Sons of Mars (Redux)

[Tani Coyote]

10 armies are to advance into the southern Palatinate, along with whatever armies these nations are willing to send

As Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Bosnia, and Austria didn't really have much of an army to speak of, no surplus forces were sent. Particularly Austria and Bosnia, since that leaves them open to assaults by Hungary, who aren't exactly on the best of terms with either (Slovakia and Bosnia being rightful Magyar clay and all, never mind past religious and dynastic disputes with the Habsburgs).

Said powers have enlarged their militaries nonetheless, however.

Then you have Venice committing its ground forces to Iberia on the basis that the home territories would be protected due to Austria and Bosnia maintaining an eastern deterrent to invasion.

==Germanic War: French Front==

Burgundy and France are evenly matched on land, and so neither dares risk a first strike. That does not apply on the seas, however, as Burgundy enjoys a clear advantage and strikes. 4 Burgundian fleets take on 2 French fleets in what is likely to be the first of many battles of the English Channel.

The French fleet is sunk, while Burgundy loses one ship. The northern French coast is placed under blockade.

==Toungoo Wars==

King Bayinnaung of Burma has signed a deal with Tibet, offering the latter some suzerainty over Burmese foreign policy in exchange for a large amount of credit. What exactly for, however, has only just now become apparent: an invasion of Lang Xang to the East.

Burma overruns Lang Xang, seizing two provinces (including the capital) without a fight due to Laotian forces colonizing elsewhere. While the Laotian economy is twice the size of Burma’s, Tibet’s pockets are more than deep enough to erase this advantage and allow the superior Toungoo military continue its advance.

 

[Jehoshua]

ooc: Fair enough, particularly with the Iberian problem out of the way.

That said, I am irked by the whole "irregulars" thing, seeing as a) there is nothing about them whatever on the front page and b) you stated previously that conscripts cannot be used on the turn they are created. If it had been set out clearly that they count towards defence than I would have taken that into consideration, whereas I had left them out of my calculations this turn... Water under the bridge now I suppose.

 

[Tani Coyote]

I guess I'm so used to using the same rules (barring some cosmetic changes) from game to game I didn't note it specifically; traditionally I have it so that while units cannot be used for offensives or expansion on the turn they are made, they can still be utilized for defense purposes. They will just suffer a penalty to effectiveness, which is somewhat mitigated by going Soviet-style and having a horde of them.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Orders lock in 100 hours.

It is now possible to tech up multiple times in any category per turn. I’ve included costs for going up three levels per turn; inquire about costs for fourth levels and beyond.

Occupation Zones have been established around the world and are visible through small colored flags placed on territory. Occupation Zones can be annexed (one-time hit to the area’s Infra rating) or turned into NPCs. Annexed territory will change your total Infra score based on the average of your old and new territories.

War movement: armies can move two provinces when attacking occupied territory, in contrast to the one when attacking neutral territory. This only applies from this turn onward.

==Update III: 1552==

Political Map
Religious Map (Color Key in Religion Stats)
Stats Sheet

The fragile peace of the world has finally shattered. In Europe, the Catholic League has utterly smashed the Islamic Sultanate in Granada, while Catholic powers have similarly rallied behind Prussia in its attempts to seize Brandenburg; with several Calvinist powers backing Brandenburg militarily and Lutherans offering moral support, this war could be quite bloody indeed. The Palatinate and its allies are outnumbered, but the Calvinist League have managed to win key victories in England, France and the Rhineland.

West Africa has seen a surge of religious fervor. Islamic missionaries showered the ruler of Oyo with lavish gifts, but he insisted on not converting to Islam. The same occurred in Mende, with missionary efforts being for naught. Perhaps denial of Islam isn’t the best of paths however, as Temne has seen an uprising by Muslim citizens! The territory is now under the occupation of Songhai, which sent troops in to protect the rebels.

As India and China each become central to the rivalries between the Mughals and Kerala in the former, and the Qing and Song in the latter, Tibet is rapidly making itself known as an economic and diplomatic power broker. The Tibetans have bankrolled the Burmese invasion of Lang Xang in exchange for a cut of the spoils; as the Chinese and Hindus remain divided, Buddhism is on the way towards unification beneath Lhasa.

A bloody coup has purged the government of Hedjaz. While the government remains Muslim, it has declared itself to be “allied” to the Sicilians. Such an alliance has come complete with regular tributary payments of half the state revenues, a renunciation of the right to expand or determine foreign and domestic policies, and finally, Hedjaz has disbanded its entire military. (Hedjaz becomes puppet of Sicily)

Arawak, seeking to bring all believers beneath its umbrella, has launched invasions across the Caribbean, with victories against the Creek and Caracol. The aggression has sent the Chickasaw and Illini to the League for protection.

 

[Tani Coyote]

==The Lutheran League==

In the name of our Lord and the independence of our states, we the following:

England
Hanover
Schleswig-Holstein
Denmark
Sweden

Hereby create this union of our peoples so as to coordinate with each other in military and diplomatic matters.

The Lutheran League’s first initiative is to formally invite the Atlantic Confederation, as a fellow Lutheran state, into our alliance. It shall be invested with the ceremonial position of Alliance Chair.

As a second matter, the Lutheran League issues a warning to the Catholic League that is currently backing Prussia: we cannot, and will not, stand idly by if the Palatinate and Burgundy are at serious risk of losing their independence. We shall concede the territory of Brandenburg to Prussia, it being a small loss, but will be forced to take drastic action if it looks as if Catholic forces shall dominate Protestant Europe. We can tolerate this war only so much as it is a war of Prussian expansion, not Roman subjugation of our free churches.

==The Kongo Offers Its Souls==

His Majesty Diogo I is in need of mone- monastic enlightenment. Though we are formally aligned with the Lutherans of the Atlantic Confederacy, we are hereby entertaining missionaries from the world over. The highest bidder shall be entitled to all the souls of the Kongo.

The funds received shall be used to build churches and not lavish palaces. Honest.

==Hungary Offers an Alliance to Zaporizhie==

The Hungarian King is wary of a possible threat from the Catholic powers to its West. It seeks to join the Cossacks and Russians in a three-way alliance that can ensure peace and stability in Eastern Europe.

 

[Ailedhoo]

10 claims, 5 by the aid of fleets, will be conducted by the peoples of the League of Peace and Power.

 

[Tani Coyote]

10 claims, 5 by the aid of fleets, will be conducted by the peoples of the League of Peace and Power.

The Chickasaw and Illini would like to join the League's alliance, and will convert to Haudenosaunee in compensation.

 

[Jehoshua]

To: The Lutheran League
CC: The Palatine League
From: The Papal States

The Papal States has to date been responding to the aggressive opportunism of the Palatinate with regards to its friend and ally Prussia. If only it returns the rightful territories of Ireland in Britain back to said nation, cedes the sovereignty of Brandenburg to Prussia, and ends along with its allies their war of aggression against the Papal States and its allies including Prussia, this war could immediately come to an end.

 

[Ailedhoo]

The Chickasaw and Illini would like to join the League's alliance, and will convert to Haudenosaunee in compensation.

We welcome them to the allaince. However the Great Law of Peace respects ones decision of faith; we do not need you to convert.

 

[christos200]

News of the Song Empire​

Crown Prince Wang assumes leadership of Song:

Crown Prince Wang, the eldest son of Emperor Jingzong, has assumed leadership of the Song after his father suffered a stroke. The Emperor needs to rest, so he has allowed his son to take temporary control of the nation and the Emperor's duties. This may also serve as a test for the Emperor to see if Prince Wang is really suitable to succeed him. Prince Wang is a very intelligent man, a great patriot and a poet and essayist. He has written several poems and essays. His most famous essay is "How the Han Chinese lost the North", in which he examines the causes of the collapse of the Ming Dynasty (which preceded the Song Dynasty). He has also written countless poem, with the most recent being "Yesterday in Jiangnan":

Yesterday in Jiangnan it was spring and it was raining.
And today the song of the wanderer rings again.
In life and death, there are ups and downs.
I don't care who is right or wrong.
Riding the horses towards the setting sun.
As the day turns into night.
You can let go of your feelings.
But who can be truly free?​

Prince Wang also has a huge collection of Confucian and Taoist classics, as well as history books, having in his personal library over 40,000 books, many of them precious. It is said that Prince Wang has been able to memorize the contents of all 40,000 books, but this is a rumor that has not been confirmed. Anyway, Prince Wang is a very intelligent man and it is sure that he will bring the Song Empire to new heights of glory.

Prime Minister Cao Song:

Prime Minister Cao Song will help Prince Wang in his duties. Cao Song is considered the architect of the economic and military rise of the Song Dynasty. Cao Song has followed for many years Emperor Jingzong, even before he had overthrown the last Ming Emperor and assumed the Mandate of Heaven. Cao Song has been the Prime Minister of Song since it's establishment and many of the economic and strategic decisions of the Song are more thanks to him than because of the Emperor. Especially on the economic sector, since while Emperor Jingzong is a great military leader, he has no clue of economics. Prince Wang has a very special relationship with Prime Minister Cao, because he was the one who taught him Confucian classics when he was young. So, Prince Wang respects him deeply.

Grand Commander Yuan Chonghuan:

Yuan Chonghuan will also be of great help to Prince Wang. Yuan Chonghuan has served for many years in the Song Army and is known for his care for the civilians and his military genius in artillery warfare, as well as his personal bravery on the battlefield. Yuan Chonghuan is a great patriot who has fought many times with the Qing and has defeated countless Manchu Armies. He always cares for the people and never allows his soldiers to abuse their power. Yuan Chonghuan will surely be of great help to Prince Wang and will help him expand the borders of the Great Song Empire.

 

[Arrow Gamer]

The Ottomans hereby declare war on Hedjaz unless they immediately cancel all agreements with Sicily.

 

[Robert Can't]

To: The Lutheran League
CC: The Palatine League
From: The Papal States

The Papal States has to date been responding to the aggressive opportunism of the Palatinate with regards to its friend and ally Prussia. If only it returns the rightful territories of Ireland in Britain back to said nation, cedes the sovereignty of Brandenburg to Prussia, and ends along with its allies their war of aggression against the Papal States and its allies including Prussia, this war could immediately come to an end.

Opportunism is quite a big word coming from the nation that is without doubt the aggressor here.

 

[Mathalamus]

A bloody coup has purged the government of Hedjaz. While the government remains Muslim, it has declared itself to be “allied” to the Sicilians. Such an alliance has come complete with regular tributary payments of half the state revenues, a renunciation of the right to expand or determine foreign and domestic policies, and finally, Hedjaz has disbanded its entire military. (Hedjaz becomes puppet of Sicily)

real smart Hedjaz. looking forward to seeing you crushed by the ottomans.

 

[Sonereal]

real smart Hedjaz. looking forward to seeing you crushed by the ottomans.

I already contacted the Ottomans about Hedjaz. The Cypriot slaves should sit down while their betters are in private talks.

 

[Double A]

delete

 

[Mathalamus]

I already contacted the Ottomans about Hedjaz. The Cypriot slaves should sit down while their betters are in private talks.

keep it up, and you'll face some nasty consequences Sicily.

 

[Sonereal]

keep it up, and you'll face some nasty consequences Sicily.

I will keep it up until I actually see a Cypriot fleet outside Sicilian waters.

 

[Ailedhoo]

==The Kongo Offers Its Souls==

His Majesty Diogo I is in need of mone- monastic enlightenment. Though we are formally aligned with the Lutherans of the Atlantic Confederacy, we are hereby entertaining missionaries from the world over. The highest bidder shall be entitled to all the souls of the Kongo.

The funds received shall be used to build churches and not lavish palaces. Honest.

Is this a commerical requirement or can we just declare we are sending our preachers?

We of the League would like to offer not the selling of ones souls but to offer Kongo the Great Law of Peace, which you may take inspiration from in order to ensure a society that is set to peace.

Spirituality is a central part of the lives of the Haudenosaunee people but parallel to this is a respect for other religions. We will hence support that you consider such path of peace.

 

[Double A]

Hereby announcing the colonization just north of Castille in Africa to clearly mark the border of our respective influences. On a related note, the Muslim coast of Africa is immediately put under my protection.

I will keep it up until I actually see a Cypriot fleet outside Sicilian waters.

The best part is they actually have a larger fleet than you.

 

[Mosher]

I'm pretty sure I should have 7/7 AQ/NQ