PLAYER ROSTER UPDATED
I am really excited about this player roster; despite the fact that you guys overwhelmingly chose northern countries. So much so, that I had to choose country slots based on the least popular! Spain went to Sable Rose first because he was the ONLY PERSON to pick Spain at all. Spain is quite the hated country, but not a surprise for me as I personally despise playing them. However, Sable should be comforted by the fact that the difficulty of colonization means that Spain is much less of a micromanagement hell than before. Then I had to fill it in further based on who was actually WILLING to take certain countries. I am very surprised England and France had so few people wanting them! WOW! Not a single Portugese lover, a couple people wanted Venice though.
In the end, I didnt assign a Venice because it is the least important country to be human-played. This means that Portugal and Venice are still open to anyone who wants to join the game at this point. First come, first serve. And whichever country that player chooses, I will take the other.
I REFUSE TO NOT HAVE A COUNTRY IN MY OWN GAME!
If not one else joins up, I will just take Portugal and we leave Venice in the incompetent hands of the AI.

A sad fate, I know.