By the Ballot: An Elective Succession Game

[PanzerCorps]

Good find, Tabanese.

​Corsican Vassal: Nay!

 

[Tabanese]

Some credit must be given to Vidmizz and Eon47 for sending my looking for that information.

I'll admit, I'm still a bit cautious about keeping UIT. It makes me uneasy but the numbers seem fair. :/

 

[PanzerCorps]

Well, the numbers never lie.

One thing though, should it really be allowed to load the save and try various actions? I mean, it feels a bit like cheating, honestly...

 

[vidmizz]

I just think we shouldn't worry about them. I conquered Corsica back in 1442 i think. Then almost immediatly they started demanding that i would release Corsica but I gave them my middle finger and I never heard any threats or complaints from them anymore. If they didn't do a slightest thing to us in 9 years why would they do now? especially in a time when they are at war already

 

[vidmizz]

Well, the numbers never lie.

One thing though, should it really be allowed to load the save and try various actions? I mean, it feels a bit like cheating, honestly...

I don't think it's cheating unless you reload the save if your ruler dies or you screwed up and want to undo it by loading. He said he played as Austria so he made his own actions. The situation can be completely different when Austria is controlled by AI so that doesn't really count as a cheat

 

[eon47]

In order to answer Eon47's concerns and to combat Vidmizz, I did some digging about to prove the threat posed by Austria. What I found was a tad humiliating. I loaded the save and played as Austria. Even after ending all wars in the country, Austria has no CB on Tuscany. So I looked to the internet because the Emperor should be able to reclaim UIT. However and according to the Wiki, it seems the Imperial Ban Casus Belli only emerges after the first reform is complete and as Austria is about 20 authority away from such a bid, it does seem that the Empire is no threat to our claim, legality aside.

I do believe that should Austria secure peace and then obtain the reform needed, they are more than capable of defeating us. France and Savoy are allies of theirs and they can march freely through the other states. Still, with only 40-ish years to gander the 20 authority, pass the reform and dislike us enough to commit to war, it seems unlikely.

The other issues, such as the penalties on our prestige and our infamy remain. The latter is manageable as we still lose .4 infamy a year while the former is manageable to the extent that one can secure enough RMs to bolster against the loss. With 7.5 infamy, we need 15 years roughly to drop back to 0 infamy. Freeing the island will rid the .25 penalty, so we'll burn at a rate of .65. That shaves about two years off. The prestige is the most worrying, as it not only will carry on falling but it be expensive to guard against. However, we currently have 26 and will likely be able to swallow the effects.

Considering this new evidence and looking forward to a empire of the Med, I revise my vote and will edit my initial post.

That's a great find. You do make a good point about Austria being a threat in the future, however. I must admit that in the games I've progressed far in (Aragon, Scotland, Byzantium, and France), I've always had a "Come at me, bro!" attitude toward the HRE. It occurs to me that it might be wise to revise that outlook given our proximity and current size.

 

[1anrs]

Ok, I've changed my vote as well based on newly submitted evidence

 

[Tabanese]

Well, the numbers never lie.

One thing though, should it really be allowed to load the save and try various actions? I mean, it feels a bit like cheating, honestly...

I want to go on record of saying that I'm against such actions. To be clear, I'd be against people playing a couple of year and using it as evidence that they would do the best when attempting to get elected or even worse, just using their perfect save. That is too much.

However, I don't believe I did anything wrong as I was merely attempting to make certain the information that theoretically wasn't barred from us knowing. One could have always played Austria in the past for example and known what I discovered by experience and this would be allowed. I appreciate the concern, as it shows we are on the same wavelength in regards to these sort of things but I don't think this was wrong.

 

[Tabanese]

The voting is closed as of 20:00 GMT. The results are as follows:

In the election category,:
Tabanese was voted for by Tabanese, Andre Messena, Vidmizz, Eon47, Panzer Commander, AsdfeZxcas, 1anrs and CoyoteBeast.

As such, the next ruler shall be Tabanese. Go me!

In the Vassal category, releasing Corsica was:
Rejected by Tabanese, Andre Messena, Vidmizz, Eon47, 1anrs, CoyoteBeast and Panzer Commander.
Accepted by AsdfeZxcas.

As such, Corsica shall be denied homerule and directed by this diet.

I believe I've won the 'Puppet-Master' award, while most have 'Called-it'. AsdfeZxcas should likely win a 'Liberty True Believer' award or some such instead.

 

[Tabanese]

The Rule of Prince Girolamo Bartolini.​

A count of minor renown, Girolamo Bartolini nevertheless possess fierce business acumen. For this reason, he found himself working with, and then for, Et Fridianus. He was summoned from his estate in Pisa to attend the Firenze signoria and found upon arrival that he had quite a bit of support. An evening dinner with Minias II clarified the situation: He was to represent Et Fridianus interests in Tuscany and Tuscany abroad. Thankful for the support, Bartolini bowed gracefully as the voting results were announced. He pledged to support Tuscany, like he had done the night before in secret chambers - this time without a pledge to Et Fridianus and the Lady of course.



Taking power in April of 1451, Bartolini had an effective court. Biagio Cybo-Malaspina handled trade policy in the city while Pietro Tempesta oversaw commerce. Handling the magistrates of the republic was Francesco di Farnese, who'd served in many of the previous administrations and commanded a level of respect all of his own. Bartolini first orders was a budget review. Decommissioning many of the war funds, he drastically defunded the military and navy, a move he may not have being able to accomplice had it not being for his supporters business connections. His rationale was an adjustment of focus from external threats to internal and to back this claim up, he reformed the army, moving much of it to the island of Corsica. He then revoked the local level approval process for trade subsidies and consolidated the process to require central approval. Finally, he summoned the signoria and gave a speech regarding the need to foster dynastic relations with key Latin states, as well as Austria. Though his lower status among the aristocracy was a hurdle, the positive reception of his move aboard help to bolster his standing.

On the 23rd of October, 1451, the central office reported a saturation of Firenze's market. Thanks to state support, key trading positions had being seized by Tuscan traders. Many signoria councillors congratulated the young Prince, though a powerful minority complained in private that too many of the traders 'fancied light women'. Historians dispute whether this was a slight at the meekness of the new traders, unable to infiltrate foreign markets or if it refers to the De Lucinta dynasty, which produced many of the upstarts. However, Bartolini's ambitions were not focused solely on internal trade but upon Tuscan interest abroad. To create a more formidable mirage, he placed Urbino, Modena and Mantua within the Tuscan sphere by the 27 January 1452. Though this caused a loss of prestige, it elevated Tuscan interests as the rest of the world were weary of their sudden confidence. This feeling persisted despite Mantua's military disavowing of their inclusion. As well as flexing Tuscan strength, Bartolini increased it by formally allying with Pope in May 1452 and arranged many marriages across states in Italy, showing a respect for the status quo.



While the policies Bartolini pursued were generating results, his favouritism was transforming from open secret to acknowledged truth. One out-spoken opponent was Biagio Cybo-Malaspina. Loyal not to any faction but the city, he resisted the implementing of many of Bartolini's policy and on more than one occasion, decried them at the signoria. It would have being illegal for Cybo-Malaspina to be removed for such actions. Therefore, when he was dismissed for 'encouraging vice among Firenze youth' on 14 October 1454, many civic employees discovered the virtue of silence. His replacement, Ferdinando Zucchi, was educated in the city university. He was a prudent man and respected theory. He encouraged the development of new trade practice, which would benefit the Republic in the future. He also seem to enjoy a better relationship with the cities tradesmen and aldermen, despite being born in Lucca, and was renowned for his dedication to the woman, whose oil painting hug in his office, that many historians believe to be his wife.



Of all Bartolini's policy changes, the most controversial was his signing of a highly lucrative fleet-building deal with Et Fridianus on the 3rd of January 1456. This move was chastised by signoria opposition as clear favouritism and abroad as a contradictory to previous promises to focus on internal struggles, as well as angering the Tuscany's professional army. The anger took physical form when, citing Tuscany's illegal presence on the island and their desire to rule the waves, Renatu Colonna led an armed revolt in Corsica. Colonna was a respected noble who had rejected Bartolini from the beginning for his lower status. He was weary was the possible connections Bartolini shared and felt that government should not be usurped by the common man but instead entrusted to educated men of the Enlightenment. In practice, this meant the titled few. His rebellion however was crushed and his estate devoured and redistributed. One of the key reasons for victory had being the replacement of troops brought in by Bartolini's policy. The fizzle that Colonna headed may have actually helped Bartolini's rule more than it harmed it. The masses resumed their work and the members of the signoria bite their tongue, Bartolini now having further justification for his actions.



In early 1455, Bartolini had encouraged, with city funding, the promotion of education and the arts. By June the next year, this program was already paying a hefty dividend. Many professionals from Tuscany classrooms were contracted out and thanks to Tempesta's centralised commerce practices, the republic itself benefited. This new gold was retained and debts were paid off, encouraging investor confidence. In fact, so robust was the budget that Et Fridianus paid the signoria a gift of 100 gold on the 20th of June, 1458. These developments helped to repair the reputation of both Et Fridianus and Bartolini himself. The fever of cultural activity began to putter out near the end of his term.



On the 17th of February, 1459, Bartolini commissioned the new Tuscan warfleet. He was joined by Minias II Et Fridianus who had headed construction and Pietro di Medici who was to lead the new fleet. Recognised as his last act before the election months, Bartolini couldn't have asked for a better performance. The air was charged and the navy recorded a significant increase in the numbers of mariners signing up. Two years prior, the Austria king, King Franz I, was elected Holy Roman Emperor and retained his domain over France and Ragusa. At the time, many questioned Tuscan longevity given their ownership of Corsica. However, during the first patrol of the new fleet, many believed anything was possible.

---

And with that, I call a new voting cycle. As it is the 31st, the deadline shall be the 3rd of April, 20:00 GMT.
We need to vote for the next ruler and a slider change. Here is the save if you wish to examine the current situation while composing your election manifesto. I may be running again but I'm going to have to check my schedule. I encourage all those who thus far voted but not run to give it a whack.

 

[vidmizz]

Brilliant work and a nice AAR, you should consider being a writer I told you that the Austrians are nothing to worry about and I wasn't wrong. Anyway should we vote for a slider? I can't vote for a person because nobody is running yet and I don't feel like ruling Tuscany for a third time unless somebody really wants me to

 

[Tabanese]

Thanks for the compliments. I've not yet got stories to tell; I can craft them but telling them requires a sense of obligation, of compulsion I'd reckon. Give me some time to experience more of life and perhaps I'll turn to literature.

We've 72 hours so no rush. I'll likely run a second time but I agree, be nice to see a few more volunteers. As for sliders, vote away. I'm trying to figure out what we need, so I'll vote tomorrow when I'm posting a manifesto.

and Austria PU'ed FRANCE! WHAT do you consider threatening?

 

[cacra]

I would vote for free trade.

Also, can one just 'volunteer?'

 

[eon47]

I would vote for free trade.

Also, can one just 'volunteer?'

If by that you mean can anyone run who wants to, that was the impression I got. Now is probably just as good a time to run as any if you're considering it. And on that note, I plan on running myself eventually, just not... yet.

 

[vidmizz]

i plan on running myself eventually, just not... Yet.

:d

 

[PanzerCorps]

the De Lucinta dynasty, which produced many of the upstarts.​

Hey, you better take that back. Right. Now.

----

Otherwise, I do agree, great writing! Think you could write a few updates(~5) for a WW game? If you don't know what werewolf is but you're interested just PM me and we'll talk(so as not to hijack this thread) ​

 

[eon47]

View attachment 105108 :d

:rofl:

 

[AsdfeZxcas]

(ELECTION:HORSE IN WINDOW)

Soon...

 

[vidmizz]

ELECTION: Unknown horse in window
Only he can conquer the world
Slider: Free Subjects

 

[Tabanese]

I would vote for free trade.

Also, can one just 'volunteer?'

Completely. Just let people know you are in the race.

---

(ELECTION: TABANESE)

Bartolini is running again this term. Manifesto soon but the strategy will revolve around consolidation of power and the focusing of Tuscan interest in the Med, notably upon Sicily.

(SLIDER: QUALITY)

Not that I'm planning anything... ¬_¬