-Prethread- NCNESIOT: Blackened Skies

Meanwhile in American Canada..
 
:3

While I am gone I would encourage those with just 1 choice (Masada, Tolni, immaculate ) to add a second choice just for safety purposes. There are quite a few exciting countries to be discovered :)

Will be returning later on the 28th
 
OK, reserve variants in case Nuka decides that giving Spain to someone would be way more funnier:

-Bavaria: Ruthless, yet hopelessly idealistic communists? Sounds good.
-Italy: Like Spain, except without the constant threat of destructive civil war.
 
American Canada.
 
The Russian Empire​

History: Following the victory in the Napoleonic Wars, Russia became the bulwark of Conservative Europe, playing a role in suppressing the revolutions of 1848 and generally strengthening the absolutist state within Russia. Unfortunately, the defeat in Crimea and the increased unrest forced Tsar Alexis II to liberate the serfs, whom then became a class of small farmers. Further proposed reforms, such as the university liberalizations and the creation of a parliamentary body though fell flat.

Despite its failure to defeat the Ottomans, Russia still was in a strong position to challenge Britain in the “Great Game”, expanding steadily south. In an effort to gain allies against a potential renewed Anglo-French coalition, Russia agreed to an alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, putting the Balkan issue “on ice”. However, several incidents between Serbia and Austria-Hungary incited Slavist and nationalist passions, forcing Russia into a bloody and costly war with Austria-Hungary only a few years after their alliance was signed. Though they fought for over three years, the war ended in stalemate. Russia was forced to pull out of the conflict with a rebellion in the Baltic, and the German intervention against Serbia would ensure that Slavic ambitions would remain frustrated.

The Russians had little interest in allying with the socialist French state against Germany, leaving it without an avenue for expansion in Europe. The reign of Alexander II saw Russia reorient itself as an Asian focused power, taking territory in Manchuria and exerting influence in Korea and Central Asia. When Germany and France reignited their conflict, the Russians opted to stay out of the conflict, though also saw fit to move its divisions westward. Though Russia was interested in moving southwards towards the Ottomans, the German Revolution and the subsequent German Civil War posed an existential threat to the Empire and its social order. Defections from the German side greatly strengthened the Russians, though they were eventually stopped in their tracks by the Communists. The Russians were able to hold most of Prussia and Galicia, but were forced to pull soldiers back to the home front when riots started in Minsk and the Swedish revolution began threatening Finland.

Russia was able to survive the turmoil of the 1910s and as the military and economy has recovered from the war and rebellions, the Empire looks to expand once more. China in civil war is tempting, the pro-Russian ruler of Afghanistan could use his country to help stage an invasion of India, and Communist Europe beckons to be restored to the natural social order...

Government: Russia strongly maintains its tradition of absolute authority, particularly in the wake of the dissolvement of the Duma in 1908. Power is heavily centralized in Saint Petersburg, with the Tsar and his ministers making all major national decisions. The imperial family and the aristocracy, owing to their high ranking appointments in the military and civil service, do have a significant amount of influence with the Tsar though, and have been involved in coups against Tsars that have been heavily against their interests. Because of this, the Tsar generally trends to conservative policies. Reforms are possible, though are done very slowly, much to the annoyance of the general populace. The current mood of much of the Russian populace though is still in a reactionary mindset, still wary of the Communist revolutions in Germany, France, and Sweden.

Royal Family: Atop the nation sits the Emperor, Tsar Michael II of the Romanov dynasty. He is married to Maria, a princess from Denmark, with whom he has had four children, three sons and one daughter. The eldest son is Peter, who will become Peter IV upon his ascension.

Of particular interest is the potential bridal match of the prince. Many members of the German royal family sought shelter in Russia, among them one of the daughters of the last German Kaiser, Princess Wilhelmina. Though there are those with a stronger claim to the German throne, Wilhelmina would have the backing of the Russian military, so that she would deliver the Empire to her new husband. German monarchists and conservatives support the plan still, though German nationalists are greatly opposed to this union.

Economy: The Russian economy is a primarily agricultural and resource economy. After the liberation from serfdom in the 1860s, Tsar Alexis II embarked upon an ambitious land reform plan that has created a nation of small landowners, many say in a plan inspired from the United States tour he undertook. Russia exports raw materials primarily to the United Kingdom, these exports serving as a major aspect of Russia’s economy. Russian factories are generally small and perform poorly compared to its counterparts in Europe and America. That being said, the cheapness of labor and the pro employer laws there make many feel that Russia could be well situated to expand industrially if foreign investment and ownership laws were loosened and the Imperial Bank of Russia were brought under control, both reforms the aristocracy generally opposes. There is also a significant minority of peasants who earn extra income from artisanal goods production and oppose further industrialization.

Society: Russian society is heavily stratified, where one’s class is of paramount importance. Russian society as of late has become particularly interested in one’s profession as it relates to their social standing (an aristocratic military officer outranks an aristocratic government official for example).

At the very bottom of the Russian society are the non-Russians. Moslems, the Chinese, Poles, and other subject peoples have fewer rights and opportunities than Russians. While policies of Russification were mostly abandoned after having little to show for it, subject peoples have lower wages, do not have the right to enter universities, have their movement restricted, and cannot own property, instead living as renters. Many are industrial workers, in the great factory towns such as Vilnius, Minsk, and other smaller Polish towns. Others work in mines and logging camps, especially in Siberia. Upon the defeat of the rebellions of 1915, Russia reversed some of the most brutal policies such as the forced relocation of entire towns, but many still make their way to Siberia in search of higher wages for their families. In European Russia in particular, minorities have been steadily moved off their lands to make way for Russian farmers though, and generally live in low quality housing in cramped and dirty cities, dreaming of one day casting out their oppressors.

As a special aside, Finns and Germans are not included in these minorities. Finns are given status equal to Russians. Germans are given certain special rights and despite their small numbers, can hold many elite positions in the military and industry, a cause of some resentment. These two groups are seen by the Tsar’s government favorably due to what he sees as their particular loyalty, loyalty which may or may not be genuine.

The Jews, a populace long oppressed by Russia, have almost left entirely from the Empire, mainly settling in Germany and France.

Above the minorities are the Russian commoners. Emancipated from serfdom, commoners have steadily been transformed into a sturdy class of conservative, landowning farmers. Due to the financial collapse of the aristocracy in the 1870s, the commoners became the principal land owning class, with some becoming major landowners. A majority of the population belongs to this class. Russian commoners form the bulwark of the enlisted personnel of the military, and generally hold education as a dangerous thing, with few having completed more than five to six years of schooling. Russian families tend to have multiple children, due to still high infant mortality rates, the likelihood of being drafted, encouragement from the clergy, and subsidies given to help encourage high birthrates. To protect the family holdings from intense division, sons are further classified. The edict promising that a family can protect one son from being drafted has survived two costly wars, being seen as one of the most important social contracts between the Tsar and its subjects. The exemption is generally given to the eldest son, and he will be the one to inherit the familial lands, and will be the focus of matchmaking efforts from his parents. If any of the children receive anything beyond a rudimentary education, it will be this one. Additional sons are considered valuable still, but as time goes on and their eldest brother eventually inherits the familial land, the other brothers tend to look for other pursuits. Some look to artisanal good production, making beer, wine, or leather goods, as Russian industry is not enough to fully satisfy domestic demand. Others take roles as supervisors in factories, attempt to further their education, make a career in the military, or join the clergy. The unlucky ones end up living off their family lands under the brother who took over. Lacking the independent means to start his own household, he may marry a younger sister of his brother’s wife if no better match can be found for said sister, but this is rare. Eventually, most leave the brother’s lands one way or another, with some wondering if this is creating a new underclass of citizens, a phenomenon similarly noted in America.. Commoner women are generally taught how to manage a household, how to manage finances, and other similar tasks. While their husbands farm, the wife may be responsible for selling said produce, or seeing about using the outputs of the farm for other enterprises. Generally, women have 1-2 extra years of education as they are not as needed on the farm. When they turn 16, women are entered into the marriage market, and seek out eldest sons who are set to inherit their familial land. Families are responsible for their daughters, and still have attachment after marriage, so the marriage market is designed to ensure their daughters can marry men of independent means. It is not the eldest daughter who is given priority, but rather whichever daughter is the most beautiful and capable of attracting the highest standing husband. Particularly wealthy commoners have even been able to marry into the families of aristocracy.

The Russian aristocracy is the dominant class of society of course. By the mid 19th century, many Russian aristocrat families had become destitute and could no longer afford the maintenance of their lands. The emancipation of the serfs and the subsequent land reforms would see many aristocratic lands sold to former serfs. Many pursued trade and industry as an alternative, finding success there. The highest ranked aristocrats are those who still own land estates and those who serve in the military upon the graduation from one of the elite military academies in Russia. Other aristocrats serve as government officials and captains of industry, though they do hold a lesser status than those in the military.

Military: The Russian Army has always been the focal point of the Russian state, serving as the main avenue for its expansion. Despite the transition from serfdom to free peasantry, the recruitment mechanisms for the army have stayed in good shape, and in times of war, Russia can easily call up the largest army in Europe. Russian strategy in war when on the defense is to work with numerical depth; when the enemy takes out ten divisions, they are confronted with another eleven. On offense, Russia attempts to advance on a broad front, applying pressure anywhere that they can. The enemy cannot defend everything, and when Russia finds a breakthrough, it is ruthlessly exploited. The implementation of German training methods and the implementation of the General Staff system has helped with Russia’s military preparation significantly.

That being said, the quality of the army can definitely be called into question. While Russia can call upon some excellent commanders, including Prussian exiles who now serve in the Russian military, the soldiers equipment is well below what other European soldiers use. The Samsonov-08, the standard issue bolt-action rifle, was backwards when it was introduced and it has further fallen since, especially in comparison to the British automatic rifles. The artillery is slightly better, and Russia is committing to increasing armor production, though its current industrial output makes that difficult; Italy has a much more developed armor program for example, and is well behind the leading designs in Britain. There has been some talk of acquiring new weapons from abroad, or even a new, Russian made design.

The Russian Air Force is still in development, and is considered on the lower end of the priorities to be addressed. The Navy is focused primarily on its Pacific presence, and is fielding a skeleton crew in the Baltic and Black Seas. While the Air Force is a low priority, the Navy is an afterthought and struggles to maintain its existing funding.
 
Currently no nations have been confirmed claimed, as I do not go by "first come first serve".
 
Ok, then I'd like to try playing as the German Federalist Alliance. I love Russia's background, but I don't want to become a default Russia player on the forum.
 
You surely mean National Socialist. Not RL Nazis I think.
 
JohannaK said:
You surely mean National Socialist. Not RL Nazis I think.
Click to expand...
I took the name from the stats:

Nation: The German Federalist Alliance (NPC)
Population: 25,182,708
Stability: 2.8
Apparatus: Military
Centralization: Hegemony
Legitimacy: Appointed
Action Potential: 9 (13.00% Inertia)
Government: Socialist (60.92% Support)
MON: 10 (65%)
IMP: 35 (50%)
DEM: 15 (35%)
FAS: 3 (5%)
ANA: 2 (1%)
SOC: 35 (90%)

The combination of Apparatus, Centralization, Legitimacy, Government, and Support by Party suggests something that looks like a compromise between the remnants of pre-revolutionary establishment and post-revolutionary power dealers, similar to the Soviet Russia before 1924. An interesting model to toy with.
 
Oh, I was going by page 5 backgrounds.
 
Official errata: both "Nationalist Socialist Alliance of Germany" and "German Federalist Alliance" are appropriate names for the Berliner Germans. They sometimes go by Deutschers NatSocs or Deutscher Fedstaadtsman.
 
Nuka can confirm. :)

I can say I'm going to make my decisions in the next day or two. If I haven't finished a background (lol) or there's something you'd like clarified about a nation you're interested in, please PM me and I can get back to you as soon as I can.

Also chucking about the Italy/Spain/France overlap going on with people's claims :lol:
 
Happy New Year all! To ring it in, I'd like to announce the Great Powers players, as I see that a few people put mostly Great Powers on their list and wanted to give people a chance to react.

The Great Powers will be played by the following players:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: Immaculate
The United States of America: Masada
The French Social Democratic Republic: Shadowbound
The Russian Empire: Christos
The People's Republic of the Ruhr: J.K. Stockholme

-------


Congrats all! :) I will be waiting another 24-36 hours before announcing the other countries, feel free to adjust your rankings accordingly!
 
At last back to a normal schedule TwT

The Democratic Republic of Central America

Spoiler :
The original United States of Central America was a noble idea of linking the peoples of Central America, but from the outset the concept was flawed. Guatemala was clearly the most dominant partner in said union, creating significant resentment from the other members, but in the eyes of many Guatemalans, it was they who would be making the sacrifices. The liberals continuously advocated for increased representation for all the members of the USCA, and even moved the capital to San Salvador. However, as dissent mounted the conservative general Francesco Acre opted to purge the liberals and move the capital back to Guatemala City, creating a military dictatorship serving the needs of the Guatemalan elites and endorsed by the Catholic Church.

The USCA maintained tight control over its provinces, and dissent was quickly stamped out. Working with American mercenaries paid for by American companies, the nation more or less held its own people in serfdom, exploiting them while the elites lived lavish lifestyles. When the USA went to war, the USCA would provide “volunteers” to help, and the nation was eventually rewarded with the territory of Belize after the Fifth Anglo-American War.

However, the volunteers returning following the Fifth Anglo-American War were far more numerous than the previous wars. And as the United States dealt with its own internal problems, the USCA could no longer rely on American mercenaries as frequently. The Guatemalan people were actually the first to dissent, forcing the regime to acquiesce on several new political rights, but as the regime caved on one issue, those in the provinces, long abused, rose up in a peasant’s revolution. One Guatemalan intellectual, Jose Barrois, led a group of students through Guatemala City to oust the old regime, and declared a new, Democratic Republic of Central America. Despite the traditional animosity between Guatemalans and provincials, the two sides worked together to repel a force of US Marines and mercenaries, laying the foundations for a continued union. A Federal structure was implemented and free elections were called for the first time since the original republic, giving a major victory to the Socialist Party. As one of the first major acts of the Socialist Party, aid was given to the struggling Mexican Communists so they might establish their own Socialist state.

Today, Central America is in a much more stable spot than it ever has been, though regional tensions still exist. As the Socialists continue to gain power, there is the question of what path they might go down, democratic or autocratic, but for now Central America’s star shines bright as the first nation to embrace Socialism in the Western Hemisphere


----

The Dominion of Panama

Spoiler :
Panama had long been the subject of wars between Colombia and the USCA, each side seeking to gain an advantage over the other. However, it was a French businessman, Anton de Croix, who saw the region as the ideal spot for a canal to connect the Pacific and Atlantic, who realized that the region could be stolen from both of them. The Colombian Army, in the midst of fighting a civil war, was unable to respond as de Croix landed an army of several hundred mercenaries and raised units of local fighters to declare the nation independent. The USCA attempted to capitalize on the confusion, but de Croix’s army was able to repel the invading army with a victory and then a well placed bribe. The victory gave the United States reason to recognize the fledgling republic, and de Croix partnered with an American company to create the Panama Canal, which was turned over to the United States in 1900 as a lease for 100 years. Today, Panama is near completely dependent on the United States for its foreign policy and the economy is dominated by US companies and goods. It has, with the encouragement of the United States, broken from the Roman Catholic Church, and is under a military dictatorship that is more than willing to brutally suppress anyone who might threaten the regime or the canal.


----

The Dominion of Colombia

Spoiler :


Colombia was one of many breakaway states from the Spanish Empire that established itself in the 19th century. Initially a liberal republic opposed to American influence but also unwilling to challenge Bolivia’s rise, Colombia sought a neutral third way. Watching the dissent that plagued other South American nations due to military rule, Colombia sought to restrict the power of its military, but the outbreak of war with the USCA forced a reevaluation of said policy. Despite the reversal of the anti military policies, the military was concerned about a return to the previous situation and toppled the liberal republic in a horrific civil war. The military turned to the United States for help, and Colombia trained and equipped its army along US lines, and also its social policies, breaking with the Roman Catholic church. The military was greatly rewarded though, both for its success in crushing dissent and for the loss of Panama, during the Venezuelan revolution in 1915. Using remnants of the old Venezuelan military, Colombian troops were able to suppress the revolutionaries in bloody fashion. The US president, pleased as he was dealing with his own issues with revolutionaries at home, gave his approval for the Colombian annexation of Venezuela. Now, with the great oil wealth of Venezuela backing them, Colombia is poised to become a major player within South America.

----

The Great Bolivian Empire

Spoiler :
The origins of Great Bolivia can be traced to the formation of the Peru-Bolivia Confederation upon independence being won from Spain. With both nations having numerous border issues with Brazil, it was agreed that the two nations should present a united front against the larger and more powerful enemy. Domestic problems plagued the confederation though, and it was in 1834, with the Confederation on the verge of collapse that one enterprising general incited war against Brazil, forcing the Confederation to fight together. Said general won several astounding victories despite being outnumbered in most battles, and eventually won the war and the name “Guillermo de Paz” in irony of his actions.

Despite the initial victory though, Guillermo realized that the Confederation had greater structural problems and winning one war would not solve them. Guillermo, having the overwhelming support of the army though, decided to reform the Confederation into a stronger, unitary state with himself as President. As he continued winning victories over Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, and his own people too in their rebellions, Guillermo became more and more confident before declaring himself Emperor in 1841 of Grand Bolivia, in honor of the Great Bolivar.

Guillermo brought up many of his officers into the ranks of the nobility to keep them on his side and pursued good relations with the United States so that by the time of his death in 1866, his son Guillermo became Emperor in a smooth transition. Guillermo II had married a daughter of the great Simon Bolivar, and became obsessed with collecting his descendents where he could and eliminating those who might try to claim the mantle of the “Heir of Bolivar” for themselves. Christening his dynasty as “Paz y Bolivar”, the Emperor modernized the equipment of his father’s armies but stayed true to the core principles, conquering Paraguay and taking over regions of Argentina and then fending off a Brazilian assault.

Secure in his dynasty after establishing new victories, Guillermo II’s and then the III’s reigns were peaceful, with Bolivia playing its neighbors against one another and preventing a coalition from forming against Bolivia.

As the empire moved into the 20th century, Grand Bolivia saw its first issues with liberal and socialist agitation, particularly from the oppressed peasant class. While Bolivia was able to eliminate those rebellions with relative ease, the same could not be said for its neighbor Brazil, rising up in a Communist revolution. Bolivia, seeing a chance to cripple its greatest threat to supremacy within South America, declared war in support of the disposed Brazilian Emperor and, using Brazilian nobles and troops that defected from the new Communist state, established a puppet regime in the North.

Today, Guillermo V now rules with an iron fist over a vast empire, but with increasingly disaffected subjects no longer content with military victories. They demand political and economic advances, something that would go against the social fabric of the Army and Church dominated Bolivia. Of greater concern is the Democratic Republic of Brazil’s continued rise and eclipsing of the Bolivian economy, and the hefty cost of the soldiers needed to keep the Empire of Brazil functioning. But for now, Great Bolivia still has the legacy of the Great Bolivarian Emperor running through its veins. So long as they fight underneath his standard, no enemy can stand to their might. And once the continent can be subdued, perhaps others may come to know the glory of the Emperor…


-----



------
The Democratic Republic of Brazil

Spoiler :
Brazil had the unique experience among South American nations, having been colonized by Portugal instead of Spain and a monarchy was established, the son of the Portuguese King becoming Emperor of Brazil. Brazil’s independence, long desired due to the ability to trade outside the Portuguese mercantilist system. Brazil’s future seemed bright until it became embroiled in a war against Great Bolivia. Brazil’s inexperienced officers were no match for the legendary Great Bolivian Emperor, and found itself defeated and losing territory. Brazil saw intense political instability the decades following, defeated in war after war and seeing government after government collapse. However, at the turn of the century, it seemed Brazil’s fortunes started to turn around once more. With the Bolivians distracted at home, the new Liberal Republic opted to use the time to pursue economic growth in Southern Brazil, and created South America’s largest economy. The success of the Liberal Republic helped insulate it from internal dissent, particularly from military coups. However, following the major fire in Rio de Janiero in 1915 and the subsequent riots and demands for unionization threatened the republic and its wealthy backers. With the workers galvanized, a Socialist victory in the 1916 elections was achieved, which immediately prompted a military coup supported by many within the government and within the capitalist class. However, street protests and rioting eventually saw the army retreat and, galvanized by their success, the Socialists declared Brazil to be a Communist state, while the north seceded into the Empire of Brazil. The Democratic Republic of Brazil continues to not only fight the Empire of Brazil and its Bolivian masters, but also other repressive states, such as their support for Uruguay during the 1927 Revolution. Despite its growing economy though, Brazil has yet to truly have a traditional military focus, instead hoping to promote revolution in other countries and assisting said revolutionaries in the French model. Time will tell though if this strategy will succeed or if it will bring doom to South American Communism.


---------

The Empire of Brazil:

Spoiler :
Following the attempted suppression of the Socialist election and the subsequent defeat, the Brazilian conservatives were near complete defeat. Facing the loss of their wealth and status, nationalist sentiment fell by the wayside when the Great Bolivian Empire offered a partnership. The return of the Brazilian royal family and the enthronement of Pedro III has given some new life to the conservative cause. However, for now the Empire is mostly dependent on Bolivia for support. However, as Brazil’s power continues to grow, so does the Empire’s future once the Communists are crushed. And once Brazil is reunited, perhaps a confrontation with old enemies may be in order…


-----------

The Republic of Chile:

Spoiler :


The Republic of Chile too was one of the nations that suffered from the rise of Great Bolivia. Due to the presence of Argentina in the coalition against Bolivia, Chile had decided to withhold its support to see if it could claim both lands against Argentina and Bolivia. The Bolivian Emperor would in the end betray Chile though, and Chile saw the disputed claims resolved on the battlefield, decisively in Bolivia’s favor. The Republic of Chile has since retreated decisively into isolation. Though a liberal republic, Chile has more than enough to defend itself against the aggressors of the continent, and it is hoped that this army, along with Chile’s natural barriers, can let the Chilean people lead free and prosperous lives...


The Republic of Argentina

Spoiler :


With a temperate climate and large expanse of land, Argentina was well suited to becoming an agricultural powerhouse, and with the British population rapidly expanding, a natural partnership was formed. Between the years of 1840 and 1920, Argentina received overwhelming British investment, helping develop Argentina into an agricultural and commercial powerhouse. With the United States severely limiting immigration (especially from Catholic nations), immigrants from across Europe would arrive in Buenos Aires, creating one of the most prominent and diverse cities in the world. Argentina’s peaceful development saw a hiccup though with the souring of US-UK relations starting in the 1870’s. Using Bolivia as a proxy, the United States sought to harass Argentina and disrupt the vital food supply to Britain during the various subsequent conflicts. However, the limited American ability to project naval power in the South Atlantic, and later Bolivia’s unwillingness to go forward as casualties mounted, would ensure this vital sea lane was kept open. Argentina was able to avoid direct conflict in the next two conflicts, and grew wealthy by selling to Britain. Despite the various turmoils of the financial markets, Argentina was able to sustain its growth and today is one of the stronger countries in South America. Ever wary of both Bolivian expansionism and the threat the Communism holds, will Argentina be able to find a third way? Or will it succumb to foreign domination?
 
Also, at last we have the player list! Please let me know if you have any questions, and at this point any untaken power can be claimed :)

Spoiler :
United Kingdom-Immaculate
USA-Masada
Ruhr-Stockholme
German Nationalist Socialist Alliance-Ahigin
Bavarian Worker's Republic-Tolni
Russia-Christos
France-Shadowbound
Republic of China-JohannaK
Qing China-Thomas.berubeg
Guangxi-Southern King
Australasia-TerranEmpress
Turkey-Christopher_Sni
India-Robert Can’t
Zacatecas-Grandkhan
Romania-Tobiisagoodboy
Italy-ZeletDude
Denmark-Angst
Spain-Seon
Thailand-Mosher
Netherlands-Civ’ed
The Great Bolivian Empire -Zappericus
Alsace-Lorraine-Bair (Crezth is disappointed in you Bair :( )
 
Good to see I've got Russia. Can't wait for this to start.
 
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