A picture of me as GM, probably
Some reasons for choosing 1929 as the start date (i.e. why I think this is an interesting place to begin):
- Stalin is solidifying his position in power in the Soviet Union
- The NYSE is about to get BTFO
- In general, this is going to bring about very dramatic changes politically in dozens of countries, particularly:
- The United States
- Germany
- Japan
- Brazil
- Argentina
- The United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- In general, this is going to bring about very dramatic changes politically in dozens of countries, particularly:
- The Northern Expedition has just concluded, the first phase of the Chinese Civil War is about to begin, and Chiang is solidifying his grip on power
- The Taisho democracy is soon to dissolve in Japan and the country is about to turn hard to the right
- The NSDAP is a rising force in Germany, and tensions will likely soon come to a head with the democrats and communists
It's prudent to say that this game will not start relatively soon. Signups will last for most of this week and some of next week. Barring any pleasant (?) surprises, I don't even think it'll start in September. This has the added bonus of giving the players a lot of time to research their countries in this period.
The World in 1929
(No, this map is not final)
(Please stop annoying me)
(No, this map is not final)
(Please stop annoying me)
(If there are any glaring mistakes on the map re: territory, please let me know. I am already aware that Pondicherry is missing, which will be rectified when the game begins.)
Playable countries at game start are as follows:
Great Powers
In alphabetical order:
French Republic
German Reich
Greater Japanese Empire
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Secondary Powers
In alphabetical order:
Republic of China
Kingdom of Italy
Republic of Poland
Kingdom of Spain
Minor Powers
In alphabetical order:
Argentine Republic
Commonwealth of Australia
Republic of Austria
Republic of the United States of Brazil
Kingdom of Bulgaria
Dominion of Canada
Republic of Chile
Republic of Cuba
Czechoslovakia
Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Romania
Republic of Turkey
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes
Example stats are as follows:
Argentine Republic
Politics & Economy
Government: Federal constitutional republic
Leader(s): President Hipólito Yrigoyen
Ideology: Social democracy
Alignment: None
Capital: Buenos Aires
Political stability: 76%
Population: 11.592 m. (2.75% growth)
GDP: $ 50,623 m. (4.56% growth)
Economic status: Semi-industrial, boom, market economy, $ 4,367 per capita
Government Spending & Services
Receipts: $ 6,025 m., 14.00% tax rate
Expenditures: $ 6,168 m.
Balance: $ - 143 m.
Treasury: $ - 12,300 m.
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average
Administration: (1/5) Average
Education: (4/5) Poor
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor
National Defense
Manpower: 168,361
Army: (5/5) Poor, 1920 technology
6 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry divisions, 0 marine divisions, 0 mountain divisions, 0 armored brigades
Navy: (1/5) Average, 1922 technology
0 fleet carriers, 0 light carriers, 2 battleships, 0 battlecruisers, 0 pre-dreadnoughts, 0 heavy cruisers, 6 armored cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 6 destroyers, 0 submarines [+2 heavy cruisers in 3 turns (Italy), +3 destroyers in 1 turn (UK), +3 submarines in 2 turns (Italy)]
Air Force: (2/5) Poor, 1922 technology
2 fighter wings, 0 attack wings, 0 bomber wings
Player:
We will start with applications for GREAT & SECONDARY POWERS. PLEASE DO NOT fill out your application with any of the aforementioned minor powers if you would like to be one of them. This is only to figure out our Great and Secondary powers. If you would only like to choose from among the minor powers, please wait until after the player list of Great and Secondary powers is posted.
Please list your preferred Great and Secondary powers in a post in this thread. You are allowed to apply for a maximum of three countries for each round of applications. If at all possible, please try to rank these countries by order of preference. It makes my job a lot easier and will help to minimize complaints from everyone else that they didn't get what they wanted. If you post a list below of mixed GPs, SPs, and minor powers, I'll know you didn't bother to read this post, and will therefore ignore your application.
Again, reminder: not everyone will get what they want. I might even have to ask applicants to take a country they never listed in any post. Some people will not get countries at all. Please be patient and understand I do not do this out of some hidden animus. I try to do what works best and who I think would play each country best. So don't take anything personally. Countries will open up later, either through creation or through players leaving or being kicked, so you probably won't have to wait long anyway.
GREAT & SECONDARY POWER SIGNUPS WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY 25 AUGUST AT 10PM (EST/GMT -5), after which I will post a completed list of the GPs and SPs. After that, we will begin the second round of applications. I don't plan to run this game for a while, but if there are problems with player commitment and the players need to be shifted around before game start, I will cross that bridge when we get to it.
