RenaissanceNES Pre-Thread

Lord of Elves

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Introduction/Summary
The year is 1492. Columbus has just sailed to the Americas in the name of Spain, although it is a different Spain, in a different Europe. Over the course of the past nigh five centuries, history has taken a much differed course than in our own reality...

This is as is clear by now, an NES set within the Renaissance and its earliest years, with the beginning of colonial expedition by European nations and the social and societal changes inherent within the Renaissance. The timeline is not focused around plausibility, but instead playability. If you are looking for a timeline that beholds itself to historical accuracy, then this is not the NES for you. Information on the timeline and how it effects the nations within the NES can be found several paragraphs below.

Stats and Things
These rules are subject to change before the NES launches "properly", but this should capture the overall setup in which the players will work.

Kingdom of England (England, Denmark, Norway, Noble States of Ireland and Scotland)
Leader: Harthacanute II, King of England, Denmark, Norway, and Lord-Protector of the Noble States of Ireland and Scotland
Government Type: Aristocratic Monarchical Union
Centralization: 75%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 40/0/15
Manpower: 2500
Army: 20 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 30 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 15 Cavalry Divisions (Professional)
Navy: 40 Cogs, 25 Transports
Army Quality: 8
Navy Quality: 5
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions:
Spoiler :
English Aristocrats 2/5
Danish Aristocrats 2/5
Norwegian Aristocrats 2/5
Anglo-Scottish Aristocrats 2/5
Anglo-Irish Aristocrats 2/5
Peasantry 4/3
Welsh Peasantry 4/2
Scottish Peasantry 3/2
Irish Peasantry 4/2
Clergy 2/5
Victory Points: 0

Leader: This is a rather generic term for the recognized head of state within your nation. They do not necessarily wield any political power, and can be merely a figurehead, but this is the face of your nation, and whether they be liked or disliked, their death can have dramatic effects in the international community, especially if it is... unnatural.

Government Type: This is the method in which governmental affairs are organized in your nation. Some governments allow their subjects more freedoms than others, and are more efficient or less efficient for it. While it will not directly effect your ability to govern your nation, your government type should give you a feel for how your country operates.

Centralization: Here we start getting into more mechanical matters. Your centralization is a function of your government type, but is not necessarily directly related. Higher levels of centralization represent greater power on the part of the central government, and a greater ability to enforce changes of policy or programs. Lower centralization represents less power on the part of the central government and less ability to enforce changes of policy, et cetera.

Stability: This is a measure of the overall happiness of your citizenry, and the likelihood that your country will collapse into revolt or civil war on a scale of one to five, the levels of which are below:

1 - Revolt 2 - Mass Dissent 3 - Doubting 4 - Overall Loyal 5 - Highly Loyal

Your stability is in general a representation of the faith in your government of the average citizen, although your stability is also a function of the happiness of various factions within your nation, and maintaining a healthy stability level means also keeping these factions happy. For obvious reasons, should your stability drop, it is likely that your centralization will too.

Economic Power: This is a unit in which your ability to raise troops and enact policy changes and programs is measured. Economic Power is a blanket term for the powers of agriculture, industry, and money-changing that influence the tides of monetary influence within your nation.

The first number is the amount of EP you may spend this current turn. The second number is the amount of EP you have banked. The third number is the amount of EP you are gaining per turn, or EPPT.

Manpower: This is a representation of the amount of your population able to be recruited into the military. This number will drop with the addition of units to your military, or raised with the reintegration of serving soldiers into the working society. To get a feel for your manpower, divide by ten. This is the amount of military units worth one MP each you can raise.

Army and Navy Quality: This is the level of skill within your armed forces on a scale of one to ten. More skilled armies and navies will fight better and will be able to execute more complex strategies with higher levels of cohesion. This can be improved with more efficient and rigorous training, or simply by more combat experience.

Factions: These are political, religious, economic, or ethnic groups within your nation. Keeping them happy is inherent in maintaining your stability, and their loyalty to your government and size are listed as such:

First number being size, second loyalty to your government.

Victory Points: "Adapted", from various NESes, victory points or VPs are a way of measuring the progress of your nation within the NES. The person with the most VPs at the end of the game "wins". Gaining VPs can be done by accomplishing various national goals which will change depending on how you rule your nation. Once players confirm a nation, that nation's goals will be PM'd to them.

Population Centers: You might ask, "What are those ugly dots on the map?" Those are a strategic feature. To be specific, black dots represent centers of population, pink regional centers, and white national centers. Let's differentiate between cities and these centers. While the locales these dots represent may be synonymous with cities, particularly in the case of pink and white dots, they do not have to be. Large clusters of black dots represent large concentrations of population. Losing large amounts of population centers can mean a hit to your manpower. Losing a regional center means the loss of population centers immediately within its radius, and sometimes an addition to the enemy's armies, if the regional center in question was important to a faction that was unhappy with your government. While if you lose a national center you already have far worse problems, this means the general deterioration of your government, and loss of massive amounts of centralization.

Military Matters
Professional vs Levee: Professional units are under the control of a centralized military, are better trained, better funded, and better supplied, than their conscripted levy counterparts. Professional units cost EP and MP, while levy units cost only MP, but are significantly weaker, and are only on the same level of ability as their professional counterparts when deployed en masse.

Regarding naval units, all are the same unless they are raised in massive amounts at one particular time, in which they shall operate on the level of levy units due to lack of training and cohesion inherent in massive military conscription.

Pricing:
Professional Infantry Division: 1EP, 1MP
Levee Infantry Division: 1MP
Professional Cavalry Division: 4EP, 2MP
Levee Cavalry Division: 2MP

Cog: 5EP, 2MP
Transport: 2EP; carries three units of any type.

Colonies and the New World
To establish a colony, one must invest 10EP to found it, give it a name, and specify a location, you must also have a viable sea-path to the colony, and you must have knowledge of the area in which the colony is to be founded prior to this (See The Map), otherwise you must send an expedition.

Expeditions: To uncover areas of land for colonization that you are not aware of prior, you must send out expeditionary forces. This costs approximately 5EP, and increases by 2EP if the distance is great, and gradually becomes impossible if the distance becomes too large (England trying to send an expedition to China via the Arctic Sea, for example).

The Map
Spoiler :

If you are wondering what the dots are for on the map, see Stats and Things. The map is subject to change, and is not final until the NES is posted in full. Light gray areas represent locales of which player nations are aware of, but do not particularly care about, or are effected by. Dark gray or black-ish areas are locales of which the player nations have no knowledge of, and must be uncovered before they can be colonized. Light gray areas will be come colored as the NES progresses, and nations within will be introduced as necessary. The same will be done for black areas, although this may take longer with so many expeditions necessary to uncover them.
 
Within is the massive wall of text that are the stats and nation descriptions. Information regarding the timeline is enclosed within the nation descriptions, and those interested are encouraged to read all of them if at all possible.

Stats
Kingdom of England (England, Denmark, Norway, Noble States of Ireland and Scotland)/Germanicus12
Leader: Harthacanute II, King of England, Denmark, Norway, and Lord-Protector of the Noble States of Ireland and Scotland
Government Type: Aristocratic Monarchical Union
Centralization: 75%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 40/0/15
Manpower: 2500
Army: 20 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 30 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 15 Cavalry Divisions (Professional)
Navy: 40 Cogs, 25 Transports
Army Quality: 8
Navy Quality: 5
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions:
Spoiler :
English Aristocrats 2/5
Danish Aristocrats 2/5
Norwegian Aristocrats 2/5
Anglo-Scottish Aristocrats 2/5
Anglo-Irish Aristocrats 2/5
Peasantry 4/3
Welsh Peasantry 4/2
Scottish Peasantry 3/2
Irish Peasantry 4/2
Clergy 2/5

Victory Points: 0

Holy Roman Empire
Leader: Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor by the Grace of God, King of Habsburg by Birthright
Government Type: Feudal Monarchical Confederation
Centralization: 25%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 30/0/10
Manpower: 3000
Army: 25 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 25 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 20 Cavalry Divisions (Professional)
Navy: 20 Cogs, 15 Transports
Army Quality: 8
Navy Quality: 3
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions:
Spoiler :
German Nobles 3/3
Peasants 4/4
Clergy 2/2

Victory Points: 0

United Kingdom of Italy/Julius Gandi
Leader: Paolo Fregosa, King of Italy, Doge of Genoa
Government Type: Aristocratic Monarchical Confederation
Centralization: 20%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 45/0/15
Manpower: 2000
Army: 10 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 23 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 30 Cogs, 20 Transports
Army Quality: 5
Navy Quality: 7
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions:
Spoiler :
Genoan Aristocrats 2/5
Non-Genoan Aristocrats 4/3
Clergy 1/2

Victory Points: 0


Kingdom of Normandy/Civver764
Leader: John III, King of Normandy
Government Type: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: 50%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 30/0/10
Manpower: 1500
Army: 8 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 15 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 10 Cavalry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 40 Cogs, 25 Transports
Army Quality: 5
Navy Quality: 6
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions:
Spoiler :
Nobility 2/4
Peasantry 4/3
Clergy 2/2

Victory Points: 0

United Kingdom of Burgundy-Savoy
Leader: Michael I, King of Burgundy, King of Savoy, and King of France
Government Type: Aristocratic Monarchical Union
Centralization: 75%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 35/0/10
Manpower: 2500
Army: 15 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 30 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 20 Cogs, 15 Transports
Army Quality: 6
Navy Quality: 4
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions:
Spoiler :
Burgundian Aristocrats 2/5
Savoy Aristocrats 2/5
Peasantry 4/3
Clergy 1/4

Victory Points: 0

Kingdom of Castile-Leon/Cull
Leader: Isabelle I, Queen of Castile and Leon
Government Type: Aristocratic Monarchical Union
Centralization: 60%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 35/0/10
Manpower: 3000
Army: 15 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 25 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 25 Cavalry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 30 Cogs, 20 Transports
Army Quality: 7
Navy Quality: 7
Colonies/Territories: Carribean Isles
Factions:
Spoiler :
Castilian Aristocrats 2/5
Leonese Aristocrats 2/5
Peasantry 4/4

Victory Points: 0

Teutonic Kingdoms/skeptikalz!
Leader: Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode
Government Type: Feudal Monastic Confederacy
Centralization: 25%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 30/0/10
Manpower: 3000
Army: 20 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 25 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 30 Cavalry Divisions (Professional)
Navy: 40 Cogs, 30 Transports
Army Quality: 8
Navy Quality: 6
Colonies/Territories:None
Factions:
Spoiler :
Teutonic Nobility 2/5
German Peasantry 3/5
Lithuanian Peasantry 4/2
Polish Peasantry 5/2
Prussian Peasantry 4/2

Victory Points: 0

Kingdom of Brittany
Leader: Alan VII, King of Brittany and Lord-Protector of Navarre
Government Type: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: 50%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 25/0/10
Manpower: 1500
Army: 15 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 25 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 20 Cogs, 15 Transports
Army Quality: 6
Navy Quality: 4
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :
Britannic Nobility 2/5
Basque Nobility 2/4
Peasantry 4/5

Victory Points: 0

Kingdom of Hungary
Leader: King Bela VI of Hungary, Lord of the Balkans by the Grace of God
Government Type: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: 50%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 15/0/20
Manpower: 2000
Army: 10 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 30 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 20 Cavalry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 10 Cogs, 5 Transports
Army Quality: 3
Navy Quality: 2
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :
Hungarian Nobility 2/5
Non-Hungarian Nobility 3/2
Peasantry 4/2

Victory Points: 0

Kingdom of Sweden/ZeletDude
Leader: Olof II, King of Sweden and Lord of Finland
Government Type: Aristocratic Monarchical Union
Centralization: 70%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 20/0/15
Manpower: 1500
Army: 10 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 15 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 30 Cogs, 15 Transports
Army Quality: 5
Navy Quality: 2
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :
Swedish Aristocrats 2/4
Peasantry 4/5
Finnish Peasants 3/2

Victory Points: 0

Kievan Rus/D'Artagnan59
Leader: Erigord I of Kievan Rus, Khan of the Golden Horde
Government Type: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: 40%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 15/0/20
Manpower: 1500
Army: 18 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 20 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 25 Cogs, 10 Transports
Army Quality: 6
Navy Quality: 3
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :
Aristocrats 2/5
Peasantry 4/4

Victory Points: 0

Swiss Confederacy
Leader: Delegates of the Cantons
Government Type: Aristocratic Confederation
Centralization: 20%
Stability: 4
Economic Power: 20/0/10
Manpower: 1100
Army: 5 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 15 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: Not Applicable
Army Quality: 5
Navy Quality: 0
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :
Canton Aristocrats 2/4
Peasantry: 4/4

Victory Points: 0

Ottoman Empire/Eltain
Leader: Sultan Mehmed II, Ruler of the Lands of Turkey, Iraq, Judea and Egypt
Government Type: Imperial Monarchy
Centralization: 80%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 30/0/10
Manpower: 2500
Army: 25 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 30 Infantry Divisions (Levee), 15 Cavalry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 40 Cogs, 30 Transports
Army Quality: 7
Navy Quality: 4
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :
Ottoman Nobles 3/5
Mamluk Peasantry 3/2
Iraqi Peasantry 3/2
Greek Peasantry 3/2
Slavic Peasantry 4/2

Victory Points: 0

Berber Confederacy
Leader: Mehgred Helorra of Granada
Government Type: Military Confederation
Centralization: 50%
Stability: 3
Economic Power: 20/0/15
Manpower: 2500
Army: 20 Infantry Divisions (Professional), 25 Infantry Divisions (Levee)
Navy: 20 Cogs, 40 Transports
Army Quality: 6
Navy Quality: 4
Colonies/Territories: None
Factions
Spoiler :

Marinid Nobles
Berber Chieftains 2/4
Berber Peasants 4/4

Victory Points: 0

Nation Descriptions
Kingdom of England/Anglo-Denmark: The rise of Harthacanute to his father's throne following the former's death in 1035 and the Anglo-Danish War of Succession led to the continuation of a North-Germanic England and the lack of a Norman Conquest that would otherwise have Romanized the English. Following Harthacanute's death and the kings that came after, the Anglo-Danish holdings in Ireland ultimately swallowed the Irish kingdoms and incorporated them into the greater realm of Anglo-Denmark. By 1200, the changing tides of economic favor saw the capital of the realm which had nominally been in Westminister moved to London. Sweden, which had been made a vassal during the Wars of Succession broke free of the realm in 1305 with the aid of the Kievan Rus Not wanting to provoke a Northern War as had been seen in France and the Holy Roman Empire only a half-a-century previously, the Anglo-Danish king reluctantly recognized Sweden's independence as a sovereign state. Kievan Rus, not wanting to push its luck, did the same and did not behold Sweden to it as a vassal. Since then, Swedish expansion into Lappland and Finland has continued to degrade relations between Anglo-Denmark and Sweden, and revanchist tendencies still run high. Wales, which had previously been a vassal to the Kingdom, was finally annexed in 1310, and was beheld to England, rather than grated the status of a Noble State which Scotland and Ireland maintained. Nearly two-hundred years hence, a policy of isolationism and self-maintenance has kept Anglo-Denmark alive and well despite the putting-down of revolts in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The constant task of cultural assimilation of the Celtic peoples of Britain continues with marked progress as the speaking of English and Danish infiltrates otherwise predominantly-Celtic communities.

Kingdom of Normandy: Lacking an English conquest, Normandy remained a backwater of France until the rise of the would-be Conqueror William to the Norman throne. In a series of political reforms, the strong-headed William proclaimed Normandy's separation from the greater France. This resulted in the short Franco-Norman War of 1062 to 1070, and France's recognition of Normandy's sovereignty as a separate state. Normandy would seek alliance with Brittany against possible French aggression, and the Britanno-Norman alliance assured their mutual independence. For many years there was peace, until French revanchism backed by Papal decree brought the Holy Roman Empire into France's struggle to reclaim Normandy and put down their once-ally of Brittany for its treachery. Brabant and other Holy Roman states close to the front lines mutinied at this, refusing to fight for France, and instead pledged themselves to the aid of Normandy against the weakened power of the Holy Roman Empire and France. This ultimately resulted in the creation of the personal union between Normandy and the Kingdom of Holland following the Britanno-Norman victory with the withdrawal of the Holy Roman Empire, and the concessions between the victors and the beaten and badgered France, with the war ending very quickly after it had begun in 1130. It would not be for another seventy years that France challenged Brittany and Normandy again, this time after a series of political and military reforms. Almost blinded to its crippled state following the upheaval of the Les Réformes de l'État, France fought an ultimately futile war of aggression against Brittany and Normandy which ended after twenty years of combat in the ceding of Aquitaine to Brittany and some northern territory to Normandy.

Teutonic Kingdoms: The Crusade at Jerusalem saw the formation of the Teutonic Knights, who paved a path for Christian pilgrims through eastern Europe, and decided to stay there. Forming a confederation of fiefs over which knights previously beheld to the Electors of the Holy Roman Emperor ruled, the Teutonic Kingdoms received recognition from the Pope, both as sovereign states separate from the Holy Roman Empire (with whom the Papal States were having little agreement, and separating what would otherwise be Holy Roman territory from its Emperor by Papal decree seemed advantageous) by Papal decree. Teutonic pressure against Kievan Rus and nominal alliance with Anglo-Denmark forced Kiev in the early-14th century and ultimately gave birth to the creation of the separate Swedish kingdom in 1308. Since then, the Teutonic knights have maintained a stranglehold over their Polish (in this respect added in a prospective Teutonic victory in 1310) and Lithuanian subjects, though with the creation of the United Kingdom of Italy and the dissolution of the Papal States, it seems that this shall not be for long. The Holy Roman Emperor turns his eye east...

United Kingdom of Burgundy-Savoy (France): France's desperate and blind attempts to reclaim Normandy as a vassal saw its dissolution into smaller fiefs by 1205 and its ultimate conquest by a convenient alliance of Burgundy (who had broken off from the Holy Roman Empire with Brabant and others) and Savoy in 1215. The people of France, who were by now tired of war, were glad to accept the peace that came with the Burgundian conquest, and the King of Burgundy was made King of Savoy in the creation of a personal union. By 1300, the crown of Burgundy and Savoy was simply known as the crown of France, and Burgundian and Savoyian influence in French affairs were entirely forgotten, France being known as Burgundy-Savoy in name only. The war between Castile and Brittany guaranteed Burgundy-Savoy's position as a weakened Brittany was propped up with Norman money and influence, and any prospect of a Britannic France was forgotten in the dust, along with the Italian Wars of Unification that ended the Papal States and made Burgundy-Savoy nominal power on the European continent, though by the same token crushed any hopes for a French Switzerland, who was now guaranteed by the Italian King.

Kingdom of Brittany: Formerly an ally of France, in recent times Brittany has been one of that country's greatest enemies. Fear of French aggression resulting in a Brittano-Norman alliance and eventually the destruction of France as a sovereign entity has made Brittany a power to be reckoned with on the continent, demonstrated by its victory in the Britanno-Castilian War, begun in 1380 following the conclusion of the Reconquista and the formation of the personal union between Castile and Leon, whose government felt it a natural next step in solidifying Iberian control over their own peninsula, while Brittany had for many years been a feared threat towards Spain, with its constant tempting of the Basques in Navarre against the Castilian crown. These tensions ultimately boiled over with a unilateral declaration of war by Castile-Leon and thirteen years of war, ultimately ending with the Treaty of Viscaya in which Navarre was released by Castile-Leon and pledged as a vassal of sorts to Brittany.

United Kingdom of Italy: Following the creation of Burgundy-Savoy and the loss of the Hollands to the increasingly-rebellious and uncooperative Holy Roman Empire, Papal power was recognized throughout Europe was a paper tiger. The Catholic church continued to have a cultural and religious influence, although it was simply that. No longer would the Pope command such authority throughout Europe, and when His Holiness called for all good Christians to march in defense of Constantinople against the heathen Turk, his call went unheeded save for paltry forces that ultimately sacked and looted the city. In 1453, when Constantinople ultimately fell to the Turks, the Papacy was generally regarded as a geopolitical joke, with no power to wield. Following a fierce flurry of excommunications and Papal announcements, it was also in disgrace, so it would not come as much of a shock to Europe that when the Italian Wars of Unification began in the early 1460's, that the Papal claim to Rome would not be respected. Ultimately, through a series of short wars and equally ephemeral peaces, Italy was united in 1480 with the signing of the Treaty of Rome. Though it was united, and a kingdom, in name only. The city-state of Genoa, which came out as the victor of the Wars of Unification, had little of a victory to enjoy. Genoa's Doge was now King of the united Italy, but he wielded little power. The compromise that Genoa was forced to accept to end the wars was a confederation of city-states, with little at all centralized power. Anyone who would want to wield such power would have to start another war, which would surely see Genoa outnumbered by those who had little interest anymore in enlarging their claims, but instead in returning to a status quo that guaranteed them sovereignty, not to mention those that wish to see the reestablishment of the Papacy. On that matter, following the Treaty of Rome the Papacy was essentially dissolved. The Catholic church was without a head, and regional ministries went their own ways. The members of the College of Cardinals either argued until they drew weapons upon each other, or withdrew to their own ministries to preach the word of God alone. The future of the Catholic church is uncertain. There are now many words of God. Whether or not they can be united, and turned into the unanimous chorus there was once before, is uncertain. Only the clergy weeps. Kings and queens make merry, for no longer are there Papal decrees and crusades. The Holy Roman Emperor smiles.

Holy Roman Empire: Like much of what once made Europe the thing that it was, the Holy Roman Empire is in a state of decay. Following the loss of its western kingdoms, and its fall from good grace in the eyes of the Pope, as well as being forced to accept the full sovereignty of the Teutonic Kingdoms, the Holy Roman Empire became stagnant. A series of ineffectual and unpopular Emperors followed in succession one after the other. By the time of the dissolution of the Papacy, the Empire can be said to have been nearly dead. The kingdoms and Electorates that comprised it were not by any means united or with a common purpose, and the power that the Holy Roman Emperor presumably wielded was non-existent, with the Holy Roman Empire's members happy for it to remain that way. The most recent Holy Roman Emperor can have a smile on his face, however, as without the Papal decree to be held to, he can now claim what is rightfully his. The days of the Teutonic Kingdoms are numbered. And with the Teutons gone, the Emperor can turn his eye to Normandy and France, and then Italy. The Empire is at a crossing point in history. It requires strong and bold leadership to survive into the uncertain and fractured future...

Kingdom of Hungary: Propped up by the Papal State following the Fall of Constantinople, Hungarian domination of the Balkans was one of the badly-advised final moves in the Papacy's failed game of chess, so to speak. Angering the Teutons, who backed down from crushing Hungary only on threat of excommunication which would leave the Kingdoms vulnerable to Holy Roman conquest. Hungarian conquest of the smaller Balkan states was backed by the Papacy in order to present a front against possible Turkic invasion of eastern Europe. Plagued since its ephemeral formation by revolts, an ineffectual monarchy and nobility, and the lack of any true military, and now without Papal support, it is a wonder that Hungary has managed to survive thus far. It shall surely be swallowed soon by the Holy Roman Empire, the Teutons, or Kievan Rus unless someone steps forward to fill the gap and provide sound leadership to maintain Hungary as a power in the east...

Kingdom of Castile-Leon: The Reconquista was over. Non-Christians were most welcome to get the hell out of the Iberian Peninsula, and to stay that way, though the wars were not over. In 1310, Castile declared war on Galicia for reasons of pure aggression and roped in Leon under the promise of a Leonese Portugal. For the next three-quarters of a century, the Iberian kingdoms would fight against each other with ephemeral cease-fires and nearly constant warfare. It would not be until the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon in 1379 that the Iberian Wars of Unification ended, and the last non-Christians were driven from Granada. In the dust that remained, the personal union between the governments of Castile and Leon united Iberia under a common banner, and the prospects for a powerful realm to challenge the world seemed high until Castile-Leon's luck got the better of it, and an entrance into war against Brittany to maintain the nominal vassal of Navarre cost the unity of Iberia. Now the Kingdom is lost, with the Berbers again marching on its gates, and the cries for another war to reclaim Navarre are ignored to the anger of the proud populace, as well as those who seek to regain sovereignty for the former Iberian kingdoms. It is a realm beset by troubles, but one that still has much opportunity...

Kingdom of Sweden: Held under the boot of Canute's descendants for many years, Sweden finally gained its independence again with the aid of Kievan Rus, and was lucky enough not to be beheld as a vassal to that nation, although its alliance to Kiev is now sealed in blood. The Swedish monarchy is beset by claims of illigitemacy and the fear of Anglo-Danish revanchist assault, though Sweden is for the most part silent. There is little to be said for Sweden now, though so many years later the Swedish people seem to be too afraid that if they believe they truly are sovereign, that they will wake up and it will all be a dream. If there is a king who is willing to push Sweden in the right direction, however, it has an opportunity to become an influential power in its region...

Kievan Rus: Kiev's power in eastern Europe is ensured by the Golden Horde, though as a vassal of the Horde it has no proper sovereignty, it was the threat of the Mongols that enabled Kiev to create a nominal vassal out of Sweden, and has kept the Teutons, Angles, and Ottomans at bay. If Kiev was able to further capitalize on this advantage, it could draw for itself more power, to perhaps throw off the Horde and create a Russian eastern Europe. Perhaps...

Switzerland: Not very much concerned with the outside world prior to the Burgundian invasion of France and the Italian Wars of Unification, the Swiss took many measures to prevent becoming embroiled in the Italian conflict, and it came as a relief when the Italian king recognized their nation following that country's unification, at the same time ending any question for Burgundy-Savoy regarding a "French Switzerland". Times are changing in Switzerland, despite all this, and leadership must assert itself...

Berber Confederacy: Following the Sack of Granada and the end of Iberia's Reconquista, the Berber exodus resulted in the creation of several disparate Berber kingdoms with the shared goal of retaking Andalusia. With this goal in mind, the leaders of these kingdoms have come together to accomplish it, and could become a force to be reckoned with despite their lack of centralization, although if they are to retake Andalusia, any Berber leader who hoped to maintain the Confederacy would have to lop off some heads first...

Ottoman Empire: Following the Fall of Constantinople, the various Turkic leaders recognized the leadership of a Sultan to rule over the greater Ottoman territories. The Ottoman-Mamluk Wars and the Balkan Wars served to enlarge the burgeoning Empire, and with the lack of a Papacy to organize the Christian nations in a crusade against the “heathen threat”, the Ottomans seem to have unchallenged power in the east. The possibility of an annexation of Hungary seems appeasing to the Ottoman Sultan, although the Christian kingdoms would do well to organize themselves to prevent an Ottoman foothold in Europe were such an eventuality come to pass. Expansion further into Africa and down the Nile is a far more lucrative opportunity for the Ottomans, not to even mention the glory there may lie among the sands of Arabia...

Conclusion
These stats and descriptions are also subject to change. Some of you may notice that some nations are already reserved. I intend to find players for England, Castile-Leon, the Holy Roman Empire, Sweden, and the Teutonic Kingdoms who are able to commit to the NES for at least a month before I move any further with this.

Please list two or three nations you are interested in playing in order of preference. For all intents and purposes, assignments are arbitrary.
 
Map?.
 
Derp, sadly my uni thinks imageshack is evil and has blocked it.. :/

GHEY!

Erm.. attachments work fine for me though?
 
Derp, sadly my uni thinks imageshack is evil and has blocked it.. :/

GHEY!

Erm.. attachments work fine for me though?

LulzNES Edited and Fixified.PNG

Does this work?
 
Out of curiosity, why are you using such an outdated map? There are much better ones available.
 
1. England
2. Holy Roman Empire
3. Sweden
 
Out of curiosity, why are you using such an outdated map? There are much better ones available.

I may yet change the map. The current one is to give a brief idea of international borders, and is not necessarily the final one. It was used for purposes of expedience.

@Omega, three countries you would be interested in playing in, please, Omega. In order of preference.
 
So far, everyone but Omega (proper application, please!) is confirmed for the country of their first choice. We need a Holy Roman Empire, and a Castile-Leon.
 
Confirming the Ottoman Empire.
 
Oh crap, I didn't see that part.

1. Burgundy
2. Italy
3/ France

There is no France, just Burgundy-Savoy (read Burgundy-Savoy's nation description). Italy is already claimed.
 
So far, everyone but Omega (proper application, please!) is confirmed for the country of their first choice. We need a Holy Roman Empire, and a Castile-Leon.

Thus it would seem Teutonic Kingdoms and Sweden is already taken, Omega. That would mean you only have the possibility of playing Burgundy-Savoy on that list. Maybe add others just in case?
 
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