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Has anyone pondered an alternative timeline pre-1993? I mean, we all know that the Soviet onslaught is quite a stretch but what if...?

What if Stalin didnt kill off all the able officers and such? (one can argue that this more or less led to the dissolution of USSR)
What if Soviet attacked US during the 70s, during the great inflation?
What if Soviet managed to ally with Arab Oil States?
What if Warsaw Pact grew stronger, included say Italy, Greece and France?
What if US got stuck in Vietnam, and Soviet never invaded Afghanistan?

And so on. This would probably shift the power balance in favour of USSR. And suddenly the Soviet coup detat and invasion seems quite fair.

Played around a little with what might have happened pre-1993 to enable the war in 1997 to happen in terms of smaller nudges in the historical processes rather than large sweeping cataclysmic events here.

But other than that, or speculating about major shifts in historical events ... no, I don't think we've seen that on these forums so far.

Sound thinking Vader. For me though the obvious quick fix is a more drastic change in history. It doesnt even have to be included in the game

I posted in another thread what if during the first Gulf War (1991), the USA and UK decide to fully invade Iraq and get quagmires (similar to what happened in the second Gulf War in 2003-2012). But, in this case, the Soviets would take revenge for Afghanistan. This pins down a large part NATO’s army... along with an oil crisis.
Meanwhile, there’s a political coup in Taiwan and a pro-mainland government takes over. They invite the Chinese military to protect/secure their hold, which forces the US Navy to impose a blockade, pinning down a large part UA Navy... along with a Pacific crisis (US showdown with China).

I posted in another thread what if during the first Gulf War (1991), the USA and UK decide to fully invade Iraq and get quagmires (similar to what happened in the second Gulf War in 2003-2012). But, in this case, the Soviets would take revenge for Afghanistan. This pins down a large part NATO’s army... along with an oil crisis.
Meanwhile, there’s a political coup in Taiwan and a pro-mainland government takes over. They invite the Chinese military to protect/secure their hold, which forces the US Navy to impose a blockade, pinning down a large part UA Navy... along with a Pacific crisis (US showdown with China).

Not particularly likely, especially the Taiwan bit, but not as silly as the history as written.

As an alternative to a coup in Taiwan, how about an attack by DPRK against ROK due to general paranoia ... US forces committed and, of course, as in the 50's, the Chinese get involved, not wanting US allied forces on their borders and, probably, the Russians send 'advisors' and supplies as well. Slightly more likely.

Phil McGregor
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Author: Space Opera (FGU); Rigger Black Book #1 (FASA); Orbis Mundi 2, The Marketplace, Ithura & Porthaven, Fantasy Europe (PGD); Road to Armageddon & Supplements, Displaced, Audace ad Gloriam, Farm, Forge & Steam (PGD).