Post by mr3awesome on Nov 21, 2019 21:53:21 GMT
Europe has not experienced a general war since 1815, more than ninety years ago. Much has changed since the Congress of Vienna.
The United Kingdom is the leading world power. Whilst her army may not be large, her navy is without peer. Supported by a strong industry and global Empire, she had great potential. However, problems remain. The Irish question and troubles in India are perhaps the two most notable, but by no means the only ones, as the Second Boer War of not so long ago proves.
France, presently the Third Republic, has been the traditional enemy of Britain, all the way back to the period after the Norman Conquest. Recent times, however, have seen that fall away, though not for want of trying. Political disunity and martial loss have left France nursing grievances, with both internal and external groups. All is not lost, however. France remains the second greatest colonial power, and with a consistent history of invention and innovation, one can be sure that France will aim to slip no further.
It is the young nations of central Europe that threaten the French most. To the north, the German states, once a disparate and divided bunch have united to form the Second Empire. Somewhat late to the game, the Germans have already proven themselves to be quick learners and hard workers. What heights they might reach are near boundless. To the south, the Italian states, fewer, and not quite so divided, have also unified. Differences remain, and parts of what no small number of people view as Italian lands remain outside the nation, something they wish to change.
No longer just Austria after the Year of Revolutions, Austria-Hungary remains a notable power on the world stage. However, things are not as rosy as they once were, with other groups looking enviously at what the Hungarians have achieved, and a Court divided as to how best to go about it. Defeats to the then Northern German Confederation, Prussia, and the nascent Kingdom of Italy have dented Austro-Hungarian prestige, though the longevity of Emperor Franz Joseph’s reign has certainly helped stop things from getting any worse.
Boundless Russia, indomitable and endless, remains. Change has been slower in Russia than in other countries, despite the work of more modernising monarchs. Much of the country is still agrarian, but there has been some progress, like the railways that snake through the landscape, and shipyards that produce the latest ships. Humbled by Japan, Russia still has much ground to cover to catch up, but it also has much space and many resources with which to do so.
Japan, the premier power in Asia, having ripped the title from China, and using the money gained from that victory to inflict another, this time over Russia. Japan will never be looked down upon again. At least not quite so much. However, the price for these victories was steep, in terms of money if not manpower. Victory, yes, but at what cost?
Across the Pacific Ocean lies another new world power. The United States has grown significantly since 1776, now stretching from coast to coast. More recently, Spain has been vanquished after the supposed Spanish destruction of the American battleship Maine. Now a colonial power, and the troubles that come with it, how the United States will progress is something all should have an eye on.
Spain is a shadow of its former self. The downward spiral from the time of the French Revolution has been bloody and painful, but the nation has endured. No longer a world power, nor even a regional power, Spain may yet find opportunity to better itself. Or fall further.
There are a lot of possibilities, then.
Nation Applications
To apply for a nation, you should list the current state of the nation, in terms of mood, politics, economy and its military. More detail tends to be better.
Rules
General
Ground Forces
Shipbuilding
Hints
The United Kingdom is the leading world power. Whilst her army may not be large, her navy is without peer. Supported by a strong industry and global Empire, she had great potential. However, problems remain. The Irish question and troubles in India are perhaps the two most notable, but by no means the only ones, as the Second Boer War of not so long ago proves.
France, presently the Third Republic, has been the traditional enemy of Britain, all the way back to the period after the Norman Conquest. Recent times, however, have seen that fall away, though not for want of trying. Political disunity and martial loss have left France nursing grievances, with both internal and external groups. All is not lost, however. France remains the second greatest colonial power, and with a consistent history of invention and innovation, one can be sure that France will aim to slip no further.
It is the young nations of central Europe that threaten the French most. To the north, the German states, once a disparate and divided bunch have united to form the Second Empire. Somewhat late to the game, the Germans have already proven themselves to be quick learners and hard workers. What heights they might reach are near boundless. To the south, the Italian states, fewer, and not quite so divided, have also unified. Differences remain, and parts of what no small number of people view as Italian lands remain outside the nation, something they wish to change.
No longer just Austria after the Year of Revolutions, Austria-Hungary remains a notable power on the world stage. However, things are not as rosy as they once were, with other groups looking enviously at what the Hungarians have achieved, and a Court divided as to how best to go about it. Defeats to the then Northern German Confederation, Prussia, and the nascent Kingdom of Italy have dented Austro-Hungarian prestige, though the longevity of Emperor Franz Joseph’s reign has certainly helped stop things from getting any worse.
Boundless Russia, indomitable and endless, remains. Change has been slower in Russia than in other countries, despite the work of more modernising monarchs. Much of the country is still agrarian, but there has been some progress, like the railways that snake through the landscape, and shipyards that produce the latest ships. Humbled by Japan, Russia still has much ground to cover to catch up, but it also has much space and many resources with which to do so.
Japan, the premier power in Asia, having ripped the title from China, and using the money gained from that victory to inflict another, this time over Russia. Japan will never be looked down upon again. At least not quite so much. However, the price for these victories was steep, in terms of money if not manpower. Victory, yes, but at what cost?
Across the Pacific Ocean lies another new world power. The United States has grown significantly since 1776, now stretching from coast to coast. More recently, Spain has been vanquished after the supposed Spanish destruction of the American battleship Maine. Now a colonial power, and the troubles that come with it, how the United States will progress is something all should have an eye on.
Spain is a shadow of its former self. The downward spiral from the time of the French Revolution has been bloody and painful, but the nation has endured. No longer a world power, nor even a regional power, Spain may yet find opportunity to better itself. Or fall further.
There are a lot of possibilities, then.
Nation Applications
To apply for a nation, you should list the current state of the nation, in terms of mood, politics, economy and its military. More detail tends to be better.
Rules
General
- The first turn is the period of January to March 1907.
- Each turn is three month long.
- The financial year starts in the 2nd Quarter of the year.
- Players will have a week to post their turns, and may do so in any order.
- Production should be allocated to companies.
- Events between NPC nations are assumed to occur in their historical timeframe, unless influenced by outside events.
- Historical events that occurred between NPC nations & player nations will still occur, though the outcome may differ, as indeed may the start point, depending on world events to that point.
- Using historical hindsight to influence events that you would not know about is considered metagaming, and is not permitted.
Ground Forces
- Failure to use tactical units will result in penalties.
- Production is assumed to be rolling, with products being issued once they are ready, unless noted otherwise.
Shipbuilding
- Each ship is built in a shipyard, which may either be private or public owned.
- Slots for shipbuilding are tied to locations and companies. The number may be increased over time, either be reactivating slots lost when a company folds, or by making new ones, though the latter especially is expensive.
- You must name all the ships you order.
- How long a ship will take to launch and fit out will be given when it’s ordered and when its laid down (if the two are different). However, these may change due to in-game events.
- Rebuilding a ship takes up a building slot
- Refitting, repair and maintenance do not.
- Maintenance is assumed to be automatic.
- Naval Programmes come in two forms: Yearly applications for funding from the Government, and multi-year plans that outline longer term goals, hopes and intentions.
- Tactical units should be used. Not only will this make determining outcomes of events easier, but it will also make tracking ships easier.
- Not all ships are in commission at any one time in times of peace, due to cost. Ships in the reverse have a much reduced compliment to make sure things are kept in some semblance of order.
- Recently commissioned ships, be it new construction or from the reserve, take time to work up. Using them too soon after commissioning will result in reduced performance
Hints
- The clearer something is, the less likely the Moderator is likely to punish you for it
- The Moderator is not above sending fruit wielding natives or mecha-Rebels to punish you
- It is helpful if you keep track of where all your units are. Spreadsheets are good for this.
- If you have a complaint about a Moderation, the more politely you phrase it, and support it with evidence, the better it is likely to go for you.
- The use of maps & diagrams is endorsed.
