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Yup, did similar stuff in my Saxony game (which admittedly is a bit tougher when you're landlocked and half a state large).
Seventeen
- Thread starter WJS
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If you are not only playing for 4 years, you could first go into Britain's Sphere, and then try to become a GP, and then unite North Germany. Then you can invade France. Since Brits are friends with you, they will not side with the French, you can simply crush France. Then you can unite Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Then you are just the strongest country in the world.
To bad you don't get the option to offer the crown to victoria. That would protect you from becomming part of Germany.
Thirteenth Quadrennial: Belgium, 1884-1887
We open with Belgium and Austria at war with Italy and the Ottoman Empire. It's not going well. I'm losing money hand over fist.
Having all the mobilized forces is wrecking my economy. Here, I had turned off all industrial subsidies and then lowered the tariffs in the hope that I could keep the factories open, but alas, they started shutting down in droves and I watched as my Industry score dropped from 73 to 14. I'm only thankful that my people's bank was as strong as it was to fund the whole war effort.
The Ottomans started as a Great Power, but quickly lost it to China. Clearly the war was taking its toll on them, too. Heck, I tried to declare white peace a couple times and leave them to carve up Austria, since that was their goal, but they insisted on continuing the war, and piling on the war goals against Austria. The war was going so badly that the Ottoman Empire parked outside my doorstep. I apologize that I didn't take a screenshot of this; but when you've got 24 Ottoman ships parked in Dogger Bank and the Ottomans staging assaults from the Netherlands, I'm thinking about survival, not pictures. They've got a 121 Military score, after all. They've colonized a large portion of Africa. There's still a lot going for them, and they could outlast me.
Thankfully, I could defend Belgium quite easily. They would march into Bruges, I would sent my mobilized troops from Ghent to meet them, they would take heavy losses and retreat, my infantry returns to Ghent, rinse and repeat. But still. The Netherlands should NOT be a staging ground for Ottoman aggression.
So here's how it looked when the war finally ended in 1886.
Italy took Lombardy, Venice, Istria, and Dalmatia, and the Ottomans took Croatia. Austria slipped from the Great Powers, and Bavaria returned to the leaderboard.
Time to get my troops back to the farms and mines. The economy picks up majorly at that point, and I start funneling money into reopening the factories and getting myself back on track.
The rest of the world, though? Not so much. War proliferates.
Stupid Denmark! Why try to take Gotland when all your troops are in Africa? Sweden shouldn't be able to make a dent into sphering you, but they certainly can defend their home turf. And yes, that's the Third War of American Independence. The UK thinks taking New England is a thing. Hedjaz attacking Nejd, yeah, that happens sometimes. But then there's France, who sees an opening against the Ottomans in the Congo. The Ottomans get the Italians and Dutch involved. France gets Russia and Brazil involved. What does that lead to?
Yeesh. I thought the Ottomans were bad. Now there's Brazilians invading the Netherlands. At least I'm not being attacked, but at this point, expanding my factories is tough, because no one worldwide can afford anything anymore since they're all attacking each other. (Also: Russia invaded Manchuria and Mongolia, China invaded Yunnan... so much fighting, not so much buying.)
Ending Ranking: #13. I'd like to say it's because I'm doing so much better, but really, it's because the world's become a worse place. And so we pass the halfway point in the game. The days where Greece taking Crete felt like an accomplishment are far behind, but Great Wars are still not yet here. Italy, ever militant and having already occupied half of mainland France, is about to replace Sweden as a Great Power. So, where does this all shake out?
Next quadrennial:
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
We open with Belgium and Austria at war with Italy and the Ottoman Empire. It's not going well. I'm losing money hand over fist.
Having all the mobilized forces is wrecking my economy. Here, I had turned off all industrial subsidies and then lowered the tariffs in the hope that I could keep the factories open, but alas, they started shutting down in droves and I watched as my Industry score dropped from 73 to 14. I'm only thankful that my people's bank was as strong as it was to fund the whole war effort.
The Ottomans started as a Great Power, but quickly lost it to China. Clearly the war was taking its toll on them, too. Heck, I tried to declare white peace a couple times and leave them to carve up Austria, since that was their goal, but they insisted on continuing the war, and piling on the war goals against Austria. The war was going so badly that the Ottoman Empire parked outside my doorstep. I apologize that I didn't take a screenshot of this; but when you've got 24 Ottoman ships parked in Dogger Bank and the Ottomans staging assaults from the Netherlands, I'm thinking about survival, not pictures. They've got a 121 Military score, after all. They've colonized a large portion of Africa. There's still a lot going for them, and they could outlast me.
Thankfully, I could defend Belgium quite easily. They would march into Bruges, I would sent my mobilized troops from Ghent to meet them, they would take heavy losses and retreat, my infantry returns to Ghent, rinse and repeat. But still. The Netherlands should NOT be a staging ground for Ottoman aggression.
So here's how it looked when the war finally ended in 1886.
Italy took Lombardy, Venice, Istria, and Dalmatia, and the Ottomans took Croatia. Austria slipped from the Great Powers, and Bavaria returned to the leaderboard.
Time to get my troops back to the farms and mines. The economy picks up majorly at that point, and I start funneling money into reopening the factories and getting myself back on track.
The rest of the world, though? Not so much. War proliferates.
Stupid Denmark! Why try to take Gotland when all your troops are in Africa? Sweden shouldn't be able to make a dent into sphering you, but they certainly can defend their home turf. And yes, that's the Third War of American Independence. The UK thinks taking New England is a thing. Hedjaz attacking Nejd, yeah, that happens sometimes. But then there's France, who sees an opening against the Ottomans in the Congo. The Ottomans get the Italians and Dutch involved. France gets Russia and Brazil involved. What does that lead to?
Yeesh. I thought the Ottomans were bad. Now there's Brazilians invading the Netherlands. At least I'm not being attacked, but at this point, expanding my factories is tough, because no one worldwide can afford anything anymore since they're all attacking each other. (Also: Russia invaded Manchuria and Mongolia, China invaded Yunnan... so much fighting, not so much buying.)
Ending Ranking: #13. I'd like to say it's because I'm doing so much better, but really, it's because the world's become a worse place. And so we pass the halfway point in the game. The days where Greece taking Crete felt like an accomplishment are far behind, but Great Wars are still not yet here. Italy, ever militant and having already occupied half of mainland France, is about to replace Sweden as a Great Power. So, where does this all shake out?
Next quadrennial:
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
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Just asking (because don't play small countries often): Do you feel most of the smaller countries needs to rely on debt to sustain themselves?
Only if you overextend yourself. It also depends on your level of industrialization. As long as you have a market for your products, you can find yourself quickly flush with more cash than you know what to do with (you really can only build so many forts, after all).
In Belgium's case, the real problem was that it was fully mobilized, so it wasn't producing its factory inputs, so running the factories became nigh-impossible without heavy subsidies, which led to skyrocketing debt. But the moment that the farmers went home to their farms, everything picked up again so fast I went from #20 to #13 on industry alone in half a year.
...I'm looking at the most recent leaderboard above and realizing, military scores are low, overall. The ranking is like this:
Way too much war. Way too much.
ETA: And what about Industry?
- China, 362
- Russia, 305
- United Kingdom, 274
- Japan
- United States, 126
- Denmark
- Italy, 116
- France, 76?
Way too much war. Way too much.
ETA: And what about Industry?
- United Kingdom, 1264
- France, 897
- Prussia, 545
- United States, 499
- Russia, 200
- Bavaria? 136
- Japan
- ?
- Netherlands
- Belgium, 54
- Italy, 46
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Fourteenth Quadrennial: The Ottoman Empire, 1888-1891
Although I figured I might have the possibility of playing one of the original Great Powers, I originally expected it to be Spain. The Ottomans were still a GP four years ago (albeit on the way out), but what could cause them to fall so far?
...oh.
It's a strange situation, however. France may dominate my colonies and Russia my mainland, but the war is still going well, apparently?
Good, but not sustainable. Maybe I should make white peace anyway... Losing Congo wouldn't be that bad, in the end. Certainly no worse than being occupied everywhere. But I do like how Italy's dominating in France. I just need to get Russia off my back. But for that, I'll need a diplomacy point.
Tunis decided to ally with me on 22 February 1888. I said yes and sent them against France. Every little bit. Russia continued to march against me unceasingly. But on 10 March, I had the point, and I got white peace. Good. Now to rebuild, and I got to keep Congo.
...These guys are researching Revolution and Counterrevolution, but they don't know about dragoons. Or steamers. Egad. At least I can use the national focus points.
So, I've just started getting my army back when Greece goes Communist and seizes the means of production I had invested in my GP days. Well, I just shed a tear at how far Greece had fallen, and accepted the free puppet CB.
I'm so sorry, Greece. But you made it so easy to dominate you. The war was complete on 24 August 1889.
So, at the start of 1890, I need to assess my situation. Italy dissolved their alliance with me when they became a Great Power, because I was already in an alliance with Prussia. Tunis and Sokoto allied with me, so my present allies are Prussia, Poland, Moldavia, Wallachia, Greece, Tunis, and Sokoto. So... It's Prussia and Poland. I had started with a war chest around 100K, which is now down to 7K, but I've got factories reopened, craftsmen joining, and many more forts and railroads everywhere being built. The entirety of the Balkans and Turkey are now being covered in railways. I have 60 out of a possible 71 brigades fielded. I am now ranked #12. Austria is at #11; can I catch them?
Speaking of Austria, the truce I have with them runs out on 6 February 1891, and given that I have Croatia, I know I'm a target. Denmark's presently attacking Hanover (and by extension Prussia) again over Greenland. I don't want Prussia weakened any further at this point.
And Great Wars are discovered on 1 March, 1890.
Excellent work, Braunschweig. Bring it on.
The first good thing about Great Wars, though, is that multiple Great Powers can ally, so Italy immediately wanted to be my ally again. Italy's stronger militarily than Prussia, so I'm happy to have them. For those people who said that France would dominate without an enemy in a united Germany, that may still be, but Italy has certainly proven to do a good job filling that role in Germany's absence.
Japan replaced Bavaria as a Great Power. Good run, Bavaria.
As 1890 continue, I keep rebuilding and growing. Railways are begun in more places, criss-crossing Egypt and the Levant. Palestine is modernized into a regular state. And the Ottomans are still playing catch-up to the Austrians, even though Sweden falls past us both.
(But seriously, look at those wars. Seriously. Do you know who Prussia wants to cut down to size? Schleswig. Schleswig.)
Spain and the Netherlands both wanted to ally with the Ottomans, so now their ally list is considerable and formidable. 6 February 1891 came and went without instant war from Austria. So, should I start up a justification for more?
Nah. I have an empire to modernize, and tons of alliances that will drag me into a war sooner or later. Also, all this time Persia has been dealing with rebels. If there's a coup, Persia will no longer have Russian protection, and they'll be a great target for conquest. That coup eventually happens on 9 December 1891, so now's the chance to justify to acquire a state or two. But I'll be moving on before that war commences, so we'll see if it even happens.
Ending rank: #11. I never did catch Austria, who moved on back to the #8 spot and is poised to knock China off the Great Powers.
Next quadrennial: Baden. Back to the German minors. Will Germany ever form?
Although I figured I might have the possibility of playing one of the original Great Powers, I originally expected it to be Spain. The Ottomans were still a GP four years ago (albeit on the way out), but what could cause them to fall so far?
...oh.
It's a strange situation, however. France may dominate my colonies and Russia my mainland, but the war is still going well, apparently?
Good, but not sustainable. Maybe I should make white peace anyway... Losing Congo wouldn't be that bad, in the end. Certainly no worse than being occupied everywhere. But I do like how Italy's dominating in France. I just need to get Russia off my back. But for that, I'll need a diplomacy point.
Tunis decided to ally with me on 22 February 1888. I said yes and sent them against France. Every little bit. Russia continued to march against me unceasingly. But on 10 March, I had the point, and I got white peace. Good. Now to rebuild, and I got to keep Congo.
...These guys are researching Revolution and Counterrevolution, but they don't know about dragoons. Or steamers. Egad. At least I can use the national focus points.
So, I've just started getting my army back when Greece goes Communist and seizes the means of production I had invested in my GP days. Well, I just shed a tear at how far Greece had fallen, and accepted the free puppet CB.
I'm so sorry, Greece. But you made it so easy to dominate you. The war was complete on 24 August 1889.
So, at the start of 1890, I need to assess my situation. Italy dissolved their alliance with me when they became a Great Power, because I was already in an alliance with Prussia. Tunis and Sokoto allied with me, so my present allies are Prussia, Poland, Moldavia, Wallachia, Greece, Tunis, and Sokoto. So... It's Prussia and Poland. I had started with a war chest around 100K, which is now down to 7K, but I've got factories reopened, craftsmen joining, and many more forts and railroads everywhere being built. The entirety of the Balkans and Turkey are now being covered in railways. I have 60 out of a possible 71 brigades fielded. I am now ranked #12. Austria is at #11; can I catch them?
Speaking of Austria, the truce I have with them runs out on 6 February 1891, and given that I have Croatia, I know I'm a target. Denmark's presently attacking Hanover (and by extension Prussia) again over Greenland. I don't want Prussia weakened any further at this point.
And Great Wars are discovered on 1 March, 1890.
Excellent work, Braunschweig. Bring it on.
The first good thing about Great Wars, though, is that multiple Great Powers can ally, so Italy immediately wanted to be my ally again. Italy's stronger militarily than Prussia, so I'm happy to have them. For those people who said that France would dominate without an enemy in a united Germany, that may still be, but Italy has certainly proven to do a good job filling that role in Germany's absence.
Japan replaced Bavaria as a Great Power. Good run, Bavaria.
As 1890 continue, I keep rebuilding and growing. Railways are begun in more places, criss-crossing Egypt and the Levant. Palestine is modernized into a regular state. And the Ottomans are still playing catch-up to the Austrians, even though Sweden falls past us both.
(But seriously, look at those wars. Seriously. Do you know who Prussia wants to cut down to size? Schleswig. Schleswig.)
Spain and the Netherlands both wanted to ally with the Ottomans, so now their ally list is considerable and formidable. 6 February 1891 came and went without instant war from Austria. So, should I start up a justification for more?
Nah. I have an empire to modernize, and tons of alliances that will drag me into a war sooner or later. Also, all this time Persia has been dealing with rebels. If there's a coup, Persia will no longer have Russian protection, and they'll be a great target for conquest. That coup eventually happens on 9 December 1891, so now's the chance to justify to acquire a state or two. But I'll be moving on before that war commences, so we'll see if it even happens.
Ending rank: #11. I never did catch Austria, who moved on back to the #8 spot and is poised to knock China off the Great Powers.
Next quadrennial: Baden. Back to the German minors. Will Germany ever form?
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"Next quadrennial: Baden. Back to the German minors. Will Germany ever form?"
Probably not, even if it does the later Germany forms the weaker it is.
The way this games going it looks like a 3 horse race between the UK, France and the USA with China being the wildcard maybe?
Probably not, even if it does the later Germany forms the weaker it is.
The way this games going it looks like a 3 horse race between the UK, France and the USA with China being the wildcard maybe?
When Prussia gets wrecked early they often never recover, so I would not be surprised if they never form Germany
Fifteenth Quadrennial: Baden, 1892-1895
Baden starts 1892 in an odd situation. Its economy is strong and vibrant. It is in Prussia's sphere, but it is not popular with Prussia. It has alliances with Austria and Bavaria, both former Great Powers, and neither in any sphere. Baden is on good terms with France, but not so good that an alliance is possible. The people are strongly Socialist and even with minimum tax and maximum spend, the government still adds 100+ pounds a day. Infrastructure and forts are at full. All in all, Baden is safe, but without real prospects. What can I do?
...Ah!
Here's that excitement. Bavaria immediately left Prussia's sphere, and Prussia attacked. I, being in Prussia's sphere, can't help, but I also can't get called to war against Bavaria, since I don't have an alliance with Prussia. Also, Austria lost Romania by crisis, and I lost the #17 slot. To Saxe-Meiningen. You are a fickle beast, prestige.
Then, Austria calls for my help against Italy. Sure. I guess. The war ended in a couple months, with South Tyrol now being Italian. Whatever. It was a nice vacation to Savoy. And Bavaria got cut down to size. Ah, well. I need new allies. China remains #8 and is not unseated, the Ottomans became #9, and Austria is now #12 behind Bavaria (with Sweden at #10).
In the meantime, my economy started tanking. Turns out, people aren't as interested in new clothes anymore now that there's all this war (Prussia is still in the all-new 4th American War of Independence over New England. So... I just ride it out. I've got 700K in reserves. That's what it's for.
Look at that. Paris, London, Mannheim.
Then, for the next war I'm not invited to, France attacks Prussia for Alsace, Austria joins... and I'm still on the sidelines. Well. But then Poland attacks Austria for Polish lands back. Sure, join that, march across Bavaria and Austria to reach Poland, and...
...Oh. Okay. Guess I know what I'm doing.
Cleaning up the rebels goes quickly and painlessly, but it gives Prussia and Saxony the chance to march across Austria. I let them deal with most of the rebels and pick my way to Poland, where I start occupying land. I see a chance to add land to Baden. Wielkopolskie? No, Austria wants that. How about Krakow? Just Krakow? No, I don't have enough Jingoism to do it. And the amount of Jingoism keeps dropping, never reaching the threshold. Sigh.
Prussia demands Silesia and wins. Austria demands Wielkopolskie and wins. The UK demands New England and wins.
Now the world looks like a mess. Also, Wurttemberg, Sweden, and Denmark all declared bankruptcy, so there's that, too.
1894 starts up as cleanup. I start rooting out German Pan-Nationalist rebels in Austria (Communists, too, but it looks like Austria has that covered). If Greater Germany ever forms, it's going to be ridiculous. I do manage to enact Women's Suffrage on 5 May 1894, so that's another good sign.
Although... Then Schleswig has a revolution, and Prussia goes about to immediately sphere the new government. Prussia got Silesia back. Schleswig is the last piece of the NGF. I debate trying to spoil it, like I did with Nassau.
BUT. Baden is South German. When Prussia battled Bavaria, they cut Bavaria down to size and didn't sphere them. They're now in truce. So... even if I'm in Prussia's sphere, I'm not going to be part of the NGF, right? Let's find out. Schelswig was added to Prussia's sphere on 11 December 1894. And on 12 December 1894...
Good bye, Saxony. Good bye, Hanover. And good bye, Nassau. I'll miss you. But thanks for not cluttering up slots #16 through 20 anymore. And maybe now Denmark will stop thinking winning back Greenland is important.
At this point, 1895 passes by uneventfully. We learn about electric gear, automobiles, and aeroplanes this year. Ending ranking: #16. I got my Industry score to 100. Very happy about that.
Next Quadrennial: Sweden. They used to have sphered Denmark. Now Denmark's ranked higher. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Greater Germany form in this game anymore.
Baden starts 1892 in an odd situation. Its economy is strong and vibrant. It is in Prussia's sphere, but it is not popular with Prussia. It has alliances with Austria and Bavaria, both former Great Powers, and neither in any sphere. Baden is on good terms with France, but not so good that an alliance is possible. The people are strongly Socialist and even with minimum tax and maximum spend, the government still adds 100+ pounds a day. Infrastructure and forts are at full. All in all, Baden is safe, but without real prospects. What can I do?
...Ah!
Here's that excitement. Bavaria immediately left Prussia's sphere, and Prussia attacked. I, being in Prussia's sphere, can't help, but I also can't get called to war against Bavaria, since I don't have an alliance with Prussia. Also, Austria lost Romania by crisis, and I lost the #17 slot. To Saxe-Meiningen. You are a fickle beast, prestige.
Then, Austria calls for my help against Italy. Sure. I guess. The war ended in a couple months, with South Tyrol now being Italian. Whatever. It was a nice vacation to Savoy. And Bavaria got cut down to size. Ah, well. I need new allies. China remains #8 and is not unseated, the Ottomans became #9, and Austria is now #12 behind Bavaria (with Sweden at #10).
In the meantime, my economy started tanking. Turns out, people aren't as interested in new clothes anymore now that there's all this war (Prussia is still in the all-new 4th American War of Independence over New England. So... I just ride it out. I've got 700K in reserves. That's what it's for.
Look at that. Paris, London, Mannheim.
Then, for the next war I'm not invited to, France attacks Prussia for Alsace, Austria joins... and I'm still on the sidelines. Well. But then Poland attacks Austria for Polish lands back. Sure, join that, march across Bavaria and Austria to reach Poland, and...
...Oh. Okay. Guess I know what I'm doing.
Cleaning up the rebels goes quickly and painlessly, but it gives Prussia and Saxony the chance to march across Austria. I let them deal with most of the rebels and pick my way to Poland, where I start occupying land. I see a chance to add land to Baden. Wielkopolskie? No, Austria wants that. How about Krakow? Just Krakow? No, I don't have enough Jingoism to do it. And the amount of Jingoism keeps dropping, never reaching the threshold. Sigh.
Prussia demands Silesia and wins. Austria demands Wielkopolskie and wins. The UK demands New England and wins.
Now the world looks like a mess. Also, Wurttemberg, Sweden, and Denmark all declared bankruptcy, so there's that, too.
1894 starts up as cleanup. I start rooting out German Pan-Nationalist rebels in Austria (Communists, too, but it looks like Austria has that covered). If Greater Germany ever forms, it's going to be ridiculous. I do manage to enact Women's Suffrage on 5 May 1894, so that's another good sign.
Although... Then Schleswig has a revolution, and Prussia goes about to immediately sphere the new government. Prussia got Silesia back. Schleswig is the last piece of the NGF. I debate trying to spoil it, like I did with Nassau.
BUT. Baden is South German. When Prussia battled Bavaria, they cut Bavaria down to size and didn't sphere them. They're now in truce. So... even if I'm in Prussia's sphere, I'm not going to be part of the NGF, right? Let's find out. Schelswig was added to Prussia's sphere on 11 December 1894. And on 12 December 1894...
Good bye, Saxony. Good bye, Hanover. And good bye, Nassau. I'll miss you. But thanks for not cluttering up slots #16 through 20 anymore. And maybe now Denmark will stop thinking winning back Greenland is important.
At this point, 1895 passes by uneventfully. We learn about electric gear, automobiles, and aeroplanes this year. Ending ranking: #16. I got my Industry score to 100. Very happy about that.
Next Quadrennial: Sweden. They used to have sphered Denmark. Now Denmark's ranked higher. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Greater Germany form in this game anymore.
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Does that mean that New England is a Independent nation or did the UK take that land from the US?
Yay, independent Baden in 1896! Way to go! Shame about the North-German Federation though.
In one game I played, Baden ended up attacking Switzerland for East Switzerland and won, so their name actually appeared on the map. Yes, they eventually got included in Germany, but it was a strong Baden (and I was playing Dai Nam, so I did not interfere at all).
(You can see a resulting map in the Strange Screenshots thread.)
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Sixteenth Quadrennial: Sweden, 1896-1899
Sweden is another power that was a Great Power for a while, but could not hold onto its position. When we open, the reason is clear: Anarcho-Liberals! So that's why Sweden defaulted on their debt! We're a bourgeois dictatorship, and our resulting economy is, well, not terrible, but certainly not what we want it to be. So let's see what we can do to clean that up.
Oh. Oh god.
Disbanded the entire navy. Not supplying their troops. And, since it's a dictatorship, I can't change parties. So... Time to drive up militancy. Tax the poor and middle the best I can, let the capitalists keep their money and pray they invest wisely, and use my gains to fund a military. Kinda.
We don't need more craftsmen (plenty unemployed as usual), so let's get more bureaucrats to manage this shoestring.
I do get rebels on 18 March 1896, but they're Norwegian Nationalists. They won't help.
Also, seriously, two brigades won't cut it.
So, interestingly, the Anarcho-Liberals aren't doing a bad job. My Industry is actually rising in this environment. I can start to build ships (nothing more than Commerce Raiders, though, as I guess they've never had the money to build Level 3 naval bases). Diplomatically, though, my sphere leader, Russia, and my closest neighbor, Denmark, both hate me. So I don't even really have a way to get anywhere. Time for transports for that chance, at the minimum.
A couple decisions and an Olympic Games later, I'm suddenly sitting at #15, having gained a bunch of prestige and a cruiser. Army and navy have been rebuilt.
Then, Poland manages to get West Galicia from Austria by crisis. Better way for Poland than by war.
And then, 1898 starts:
A free 60 Prestige. I am now firmly in the #14 slot. I still don't know what to do with my army, although there aren't many options. I consider getting my relations with Russia up to the point we can ally, figuring that will give me opportunity. Russia is, after all, invited to help France annex Wallonia again... which fails again by April. It's really quite hilarious.
On 1 January 1899, Sweden is finally able to convince Russia to enter into an alliance. Just a week prior, Russia joins France in attacking the NGF for Alsace again.
And it's the Great War. I'm not involved, but we'll see how it goes.
...And America has been trying to reclaim the Chinese gains for the past decade but doesn't even bother to show up there. Or in Sokoto.
So, I start marching my armies across Russia, to see where I can use them. I also get the chance to adopt political parties. Which means...
Democracy!
...Okay, I'm attacking Persia to free Azerbaijan. And the Anarcho-Liberals won the election. I actually prefer them right now. But, 1900 comes and I leave them in their war.
Ending Ranking: #14. Not bad for Anarcho-Liberals.
Next Quadrennial: Baden again. But look at that Great War! Germany ain't forming.
Sweden is another power that was a Great Power for a while, but could not hold onto its position. When we open, the reason is clear: Anarcho-Liberals! So that's why Sweden defaulted on their debt! We're a bourgeois dictatorship, and our resulting economy is, well, not terrible, but certainly not what we want it to be. So let's see what we can do to clean that up.
Oh. Oh god.
Disbanded the entire navy. Not supplying their troops. And, since it's a dictatorship, I can't change parties. So... Time to drive up militancy. Tax the poor and middle the best I can, let the capitalists keep their money and pray they invest wisely, and use my gains to fund a military. Kinda.
We don't need more craftsmen (plenty unemployed as usual), so let's get more bureaucrats to manage this shoestring.
I do get rebels on 18 March 1896, but they're Norwegian Nationalists. They won't help.
Also, seriously, two brigades won't cut it.
So, interestingly, the Anarcho-Liberals aren't doing a bad job. My Industry is actually rising in this environment. I can start to build ships (nothing more than Commerce Raiders, though, as I guess they've never had the money to build Level 3 naval bases). Diplomatically, though, my sphere leader, Russia, and my closest neighbor, Denmark, both hate me. So I don't even really have a way to get anywhere. Time for transports for that chance, at the minimum.
A couple decisions and an Olympic Games later, I'm suddenly sitting at #15, having gained a bunch of prestige and a cruiser. Army and navy have been rebuilt.
Then, Poland manages to get West Galicia from Austria by crisis. Better way for Poland than by war.
And then, 1898 starts:
A free 60 Prestige. I am now firmly in the #14 slot. I still don't know what to do with my army, although there aren't many options. I consider getting my relations with Russia up to the point we can ally, figuring that will give me opportunity. Russia is, after all, invited to help France annex Wallonia again... which fails again by April. It's really quite hilarious.
On 1 January 1899, Sweden is finally able to convince Russia to enter into an alliance. Just a week prior, Russia joins France in attacking the NGF for Alsace again.
And it's the Great War. I'm not involved, but we'll see how it goes.
...And America has been trying to reclaim the Chinese gains for the past decade but doesn't even bother to show up there. Or in Sokoto.
So, I start marching my armies across Russia, to see where I can use them. I also get the chance to adopt political parties. Which means...
Democracy!
...Okay, I'm attacking Persia to free Azerbaijan. And the Anarcho-Liberals won the election. I actually prefer them right now. But, 1900 comes and I leave them in their war.
Ending Ranking: #14. Not bad for Anarcho-Liberals.
Next Quadrennial: Baden again. But look at that Great War! Germany ain't forming.
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1900! As the world enters the 20th Century, great changes are afoot! In particular, The Great War rages. Here's how the world looks at the turn of the century:
First, the details of the Great War:
Belligerents: Russia, France, Brazil, Switzerland, and Austria on one side; The United Kingdom and the North German Federation on the other. Baden and Württemberg used to be in the war on the German side, but were occupied and signed truces.
The UK and Germany are asking for nothing more than Great War Capitulation. The Russian/French side is asking for the following:
Quite a lot from the NGF, it seems. Elsewhere in the world:
Not much change here since the Scramble for Africa.
That's the China that the US is trying to prevent (but doing nothing more than occupying Port Arthur and Taiwan).
Yeah, I don't think Russia is getting British Columbia, but it's all a question of the peace agreement.
And Brazil is solid.
First, the details of the Great War:
Belligerents: Russia, France, Brazil, Switzerland, and Austria on one side; The United Kingdom and the North German Federation on the other. Baden and Württemberg used to be in the war on the German side, but were occupied and signed truces.
The UK and Germany are asking for nothing more than Great War Capitulation. The Russian/French side is asking for the following:
- Great War Capitulation
- France acquires Elsass-Lothringen
- Austria acquires Silesia
- Switzerland frees Holstein and Prussia (in Posen)
- Russia acquires Ostpreussen and British Columbia
- Russia cuts the UK down to size
Quite a lot from the NGF, it seems. Elsewhere in the world:
Not much change here since the Scramble for Africa.
That's the China that the US is trying to prevent (but doing nothing more than occupying Port Arthur and Taiwan).
Yeah, I don't think Russia is getting British Columbia, but it's all a question of the peace agreement.
And Brazil is solid.
Seventeenth Quadrennial: Baden, 1900-1903
It's the 20th Century, and Baden is still independent. Baden was in the Great War, but sued for peace and received a Great War Capitulation, so let's take a look at what that means:
Okay, still manageable. 91 is hefty, but I've got a great industry. But what's this at the top? I'm at war with Bavaria? Why?
OH, THAT'S NEW. Given that the NGF and Baden are virtually military-free by now, that's a capital idea, Mein Herr. So, what does that mean for my territory?
...I hate you, NGF. I need new allies. Maybe Britain will come to my rescue. Maybe I just need new friends.
Okay, so the order of business is:
Azerbaijan formed on 5 April 1900, and on 27 June 1900, the NGF agreed to peace. Their price:
What does that mean?
I just don't even know anymore.
On 13 December, my relations were finally low enough to break with the NGF, but I still needed to get my ranking up to #16. I'm at 213 points, the #16 Brazil is at 252. Tall order, but I've got myself set up for prestige inventions. I was able to rekindle alliances with Austria and Belgium in February 1901. They aren't Great Powers, but they are strong allies.
Württemburg began a Communist revolution on 7 July 1901. Their army can take care of it no problem, but... this looks like an opportunity to start a CB for conquest. I'm not on their side anymore anyway.
The Great War continues apace, with everyone against the UK. The French/Austrian/Russian/Swiss forces successfully occupy Britain, and France says they also want the Ivory Coast, and Switzerland wants to free New England, as New England. Switzerland sure likes freeing countries. Bavaria continues to march willy-nilly over the NGF, and Denmark has decided to conquer Ethiopia once and for all. I'm proud of them.
...But maybe that Austrian alliance will pay off. On 16 May 1902, Austria replaced China as a Great Power. Suddenly, Austria's star is rising again.
Then, on 1 June 1902, I get a huge prestige boost from an invention, and break from the NGF.
On 20 November 1902, I attack Württemburg. The NGF joins, but is being overrun by the Bavarians, so I don't even notice. Mission accomplished on 24 February 1903.
I got your Mannheim Steamroller right here. Oh, and the Ottomans are back to being a Great Power, having knocked the North German Federation off the board.
We have a German Pan-Nationalist uprising in September 1903, but they are squelched by October.
Ending ranking: #12. This has been wildly successful.
I'm higher than Bavaria. I'm higher than the North German Federation.
Next Quadrennial: Spain. It'll be good to get out of the crucible.
It's the 20th Century, and Baden is still independent. Baden was in the Great War, but sued for peace and received a Great War Capitulation, so let's take a look at what that means:
Okay, still manageable. 91 is hefty, but I've got a great industry. But what's this at the top? I'm at war with Bavaria? Why?
OH, THAT'S NEW. Given that the NGF and Baden are virtually military-free by now, that's a capital idea, Mein Herr. So, what does that mean for my territory?
...I hate you, NGF. I need new allies. Maybe Britain will come to my rescue. Maybe I just need new friends.
Okay, so the order of business is:
- End this war
- Rebuild the military
- Find a new friendly Great Power
- Get to #16
- Break from NGF
- Join friend
Azerbaijan formed on 5 April 1900, and on 27 June 1900, the NGF agreed to peace. Their price:
What does that mean?
I just don't even know anymore.
On 13 December, my relations were finally low enough to break with the NGF, but I still needed to get my ranking up to #16. I'm at 213 points, the #16 Brazil is at 252. Tall order, but I've got myself set up for prestige inventions. I was able to rekindle alliances with Austria and Belgium in February 1901. They aren't Great Powers, but they are strong allies.
Württemburg began a Communist revolution on 7 July 1901. Their army can take care of it no problem, but... this looks like an opportunity to start a CB for conquest. I'm not on their side anymore anyway.
The Great War continues apace, with everyone against the UK. The French/Austrian/Russian/Swiss forces successfully occupy Britain, and France says they also want the Ivory Coast, and Switzerland wants to free New England, as New England. Switzerland sure likes freeing countries. Bavaria continues to march willy-nilly over the NGF, and Denmark has decided to conquer Ethiopia once and for all. I'm proud of them.
...But maybe that Austrian alliance will pay off. On 16 May 1902, Austria replaced China as a Great Power. Suddenly, Austria's star is rising again.
Then, on 1 June 1902, I get a huge prestige boost from an invention, and break from the NGF.
On 20 November 1902, I attack Württemburg. The NGF joins, but is being overrun by the Bavarians, so I don't even notice. Mission accomplished on 24 February 1903.
I got your Mannheim Steamroller right here. Oh, and the Ottomans are back to being a Great Power, having knocked the North German Federation off the board.
We have a German Pan-Nationalist uprising in September 1903, but they are squelched by October.
Ending ranking: #12. This has been wildly successful.
I'm higher than Bavaria. I'm higher than the North German Federation.
Next Quadrennial: Spain. It'll be good to get out of the crucible.
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