NES2 VI - Last Semblance of Order.

NES2 VI - Last Semblance of Order.

Rules.

DO NOT POST UNTIL I SAY YOU CAN. Yes, that's all the rules. What did you expect, an economic system?!

Setting

This is set in a different world. The year now is 1748, but already, the Industrial Revolution is advancing, and other revolutions - of a political kind - are challenging the new world order... though in all due honesty, there never was any order, neither before the recent few European wars nor after them. Ever since the Twenty Years War (1607-1627) destroyed the Holy Roman Empire and founded the short-lived Protestant one, Europe was in chaos, with wars and revolutions re-painting the political map every few years. By the end of the 17th century, Europe had briefly settled down after the French defeat in the War of the League of Augsburg, with France, Spain and Portugal now firmly concentrating on colonial efforts, and the Central and Eastern European powers consolidating themselves. But throughout the 18th century, revolutions, risings and border wars continued, though the changes they caused were, in most cases, less radical than those of the 17th century. Until 1740. On that year, a series of events took place, and soon, the world was thrown into seven years of all-out chaos. By 1748, the Spanish colonial empire was destroyed, and Spain itself retained only Castille; South America was a battleground of the various opportunistic leaders, rebel factions and the Portuguese; England united most of the British Isles; France became more powerful than ever before, expanding in practically all directions; Sweden lost a war and well over a half of its territories; the Krakow Union, at one point the hegemon of Central Europe, was destroyed, its German portions transforming into the buffer state between France and Russia; Russia-Lithuania, having decimated both the Ottoman Turks and the Krakow Union, expanded westwards and entered a thus far quiet struggle with the French for European hegemony; the Byzantine Empire, reborn liked a phoenix, united the Balkans; the Ottoman Empire, though forced back into the Middle East, begun its recovery there defeating numerous rebels and invaders; Portugal greatly furthered its imperial ambitions in Africa and South America; the Mughal Empire, having forcefully reformed, turned into a great power by its own right; and Japan and Qing China, both having undergone West-oriented modernization, now started East Asia's first really big modern war, the former procurring the support of France and Portugal to help against the overwhelming Chinese power.

Order was destroyed and reborn yet again, but it is even more fragile than ever before, with hostile great powers, ambitious lesser ones and violent revolutionary movements preparing for yet another submersion into the chaos of war and revolution.

Introduction

NES2 V was, for the most part, a very fun NES, though it had its problems. I have tried to correct some of these problems here.

There aren't too many nations here, which only makes my emphasis on the player commitment stronger. If you don't have time for furious diplo exchange, conniving intrigue and complete orders (as opposed to just long orders - under "complete orders" I mean orders that cover all the subjects that need covering in orders, hopefully in a precise, clear manner), then don't play, or at least don't play as a major power.

Enjoy it!

Players, stories, orders, NPCs, barbarians, updates, map, countries

Players - unlimited. Please only join if you trully have the time to PARTICIPATE, and that doesn't simply mean telling me to "grow economy" at every turn.

Stories - not necessary, but very encouraged. For good (and FULL-LENGTH, i.e. two-three lines will not be considered one) stories, I will give out story bonuses (but not as generous as in ITNES I). Don't forget that stories create atmosphere like nothing else (apart from good, precise, in-depth updates perhaps, but that's not my specialty I'm afraid).

Orders - orders in a list. Ideally, they should be precise and easily-understandable, because I'll have to deal with lots of them; naturally, they will probably be quite long anyway because you people rarely trust your buerocrats and generals for some reason. In democratic and other councillary forms of government (such as Feudalism), you'll have to take the opinion of your council into account; sometimes, depending on your nation's constitution, it might even take matters into its own hands altogether. This, by the way, is one of the reasons for you to send orders a day before the deadline, so that I have time to inform you if the council disapproves of any parts of your orders; the other reason is that it just makes things easier for me. Oh, and note that some of the actions you order might inadvertly have sideeffects, positive or negative.

NPCs - lol, considering they’re NPC, I will play them, kinda. Same as the NPCs in all other NESes of late. Some will roll over rather easily, some will be harder to fight than PCs...

Barbarians - as not all of the world is civilized yet (most is), the barbarians will be there. Not innovatively, they will be light gray and have no stats. They will have their names written on them, unless I forget to do that. And many of them are likely to attack you and try to eat you; others only want to be left alone, and when somebody tries to change that they will... well, they'll try to eat whoever tries that too. The barbarians are NOT to be underestimated, some of them could bring out a horde of ferocious warriors five times larger then your army (okay, maybe not).

Updates - Updates come on WedNESdays (unless I say otherwise), yet the orders have to be sent in by Tuesday barring emergencies. Where I live (the Urals, same timezone as Pakistan if you're curious) the deadline for orders is 20:00, GMT it should be 15:00, and I don't know nor want to know what time it should be on the western coast of North America, or in the eastern coast of the same America, or even in Finland (although the latter I could probably guess). If you know that you probably won't have time to send orders this Tuesday... send them on Monday, that's even better. Updates will consist of “non-military events” (political, economical, etc), “military events” (including violent rebellions, not just wars), “random events” (random events - people who write good stories get good random events, often related to what they’re writing about. And there is also always a “bad” random event for a random nation, lots of them), “spotlight” (a more detailed description of something that happened) and “ooc” (OOC comments and death threats).

(boldened to make sure you people actually notice it this time)

Map - I will use the current version of the collectively-improved "Jason map". I will put in cities (black circles), fortifications (line of black squares) and rebellion areas (dark gray area within nations). A capital is a city with white borders; an economic center is a city with red borders (a capital economic center will have a combination of the two).

Countries - pick a NPC or start a rebellion or just clamour incessantly for independence (hey, it worked in OTL...). Also, please read your nation background, and don’t act uncharacteristically. There are no alliances at the start, but there are some traditional allegiences, as mentioned in the nation backgroudns; to go against these allegiences is sometimes necessary, but is almost certainly an unpopular thing to do.

NATIONAL TEMPLATE
Nation Name
Capital:
Ruler:
Government:
Centralization:
Tech. Level:
Army (Training):
Navy (Training):
Economy:
Size (points required):
Leadership (Military/Civilian): /
Infrastructure:
Education:
Living Standards:
Culture:
Confidence:
Projects:
Nation Background:

Government

Government - is your form of government. Now note that I DON’T want the “Sheep2’s [insert nation ever played by Sheep2 in a non-Fresh Start NES here]” syndrome in this NES. You are free to change your government, and explain it how ever do you want, but that can piss off followers of the previous governments, and might lead to nation-wide riots, or even a civil war. Also, keep it historical. That is, you could invent your own government, but it must make sense for YOUR nation of THAT time. You could consult me about that.

Centralization

This is one of the most important issues of politics historically and today. A centralized state is, on one hand, more stable, and can command its resources more efficiently; but, on the other hand, it is very vulnerable to attacks on the center and is unlikely to be popular among the various minorities, whereas a decentralized state is less stable, less united, but is harder to destroy from within and indeed is more defendable.

You usually (barring random events or unforeseen consequences of your actions) could change your centralization "slider" once per turn, and ofcourse only move forward or backward a level. However, do know that changes are unlikely to be welcomed by those who like the way things are AND ofcourse those who want to move in the opposite direction...

League-Loose Confederation-Confederation-Loose Federation-Federation-Tight Federation-Unitary with Exceptions-Unitary-Uberunitary-More Unitary-Overcentralized

Technology Level

Will use the age system. It is the same as in other NESes of other people, ofcourse the ages are not identical. They will advance at their own pace, though nations with higher education are likelier to advance to the next age. This, for the most part, begins in Early Industrial Age, but on the bring of a breakthrough.

Also note that though I brought up analogical technologic levels of OTL, they aren't entirely identical, and ofcourse there is a chance that technology will advance faster, slower, or even in a different direction than in OTL.

Late Enlightened Age: approximate analogy in our world is 1760-1790 Europe.
Early Industrial Age: approximate analogy - 1790-1840.
Middle Industrial Age: approximate analogy - 1840-1880.
Late Industrial Age: approximate analogy - 1880-1916.

Military

That will, as of now, consist of army and navy (later to be joined by air force). These will be number-based as it gives more versatility. These will be represented in divisions and squadrons (at a later date, I might also add "capital ships" as a separate part of the navy).

What will you have in it? Anything that you can have in it, according to your tech level; if you aren't sure about something, just ask me for clarification. If you just invented some sort of a weapon, you will have to invest some money to re-equip your army/navy with it; the training will also probably drop, due to the unfamiliarity of the weapons. Each “stat-growth” will increase any part of military by 5 (however, there could be exceptions). But know that if you have too large an army, your economy will probably suffer, as will your confidence; ofcourse, both could be, sometimes, restored by succesful military campaigns, or perhaps campaigns of propaganda back at home. If you grow your military too fast, your training, and later your military leadership, will suffer.

UUs - one per nation, but can be changed at any point (though the newly-“demoted” UU units will not be happy). I will keep a list of them, somewhere. Could be land, sea, or air at a later point. They will be separated from other units in the stats. They are grown as normal units. Remember to keep them REALISTIC. If the amount of UUs exceeds the amount of regular units, they will begin to drop in quality, morale and also in loyalty as their commanders, often being rather arrogant and ambitious (hey, they aren't commanders of an elite unit for nothing), will probably try to use their power base in one way or another.

Irregulars - local militias and simple civilian population that, for whatever reasons, took up arms - most often in rebellion or to defend against an invader, though there are exceptions - they aren't good for much that isn't guerrila warfare, though they can also be a neat diversion, and professional cannon fodder. They aren't too reliable, and often are rather hard for you to control; then again, they are also best left uncontrolled - they fight even worse when away from home, and, on the other hand, if at home they'll probably know what to do better, with their knowledge of the situation and the terrain.

Training - it is done in levels. There are separate training stats for army, navy and fleet, and it is grown with eco. points. UU is assumed to be one level higher then the average training level for its branch. If your army grows too quickly, there will be a chance of training level lowering.

None-Rabble-Semi-Rabble-Tolerable-Normal-Better-Good-Very Good-Professional-Elite

Conscription will give you a certain amount of conscript divisions that you could specify if you want; ofcourse, conscription, especially in democratic countries, tends to be quite unpopular, especially the large-scale variety...

As a certain Corsican once said in OTL, an army marches on its stomach. Logistical support is necessary for any real military operations, so you will probably have to invest 1 eco. point into each such operation, whether offensive or defensive; if involving a particularily-large army (or navy), or if taking place in a difficult territory with little chances for local resupply, you might have to invest more than one eco. point. And if its a large army somewhere far away in the middle of a desert... things get interesting.

Economy

The NES2 V Economy System is based on a mixture of my old ideas and those of some other people.

Economy levels still play the vital role. However, the amount of economy points that you have differs from level to level (if you get a negative amount of them, I will decrease a random stat per negative point); it is also influenced by random events and by economic centers (cities that are either trade centers, industrial centers or capitals of agriculturally-rich provinces); each of the latter provides one eco. point per turn to whoever holds it at the time (i.e. if it is on occupied territory, the occupier receives the eco. point). To grow economy (i.e. to advance from one level to another), you have to a) not spend your eco. points, apart from those received from eco. centers, on anything else that turn and b) to point out what exactly are you going to do to grow it (note that eco. growth might not always be succesful, depending on what you do and how things fold out).

Eco. points could (and should) be spent on growing military, miscellanous stats (see below), logistical support for the military and on continuing projects. Speaking of the latter, you could also invest a whole eco. level into a project to speed it up by two turns.

Eco. points cannot be banked.

Eco. levels still could be "sacrificed", i.e. converted into 6 eco. points each. Only two eco. levels could be sacrificed per turn.

Creation of economic centers also requires the investment of at least one eco. point into some specific development programs, most of the times anyway.

Depression (-2)-Bankrupt (-1)-Recession (-1)-Very Poor (0)-Poor (0)-Not Bad (+1)-Normal (+1)-Good Enough (+2)-Growing (+2)-Rich (+3)-Very Rich (+3)-Richer (+4)-Richest (+4)-Economic Powerhouse (+5)-Monopoly (+6) (after Monopoly, you get Monopoly+x (+6+x), where x is the amount of economy levels beyond Monopoly)

Size

As proposed by Disenfrancised, though somewhat altered by me. The larger your country is, the more money you will have to spend to grow any particular stat. You could invest money into stat growth over time if your country is large enough; in that case, the stat will still increase, but only in some, probably central, parts of the country.

Small (1)-Medium (2)-Above Medium (3)-Large (4)-Huge (5)-Gargantuan (6)-Half the World (7)

Note that training and military leadership do NOT depend on the above country size. They depend on army size. You need one eco. point per a full 20 divisions to grow army training; 1 per 20 squadrons for navy training; 1 per 20 divisions OR 20 squadrons (so the total amount of eco. points needed is determined by the sum of both the divisions and the squadrons) for military leadership.

Miscellanous Stats

Those four/five stats below are all grown with eco. points, but, like with growing economy itself, you are supposed to point out what exactly you are doing.

Leadership

Whether military or civilian, leadership is an important factor. Competent military leaders will succesfully carry out plans or will even attain some successes on their own without orders; competent buerocrats will greatly help all government programs and assist the development of the land. But incompetent generals will even with the best plan stagger and blunder, while incompetent civilian administrators will embezzle funds and otherwise will be corrupt. So, this is quite crucial, and cadre preparation thus should be an important priority. Note that sometimes it is best to give specifics when growing this stat (meaning, how EXACTLY are you training your new leaders - what military doctrines should be emphasized, for instance, what stance should your buerocrats take on the various rebels, et cetera). When you expand your army radically, your military leadership will suffer; when you expand your territory, the civilian one will.

None-Imbecile-Moronic-Stupid-Incompetent-Barely Tolerable-Tolerable-Competent-Better-Good-Brilliant

Infrastructure

Roads, bridges, boats - all things used for transportation of goods and men - are listed under infrastructure. The higher is your infrastructure, the easier it is to move your (or enemy) troops across your territory; also, infrastructure could sometimes slightly grow economic benefits from trade centers, and it is a must for maintenance of a high culture level in large empires, as well as actually maintaining your grip on faraway provinces.

None-Dirt Paths-Pathetic-Barely Tolerable-Tolerable-Improving-Good-Efficient-Very Efficient-Great-Excellent

Education

This is just how your people are... educated, I guess. Obvious enough. With a good education, you have better chances of receiving a “miraculous invention”. You could design better walls and siege engines, and ships for that matter, with higher education. The higher education, the more chances you have to develop some technology.

Once someone reaches Enlightenment education, he becomes much more likely to reach the next age as soon as it becomes possible at all. When he does, he loses two education levels.

None-Dumb-Illiterate-Tolerable-Literate-Educated-Well Educated-Perfect-Academic-Enlightenment

Living Standards

This is pretty simple. The higher your living standards are, the happier your population is; the lower, the tougher it is, because of the tougher life. Living standards drop easily, due to economic weakness and war; they are raised as any other economic stats are raised, but the more they are raised the more greedy your people get for more. To create a classic revolutionary situation, raise the living standards somewhat and then neglect them and let them drop.

None-Slums-Very Low-Low-Barely Tolerable-Tolerable-Normal-Higher-Very High-Splendid

Culture

NOTE: NO LONGER CAN BE GROWN BY ECONOMY DIRECTLY.

This is how culturally strong, patriotic and unified your nation is. A nation with strong patriotism is less likely to fall into a civil war, and it’s people would resist most invaders and otherwise help their government. This also influences army morale. A nation with weak patriotism is unlikely to be as resistant to outside threats, there will often be rebellions and defections.

None-Divided-Untrusting-Average-Strongly Cultured-Devoted-Patriotic-Hyperpatriotic-Jingoist-Uberpatriotic

Confidence

NOTE: NO LONGER CAN BE GROWN BY ECONOMY DIRECTLY.

People can be fiercely unified and patriotic, but they will not necessarily like their ruler - in fact, a strongly
cultured nation with little confidence in its leaders can, in its cultural unity, lynch the rulers and fire their remains from cannons. Into the huge pot filled with boiled sharks. Not that the rulers will care by then...

Lynching-Hateful-Resentful-Barely Tolerating-Tolerating-Respecting-Admiring-Loving-Nation Personified

Investments

Wait! There is even more stuff you could waste your treasury on! Particularily, you could invest it, in the form of eco. points, into all sorts of programs - for example, you could invest them into the development of some technology (NOTE - it MUST be something conceivable for this time. You probably will have to consult me about this too... :sigh: ), though the success will depend not just on the amount of money invested, but also on your education level and on chance. Sometimes it could take quite a while. Or maybe you could invest it into a colonial venture. Or into some nice idea that you have, such as a jungle-clearing program that might increase infrastructure, and, in long-term, economy. This is also one of the few ways you could increase culture and confidence using money.

Note - in no case is success - or, at least, complete success - guaranteed. But its possible.

Detirioration

Over time, all your stats will detiriorate. This can be sped up by many factors, such as war, rebellion, neglect, low economy (not just with a minus eco. point, though the lower the "better"), et cetera. You could delay this by investing money into maintaining your current stats, the more money the less your stats will detiriorate.

Projects

Local equivalent of wonders (that name is inappropriate in most NESes, as these are often modernization programs, national revival and other PROJECTS, not just huge and magnificent buildings). You tell me what it does, I tell you how long do you build it. You will have to invest an eco. point once each turn for the work on the project to continue You can sacrifice an econ. level to speed it up by THREE turns, or invest 2 additional eco. points to speed it up by one more turn. Note that there is a limit - you can only invest one eco. level per turn, and accordingly only 6 extra eco. points per turn. The exact time it takes to build a project will depend on too many factors to list here.

Nation Background

To better fit in as the ruler of your country, you will have a brief history of each country here.

PCs:

Estados Unidos de América (EUA)
Capital: Acapulco
Ruler: President ? (election pending)/Disenfrancised
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Centralization: Confederation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 28 divisions (Proffesional), 11 divisions (Good), 13 EU Cabalerria Core divisions
Navy (Training): 16 squadrons (Normal), 5 irregular squadrons
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Large (4)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Good
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Barely Tolerable
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects: Nationhood (+2 Culture, +1 Civilian Leadership) (Done!), Workshop of the West (+San Salvador, Guayaquil economic centers) (Done!), Consolidation (+1 Living Standards, +1 Education, +1 Infrastructure, +1 Civilian Leadership) (1/8)
Nation Background: As Spain's vast colonial empire begun to collapse in 1744, the Continentalists were some of the first to raise the banner of rebellions, fighting for an united, independent, democratic Latin America. Though facing many difficulties and losing in several theatres, the Continentalists have held out in Mexico until their secret alliance with France bore fruit in late 1745. After that, it was a tale of success, first for the Continental Congress and later for the newly-created Estados Unidos de America, as the Spanish were crushed, international recognition was attained, the country itself was consolidated and revolution was exported: New Granada was brought into the fold, an expedition to Chile ultimatley gained the EUA this southern foothold, and in the World War the Portuguese conquest of Argentina was reversed, the Americans gaining most of the former Spanish South America (sans the Incan Empire, which too became something of an economical colony over time) plus several periphereal parts of Brazil itself after some brutal warfare. In the north, Americans advanced with rifle and feather all the way to Yukon and the Aleut islands. However, the EUA seems to have outran itself - numerous regionalist, separatist movements are flourishing, and Paraguay is already up in arms. It is unclear whether it will continue growing by leaps and bounds in all the spheres or instead collapse as spectacularily as it rose.

Incan Empire
Capital: Cuzco
Ruler: Sapa-Inca Tupac Amaru II/Kentharu
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 10 divisions (Tolerable), 8 irregular divisions
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Size (points required): Medium (2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Barely Tolerable/Tolerable(1/2)
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Living Standards: Very Low
Culture: Average
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Quechua - subjects of the Sapa-Incas of past - have survived the best of all the Amerind peoples and cultures conquered. Time and again they raised general revolts - the previous one was defeated in 1745. However, the Spanish never managed to completely crush the rebellion, and as their colonial empire crumbled the Incans did rise again. However, there is much work to do if the Empire is to ever come even closeto matching its ancient glory - presently it is impoverished, weak and increasingly dependant on the EUA. Due to the latter fact it is also rather unstable, radicals believing that the present Sapa-Inca is too weak and too accomadating.

Empire of Brazil
Capital: Rio de Janeiro
Ruler: Emperor Pedro I/Icmancin
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 25 divisions (Professional), 2 irregular divisions, 17 conscript divisions
Navy (Training): None left
Economy: Growing (+2)
Size (points required): Above Medium (3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+4/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Perfect
Living Standards: Higher
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Hateful
Projects: Colonial Headquarter (+1 Infrastructure, +1 Economy) (Done!), Pedro Reforms (improve conscription (training and morale)) (Done!)
Nation Background: Portugal was in its days one of the three world-spanning great colonial powers, alongside with France and Spain. Though its colonies were numerous, already then many rightly saw Brazil to be the greatest jewel in the crown of the Braganzas. Few could anticipate however, especially after the War of Spanish Dissolution, that it would come to this - that Portugal will cease to exist as an independent nation, and only Brazil and South Africa would remain under the Braganza spectre, a sort of a "Portugal-in-exile". And yet this is what happened. After the War of Spanish Dissolution, the Portuguese overstretched themselves, waging wars against various rebels all over the world. This weakened them, and gained them many enemies, most notably its old ally France that now was the ascendant hegemon of Western Europe. World War started in 1750, when Portugal Proper was invaded and annexed by France (causing a government to be formed in Rio de Janeiro under Prince Pedro), while EUA forces engaged the Portuguese in the Amazon and Platine theatres. Though they fought back bravely throughout their colonial empire, the French unleashed too many of their allies for Portugal to cope with. Ultimately, King Pedro III surrendered; he was crowned Emperor of Brazil, but had to abdicate the Portuguese title and cede huge swathes of land all over the world, even parts of Brazil itself. Now it is trying to recover and rebuild - and then possibly to seek revenge.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Capital: London
Ruler: George II/conehead234
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 41 divisions (Professional)
Navy (Training): 55 squadrons (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Medium (2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Educated
Living Standards: Very High
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects: National Awakening (SECRET) (Done!), SECRET (SECRET) (Done!), Domestic Affairs (+2 Civilian Leadership, +2 Education) (1/6)
Nation Background: Undone by the civil wars and French interventions in the 17th century that left England a bitterly divided puppet state surrounded by France and its various Celtic allies, England has underwent a renaissance in the mid-18th century. As France was preoccupied elsewhere, it did little to prevent the English conquests of Scotland and Ireland, and in fact remained on good terms with the English governmeent throughout it all. Economy flourished, and a gradual series of some concessions combined with the rise to the rank of a second-rate, regional power had gained the Monarchy popular support. Now reformed into the the UK of Great Britain and Ireland, the state had flourished even further, and begun building a colonial empire with the gain of British Congo in the aftermath of World War. Future seems bright.

Holy Roman Empire [of the French Nation]
Capital: Paris
Ruler: Emperor Julien II/Insane_Panda
Government: Elective Semi-Parliamentary Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 105 divisions (Elite+3), 57 Foreign Legion corps (Elite+4), 1 irregular division
Navy (Training): 120 squadrons (Elite+3)
Economy: Monopoly (+6)
Size (points required): Gargantuan (6)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+2/Good
Infrastructure: Great
Education: Academic
Living Standards: Splendid
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Nation Personified+2
Projects: Noveau Paris (+1 Infrastructure, +1 Living Standards) (Done!), Le Canal de L'Egyptien (+canal, +1 Economy) (Done!), Project Unité (+1 Culture, +1 Infrastructure, +1 Economy) (Done!), Sciences-Po (+2 Civilian Leadership, +1 Education) (Done!), Leviathan (SECRET) (1/10)
Nation Background: Henry IV the Great (r. 1589-1623) had built a great empire out of a war-torn France, rebuilding its economy and military and eventually leading it to victory in the Twenty Years War. However, his successors were mostly weak and mediocre - under them, France became a parliamentary monarchy. Nonetheless, they succesfully carried on Henry's policies, with the help of their oft-outstanding advisors, subjugating England and Holland and established a vast colonial empire, despite some setbacks back in Europe. In 1740, things changed as a new great ruler, Julien-Francois I, came to power. He was destined to put the world on its head, then back on its feet and so forth ad infinitum, constantly issuing reforms, patronizing scientific progress and waging wars to redraw the entire globe. Naturally that latter habit brought him many enemies, or rather he found them himself. French forces involved themselves in lesser conflicts all over the world, reinforcing their allies, but the greatest victories were ofcourse achieved in the War of Spanish Dissolution (1745-1747), Sino-Japanese War (1746-1752) and, ofcourse, the World War (1750-1754), the latter seeing the defeat of France's three remaining key enemies - Portugal, GGR and the Russian Union. After that war, vast swathes of land became French in Western Europe - from Lisbon to the Elbe and the Danube. This called for yet more reform, and so with Papal blessing Imperator Augustus Julien II revived the Holy Roman Empire - more continuious with the Carolingian tradition of an united Western Empire than with the Medieval, German one. The HRE is presently world's single strongest state, a true superpower, but as such it not only has old enemies but is also bound to find new ones. This round it survived and prevailed in, but who knows what will happen in the next?

Union of Scandinavia
Capital: Copenhagen
Ruler: King Frederik VI/Harleqin
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 39 divisions (Very Good), 4 divisions (Better)
Navy (Training): 18 squadrons (Good), 9 Danneborg-class ships
Economy: Growing (+2)
Size (points required): Above Medium (3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good(2/3)/Better
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Academic
Living Standards: Very High
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects: Copenhagen Academy of Progress and Leadership (+1 Military, Civilian Leadership) (Done!), the Great Social Reforms (+1 Economy, +1 Living Standards, +1 Education) (Done!)
Nation Background: As the 17th century begun, the Danish monarchy was increasingly pushed back by its one-time Swedish subjects. Still, Denmark-Norway managed to briefly reconcile with Sweden for the Twenty Years War, where both fought on the Protestant side; however, the Danes were quickly defeated by the Imperial forces and pulled out due to rising dissent back at home. After the end of the TYW, Sweden's king Gustav II has punished this betrayal by invading and conquering Denmark-Norway, with the help of some discontent nobles; it was a part of his greater Protestant Empire until he died in 1648, and after that it seceded under a cadet branch of the old Oldenburg dynasty. After that, beside the conquest of the Orkneys from war-torn England and the 1744-5 Skane War that saw the recapture of Skane, it was at peace, de facto if not de jure, until the very World War. At its start, Denmark-Norway was torn between its French and Russian alliances, but ultimately went along with Julien-Francois, and was richly rewarded for that - with the reconquest of Sweden and the birth of the Union of Scandinavia. However, the war was long and hard, with Russian attacks in several theatres. In the end however Russia was defeated, though Scandinavia didn't by itself gain anything from it, instead receiving some old Portuguese African colonies. Still, this is clearly a strong regional power.

The Papal States/Holy League of Italy
Capital: Rome
Ruler: Pope Clement XII/Azale
Government: Theocracy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 42 divisions (Professional), 17 divisions (Good), 22 Papal Zouave divisions, 3 irregular divisions
Navy (Training): 12 squadrons (Tolerable)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Medium (2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Literate
Living Standards: Higher
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Respecting
Projects: Secret (Secret) (Done!), Corzetti's "Purges" (+2 Military Leadership, +1 Civilian Leadership, +1 Army Training) (Done!)
Nation Background: In the late 17th century, most of Northern Italy was in something of a chaos, with the constant struggles of France and Spain, and local revolutions and counter-revolutions. In the end, the Pope, a long-standing Spanish ally, decided to use this opportunity to unite several other Italian states under the Papal hegemony, as the "Holy League"; the peace accords that followed the War of the Augsburg League have formalized the creation of this Holy League. In the early 18th century, an alliance with Spain and Venice was established, but in the 1740s it was destroyed; first, the latter was partitioned between the Pope and the Krakow Union, then, the former was crushed by France which then signed the Paris-Rome Accords that made the Holy League a French ally. That policy proved mutually-beneficial - French intervention saved Italy from the Augsburger invaders, and in the World War the Papacy sent troops to fight on the French side, repulsing a Russian invasion of Venezia and ultimately annexing Croatia. As France transformed into the Holy Roman Empire in 1754, it was done with Papal blessing.

Kingdom of Poland
Capital: Warsaw
Ruler: ?/North King
Government: Absolute Monarchy (Regency)
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 5 divisions (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Living Standards: Barely Tolerable
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Once the center of the Krakow Union, Poland was overran by the Russians during the Krakow War in 1746, and consequently detached from the Union's remnants. From the start some of the Poles begun to resist the Russians, waging a low-level guerrila campaign. In truth however it was of little importance. Poland became an independent monarchy (without any king thus far - there are too many candidates) as per the French demands in the Treaty of Vienna, becoming a vital part of the French cordon sanitaire against future Russian aggression - the first line of the Holy Roman Empire's defense.

Kingdom of Hungary
Capital: Pest
Ruler: ?/Sheep
Government: Absolute Monarchy (Regency)
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 5 divisions (Not Bad)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Literate
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Having become one of the vital parts of the Krakow Union since the great Polish leader Wladyslaw Wittlin drove out the Turks, Hungary ascended and fell along with the Krakow Union; after the Krakow War it was divided between the Greater German Republic and the Russian Union. After the defeat of both in the World War, Hungary became an independent country for the first time in over two hundred years, but its future is uncertain, as a king is yet to be chosen and some border tensions with Romania have commenced.

Byzantine Empire
Capital: Constantinople
Ruler: Basilissa Irene II/Dachspmg
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 43 divisions (Very Good), 9 Varangian Guard divisions, 3 irregular division
Navy (Training): 52 squadrons (Good)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Medium (2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+2/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Literate
Living Standards: Barely Tolerable
Culture: Average
Confidence: Admiring
Projects: Isthmian Canal (+canal near Corinth, +Patrai economic center) (Done!), Byzantine General Staff (+2 Military Leadership, +2 Army Training, +1 Navy Training) (Done!), Melenidean Reforms (+2 Naval Training, +1 Military Leadership, +2 Infrastructure) (3/6)
Nation Background: As the Ottoman Empire in the early 1740s stumbled and crumbled, Greek rebels, led by a genuine Paleologue - future Constantine XII - made a succesful bid for independence and did what seemed impossible - they recreated the Byzantine Empire. Though at one point, it seemed as if it would soon collapse (when in 1745, an opportunistic invasion of Italy ended in utter disaster and Constantine XII was assassinated by one of his own guards), Basilissa Irene II, the regent for her son Ioann IX, had not just saved the Empire; she, through shrewd dealing and calculated military action, betrayed and helped defeat the Krakow Union in the vital Balkan War, annexing pretty much all of the Balkans afterwards. Much like Denmark-Norway, it was torn between its French and Russian allise when the World War started; but in the end, it supported Russia, and attacked the French Turkish allies, retaking most of the lands that once belonged to the Eastern Roman Empire. However, the French and Italian armies used the diversion of most of the Byzantine forces to the Middle East to rapidly invade and overrun much of the Balkans. Basilissa Irene II had to sign peace and switch sides, in exchange keeping a meager, but Greek-majority portion of its Middle Eastern gains. That was to be Byzantium's only gain from the war, but it was ofcourse lucky not to lose any of its own territories at all, although the empire was definitely weakened by the endless South Slavic rebellions. If Byzantium is to survive and fulfill its potential (of a regional or even great power), it will have to solve the Slavic Question first...

Russian Union
Capital: Moscow
Ruler: Tsar Mikhail II/Stormbringer
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 70 divisions (Elite), 50 Cossack divisions
Navy (Training): 45 squadrons (Elite)
Economy: Normal (+1)
Size (points required): Huge (5)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+2/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Living Standards: Barely Tolerable
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Barely Tolerating
Projects: Spider Web (a powerful defensive network) (Done!), Regional Improvement (+2 Economy, +1 Infrastructure) (Done!), Civil Development (+1 Education, +1 Civilian Leadership, +1 Economy, +1 eco. center) (1/8)
Nation Background: Tsar Ivan IV and his son Tsar-King Ivan V have in the 16th century engineered the personal union of Russia and Lithuania, stealing the latter from Poland's Jagiellons, and, in the War of Lithuanian Succession, held on to both Lithuania and the lands of the obsolete Teutonic Order. They and their successors greatly expanded it - into Siberia, into Ottoman Crimea, into the Central Asia... True, there also were many, many problems - peasant risings, defeats in Poland and the Baikal region, and indeed in the 1680s the Tsar-King - Ivan VIII - had to concede much power to the zemskoy sobor. Early 18th century saw Russia diplomatically isolated and somewhat backward, and its prospects seemed to be not too bright at best. In the 1740s however, under the militaristic Tsar Vladimir IV, Russia, through use of force and threat of force, managed to win a series of spectacular victories. The Ottoman Empire, the Krakow Union and Sweden, Russia's traditional enemies, were all crushed or crippled, and Russia expanded greatly into Eastern Europe and Chinese Central Asia (the protectorates over the Uighurs and the Mongols in the wake of the fall of the Qing Dynasty). However, these victories gained it many enemies, most notably - another ascendant great power on the other side of the continent, King Julien-Francois I's France. The long-awaited epic clash with France and Japan came in the World War (1750-1754), and to the end the Russian military kept fighting, often winning spectacular victories and foiling the French plans of destroying the Union altogether. Nonetheless, both Portugal and GGR (successor the Krakow Union that allied with Russia early into the war, betraying its French allies), Russia's comrades in struggle against France, were brought to the breaking point and surrendered. Russia had to go to the peace table, as now, with the previous Byzantine defection, it stood completely alone against a coalition of the world's surviving great powers. Vladimir IV tried to end the negotiations, but he was overthrown by the democratic Chancellor Bestuzhev who gained much power and influence while the Tsar was away at the front, and replaced by Mikhail II who accepted the terms of the Treaty of Vienna. It negated most of the Russian gains since 1740, and barred Russia the way into Eastern Europe with the creation of several small pro-French states. Russia lost southern Central Asia to the rising Dar al-Islam (former Mughal Empire) and was forced to concede roughly 2/3rds of its Asian gains to the Xin Han Chinese Empire and the Japanese one. Now, Russia needs to rebuild, and to find new allies as presently it is in a state of well-planned diplomatical isolation.

MORE BELOW

PCs Continued

Kingdom of Segu
Capital: Segou
Ruler: Mamari Kulibali/~Darkening~
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Enlightened Age
Army (Training): 24 divisions (Tolerable)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Barely Tolerable/Incompetent
Infrastructure: Pathetic
Education: Illiterate
Living Standards: None
Culture: Average
Confidence: Respecting
Projects: Economic Restoration (+2 Economy, +1 Living Standard) (3/5)
Nation Background: The Bambara peoples of Segu have already created and destroyed several kingdoms when in 1712 Mamari Kulibali "the Commander" took over. Mamari formed one of the best and most modern Black African armies yet to exist and with it defeated all his enemies, stretching the empire to its current size. Recently there has been a comparative rise of commerce with the Holy Roman Empire.

Kingdom of Sennar
Capital: Sennar
Ruler: Rajab I/andis-1
Government: Theocratic Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Enlightened Age
Army (Training): 10 divisions (Elite), 12 Mounted Grenadier divisions, 1 irregular division
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Poor (0)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Pathetic
Education: Dumb
Living Standards: Very Low
Culture: Untrusting
Confidence: Barely Tolerating
Projects: African Modernization (+1 Infrastructure, +1 Economy, +1 Living Standards, +economic center) (2/8)
Nation Background: The Funj, a strange, pagan people from the south, have defeated the Arabs of Sudan in the 16th-17th centuries, but themselves then converted to Islam and founded the kingdom of Sennar. With Turkish help, Funj grew stronger and stronger in recent years, clashing with the Christian, pro-Portuguese Abyssinia. Under Badi IV, though, things went badly (pun intended) and Sennar fell into a limited civil war and was indiscriminantly attacked by Abyssinia. The country collapsed altogether under enemy blows, but a warlord named Rajab, with Ottoman support, managed to revive Sennar and revolutionize African wafare by adapting many European tactics. The war was long and hard, but ultimately, Abyssinia was crushed. Now, however, the ailing Ottoman Empire is replaced by the ascendant Mughal-rueld Dar al-Islam, which has already begun eyeing the lands of its present allies...

Dar al-Islam
Capital: Delhi
Ruler: Badshah/Caliph Ahmad Shah Bahadur/silver2039
Government: Theocratic Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 96 divisions (Good), 36 Imperial Guard divisions, 14 irregular divisions
Navy (Training): 35 squadrons (Tolerable)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Huge (5)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Good.
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Literate
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Loving
Projects: Black Taj Mahal (+1 Culture, +1 Confidence, +Early Industrial Age) (Done!)
Nation Background: Not the first of the Central Asian conquerors of India, the Great Mughals were definitely the most succesful of them all, especially in its early days. Despite some setbacks, the Mughals came to dominate the subcontinent, but in the late 17th century, overstretchment and the Hindu dissent caused by Aurangzeb's Muslim fundamentalist policies weakened them badly, as rebellions nearly destroyed their empire. Only the preoccupation of the stronger southern/central Indian states with the wars with European powers and the fact that neither Persia nor the Afghans that conquered it were in any shape to threaten the Mughals allowed Bahadur Shah I to revive the Mughal Empire. Having defeated the various rebels, Bahadur and his son Ahmad Shah Bahadur took ruthless measures, force-modernizing the Empire and crippling the power of the nobility. With a secure base for future conquests established, Ahmad Shah Bahadur marched into immortality with a series of wars, collectively known in India as Wars of the Islamic Ascendancy (1742-1754). During two of those, the Afghan Khanate was crushed and partitioned; in another, most of Burma, Nepal and Bhutan were taken from the Qing; later still, Portuguese Indian holdings were overran, and so was Russian Central Asia; in reward for the Mughal efforts, their French allies also handed over their mainland Indian holdings to them. But the greatest victory came in 1753, when the collapsing Ottoman Empire recognized the Mughal claims to the Caliphate and entered a personal union with Delhi. As the Sultan was assassinated by Byzantine spies soon after, Ahmad Shah Bahadur became the singlehanded ruler of the greatest Muslim Empire since the fall of the Ummayads, called plainly the Dar al-Islam. As most rebels have been defeated and Byzantines persuaded to withdraw from former Ottoman territories, this empire ascends higher and higher...

Xin Han Chinese Empire
Capital: Zhongguojing
Ruler: Hanhua Emperor/Cuivienen
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 36 divisions (Good), 8 Xin Han Ma Bing divisions, 7 irregular divisions
Navy (Training): 15 squadron (Better)
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Size (points required): Above Medium (3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+2/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Enlightenment+2
Living Standards: Barely Tolerable
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Loving
Projects: Xin Dongxi (SECRET) (Done!)
Nation Background: Comparative backwardness and lack of support amongst the people caused the downfall of the Qing Dynasty in 1748, after the fall of Beijing to the French. A successor state immediately arose, however - General Nian Gengyao forced the child-Emperor's abdication in Jinan and declared himself the Hanhua Emperor of the Xin Han dynasty. Though many predicted that this one too will fall, despite military defeats and a series of armed risings, most notably the rising of the Nan Chinese augmented by a military mutiny and the creation of the short-lived Imperial Republic of China in the south the Hanhua Emperor ultimately managed to straighthen things out, especially as his foreign enemies (with the notably exception of a Japanese expeditionary force) pulled out of China Proper, distracted by affairs elsewhere in the world. After a bitter struggle, the Imperial Republic surrendered in 1752, and Japan had no choice but to recognize Hanhua Emperor of China, in exchange for his recognition of the Japanese gains in Taiwan (later mostly bought back), Korea and Manchuria. Since then, the Emperor mostly preoccupied himself with rebuilding China itself, moving the capital to Zhongguojing as a sign of reconciliation between the North and the South. By 1754, with scarcely a shot, the Xin Han Empire managed to regain Macao, Taiwan, Tibet and parts of Mongolia and Gansu. It has also succesfully continued the modernization started back in the Qing days. Though it is unquestionably weaker than the Qing Empire, the Xin Han one is more modern and stable, and has a great potential - no doubt after it rebuilds, China will become an important player on the world stage again, in fact it already begun to become such.

Japanese Empire
Capital: Kyoto
Ruler: Tokugawa Nobunaga/Symphony D.
Government: Shogunate
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 44 divisions (Elite+2(1/3)), 32 Ikkitousennonimusha divisions
Navy (Training): 74 squadrons (Elite)
Economy: Normal (+1)
Size (points required): Large (4)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+2/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Perfect
Living Standards: Normal
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Nation Personified
Projects: Industrialization of Japan (+1 Economy, +1 Infrastructure, advance to Early Industrial Age) (Done!), Tokugawa Restoration (+2 Economy) (Done!), Rising Sun (SECRET) (2/5)
Nation Background: The bakuhan - better known as the Tokugawa Shogunate - has entered a deep crisis in the 18th century, as economy declined and peasant risings became widespread. Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune had solved this problem and the problem of growing Spanish diplomatic pressure for Japan to open up for more widespread trade with one rather controversial decision - he indeed ended the centuries of isolation, gradually opening Japan up to foreign trade and using it to replenish the treasury. After that and the defeats of the peasant and the later samurai rebellions, Yoshimune continued his reforming spree, reworking the buerocracy, increasing the education and beginning to rebuild the fleet. Japan has trully entered a new era under Tokugawa Nobunaga in the 1740s as modernization and more reforms took place, and an alliance with France was signed. This alliance allowed Japan to grab Spain's Pacific colonies in the War of Spanish Dissolution, to crush the Qing Chinese Empire and annex Korea and Manchuria in the Sino-Japanese War, and, in the World War, to crush Russian armies and annex "Outer Manchuria", as well as, by the Treaty of Lisbon and a separate accord with Paris, become the preeminent power of the Pacific Ocean, buying up over half the East Indies and a host of island chains, most notably Hawaii. The future looks very bright for Japan, one of the greatest winners of these 14 tumultous years.

NPCs:

Kingdom of Euskardi
Capital: Bilbao
Ruler: King Sancho X
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 6 divisions (Tolerable)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Incompetent/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: After many centuries of rebelliousness and simmering dissent in the more peaceful days, the Basques have finally been able to break free of Spanish reign with French help. Ofcourse, it did not come without a price - the French Basques remain under direct French rule, even though Euskardi had expanded further at Spanish expense. Right now, as the country is surrounded by French/Imperial territory, there is however a growth of support for integration into the HRE.

Republic of Brandenburg
Capital: Vienna (provisional)
Ruler: Feldmarschall Franz I
Government: Provisional Government
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 20 divisions (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Medium (2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Brilliant+2/Incompetent
Infrastructure: Very Efficient
Education: Enlightenment
Living Standards: Higher
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Resentful
Projects: Silesian Miracle (+1 Infrastructure, +1 Economy) (Done!), The 'Glass' Account (+2 Economy) (Done!)
Nation Background: After the crumbling of the Jagiellon dynastic empire in the 16th century, eastern Central Europe, having briefly become a part of Gustav II's Protestant Empire, turned into a puzzle of myriad warring states until came Wladyslaw Wittlin, Polish war hero. In 1692, he overthrew the government of the short-lived Polish Republic that he himself once saved from Russian invaders, and in a series of campaigns brought all of the region - Poland, Hungary, eastern half of Germany - together into a single state, the Krakow Union, united by the fear of other powers. This state proved surprisingly strong; in the 1740s Josef von Dunkelheit brought it short-lived hegemony in Central Europe. However, he was murdered and overthrown in the middle of a war with Russia, and the Krakow Union, despite the efforts of his son Friedrich (who overthrew the short-lived anti-Dunkelheitian junta), was destroyed. Friedrich von Dunkelheit instead founded the Greater German Republic in the surviving western half of the union, and merged with it the Confederation of the Rhine as per an agreement with Paris. The GGR was seen by all as a French ally, but instead it betrayed Julien-Francois upon the beginning of the World War with Russia, preventing a quick and easy victory. Ultimately however the German attacks on France proved a costly failure - though ground was gained, the price was terrible and the French army was intact, intact for a seaborne invasion in the Baltic Sea and an attack through the Byzantine territory when that empire switched sides. Germany was cut in a half by an attack against its rear, and its armies in the west were doomed to be devastated, so in early 1754, Friedrich von Dunkelheit and his government surrendered unconditionally... and mystiriously disappeared. A rump Republic of Brandenburg remained in the eastern parts of the GGR, but it is highly unstable and not very likely to survive.

Kingdom of Finland
Capital: Turku
Ruler: King Frederik I
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 5 divisions (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Finland had for the first time in history gained its independence in 1745, after a succesful Russian-backed rebellion against Sweden. But later on, Finland having allied with France and provided it with naval bases, it was attacked and crushed by its very liberators in the World War. As Russia acknowledged its defeat in the Treaty of Vienna and agreed to withdraw from its Eastern European conquests, Finland was restored without any further bloodshed, still ruled by a king from the native nobility.

Kingdom of Romania
Capital: Bucharest
Ruler: King Antioch I
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 5 divisions (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Literate
Living Standards: Barely Tolerable
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Having briefly been liberated during the collapse of the Ottoman authority in the Balkans in early 1740s, Romania was almost immediately forced into a personal union with Russia. A resistance movement attempted to expel the Russians with Krakow assistance, but its initial revolts failed and later it was betrayed by the Krakow Union. During the Krakow War Romania was occupied by the Krakowians, but after they had been defeated it was further integrated into Russia. The resistance continued, but was too weak to launch rebellions; Romania was yet another country freed without a shot by the Treaty of Vienna that ended the World War.

Empire of Kanem-Bornu
Capital: Birni-Gazargamu
Ruler: Mai Idris Taluba
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Enlightened Age
Army (Training): 19 divisions (Tolerable), 9 Imperial Camelry divisions
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Barely Tolerable/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Educated
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Resentful
Projects: Modernization of the Empire (+1 Economy, +1 Education, +1 Military Leadership, +1 Civilian Leadership) (2.5/6)
Nation Background: Once, Bornu was but a part of the greater empire of Kanem. Now, the situation is reversed, and has been reversed for centuries now - time goes slow here in Africa. But Kanem-Bornu still did change with time - since the great days of Mai (Emperor) Idris Alawma, it has shrunken in size, stagnated and weakened, and is now even more threatened by surrounding barbarians than ever before.

Reserved!!!

Misc.:

Wars:

Alliances:
Imperial-Danish Alliance
Paris-Rome Pact
Imperial-American Defense Pact (Western Hemisphere only)
Imperial-Euskardi Alliance
Imperial-English Alliance
Imperial-Japanese Alliance
Anglo-HRE Defensive Alliance (really, cone, you don't think that's a bit excessive?)
Sino-Japanese Defense Pact
Finnish Alliances: with HRE, Scandinavia
Imperial-Polish Defense Pact
Imperial-Hungarian Defense Pact
Imperial-Romanian Defense Pact

NAPs:
HRE-EUA NAP
Brandenburger NAPs with HRE, Scandinavian Union, Holy League, United Kingdom, Japanese Empire, Dar al-Islam
Russian NAPs with Poland, Hungary, Romania, Scandinavia, Japan, Xin Han China, Dar al-Islam (1754-1764)
Brazilian NAPs with EUA, HRE, United Kingdom, Japanese Empire, Xin Han China, Dar al-Islam (1754-1764)

Diplomatic Agreements:
Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation: Dar al-Islam and the Holy Roman Empire
Paris-Rome Accord: free trade, cooperation, recognition of each other's gains from Spain and of HRE's status as the protector of the Catholic faith.
Japanese-American Pan-Pacific Prosperity Pact
Lima Agreement: Incan Empire and EUA are bound by MPP and lowered tariffs, Incan Empire must consult EUA on foreign policy, EUA pays out annual economical aid stipend.
Treaty of Pusan: indefinite Japanese lease of Gaoxiang.

UUs:
Holy Roman Empire: Foreign Legion - an elite corps skilled not just in ordinary combat, but also in marine operations and engineering.
Papal States: Papal Zouaves - an elite infantry unit, hand-picked by the Pope.
Greater Islamic Empire: Imperial Guard - a combination of the modern European military ideas and tools and of the Eastern tradition of elite "household" Guard units, the Imperial Guard is a powerful, loyal combined arms unit.
Xin Han China: Xin Han Ma Bing - the best Chinese imperial cavalry.
Scandinavian Union: Danneborg-class - huge modern ships-of-the-line.
Byzantine Empire: Varangian Guard - the elite bodyguard unit, the final reserve of the Emperor.
The Russian Union: Cossacks - fast, light cavalry excelling at raiding and guerrila war.
Japan: Ikkitousennonimusha - modernized "samurai" stormtroopers.
EUA: EA Caballeria Core - the further evolution of the Chaqueta Marron light cavalry of the Continentalist Revolution, it is more orderly and organized, but retains its reconnoitering and special functions.
Kanem-Bornu: Imperial Camelry - camel riders, excell at warfare with the desert tribes and raiders.
Sennar: Mounted Grenadier - a new, European-inspired unit of horseback infantry.

Scapegoat-for-the-turn: Thlayli, for starting and abandoning an important rebellion.

Old Updates:
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754

The Map of the World, as of the Year of Our Lord 1740, shortly before the Disappearence of the Last Semblance of Order in this World.

You can start posting now. First come, first serve...

Why did i even bother with first post if i'm going for a minor power anyway...

Japanese Empire
Capital: Kyoto
Ruler: ?
Government: Shogunate
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Enlightened Age
Army (Training): 20 divisions (Normal)
Navy (Training): 5 squadrons (Normal)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Small (1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Normal
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The bakuhan - better known as the Tokugawa Shogunate - has entered a deep crisis in the 18th century, as economy declined and peasant risings became widespread. Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune had solved this problem and the problem of growing Spanish diplomatic pressure for Japan to open up for more widespread trade with one rather controversial decision - he indeed ended the centuries of isolation, gradually opening Japan up to foreign trade and using it to replenish the treasury. After that and the defeats of the peasant and the later samurai rebellions, Yoshimune continued his reforming spree, reworking the buerocracy, increasing the education and recently beginning to rebuild the fleet. Japan has entered a new era, or will unless the remaining isolationists overthrow the current regime somehow.

Kingdom of Portugal
Capital: Lisbon
Ruler: ?
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 25 divisions (Very Good)
Navy (Training): 35 squadrons (Professional)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Huge (5)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Living Standards: Higher
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Having regained its independence in the 1620s, while Spain was busy fighting in the Twenty Years War, Portugal soon became a parliamentary monarchy not unlike France, with the native Braganza dynasty taking power. Originally a French ally - against both Spain and Netherlands - Portugal later became neutral, though still quite cordial with France. The Portuguese didn't have any real European ambitions, and concentrated on rebuilding - and expanding - their colonial empire. Eventually, they came to dominate Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean, where they clashed with France somewhat, especially in recent years as India was being carved up.

Qing Chinese Empire
Capital: Beijing
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Enlightened Age
Army (Training): 70 divisions (Better)
Navy (Training): 10 squadrons (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Huge (5)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The Qing rose to power less than a century ago, and are still in their prime, still expanding in most feasable directions, still are defeating enemy after enemy, still treat the European ambassadors with irritating, but sometimes not unreasonable arrogance. But in reality, though the Qing are more than capable to compete with the Europeans, they have been falling back behind, not through any fault of their own but rather because of the quick pace of progress in Europe. As China runs out of expansion space, it couldn't but bump into European powers, and though thus far the violent encounters were mostly succesful, this was due to the logistical complications that the Europeans often face. As tensions with France increase, however, it seems likely that soon, China and the foremost of Europe's powers will face each other in a large-scale war.

I see london, I lead France, Wellington has no underpants!

Kingdom of France
Capital: Paris
Ruler: King Julien-Francois I de Bourbon/Insane_Panda
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 40 divisions (Professional)
Navy (Training): 50 squadrons (Very Good)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Gargantuan (6)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Competent
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Perfect
Living Standards: Very High
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Out of the fires of the French Wars of Religions, France had re-emerged as a great power, largely thanks to the genius of Henry IV the Great (r. 1589-1623), who pulled the country together and reconciled the factions in it. His efforts to rebuild it were rewarded when the Twenty Years War came; in it, his armies were completely victorious pretty much everywhere apart from Spain Proper, and the country expanded eastwards, gaining many prosperous provinces. After Henry's death, more mediocre successors ruled; during this time, the modern French parliamentary monarchy was developed. Mediocre or not, the French government had continued Henry's policies well, overthrowing Oliver Cromwell in the Second English Civil War, conquering the United Provinces and thus eliminating much of the North European competition to the further strenghthening of the French commercial and colonial empire. After the failure of the French bid to dominate Germany in the War of the Augsburg League, and the early victories of the English rebels in 1700, the vector of French expansion was firmly shifted to the Atlantic, and the colonial empire stretching around the world.

wow, 4 cross posts!

Russia!!!

The Union of Russia-Lithuania
Capital: Moscow (Russia), Vilnius (Lithuania)
Ruler: ?
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy (personal union)
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 50 divisions (Better)
Navy (Training): 10 squadrons (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Huge (5)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Normal
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The fear of the still-strong Ottoman Empire and its Crimean vassals has been carefully manipulated by Ivan IV, who secured his son's accession to the throne of a newly-formed Kingdom of Lithuania, in 1554. This started the War of Lithuanian Succession, where Poland was backed by Sweden and the crumbling Teutonic Order, but, with some minor Danish assistance, the Russo-Lithuanian forces triumphed in the end, and after Ivan IV's death his son, also Ivan, became the first Tsar-King of Russia-Lithuania. Ivan V and his successors continued strenghthening the new Union, both by bringing the two member countries closer together commercially and by expanding vigorously. Ivan VIII (r. 1665-1687) has been particularily vigorous - he removed the last outposts of Ottoman power from Crimea, attempted to conquer Poland, subdued much of Central Asia and by the end of his reign had to deal with major peasant risings and the ire of pretty much all neighbouring countries. His son, Fyodor II, was a rather weak-willed man who nonetheless dealt quite harshly with the rebellions at first; but as dissent grew in the cities as well due to the economical crisis, he agreed to several compromises, creating the modern Russian parliamentary monarchy as the zemsky sobor became a much more regular, and significant, thing. In the 18th century, Russia-Lithuania's fortunes declined further as Lithuanian separatist sentiments rose, Turks reformed and, with some French help, stopped the Russian encroachment on their territories and the Chinese defeated Russia in the Baikal War. But Russia-Lithuania is still a great power, and still has potential for even more greatness.

Thom you evil frigtysmoof.

Muahaha, i win! Go East Coast

There's no trade centers on the map...

I'll take Spain. Crazy crossposting there.

Kingdom of Denmark-Norway claimed

Kingdom of Denmark-Norway
Capital: Copenhagen
Ruler: ?
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 10 divisions (Better)
Navy (Training): 10 squadrons (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Size (points required): Medium (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Living Standards: Higher
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: As the 17th century begun, the Danish monarchy was increasingly pushed back by its one-time Swedish subjects. Still, Denmark-Norway managed to briefly reconcile with Sweden for the Twenty Years War, where both fought on the Protestant side; however, the Danes were quickly defeated by the Imperial forces and pulled out due to rising dissent back at home. After the end of the TYW, Sweden's king Gustav II has punished this betrayal by invading and conquering Denmark-Norway, with the help of some discontent nobles; it was a part of his greater Protestant Empire until he died in 1648, and after that it seceded under a cadet branch of the old Oldenburg dynasty. After that, beside some border clashes with Sweden and the conquest of the Orkneys from war-torn England, it was at peace.

Damn, I'm just SURE someone reserved Spain. Oh well. I'll take Sweden if someone made a reservation earlier and desperately wants this nation.

Kingdom of Spain
Capital: Madrid
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 50 divisions (Very Good)
Navy (Training): 45 squadrons (Very Good)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Size (points required): Gargantuan (6)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Perfect
Living Standards: Higher
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: After the brief hegemony in the 16th century, Spain was sent tumbling down the stairs from the pedestal of power in the 17th - having been defeated in the Twenty Years War, it not only lost its Burgundian possessions, but also Catalonia, Milan and Portugal, the latter becoming independent. Phillip IV and his prime minister Olivares were forced by this defeat to start a series of reforms that took the power from the hands of the nobility and the clergy, creating a modern, centralized state; they also encouraged industry and commerce, and eventually, Spain recovered enough to defeat France in the War of the Pyrenees, in the 1680s, and the War of the Augsburg League, in 1690s - in those wars, Spain retook Milan and Catalonia, and attained naval supremacy in the Mediterranean after the battles at Minorca and at Malta. Subsequently, Spanish power was rebuilt further, with the conquest of the Barbary Coast and the development and consolidation of South American colonies. Strategic alliances with the Pope and Venice helped hold off the Franco-Turkish alliance.

STOP POSTING SO FAST!! made me loss Japan oh well IM OFF TO PLAY KINGDOM HEARTS 2 BABY!! YEA YEA SUCK IT YEA!!!

Ottoman Empire
Capital: Constantinople
Ruler: ?
Government: Theocratic Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Industrial Age
Army (Training): 40 divisions (Normal)
Navy (Training): 15 squadrons (Tolerable)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Size (points required): Large (4)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Living Standards: Tolerable
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The Ottoman Empire has once filled the entire Europe with fear, but, alas, this fear was unfounded. Turkish armies were turned back at Vienna, and the Turkish fleet was defeated at Lepanto; and despite all efforts, the Ottomans never did fully recover. Its lagging behind became even more evident in the 17th century, when in a series of wars Russia-Lithuania broke the Turkish predominance over the Black Sea and took over the northernmost Ottoman fortresses, the Poles added Hungary to their Union of Krakow and a Spanish-Venetian fleet defeated the last Ottoman grasp for naval supremacy at Malta. The only relief came in the 18th century, during the rule of Osman III (r. 1701-1728), reformed Turkish armies held the Russians at bay in Caucasus and the Danubean Principalities. Persia collapsed due to Afghan invasion allowing the Turks to pick up the pieces and the Wahhabi tribes of Central Arabia were finally subdued. But the Ottoman Empire is still weak and stagnant, and not even Osman III could completely root out the corruption and catch up to the Europeans. The next few years will decide whether the Ottoman Empire will have enough time to recover its strenght or whether it will be destroyed before it could do so.