life or prospects.
It is not doomed, as a radiated land is(from the perspective of a human lifetime), but it is a pretty bleak sight that will take at least a few years to recover.
Theoretically, enough PBs going off would disrupt the global economy and environment due to all the lost population, infrastructure, and the fact huge clouds of smoke tend to be fun.
====
The Gulf War
After countless months, the High Command of Jerusalem has drafted and approved a new plan to destroy the Persian menace.
If it succeeds, Jerusalem will be poised to finally overtake Persia and become one of the global superpowers.
If it fails... the two will continue to brawl while all the states around them swell in wealth and strength.
140 gold
60 into Navies on the coast of Iraq.(12)
60 into Armies.(12)
20 into Planes.(4)
14 navies go against eachother on both sides.
Jerusalem is the attacker, Persia the defender. Both are evenly matched at M2.
6 9
5 3
7 6
10 10
10 5
7 2
7 4
4 3
9 10
4 8
8 8
4 3
6 7
4 7
6-8
Jerusalem sees the loss of 8 vessels.
Persia could waste its forces in an assault, but knows that more Jerusalem forces will be coming; as such, the fleet is ordered to stay put.
Net effect - Jerusalem is unable to launch an amphibious assault, and Persia is now able to trade again!
--
However, Jerusalem isn't worried. Fleets are readily constructed as needed, and 8 more are en route to the Gulf.
Meanwhile, they order a full-scale assault on a lone Persian border province, that is unguarded.
Firstly, however, the 4 planes of the Jerusalem Air Force move out!
62
43
20
78
1 Direct hit! However, Armies have a 20% chance of getting a successful SAM off, so...
20
68
51
33
Jerusalem loses 1 plane; Persia loses 1 army.
Jerusalem orders its army to attack the Persians.
6 8
10 8
Another trade off. Jerusalem takes one province.
==
So now they both stand, Persia having a one-province advantage, whereas Jerusalem has more trade partners and troops. If Persia can rebuild its trade network, it would be rejuvenated, ready to continue the fight. Otherwise, they are fighting an uphill struggle...