NESpoir - Join the Navy, Meet Interesting People, and Kill Them

• INTRODUCTION
I like history because it is fun. So we are going to have fun. Or else. We are also going to make a world that is interesting and not too OOC. OOC is stupid and if you do something OOC I will make something that seems OOC happen to your nation. Not the good kind of OOC. This will be updated every one week or biweekly.

• PLAYERS
Newbies are welcome (you can not get better without playing. Unless if you grow up and learn to write. Then you do get better without playing. Hmm.). Experienced players are more welcome. Players who are going to play for a long time and do it without failing are the most welcome. If you want to actually be a country that matters (Nan Ming, France, VOC, Britain, Hungary, Brazil, United States, Ottoman Empire, Russia) please answer these questions and pm them to me.

Which guy led the Ming to victory over the Jurchens and changed history making this universe better than ours?

Is playing OOC a good thing?

Which country is the Hapsburg base of power?

Which country did Nan Ming fight for country of the Philippines?

Which moderncountry did the Hotakid Khanate start from?

What major rebellion is happening right now?

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

• STORIES
If you can't write, you are not going to learn how by not writing. If you can write, you get better by writing. Also your country will come alive in my eyes rather than be some stale piece of crap. Stale pieces of crap are not good countries. They are not required to suceed though as long as you write good orders with explanations.

• ORDERS
Orders. You need to send them. Also making them clear is the most important thing. Long and short depends on what you do and what you need to do to explain them. If you decide to do some things without explanation the people you want doing them also get no explanation and then it kind of falls apart from there. Also putting your stats with your orders makes it easier for me. Confucius say mod happy about country make country better. This is true.

• DEADLINES
These happen write before I have time. Kind of easy right?

• UPDATES
They happen when I write them. I write updates. You will not get any information on how well you did before the update by asking so do not. The logic for this is obvious.

• COUNTRIES
Besides established nations you can also start a revolution or make a new nation. Obviously starting a revolution when nobody supports it or making a new nation when there's no organisation or tradition involved will end in epic fail. I like epic fail but sometimes it kind of hurts faith in humanity and stuff like that.

• NON-PLAYER ENTITIES
A Non-Player Entity (being a country or organization, "Character" is not appropriate) is a group, be it official or unofficial, which interacts with Players but is controlled by the Moderator. A Player may take one at any time. Their level of interaction and commitment, as well as their behavior, will vary according to their position and history.

• UNOCCUPIED TERRITORY
All I can say is you can try to take over this. Doing it well requires you think about it before hand.

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STATISTICS


Spoiler for Statistics Template:
<NATION NAME>
CAPITAL: <Location>
RULER: <IC> / <OOC>
GOVERNMENT: <Type> (<Efficiency>)
CENTRALIZATION: <Level>
POPULATION: <Descriptor> (<Number>)
AREA: <Descriptor> (<Number>)
CONFIDENCE: <Level>
ECONOMY: <Level> (<Numbers>)
TECH. GRADE: <Level>
ARMY FORCES: <Units> (<Training>)
ARMY BASIC: <Level>
NAVY FORCES: <Units> (<Training>)
NAVY BASIC: <Level>
EDUCATION: <Level>
LIVING STANDARDS: <Level>
INFRASTRUCTURE: <Level>
BACKGROUND: <Variable>

• GOVERNMENT
Government is the system of rule employed by a particular country, and its overall level of capability. Governments may be changed at any time, but it's quite likely that adherents of the previous system will not be happy with any major changes in its method of operation. Increased ability generally results in better success in implementing new policies, dealing with unforeseen crises, and other such things.

Levels: Useless - Inept - Amateur - Decent - Competent - Qualified - Clever - Skilled - Brilliant - Masterful

• CENTRALIZATION
Centralization reflects the overall level of control that the government of a country wields over its constituent parts. More centralized states may direct resources at their disposal more efficiently, but on the other hand are more vulnerable to figurative decapitation. Less centralized states are less efficient, but more durable and flexible to change. It is possible to change one's centralization at any time, but a strong reason must be provided for doing so, and it is possible that it may be changed automatically to more accurately reflect one's actions.

Levels: League - Coalition - Alliance - Confederation - Federation - Union - Federalist - Oligarchic - Consulistic - Dictatorship - Absolutist

• AREA and POPULATION
Area and Population are measures of a country's ruled territory and the number of people it rules, respectively. Larger areas and larger groups of people are more difficult to rule and thusly implementing policies that affect them takes more money.

Levels: Tiny (1) - Small (2) - Medium (3) - Large (5) - Huge (7) - Monolithic (10)

• CONFIDENCE
Note: cannot be grown directly.

Confidence is a measure of how much stock a given country's citizens place in their current regime's ability to rule effectively (in a way that will benefit said citizens). More Confidence generally means more cooperation from the ruled, while low Confidence may result in a large assortment of what the ruling regime would consider bad, such as revolts or revolution.

Levels: Outraged - Resentful - Disillusioned - Nonexistent - Minute - Meager - Growing - Moderate - Considerable - Great - Boundless

• ECONOMY
Economy is a measure of a country's economic health, and accordingly the amount the government of money the government is able to take through taxes. Each economic level contains four (4) and sometimes five (5) entries, from left to right: 1. a level's description, 2. the level's EP yield, 3. the EP required to reach the next level, 4. the EP yielded from sacrificing the level and dropping to the next, and optionally 5. the number of EP invested into growing the economy. It is possible to invest in growing the economy in increments over time of any amount. Any invested economy will be preserved after a sacrifice, and if it is equal to or greater than the level-up requirement of the dropped to level, will automatically raise the economy again to the initial level.

Levels: Nonexistent (1/2/0) - Dysfunctional (1/1/0) - Faltering (2/2/1) - Weak (3/3/1) - Stagnant (4/5/1) - Stable (5/7/2) - Growing (7/9/3) - Robust (9/14/4) - Prosperous (12/16/6) - Dominant (15/30/9) - Hegemonic (20/0/15)
more will be added if necessary

• TECHNOLOGICAL GRADE
Technological Grade denotes the approximate overall level of advancement of a given country in terms of equipment and inventions at its disposal, civilian and domestic. This is generalized into approximate categories of development with estimates of real life examples and other notes, given below.

Enlightenment Age - Approximates 1750 - 1780 Europe
Early Industrial Age - Approximates 1780 - 1830 Europe, some Steam advances
Middle Industrial Age - Approximates 1830 - 1860 West, Steam advances include Ironclads and Universal Trains
The Future - Unknown

• MILITARY FORCES
Military Forces constitute the available tools a country has at its disposal for war. Forces are represented by generic, relatively undetailed units of a particular type which will improve with technological progress and may be enhanced in other ways, such as by designated tactics. A given nation may also have certain “special units” that only that nation can use and increase. An example of this is the Ottoman Sipahi. They come usually at a higher training level than a generic but might have other consequences that you may wish to ask me about before increasing their numbers.

Unit Categories:
- Guard: 1 Brigade for 1EP
- Colonials: 5 Brigade for 1EP
- Infantry: 5 Brigades for 1EP
- Dragoon: 5 Brigades for 2EP
- Artillery: Compliment to 1-3 Infantry or Guard Brigades for 2EP
- Frigate: 5 Ships for 1EP
- Ship-of-the-Line: 2 Ship for 1EP

Unit Descriptions:
- Guard: Professional, career military formation, possessing the possibility of limited Engineer, Artillery, and Cavalry compliments. Average speed and high cost, but heavy firepower and high morale. May be upgraded with Artillery attachments.
- Infantry: Basic Infantry formation, possessing the possibility limited Engineer and Artillery compliments. Average speed and low cost, although expensive in terms of manpower. May be upgraded with Artillery attachments.
- Colonials: Basic Infantry formation, possessing the possibility of limited Engineer and Artillery compliments. Similar to home infantry except it is limited to the colony it is raised in and will suffer if used outside that colony. More loyal (usually) and often more capable of defending the colony than normal infantry. Helps to circumvent the manpower limits of smaller nations. Maybe be upgraded with Artillery attachments.
- Dragoon: Modern Cavalry formation. High speed and moderate cost with less manpower expense, but severely limited in firepower. May not be upgraded with attachments.
- Artillery: Mobile field artillery. Decreases the speed of units attached to and increases supply commitments, but considerably boosts firepower.
- Frigate: Typical smaller warship. Average in virtually all respects.
- Ship-of-the-Line: Large, powerful, sail equipped warship; successor to the Frigate. Massive firepower at the price of high cost. Only available with a sufficient level of technology.

Unit Quality:
Unit Quality is a function of various factors, all of which influence the overall fighting capability of a unit, such as equipment, training, discipline, and morale. All units possess a training statistic except Artillery and Universal Trains, which utilize the training statistic of the attached unit. New Units are allocated a training level based upon that nation's Military Basic capability.

Levels: Untrained - Rabble - Green - Disciplined - Regular - Seasoned - Hardened - Veteran - Professional - Elite - Commando

Upgrade Costs:
- 1 Guard Brigade / 1 Ship-of-the-Line per level: 1EP
- 5 Infantry Brigades / 5 Frigates per level between Untrained and Regular: 1EP
- 5 Infantry Brigades / 5 Frigates per level between Regular and Commando: 2EP
- 5 Dragoon Brigades per level: 2EP

Conscription:
Conscription may be ordered at any time by a given government to bolster the forces available to it. The number of forces so gained is dependent upon the conditions in the country in question, as is their relative ability. Mass Conscription may lead to unintended and likely negative consequences when conducted by democratic-leaning or unpopular governments.

Partisans:
Partisans are likely to appear in the event of an invasion by a foreign power, although their numbers and quality and highly variable. They represent the tendency of civilian populations to resist armed occupation by foreigners in semi-unorganized ways, and are generally only suited to combat in the regions in which they appear.

Logistics:
Logistical support is critical for a military operation to function properly, and the required amount for an operation to do so is typically dependent upon its size, distance from its typical supply bases, length of supply lines, and the terrain being fought in. As a general rule, 1EP per operation is a wise investment.

• MILITARY BASIC
Military Basic is a concept related to training, and specifically relates to the ability of a nation to initially train its various military units upon their creation. Every given nation starts with a Military Basic level, representing its initial capability at the start of the scenario. Increasing it beyond this requires a payment of Population x Training Level's Cost, as given by the following:

- Untrained to Regular: 1X
- Seasoned to Veteran: 2X
- Professional to Elite: 3X
- Commando: 5X

A given nation is capable of producing two (2) times its Population number of Units per turn at its Military Basic level. Every Unit after that for that turn up to four (4) times its Population number will be at its Military Basic level minus one (1), and every Unit that turn after that up to six (6) times will be at Military Basic minus two (2), and so on.

• UPKEEP
The Upkeep stat informs you of how much it costs to maintain your military every turn. There will be a formula for it, and I’m sure it will not be perfect. However, it will be implemented not only to add a needed dynamic to the NES (keep the great powers from accelerating too fast away from the world, keep the NES from being a big arms race, etc.) but also for the ease of the moderator in mind. Better than making it up as I go along, so be happy with it .

Failure to pay upkeep will see deterioration of stats, with the speed of said deterioration depending on the amount of turns and the amount of upkeep unpaid.

• EDUCATION
Education is a reflection of a given country's overall capability at teaching its citizens to be productive and (more especially) creative members of society. A higher Education tends to manifest a better environment to live in, and assists greatly in the solution of a wide variety of complex problems a nation might encounter, such as engineering feats or innovation. Once a country has achieved Enlightened Education, it is that much more likely to reach the next Technological Age as soon as it becomes possible. Should this occur, the country in question will lose three (3) Education levels.

Education costs one (1) times a given country's Population statistic.

Levels: Nonexistent - Ignorant - Naive - Illiterate - Literate - Educated - Learned - Intellectual - Academic - Scholarly - Enlightened

• LIVING STANDARDS
Living Standards measure the relative (dis)comfort in which the bulk of which a given country's population resides. Higher Living Standards lead to happier citizens, while lower ones leader to tougher ones. Living Standards are strongly affected by economic prosperity, and thusly by all the things which might affect that, such as war.

Living Standards cost two (2) times a given country's Population Statistic.

Levels: Wretched - Squalid - Destitute - Impoverished - Sparse - Average - Pleasant - Comfortable - Luxurious - Opulent - Decadent

• INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure is the measure of a country's physical development in the way of transportation. Better infrastructure makes commerce and military deployments easier to undertake and makes communication easier, thus making centralized rule more sustainable. It does however also make it easier for enemies to invade as well.

Infrastructure costs one (1) times a given country's Area statistic.

Levels: Atrocious - Terrible - Bad - Poor - Mediocre - Passable - Decent - Good - Great - Excellent - Magnificent

• PROJECTS AND INVESTMENTS
If you are too dumb to realize that investing stuff into things will hopefully do good things then you need projects to make it all official like. Fortunately you are not too dumb. So the way this works is that investment spending will be less official than traditional projects - just describe what you are doing and what you are spending it on and what you hope to achieve. Stats will be modified this way after that.


• BACKGROUND
The Background gives a short description of a given country's history. I will write these when I have time but its not necesary. You writing these would be good too if you actually read the timeline.

The Kingdom of France and Spain
CAPITAL: Paris
RULER: King Philippe VII/ Kraznaya
GOVERNMENT: Traditional Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Absolutist
POPULATION: Huge (7)
AREA: Huge (7)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Dominant (15/30/9)
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL: High
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 31 Infantry, 8 Dragoons, 5 Guard (Veteran), 1 Dragoon (Green), 2 Guard (Green) (35 Art to deploy)
[Louisiana] 2 Colonials (Green)
[French Hyderabad] 10 Colonials (Disciplined)
[New Spain] 5 Colonials (Green)
ARMY BASIC: Hardened
NAVY FORCES: 50 Ships-of-the Line, 52 Frigates (Seasoned), 7 Frigates (Green)
NAVY BASIC: Regular
EDUCATION: Literate
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 5/turn
BACKGROUND: After that annexation of Spain, is France anything but the pariah of Europe? And what of her internal problems?

The Kingdom of Great Britain
CAPITAL: London
RULER: King Charles III/ Shadowbound
GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary Monarchy (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Robust (9/14/4)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 20 Infantry, 3 Dragoons, 3 Guard (Seasoned) (15 Art to deploy)
[North America] 5 Colonials (Regular)
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: 60 Ships-of-the-Line, 70 Frigates (Professional)
NAVY BASIC: Professional
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Good
MILITARY UPKEEP: 3/turn
BACKGROUND: Great Britain, ruled by Charles III with the support of the Tories, has detached itself mostly from continental affairs to focus on internal and colonial problems. Charles III has reclaimed some royal prerogative with his Tory supporters to achieve greater control of Parliament. Victory in the Dutch war brought Britain sizeable colonial possessions overseas. The biggest problem on Britain&#8217;s agenda is of course the American rebellion which is great in size and scope . The Anglo-French entente has collapsed and the Dutch Hannoverians have been found to be supporting the American rebellion, leaving Charles III searching for allies.


United Provinces of the Netherlands (in personal union with Hannover)
CAPITAL: Amsterdam
RULER: King George II / Arian
GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Union
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2) (2/7)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 8 Infantry, 3 Dragoons, 2 Guard (Seasoned) (7 Art to deploy)
[Dutch West Africa] 1 Colonial (Green), 5 Colonials (Regular)
[Dutch Indian Ocean Colonies]
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: 10 Ships-of-the-Line, 15 Frigates (Veteran)
NAVY BASIC: Hardened
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Good
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: The Dutch colonial empire was greatly weakened by the Dutch war and the splitting of the VOC from direct Dutch rule. Ruled by the House Hanover, the family has grand ambitions of ruling England but is now content to manage the Dutch interests that they acquired via personal union. The Dutch have been found to be aiding the Albany Congress, especially the pro-Hanoverian monarchy faction, putting relations with Britain in flux.

Hapsburg Empire of Hungary
CAPITAL: Buda
RULER: King Jyzsef II / Flavius Aetius
GOVERNMENT: Traditional Monarchy (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Union
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Moderate
ECONOMY: Robust (9/14/4) (7/14)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 25 Infantry, 7 Dragoon, 4 Guard (Seasoned) 10 Infantry (Regular) (20 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: 12 Ships-of-the-Line, 25 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Good
MILITARY UPKEEP: 3/turn
BACKGROUND: The Hapsburgs were defeated decisively in the Eleven Years War, losing their titles to the Holy Roman Empire. Nevertheless, they have managed to re-establish themselves at Buda in Hungary. They have recently undergone reforms bring about stronger centralization and bureaucracy (although they still have a feudal presence). Tensions exist as always with France and the Ottoman Empire.

Kingdom of Denmark-Norway
CAPITAL: Copenhagen
RULER: King Christian VII
GOVERNMENT: Traditional Monarchy (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 15 Infantry, 4 Dragoons, 4 Guard (Regular) (10 Art to deploy)
[Danish India] 2 Colonials
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: 10 Ships-of-the-Line, 15 Frigates (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Denmark-Norway, under the young king Christian VII, was a regional power of uncertain future. While for now focused on trade and colonisation, it also had to involve itself in European issues, being hemmed in between the great powers of Britain and, most gravely, Sweden. A lot depended on what would happen in Sweden, for it was not a very stable nation, and if it were to slip up a glorious opportunity would have arisen. At the same time the state was also in close ties (economic and dynastic) with the Dutch-Hannoverian personal union, and closer integration was an option, especially in the event of the extinction of either the House of Hannover or the House of Oldenburg; neither king presently had any male offspring, so that too was a distinct possibility. Lastly, Denmark maintained good relations with Prussia and Russia, having reached a secret accord to keep Swedish power in check.




Kingdom of Sweden
CAPITAL: Stockholm
RULER: King Erik XV /
GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy (Clever)
CENTRALIZATION: Federalist
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Considerable
ECONOMY: Robust (9/14/4)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 14 Infantry, 5 Dragoons, 6 Guard (Veteran), 20 Infantry (Hardened) (12 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Hardened
NAVY FORCES: 15 Ships-of-the-Line, 23 Frigates (Veteran), 10 Frigates (Hardened)
NAVY BASIC: Hardened
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Good
MILITARY UPKEEP: 3/turn
BACKGROUND: In spite of its dynastic and political instability, a military and economic powerhouse. Though Erik XV is not a particularily outstanding monarch, this merely meant that the power shifted further to the Riksdag, which I blessed with enough brilliant statesmen to make Sweden flourish and prosper, while retaining impressive military power on the land and the sea, with quality trumping wantityManufactories and mines were being constructed, Finland and the other eastern lands were being gradually colonised and Swedified, and in general all was going well, but for the various alliances forming to keep Sweden in check and for the vengeful, envious neighbours eager to exploit any major blunder. So here, too, the diplomatic situation was quite poor, even worse than in France.

Kingdom of Prussia
CAPITAL: Berlin
RULER: King Friedrich III / Hitlerslegacy
GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2) (4/7)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 12 Infantry, 5 Dragoons, 7 Guard (Professional), 10 Infantry (Veteran) (5 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Veteran
NAVY FORCES: 2 Ships-of-the-Line, 10 Frigates (Green), 2 Ships of the Line (Rabble)
NAVY BASIC: Rabble
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Good
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Prussia, under King Friedrich III is a fairly militaristic state, it is eager to expand at the expense of its neighbours, and so became the most dissatisfied member of the Empire. Friedrich III is waiting for opportunities and building up his war machine; an elaborate system of military settlements had been set up, and a Prussian fleet was created in Danzig to challenge Swedish maritime supremacy when that becomes necessary.




Duchy of Bavaria
CAPITAL: Munich
RULER: (Emperor Maximilan IV of the Holy Roman Empire) King Maximilian III Emanuel / Thlayli
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent) (1 EP invested)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Moderate
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2) (1/7)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 6 Infantry, 4 Dragoons, 2 Guard (Disciplined) 1 Guard (Veteran) (5 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Veteran (1 EP Invested)
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Bavaria and the other disparate Wittelsbach holdings is now ruled by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian IV (a.k.a. King Maximilian III Emanuel of Bavaria). Maximilian IV is committed to strengthening the ties within the Holy Roman Empire, while also expanding the Wittelsbach holdings as may appear possible. In the greater European politics he for now remains remarkably neutral, as opposed to his pro-French grandfather and his anti-French father.

Margrave of Baden
CAPITAL: Karslruhe
RULER: Margrave Ludwig Georg Simpert
GOVERNMENT: Princedom (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 4 Infantry, 2 Dragoons (Disciplined) (2 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND: The smaller states in the Holy Roman Empire, like Baden, Wurttemberg or Lippe, are content to merely exist and are being protected by their big brothers.


Duchy of Wurttemberg
CAPITAL: Stuttgart
RULER: Duke Friedrich Ludwig
GOVERNMENT: Dukedom (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 4 Infantry, 3 Dragoons (Disciplined) (1 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND: The smaller states in the Holy Roman Empire, like Baden, Wurttemberg or Lippe, are content to merely exist and are being protected by their big brothers.

Duchy of Mecklenburg
CAPITAL: Stuttgart
RULER: Count Friedrich August I
GOVERNMENT: Dukedom (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 3 Infantry, 2 Dragoons (Disciplined) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Literate
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND: The smaller states in the Holy Roman Empire, like Baden, Wurttemberg or Lippe, are content to merely exist and are being protected by their big brothers.




Kingdom of Saxony-Poland
CAPITAL: Dresden
RULER: King Augustus II
GOVERNMENT: Dual Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Minute
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 14 Infantry, 4 Dragoons (Seasoned) 10 Infantry (Regular) (6 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: 5 Frigates (Rabble)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Literate
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Saxony-Poland has somewhat calmed down now, under Augustus II, but the Polish realm remains under the dual threat of national feudal insurrection and foreign expansionism; the Saxons, reasonably enough, particularly feared the Prussians, though the Russians were also suspect. Perhaps naively, perhaps not, the Saxons choose to trust their fate to the Habsburgs of Hungary, remaining true to the alliance with them, though no longer using Hungarian troops to keep the Poles in line.


Grand Duchy of Tuscany
CAPITAL: Florence
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry, 1 Dragoon (Regular) (2 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: 4 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:

Republic of Genoa
CAPITAL: Genoa
RULER: Doge Cesare Cattaneo Della Volta
GOVERNMENT: Republic (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 4 Infantry, 1 Dragoon, 2 Guard (Disciplined) (4 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 10 Frigates, 2 Ship-of-the-Line (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Genoa has recovered a bit from Italy&#8217;s stagnation, at the expense of other states like Venice.



Duchy of Parma
CAPITAL: Parma
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Dukedom (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 3 Infantry (Regular) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 2 Frigates (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND: Following a succession crisis in Parma, the French have managed to place a junior Bourbon on the throne, to the displeasure of the Hapsburgs.

Duchy of Modena
CAPITAL: Modena
RULER: Duke Francesco III d'Este
GOVERNMENT: Dukedom (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 2 Infantry (Regular) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:



Papal States
CAPITAL: Rome
RULER: Pope Benedict XIV
GOVERNMENT: Theocratic Monarchy (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 3 Infantry, 4 Guard (Regular) (1 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:

Kingdom of Sardinia
CAPITAL: Turin
RULER: King Charles Emmanuel III
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 7 Infantry, 3 Dragoons, 2 Guard (Regular) (3 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: 7 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Learned
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND:

Ottoman Empire
CAPITAL: Constantinople
RULER: Sultan Suleiman III / Neverwonagame3
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Large (5)
CONFIDENCE: Minute
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 25 Infantry, 15 Dragoon, 10 Timarli Sapahi (Green) (10 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Seasoned
NAVY FORCES: 15 Frigates, 4 Ships-of-the-Line (Green)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Literate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 2/turn
BACKGROUND: &#8216;The Ottoman Empire's latest renaissance is again petering out, and stagnation is beginning to set in. Sultan Suleiman III was actually quite proactive, however, and so did his best to keep the empire running, but lacked a true vision or real administrative experience, while his most able advisers were busy fighting rebellions on the empire's fringes, particularily European ones. Their zeal in this only made things worse as border clashes with Hungary and Russia increased. The empire remained quite great, but it was also overstretched and still quite rotten inside. Still, its survival was not really threatened; not yet, anyway.



Order of Saint John
CAPITAL: Valletta
RULER: Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca
GOVERNMENT: Military Order (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Weak (3/3/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 2 Guard (Professional) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Veteran
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Pleasant
INFRASTRUCTURE: Decent
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:

Tsardom of Russia
CAPITAL: Moscow
RULER: Tsar Fyodor IV / Azale
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Large (5)
AREA: Large (5)
CONFIDENCE: Nonexistant
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry (Disciplined), 43 Infantry, 14 Dragoons (Green) (10 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 3 Frigates, 1 Ships-of-the-Line (Rabble)
NAVY BASIC: Rabble
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Impoverished
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
PROJECTS:
MILITARY UPKEEP: 2/turn
BACKGROUND: Russia is still recovering from the effects of the Great Cossack Rebellion and associated events; serf uprisings continued well into the late 1730s, causing even heavier degrees of feudal oppression as the landowners struggled to make any further rebellions impossible; at the same time, the crippled Cossack communities keep taking blow after blow, losing priveleges and freedoms; while the more loyal of the Cossacks tolerated this and lived on as before, this still caused a major exodus, as Cossacks defected to the Ottoman Empire as Hetman Pylyp Orlyk had done himself, or moved into Siberia and beyond, away from the central bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the nobility also secured for itself the supreme power in the state; after the short reign of Peter II (1729-1733), during which the new Secret (or Privy) Council, consisting of the most powerful of Russia's noblemen, separated from the main bulk of the boyar duma, came the time of the idiot Tsar Fyodor IV, under whom the aforesaid Council imposed an effective oligarchy upon the country. The Dolgorukovs - headed by Knyaz Vasily Vladimirovich Dolgorukov - rose to particularily great power, and there were rumours that Mikhail Ivanovich Dolgorukov, a grandson of the old Knyaz from a marriage into the Romanov bloodline, was to be the heir after Fyodor IV dies. All in all this picture was unpromising for Russia as a whole, as it reminded too vividly of the magnate-dominated Poland at its worst. Still, Russia's geographic position was better than Poland's; the economy was beginning to recover, and the Dolgorukovs, along with the Golitsyns (another powerful noble family), took particular interest in European developments, Vasily coming to lead a pro-French faction and the Golitsyns following the path of Buda.



Swiss Confederation
CAPITAL: Bern
RULER: Tagsatzung of the 13 Cantons
GOVERNMENT: Representative Republic (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Confederation
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Moderate
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry, 1 Guard (Professional) (2 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Hardened
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Rabble
EDUCATION: Educated
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:

Sultanate of Oman
CAPITAL: Muscat
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Late Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 6 Infantry, 2 Dragoons (Green) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Rabble
NAVY FORCES: 10 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND:

Hotakid Khanate
CAPITAL: Kabul
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Inept)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Disillusioned
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 7 Infantry, 15 Dragoons (Regular) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: 2 Frigates (Rabble)
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Impoverished
INFRASTRUCTURE: Bad
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: The Hotakid Khanate, created with the collapse of the Safavids in Persia from their power base in Afghanistan, increasingly falls into disrule and warlordism, as extensive tribal empires are wont to do; still, for now it remained more or less united, especially in the face of Persian popular uprisings, like the one led by the Turk Nadr Qoli Beg.

Arabashid Empire
CAPITAL: Khiva
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry, 10 Dragoons (Green) 10 Kalmyks (Veteran) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Rabble
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Poor
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND:


Sikh Empire
CAPITAL:
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 8 Infantry, 10 Dragoons (Hardened) (1 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Poor
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: The Sikh Empire is an Indian state which still remains dominant over petty European interests.

Maratha Samrajya
CAPITAL: Pune
RULER: Chattrapathi Ramaraja /
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Federation
POPULATION: Large (5)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 20 Infantry, 5 Dragoons (Regular) (5 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 6 Frigates (Rabble)
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: The Maratha Confederacy is quite decentralized, but it is new and vigorous and generally dominant over other powers on the subcontinent including the Europeans.


Kingdom of Kandy
CAPITAL: Kandy
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry (Disciplined) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: 5 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND: The Kingdom of Kandy, in Ceylon, still remains dominant over petty European interests.

Nawabate Empire of Bengal
CAPITAL: Dhaka
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Decent)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 6 Infantry, 2 Dragoons, 1 Guard (Disciplined) (3 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 7 Frigates (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND:
The Nawabate, in Bengal, still remains dominant over petty European interests.


Kingdom of Nepal
CAPITAL: Kathmandu
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Weak (3/3/1)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry (Regular) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Ignorant
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Bad
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:

Kingdom of Tibet
CAPITAL: Lhasa
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Weak (3/3/1)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Infantry, 3 Dragoons (Regular) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Ignorant
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Bad
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:



Empire of Ayutthaya
CAPITAL: Bangkok
RULER: Uthumphon / Condor green
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Minute
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 12 Infantry, 3 Guard (Disciplined) (6 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: 14 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: South of China was Ayutthaya; still ruled by the elderly Thaisingh, this empire was undergoing serious administrative reorganisation, patterned, as most of Thaisingh's reforms, on the Chinese model. Ties to China and the VOC are close, the Thai have recently conquered the Khmer with their help.

Urga Empire
CAPITAL: Ulaanbaator
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Federalist
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Minute
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 2 Infantry, 15 Dragoons (Disciplined) (3 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Ignorant
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: The Urga Empre remained much as always, though suffering from the downturn of trade on both sides (as Russia generally suffered, while China reoriented more towards maritime trade).



Nan Ming Empire
CAPITAL: Nanjing
RULER: Xuantai Emperor
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Huge (7)
AREA: Large (5)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Prosperous (12/16/6)
TECH. GRADE: Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 20 Infantry, 10 Dragoons, 5 Guard (Regular) (10 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Disciplined
NAVY FORCES: 35 Frigates, 10 Ships-of-the-Line (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Regular
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Good
MILITARY UPKEEP: 4/turn
BACKGROUND: The Chinese managed to repel the Manchus under the brilliant generalship of Yuan Chonghuan, and then following a civil war relocated their power base to the south in Nanjing. Their maritime exploits and control of trade in Southeast Asia is tight, with protectorates in the Philippines and the Malaccas. Recently, the Paowudi Emperor's Chinese Empire remained militarily vigorous, but stagnated somewhat economically, in part because of assorted new restrictions. Further south the Chinese strenghthened their hold on the protectorate of Ava.

Kokuate of Japan
CAPITAL: Kyoto
RULER: Koku-o Sakuramachi / Kentharu
GOVERNMENT: National Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Absolutist
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 10 Infantry, 3 Dragoon, 5 Guard (Hardened) (4 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Regular
NAVY FORCES: 12 Frigates (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: tTe kokugaku rebellion gradually overwhelmed the Shogunate, the court - and the Emperor Sakuramachi was persuaded to pledge it full support. So the Sakuramachi Revolution occured after the fall of Edo to the rebel armies. After its success, the country nearly fell to anarchy again, but eventually Ishida Jusaburo, one of the rebel leaders, had managed to rise to power by manipulating and intimidating the court. Although formally the direct imperial rule was restored, what came now was merely a reformed, kokugaku version of the Shogunate - the Kokuate, from Ishida Jusaburo's new title, Koku-o ("nation-king"). Nonetheless, the change was significant. Not only did the political elite get renewed - with most of the Tokugawa household dead from the fighting or the mass seppuku - but so did the state ideology. Principles of meritocracy were imposed, and land reform went into place, effectively sabotaging the traditional feudal system (which was already in shambles after the Revolution anyway) - other, lesser reforms of a like character were introduced as well. A more pragmatic approach to external trade was taken, and so Japan begun to open up somewhat. It was hard to say what course it would now pursue in foreign policy; just as it was unclear whether or not the assorted "victories of the Revolution" would survive its actual victory.





Kingdom of Korea
CAPITAL: Seoul
RULER: King Seongjong
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 7 Infantry, 4 Dragoons (Disciplined) (8 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 10 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: The hermit kingdom remains the same as always.

Kingdom of Atjeh
CAPITAL: Banda Aceh
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 4 Infantry (Disciplined) ( Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 5 Frigates (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Green
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:



VOC (Dutch East India Company)
CAPITAL: Batavia
RULER: Heeren XVII (Lords Seventeen) /
GOVERNMENT: Mercantilist Republic (Qualified)
CENTRALIZATION: Oligarchic
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Large (5)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Dominant (15/30/9)
TECH. GRADE: Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 15 Infantry, 5 Guard (Regular) (5 Art to deploy)
[Dutch India] 2 Colonials (Green)
[Dutch Persia] 1 Colonial (Green)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 30 Frigates, 5 Ships-of-the-Line (Veteran) 6 Ships of the Line (Hardened)
NAVY BASIC: Hardened
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 3/turn
BACKGROUND: Split off from the Netherlands proper as a result of the Dutch War, the VOC remains a heavy colonial presence across the Indian and Pacific oceans. Their cultural uniqueness is compounded by the recent growing of Chinese influence on the company, even to fears of it being incorporated into a Chinese superstate.

Africa

Segu Empire
CAPITAL: Segu
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 15 Infantry (Green) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Rabble
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Ignorant
LIVING STANDARDS: Impoverished
INFRASTRUCTURE: Bad
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Mamari Kulibali has stretched his highly-militarised Segu Empire far and wide, putting fear into the hearts of his neighbours while also trading extensively with them and with the Europeans that sold, amongst other things, many interesting weapons. Segu is now in all regards the hegemon of West Africa, usurping the position once held by Mali and Songhay.

Kingdom of Ethiopia
CAPITAL: Addis Ababa
RULER: King Iyasu II
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Useless)
CENTRALIZATION: Consulistic
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Small (2)
CONFIDENCE: Disillusioned
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 10 Infantry (Green) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Rabble
EDUCATION: Ignorant
LIVING STANDARDS: Impoverished
INFRASTRUCTURE: Bad
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: Ethiopia is preparing to explode in a feudal war as Iyasu II was on his deathbed and the assorted court factions make their plans for the near future.

Kingdom of Kanem-Bornu
CAPITAL: Ngazargamu
RULER:
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Tiny (1)
AREA: Tiny (1)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Weak (3/3/1)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 3 Infantry (Rabble) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Rabble
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Rabble
EDUCATION: Ignorant
LIVING STANDARDS: Impoverished
INFRASTRUCTURE: Bad
MILITARY UPKEEP: 0/turn
BACKGROUND:



Kingdom of Sennar
CAPITAL: Sennar
RULER: Sultan Badi IV
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Small (2)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Meager
ECONOMY: Stagnant (4/5/1)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 10 Infantry (Rabble) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Rabble
NAVY FORCES: N/A
NAVY BASIC: Rabble
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Poor
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND:

North America

Empire of North America
CAPITAL: Albany
RULER: Congress of Albany / germanicus12
GOVERNMENT: Representative Democracy (Amateur)
CENTRALIZATION: Confederation
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Large (5)
CONFIDENCE: Minute
ECONOMY: Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 15 Infantry, 3 Dragoon (Green) (6 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 5 Frigates (Disciplined)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Literate
LIVING STANDARDS: Average
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND: British North America had already received its share of new political opponents fleeing or being exiled from the Islands, and they helped strenghthen the political opposition there as a whole; but that wasn't really as important as the fact that by now the colonies had grown independent from Great Britain in most regards. They were no longer all that dependant on it economically or demographically, having attained a degree of self-sufficience at this level of development and immigration; they were not dependant on it for their security neither, as the locals already formed militias that proved more than enough against the local Amerinds, while any European threats were by now gone or far away. Ever since the Jacobite Revolution the colonies had drifted away from Great Britain in culture and ideology, but that wasn't too noticeable due to their already considerable autonomy. However, as Charles III turned his eyes to his colonies - his prosperous colonies that nonetheless gave little or no income due to an obsolete system of administration (and this when the realm was in an economic crisis!) - and as he introduced his rather clumsy reforms, reordering the colonies into three somewhat arbitrary Governor-Generalships, setting up a new colonial bureaucracy and creating a new, seemingly severe system of taxation - he had put an end to the quiet state of the Anglo-American detachment; his efforts to bring the British empire closer together instead incited the nascent colonial nationalism and riled up the already discontent colonists. So in 1743, on the 5th of May, the House of Burgesses in Virginia proclaimed its dissention against the new colonial reform. The other traditional colonial authorities (including that in New France, by then also more or less a normal colony despite a somewhat abnormal military presence) joined it later in the year, and when ordered to submit and disband they instead declared independence and sent representatives to the Congress of Albany.

The American Independence War was on. As is usual for insurgencies, the beginning was very chaotic and confusing, as it was unclear who was on whose side. Cities with divided loyalties saw vicious street battles and incendiary campaigns, while Tory loyalists in the countryside launched guerrila uprisings. Although most of the militias immediately pledged their allegience to the Congress, some joined the Tories and a few struck out to fight against both sides for regional independence or whatnot. Most of the colonies didn't have major garrisons present; some of the garrisons joined the rebellion, some resisted and some surrendered without actively joining the insurgency. Things were different in New France, which as already mentioned had a major military presence. The older garrison troops (a fault of the lack of proper troop rotation in the British colonial empire) had to a large extent become more loyal to the developing colony than to the metropoly that they hadn't seen for decades, but the newer ones were clearly more loyal to Britain. Therefore a fierce civil war begun there in particular. Also a particularily serious Tory or loyalist presence was in Carolina (OOC: undivided; also, in this world there is no Georgia, though there are some Anglo-American claims and settlements there), with similar consequences, though the Tory militias weren't quite the same as professional garrison troops.

What largely saved the rebellion in its early months was the "tyranny of distance" that delayed and hindered the British response considerably as the government struggled to understand what exactly was going on while more and more late news arrived. That gave the Americans time to prepare their defenses, their native military leaders (most famously, Gustav Bamberger, Nathan Pickering and John Washington) to rise to prominence and rally their forces, and the said forces to score a series of early victories. Perhaps the most important was that in New France, where the German emigre Gustav Bamberger - whose leadership was an important factor in winning over the significant Rhenish community in New France over to the rebel side - succesfully secured all the key cities and most of the forts and defeated the early British reinforcements at Quebec. Meanwhile, Nathan Pickering, who eventually rose to be the commander supreme of the American armies, repulsed a British invasion of the New York colony and generally worked towards building a real, regular army out of the disparate American militias. In that he was greatly helped by Dutch and Hannoverian clandestine military advisors and other European volunteer specialists. At the same time good use was also made of the irregular militias, as every British invasion was met with a guerrila war. The Americans had generally performed very well on the diplomatic front, securing the aforementioned Dutch-Hannoverian assistance and the French neutrality.

As the war dragged on, various political and regional factions in Albany had alternatingly fallen into bickering or united despite their differences. In spite of coordination issues and dissent caused by Pickering's centralisation efforts and increasing interference in Congress politics (which some feared as a sign of "Caesarism", though thus far Pickering's interventions were merely to prevent the whole thing from falling apart), the Rebel Colonies managed to retain an essential coherence. Although some coastal cities - most gravely, Boston - were lost to the British forces for good (that is to say, the British had dug in there well, especially later in the decade, and so proved impossible to dislodge in the present circumstances), the American forces proved capable of holding on to the interior. They also quickly nipped the pro-British Amerind rebellions in the bud in 1747, and gradually pushed the British troops and loyalists out of New France, though Hudson's Bay remained out of their reach. Still, it had taken supreme concentration, thorough mobilisation, ingenious tactics and lots and lots of luck, as well as British distractions, most notably the 1746 American-inspired Whig rebellion in London and a 1748 Irish insurrection. Both were defeated, but they considerably delayed Charles III's plans for a reconquest of North America. Meanwhile, as the war grinded on, the people and the elites on both sides of the Ocean grew increasingly tired of it; and while the British were in position to reasonably promise a new major campaign or two that would bring the rebels to their knees, the Americans could only hope to win by attrition agianst the invading British troops, so understandly the war exhaustion was stronger amongst the rebels. Thus in 1750 the rebellion's fate hung in the balance, due to threats both internal and external. Still, the British themselves were also uncertain whether or not they should go to the trouble of reconquering the colonies by force as opposed to negotiating with them.

Incan Empire
CAPITAL: Cuzco
RULER: Tupac Amaru Jose I
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Federation
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Medium (3)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
Stable (5/7/2)
TECH. GRADE: Pre Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 5 Colonials (Green), 10 Infantry (Rabble) (1 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: None
NAVY BASIC: Untrained
EDUCATION: Naive
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Mediocre
MILITARY UPKEEP: 1/turn
BACKGROUND:
Although ostensibly named the Incan Empire, Tupac I as chosen to retain most of the Spanish institutions as his tool for governance and to maintain the Spaniards and mestizos support. Brimming with confidence at their defeat of what they believe to be traitors and usurpers, the Incans now face building a nation out of the rubble and international recognition. Tupac is supported by the moderate and liberal members of the Spaniard clergy, as well as opportunistic merchants and many members of the small middle class. The Amerindians, of course, give him their full support.



Empire of Brazil
CAPITAL: Salvador da Bahia
RULER: Emperor Joao V
GOVERNMENT: Monarchy (Competent)
CENTRALIZATION: Dictatorship
POPULATION: Medium (3)
AREA: Large (5)
CONFIDENCE: Growing
ECONOMY: Growing (7/9/3)
TECH. GRADE: Enlightenment Age
ARMY FORCES: 15 Infantry, 2 Guard (Regular) (0 Art to deploy)
ARMY BASIC: Green
NAVY FORCES: 25 Frigates, 10 Ships-of-the-Line (Regular)
NAVY BASIC: Disciplined
EDUCATION: Illiterate
LIVING STANDARDS: Sparse
INFRASTRUCTURE: Passable
MILITARY UPKEEP: 3/turn
BACKGROUND: The Portuguese capital was relocated to Salvador de Bahia earlier this century after wartorn Portugal proved no longer suitable to a capital. Brazil now itself is a powerhouse of imperial conquest, slashing through their own jungles as well as that of Africa's and even in India. Portugal itself is a discontent hotbed of rebellion, however.