Interactive AAR Discussion - Edge of Darkness

[Ab Ovo]

Belgium- Just not seeing it. Wallonia and Flanders would be Danubia on a smaller page. Homogenous population please.
Spain- Bleh
Portugal- We have a leg up in colonisation, are a monarchy, and dat irredentism. Brazil needs us.
Poland- Please gods no. It's too close to home; no matter what Jee says.

 

[Fingon888]

Us Danubians will never reach a consensus without a vote. Thunderhawk, you should just choose for us.

 

[RikD]

I think Belgium is a great choice both in position and size. It has a lot to work with from an RP perspective as well (division of language, class and believes are relatively innocent discussion subjects).

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Us Danubians will never reach a consensus without a vote.

I've said it before: I feel like we've invented a new kind of meta-AAR already, where instead of debating ancient cores and budget levels we debate what nation we should play.

I'm going to continue my test games today and I'll reach a decision (hopefully) by the end of the day.

My preliminary opinion on Belgium is this: it's small and you have to make stuff happen yourselves. There's no obvious path for expansion unless the Dutch have a revolution.

 

[Otto of england]

Us Danubians will never reach a consensus without a vote. Thunderhawk, you should just choose for us.

Aye, we have nearly 1000 pages to prove this, we cant agree on anything.

 

[Dadarian]

Seriously, I push the Ottoman Empire:

1. Lots of places to expand
2. Domestic troubles out the Yahoo allows maximum player content
3. An established government that can slowly (or not) become a constitutional monarchy
4. Tons of minorities
5. Start as a GP

I find this a much better choice then portugal

 

[Fingon888]

I actually like the Ottoman Empire. I am going to prepare a Polish, Belgian, and Bulgarian character just in case. Any of the three would be really good, but I am pushing for Ottoman Empire now.

 

[unmerged(718634)]

Seriously, I push the Ottoman Empire:

1. Lots of places to expand
2. Domestic troubles out the Yahoo allows maximum player content
3. An established government that can slowly (or not) become a constitutional monarchy
4. Tons of minorities
5. Start as a GP

I find this a much better choice then portugal

With South Africa off the table, this would be my #1 option

 

[Keperry]

I think the Ottoman Empire would also be too similar to the Danubian Federation. Unstable, ethnically diverse, at least partially in Eastern Europe...

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Seriously, I push the Ottoman Empire:

1. Lots of places to expand
2. Domestic troubles out the Yahoo allows maximum player content
3. An established government that can slowly (or not) become a constitutional monarchy
4. Tons of minorities
5. Start as a GP

I find this a much better choice then portugal

In addition to being too close to the Danube (and I think it would ultimately be very similar to the Federation, though that admittedly depends pretty heavily on what kind of Constitution you write), I think the Ottoman Empire has too rigid an existing governmental framework to provide the sort of blank slate I was thinking of.

 

[yourworstnightm]

In addition to being too close to the Danube (and I think it would ultimately be very similar to the Federation, though that admittedly depends pretty heavily on what kind of Constitution you write), I think the Ottoman Empire has too rigid an existing governmental framework to provide the sort of blank slate I was thinking of.

Hmm, this is not good. Europe doesn't seem to have a state that fit very well.

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Hmm, this is not good. Europe doesn't seem to have a state that fit very well.

When I originally chose South Africa it was after a lot of thought about the gameplay considerations - I think it was probably the best match for the premise. I'm going to do a Poland test game later today and I'll probably make my judgment then.

 

[Ab Ovo]

Catalonia is the best option. Homogenous, blank slate, in Europe but far from the Danube, and in a good position to colonise.

 

[Fingon888]

I can get behind any country. I have already made a Walloon, Polish, and Bulgarian character, but I will make a Catalan just in case.

 

[Somberg]

Why not have Portugal and Spain unite into Iberia and play as that? It would have the best of both countries, it would be a GP, and we would need to create a constitution for it. We could attempt to reclaim both Spain and Portugal's former colonies and would have existing colonies that we could to have a head start in colonizing Africa. Otherwise I would be fine with Belgium or possibly Poland.

 

[Plutonium95]

How could you justify Portugal and Spain uniting that it would be believable?

 

[Otto of england]

Catalonia is the best option. Homogenous, blank slate, in Europe but far from the Danube, and in a good position to colonise.

IMO this is the best option I dont see why people keep disregarding it.

 

[Harpsichord]

IMO this is the best option I dont see why people keep disregarding it.

Well...why is Catalonia independent? I don't really see why you wouldn't just play Spain. Having us create a new Spanish constitution for the game is no more ahistorical than having Catalonia pop into existence.

 

[Ab Ovo]

Well...why is Catalonia independent? I don't really see why you wouldn't just play Spain. Having us create a new Spanish constitution for the game is no more ahistorical than having Catalonia pop into existence.

In the beginning of the game, the Carlist rebellion is concentrated in Catalonia. Isabella being unable to control the rebellion in those provinces leading to a Carlist/Catalan secession wouldn't be that ASB. But I feel Spain is just unsuitable. Not unique or interesting enough.

 

[Terraferma]

IMO this is the best option I dont see why people keep disregarding it.

Probably either A) They don't care for it or don't know much of it or B) People are not interested in playing a 1-3 province minor