No Iron, One Lion, Maybe Zion

Tanzhang/譚張 - My problem to get an extra national focus is population, still less than 1M I didn't notice that Nationalism/Imperialism lower life rating as well, I'll check them out.

Enewald - You are right, money flows nicely.

badger_ken - Nothing can beat cement, that's for sure. Has that changed in 1.2?

Boris ze Spider - I'm in no rush, this is still a learning game for me.

morningSIDEr - My quick land grabs are pretty peaceful

Davout - The think I don't like about Libya is that I could attract France's attention. As it is now the Ottomans make a nice buffer. But I like the idea of Venice

Dewirix - Still in 1.1, I'll finish this game with it. Yes, I am currently in the US sphere.

Meanmanturbo - Thanks and welcome! I think I started researching Mechanical Production at the end of next chapter.

ChienAboyeur - Welcome! I do try to favour assimilation in events.

Dominatus - Thanks and welcome!

Danking - Thanks!

HatMan - Thanks and welcome! I guess my main goal is to become GP and stay there, and defend Africa from the European scourge

ZechsMerquise73 - Thanks and welcome! I think the Ottomans are already close to losing their secondary power status without my help.

AllmyJames - Welcome! I had forgotten about Madagascar, although I'm not too confident on my current fleet to defend islands properly.

Zzzzz... - Welcome! China was the great surprise of the game for me too.

th3freakie - Thanks and welcome! I know, I believe that annexation of Egypt would not have been possible in 1.2. I also hope the Ottomans are a bit more active in 1.2.

billy bob - Thanks and welcome!

Grundius - Thank you! You know, that's one thing I like about Victoria, in just 100 years you don't have much chance of getting bored.

Najs -Welcome! China has been careful picking her fights lately, going for Panjab and Johor rather than confronting the UK or Russia... A wise policy I think, build up and consolidate before the big war

Tanzhang/譚張 - The UK has a south western Chinese region, it's only a matter of time until China claims it back, I'd imagine.

Commandante - Thanks and welcome!

In October 1882 Prophylaxis against Malaria is finally discovered and I can set my national focus on colonising for the first time. I don't have much choice of adjacent provinces that I can actually colonise, only four have a life rating of 30 (the Sahara is particularly bad, with life ratings of 15). I start with Negele, the most populous.

And while the colonisation progresses (I send a brigade to the province to help speed it up), I declare war on Yemen in 1883 to secure the strait. Both its allies refuse to help, so the conquest and annexation take place in the space of 8 months. Nothing glorious, but I do get to master the art of loading and disembarking troops, which I hadn't needed until now, in order to get to the island of Socotra

The colonisation of Negele is completed in 1884. I continue with the province of Goba, in the Werder region. One thing I didn't notice until later is that this downgraded two of my heartland states (Negele and Werder) into colonial regions, probably because of the way colonisation works, at region level rather than at province level. Has this changed in 1.2?

Between the steady industrial growth and the prestige gained through regional fairs (and now also Colonial Exhibitions) I overtake Prussia to become 8th great power in 1885 In a way I feel a bit sorry for Prussia losing its status, as this will no doubt affect the balance of power in Europe. Now as a GP I get to tap into even more prestige-earning events, like hosting a first World Fair in 1886.

1886 turns out to be quite tumultuous, besides the World Fair and the colonisation of Werder there is another large anarcho-liberal rising and the Nationalist Faction wins the lower house elections. I think I must have got quite a few pro-military, jingoistic events in the past elections... Not sure the voters ideologies pie is working properly, though, it doesn't show a reactionary majority and I find hard to believe that landowners would show even bigger Socialist tendencies than the wider population

Technology-wise I've been mostly 'filling' the level 1 gaps during the first half of the decade: Command Principle (Navy), Alphabetic Flag Signalling, Naval Design Bureau, Early Classical Theory and Critique, Malthusian Thought, Ideological Thought. After that I move back to level 2 techs: Early Railroad (1888), Market Structure (1889), Strategic Mobility (1890) and Muzzle-loaded Rifles (1891).

By 1891 I've managed to push Russia down to 8th position My first attempts to influence my neighbours as a GP had mixed results, I got Nejd and Oman in my sphere but the OE and Sokoto were resisted by Russia and the US (with whom I'm still allied). In the population charts the Electorate Vote does reflect the reactionary majority accurately, maybe the next reform I should pass is to change the electorate.

China's industry has already overtaken Britain's by a fair margin, I wonder if the Chinese will be able to generate enough prestige and military technology to catch up in the other two areas.

Money doesn't seem to be a problem, I've paid up the silly loans incurred in the late 70s, and with the Nationalist Faction in power I've been able to lower taxes further.

The industry keeps growing even if capitalists get it horribly wrong sometimes (luxury furniture, fertilizer...) One downside of not being in the US sphere is that ammunition factories are no longer profitable, so we know who was buying it all, then.

By 1891 I've also colonised the Salima region, the last one I was able to for now. I might have to fast-track the research of Machine Guns if I want to stay in the game, Spain has started some serious push inland As for non-colonial expansion, I was actually thinking of staying within these borders (I don't really want any more rebel-producing land), but the OE seems to be having some trouble with Iraqi rebels, so I might change my mind on that if Iraq secedes...