Illustration of the King's mine (Kongens gruve) by Georg Thiele, 1705
What:
Norway does not have perhaps its most profitable province it owned in the game: The silver mines of Kongsberg.
In the summer of 1623 two young siblings who herded cows for their father discovered that one of their bulls butted its head against something shiny on the ground. They picked the sparkling rock up and showed it to their father. He understood it was silver and immediately went to sell it. However, he set the price too low and got arrested because they thought he was a thief selling stolen silver. A choice between hard labour or telling where he found it was an easy choice... The result was that the Danish king came the year later and founded the city of Kongsberg.
Why:
-The silver mines of Kongsberg, in Buskerud county in Norway, constitute the largest mining field in Norway, with over 80 different mines.
-It was the largest pre-industrial working place in Norway, with over 4,000 workers at its peak in the 1770s
-It supplied over 10% of the gross national product of Denmark-Norway during its 335-year-long history.
-Over 450,000 man-years were expended in the production.
-Financed the expensive wars against the Swedes
-Was one of the targets of the Swedish campaign of 1716
-City of Kongsberg was the second largest city in Norway (after Bergen) in 1769.
-From 1623 to 1958 it was mined out 1350 tons of silver
How:
Divide Akershus up in two provinces. Either call it Western Akershus or call it Buskerud. Here is a suggestion for ingame implementation of the borders. Site of Kongsberg is the green dot. The fort (blue) should of course move to Akershus. The orange lines is where Buskerud is connected to the sea. If that is implemented, then Vestfold also has to become a province.
The new province is Buskerud. Its town is called Sandsvær. It is dirt poor with low development It should produce Naval Supplies.
An event should pop up in 1624
Suggestion of descriptive text:
"My king, a poor farmer in Buskerud has tried to sell silver for ridiculously low prices. After some 'persuasion', he agreed to tell us where he found it. There is reason to believe that there are great quantities of silver in the mountains of Sandsvær. I suggest your excellence should take a trip and oversee the founding of the mines"
Suggestion for answer:
"Dig deep and greedily! I shall come at once!" (Dig deep and greedily is of course a wink to Vicky 2.)
Suggestion for cost: -100 in administrative power
Suggestion for effect:
-City of Sandsvær inside Buskerud is renamed to Kongsberg (or Konningsberg as it was originally).
-Goods produced in Buskerud changes from Naval Equipment to Gold.
-Buskerud gets goods produced modifier +10% for ten years
"Kronene i håvet" The monograms of all the kings who has visited Kongsberg in their lives.
"Her hvor vildsom ørk har været - Here where wilderness has been
og sig grumme Dyr har næret - And its grim animals has fed
Nu et Guds Skatkammer findes - Now a God's treasury is found
Hvor Den ædle Sølvertz vindes - Where the precious silver is won
Norge derved staar i Blomster - Norway therefore stands in blossom
Kongen ogsaa har Indkomster - The King has also income
Sex af Konger har erfaret -Six Kings has experienced
Hvilken Skat her er bevaret" - What treasure here is conserved
Bonus event: Everytime a new king takes the throne, the player would get an event after three to five years asking the player if he wants to visit silver mines.
Suggestion for popup text
"My king, it would perhaps be wise to pay a visit to Kongsberg and to your loyal miners that toil away inside the dark tunnels of the King's mine. It would certainly inspire the men."
Suggestion to answers:
"Very well. Get a wagon ready" (Norwegian/Swedish king) "Very well. Get a ship ready" (Danish king)
-Goods produced modifer +10%(25 adminastrive power cost) for ten years
"Stop bothering me!"
-Gain 5 unrest in Buskerud or Goods produced modifier -10% (or both) for ten years
Sources:
English
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongsberg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongsberg_Silver_Mines
Norwegian
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongsberg
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongsberg_Sølvverk
https://snl.no/Kongsberg_Sølvverk
Inspiration for custom event drawing
Kongsberg 1808
Kongsbiærg unknown year
Inside one of the mines, 1660
This is inside Kongsberg church built in 1761. Perhaps nothing vs a catholic church in mainland Europe, but keep in mind this is in protestant Norway... It should give some pointer to how prosperous Kongsberg was.
TL;DR: The mines that gave Denmark-Norway 10% of its total income is not represented in the game! Swedish bias!
EDIT: After talking to some of my room mate it has come to my attention that the mines indeed are in the game, but is rather just a province modifier inside of Akershus. It is also really expensive money wise. It can also only happen to Norway.
Thoughts and input? I for one feel Norway needs at least one province that's not dirt poor. I do not know what the Kongsberg province modifier gives to Akershus, but I suspect it is only a fraction of the real riches the mines gave Norway and Denmark... So much so that it deserves its own province.. Sweden has Dalaskogen. Give us Kongsberg!
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