VIP - Caribbean and Central America

[Francis II]

Isnt 10000 a bit much? When you can buy all sonara for 100000.
Is the watermelonincident that expensive for colombia?

It's hard to tell if it's high - Colombia didn't end up paying, so I don't know what the actual amount would be.

Was it a real war? USA goes to war for everything

It turned out not to be, but very well could have been. Like you say, the US threatened war a lot in those days. In the Victoria time period, it was a lot easier for such an insult to rise to the level of full war.

 

[aprof]

I'd say make the penalty £500. For the 1840-50's, that's enough for the CLM player to have to decide between action_a (-20 relations and a slim chance of war with the US) or action_b (-500).

 

[Generalisimo]

That's the idea, it could also be summarized easily like this, as part of one big "NOT" condition:

NOT = { 
            war = { country = CLM country = USA }
            war = { country = PNM country = USA }
            war = { country = UCA country = USA }
}

Although most of the times that work... i like to code that this way:
NOT = {
OR = {
war = { country = CLM country = USA }
war = { country = PNM country = USA }
war = { country = UCA country = USA }
}
}

Meaning that any condition that puts a TRUE inside the OR will be changed by the NOT for a FALSE.
For me, it is better...

 

[aprof]

Francis II: I've taken copies of these events to give to the VIP team to test. I'll keep checking for any tweaks or additional events.

 

[unmerged(13520)]

Meaning that any condition that puts a TRUE inside the OR will be changed by the NOT for a FALSE.
For me, it is better...

Well...at first glance you'd be right, I suppose it's also a valid alternative, of course.

As for the penalty being discussed above, anything between 500-1000 would probably be the necessary amount, without being too high.

 

[Francis II]

Aprof: Thanks! Let me know if any changes need be made.

Scythe & Aprof: £500 it is.

Generalisimo: I've made the changes in the NOT conditions. Here is the updated version:

############################################
# The Panama Railroad Opens (USA) by ‘Francis II’ #
############################################

event = {
id = 304243
random = no
country = USA
trigger = {
event = 304231
NOT = {
OR = {
war = { country = CLM country = USA }
war = { country = PNM country = USA }
war = { country = UCA country = USA }
}
}
name = "The Panama Railroad Opens for Business"
desc = "Although it took much longer to complete than originally imagined, the Panama Railroad is finally open. Many thousands of laborers died in the construction of this marvel of modern transportation. This railroad link across the continent at its narrowest point will shave months off of the journey from New York to San Francisco. We should begin to see revenue from it soon."
picture = default
date = { day = 28 month = january year = 1855 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1880 }
action_a = {
Name = "Ok."
command = { type = trigger which = 396100 }
}
}

 

[aprof]

Aprof: Thanks! Let me know if any changes need be made.

Scythe & Aprof: £500 it is.

Generalisimo: I've made the changes in the NOT conditions. Here is the updated version:

############################################
# The Panama Railroad Opens (USA) by Kyle ‘Francis II’ Sammin #
############################################

event = {
id = 304243
random = no
country = USA
trigger = {
event = 304231
NOT = {
OR = {
war = { country = CLM country = USA }
war = { country = PNM country = USA }
war = { country = UCA country = USA }
}
}
name = "The Panama Railroad Opens for Business"
desc = "Although it took much longer to complete than originally imagined, the Panama Railroad is finally open. Many thousands of laborers died in the construction of this marvel of modern transportation. This railroad link across the continent at its narrowest point will shave months off of the journey from New York to San Francisco. We should begin to see revenue from it soon."
picture = default
date = { day = 28 month = january year = 1855 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1880 }
action_a = {
Name = "Ok."
command = { type = trigger which = 396100 }
}
}

Taken a copy to tweak these events.

 

[Francis II]

Here's the first two revenue events for the Railroad. I figured to have them every five years. I'm not sure what I'm going to do after 1869, when the PRR became less profitable. David McCullough's book, The Path Between the Seas, says the PRR's profits were $7 million in the first six years. That works out to $1,166,666 per year on average. Applying the 500:1 ratio gives us a yearly profit of £2,333. McCullough's book also says the PRR averaged dividends of 15% - which, applied to the £2,333 gives us £350. Paying this out every five years means a payout of £1,750. Since most of the money would go to the American owners, I figured to split it £1,000 for USA, £750 for CLM.

############################################
# Panama Railroad Revenue 1860 (USA) by Francis II #
############################################

event = {
id = 304259
random = no
country = USA
trigger = { event = 304243 }
name = "Panama Railroad Revenue"
desc = "The railroad across Panama is profitable for us."
picture = default
date = { day = 1 month = january year = 1860 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1861 }
action_a = {
Name = "Here's to progress!"
command = { type = treasury value = 1000 }
command = { type = trigger which = 396101 }
}
}



############################################
# Panama Railroad Revenue 1865 (USA) by Francis II #
############################################

event = {
id = 304260
random = no
country = USA
trigger = { event = 304243 }
name = "Panama Railroad Revenue"
desc = "The railroad across Panama is profitable for us."
picture = default
date = { day = 1 month = january year = 1865 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1866 }
action_a = {
Name = "Here's to progress!"
command = { type = treasury value = 1000 }
command = { type = trigger which = 396102 }
}
}


##############################################
# Panama Railroad Revenue 1860 (Panama) by Francis II #
##############################################


event = {
id = 396101
random = no
province = 1735
trigger = { event = 304259 }
name = "Panama Railroad Revenue"
desc = "The railroad across Panama is profitable for us."
picture = default
date = { day = 1 month = january year = 1860 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1861 }
action_a = {
Name = "Here's to progress!"
command = { type = treasury value = 750 }
}
}


##############################################
# Panama Railroad Revenue 1865 (Panama) by Francis II #
##############################################


event = {
id = 396102
random = no
province = 1735
trigger = { event = 304260 }
name = "Panama Railroad Revenue"
desc = "The railroad across Panama is profitable for us."
picture = default
date = { day = 1 month = january year = 1865 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1866 }
action_a = {
Name = "Here's to progress!"
command = { type = treasury value = 750 }
}
}

 

[aprof]

Have a copy of the revenue events.

 

[Francis II]

Hi everyone,

Here are some events I've writen for the beginning stage of the Panama Canal - i.e., the initial French investment. Let me know what you think. I'll post them at the other site, too.



###################################
# The Türr Syndicate by Francis II#
###################################

event = {
id = 162223
random = no
country = FRA
trigger = {
exists = CLM
owned = { province = 1735 data = CLM }
}
name = "The Türr Syndicate"
desc = "A group of investors led by Istvan Türr and Ferdinand de Lesseps have formed a corporation to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Many prominent French businessmen and politicians are involved. The plan is for a sea-level canal, similar to the one at Suez. De Lesseps, the famed builder of the Suez Canal, says it will cost 65 million dollars. Should we encourage them?"
picture = panama
date = { day = 14 month = march year = 1878 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1885 }
action_a = {
Name = "Yes, build it for the glory of France!"
command = { type = trigger which = 139029 } #A French Canal Across the Isthmus?
command = { type = prestige value = 10 }
command = { type = relation which = CLM value = 50 }
command = { type = treasury value = -130000 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -20 }
command = { type = relation which = USA value = -20 }
}
action_b = {
Name = "No, it will never work."
command = { type = prestige value = -5 }
command = { type = relation which = USA value = 20 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 20 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 139029 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162224 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162225 }
}
}

############################################
# A French Canal Across the Isthmus? by Francis II#
############################################

event = {
id = 139029
random = no
country = CLM
#triggered by FRA 162223A
name = "A Canal Across the Isthmus?"
desc = "A group of French investors wish to build a canal across the Panamanian Isthmus. They promise a percentage of the revenue. We would grant the company the land, but would retain sovereignty over it. Should we take the deal, which could be profitable, or refuse, because the United States already has rights there?"
picture = panama
action_a = {
Name = "We like the French plan."
command = { type = trigger which = 162224 } #The Colombians Agree
command = { type = relation which = USA value = -50 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -50 }
command = { type = treasury value = 30000 }
command = { type = pop_militancy which = north_andean value = 1 where = }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162225 } #The Colombians Refuse
}
action_b = {
Name = "We honor our previous commitment."
command = { type = relation which = USA value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = FRA value = -75 }
command = { type = pop_militancy which = north_andean value = -1 where = }

command = { type = trigger which = 162225 } #The Colombians Refuse
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162224 } #The Colombians Agree
}
}
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
##############################################
# The Colombians Agree to a French Canal by Francis II #
##############################################

event = {
id = 162224
random = no
country = FRA
#triggered by CLM 139029A

name = "The Colombians Agree "
desc = "The Colombian government agrees to our terms."
picture = panama
action_a = {
Name = "Start digging!"
command = { }
}
}

#############################################
# The Colombians Refuse a French Canal by Francis II #
#############################################

event = {
id = 162225
random = no
country = FRA
#triggered by CLM 139029B

name = "The Colombians Refuse"
desc = "The Colombian government has rejected our terms"
picture = panama
offset = 30
action_a = {
Name = "A disappointing development..."
command = { type = treasury value = 130000 } #Getting their money back
}
}

 

[aprof]

###################################
# The Türr Syndicate by Kyle ‘Francis II’ Sammin #
###################################

event = {
id = 162223
random = no
country = FRA
trigger = {
exists = CLM
owned = { province = 1735 data = CLM }
}
name = "The Türr Syndicate"
desc = "A group of investors led by Istvan Türr and Ferdinand de Lesseps have formed a corporation to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Many prominent French businessmen and politicians are involved. The plan is for a sea-level canal, similar to the one at Suez. De Lesseps, the famed builder of the Suez Canal, says it will cost 65 million dollars. Should we encourage them?"
picture = panama
date = { day = 14 month = march year = 1878 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1885 }
action_a = {
Name = "Yes, build it for the glory of France!"
command = { type = trigger which = 139029 } #A French Canal Across the Isthmus?
command = { type = prestige value = 10 }
command = { type = relation which = CLM value = 50 }
command = { type = treasury value = -130000 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -20 }
command = { type = relation which = USA value = -20 }
}
action_b = {
Name = "No, it will never work."
command = { type = prestige value = -5 }
command = { type = relation which = USA value = 20 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 20 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 139029 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162224 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162225 }
}
}

Should the French get prestige for simply proposing the canal? If the Colombians refuse, they still have 10 cheap prestige. Also, should they lose prestige simply for declining to take an opportunity?

Why should the French pay anything until the Colombians agree? I'd say the first event should simply be a y/n proposition for the French and that CLM's acceptance will trigger later costs and benefits.

I must admit my memory of what I've read about the French effort to build in Panama is hazy, but didn't the French think that the canal would be a lot less costly? Perhaps instead of one up-front cost of £130000, that the French pays £50000 upon Columbian acceptance. Then, using a "setflag" command, have it be possible that followup events ("We Need More Money to Complete the Canal") will call for France to pay additional cash and/or resources. And since the French gave up when the canal became too much, have an action_b of choosing to abandon the canal. Depending on random chance of how many "We Need More Cash" events fire, the French might build the Canal cheaply or maybe it'll cost even more than the £130000!

Also, I'd say that the Suez Canal has to be open before the initial event of this chain fires. IIRC, a prime reason the French sought to build in Panama as a way to recreate the success of the Suez venture. It showed a canal could be done on that scale; it wouldn't have been attempted in Panama without the previous success in Suez.

############################################
# A French Canal Across the Isthmus? by Kyle ‘Francis II’ Sammin #
############################################

event = {
id = 139029
random = no
country = CLM
#triggered by FRA 162223A
name = "A Canal Across the Isthmus?"
desc = "A group of French investors wish to build a canal across the Panamanian Isthmus. They promise a percentage of the revenue. We would grant the company the land, but would retain sovereignty over it. Should we take the deal, which could be profitable, or refuse, because the United States already has rights there?"
picture = panama
action_a = {
Name = "We like the French plan."
command = { type = trigger which = 162224 } #The Colombians Agree
command = { type = relation which = USA value = -50 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -50 }
command = { type = treasury value = 30000 }
command = { type = pop_militancy which = north_andean value = 1 where = }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162225 } #The Colombians Refuse
}
action_b = {
Name = "We honor our previous commitment."
command = { type = relation which = USA value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = FRA value = -75 }
command = { type = pop_militancy which = north_andean value = -1 where = }

command = { type = trigger which = 162225 } #The Colombians Refuse
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162224 } #The Colombians Agree
}
}

I'm also a little hazy on the USA relations with CLM at this time, but I would think that the transit railroad was of little importance in the 1870-80's. The US Transcontinental Railroad meant that traffic to California was no longer relying on going by way of Panama. So did Colombia's deal with France really equate to such a large diplomatic downturn toward the USA and the UK?

##############################################
# The Colombians Agree to a French Canal by Kyle ‘Francis II’ Sammin #
##############################################

event = {
id = 162224
random = no
country = FRA
#triggered by CLM 139029A

name = "The Colombians Agree "
desc = "The Colombian government agrees to our terms."
picture = panama
action_a = {
Name = "Start digging!"
command = { }
}
}

#############################################
# The Colombians Refuse a French Canal by Kyle ‘Francis II’ Sammin #
#############################################

event = {
id = 162225
random = no
country = FRA
#triggered by CLM 139029B

name = "The Colombians Refuse"
desc = "The Colombian government has rejected our terms"
picture = panama
offset = 30
action_a = {
Name = "A disappointing development..."
command = { type = treasury value = 130000 } #Getting their money back
}
}

Have the "Colombia Accepts" event have France spend the (first payment of?) cash, resources (steel, machine_parts, coal, cement, manpower etc.). Then there's no need to return the money if CLM refuses.

We would need an event to open the canal. I'd say use the vanilla version as a model for a FRA event, where FRA gets its prestige boost.

Also, if you like the suggestion of additional payments, drawing more (and more?) cash and resources from France, then these would fire until the "Canal is Completed" event when any unfired ones would be slept.

 

[Francis II]

Should the French get prestige for simply proposing the canal? If the Colombians refuse, they still have 10 cheap prestige. Also, should they lose prestige simply for declining to take an opportunity?

I wrote this event before the big discussion on the other site about reducing prestige in events. If you think it should have less prestige, I don't object.

Why should the French pay anything until the Colombians agree? I'd say the first event should simply be a y/n proposition for the French and that CLM's acceptance will trigger later costs and benefits.

My concern here was that a player would hover the tooltip over the 'a' choice, not see a treasury deduction, and think the event was free. It does, however, warn of costs in the description. So I guess that could be considered fair warning. I can change it to what you suggest.

I must admit my memory of what I've read about the French effort to build in Panama is hazy, but didn't the French think that the canal would be a lot less costly?

Sadly, that is the cost De Lesseps promised, according to McCollough's Path Between the Seas. $65,000,000 at 500:1 equals £130,000. Of course, as you said, the price will go up. I plan to write events for that, specifically when the French discover that a Suez-style sea-level canal will not work (like everyone told them) and the investors have to cough up more money to put in locks.

Then, using a "setflag" command, have it be possible that followup events ("We Need More Money to Complete the Canal") will call for France to pay additional cash and/or resources.

I'm not actually sure how to use a setflag command, but I'll look into it and try to educate myself.

Also, I'd say that the Suez Canal has to be open before the initial event of this chain fires.

Yeah, I thought about this when I was writing the events, but I didn't want to get sidetracked looking into Suez events. If there will be enough time before VIP 0.4 comes out, I'll write some. Or, we could just use the existing one, though I think it could use some work, too.

So did Colombia's deal with France really equate to such a large diplomatic downturn toward the USA and the UK?

Probably not with the UK, that's true. But I think the US would still be peeved, if not for the loss of railroad revenue than for traditional Monore Doctrine concerns. But I'll reduce the UK relations penalty to -5.

Also, if you like the suggestion of additional payments, drawing more (and more?) cash and resources from France, then these would fire until the "Canal is Completed" event when any unfired ones would be slept.

More events are in the works, like what you suggest. I just wanted to put the first few up to get suggestions early-on.

 

[unmerged(13520)]

I'd agree with aprof's suggestions for the most part...something I'd do differently would be to simply make the follow-up events (where France has to give more cash) dependent on another event and not necessarily on the setflag command (ie: the French events would only happen if the event that confirms Colombia's acceptance has already happened). A bit simpler, I'd think, but it would still work.

Along those same lines, regarding the Suez issue, for the moment I'd just add a similar trigger to the first event, that checks if the Suez event has already occured (or that the "Suez flag", if there is one, is on...if you prefer).

As for the money conversion...well, the French did end up in a rather..."not very pretty" economic condition, after all.... There was a large political/financial scandal regarding the canal.

 

[Francis II]

As for the money conversion...well, the French did end up in a rather..."not very pretty" economic condition, after all.... There was a large political/financial scandal regarding the canal.

Indeed there was. I hope these events, and the ones to follow, reflect that. I revised the events a bit to take your critiques into account. Should be better now.

Aprof: I put in a flag thing to check if Suez is open. Could you check and see if I wrote it right? Like I said, I don't completely get the flag thing.

#################
# The Türr Syndicate #
#################

event = {
id = 162223
random = no
country = FRA
trigger = {
exists = CLM
owned = { province = 1735 data = CLM }
flag = { type = SUEZ_CHANNEL value = 1 }
}
name = "The Türr Syndicate"
desc = "A group of investors led by Istvan Türr and Ferdinand de Lesseps have formed a corporation to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Many prominent French businessmen and politicians are involved. The plan is for a sea-level canal, similar to the one at Suez. De Lesseps, the famed builder of the Suez Canal, says it will cost 65 million dollars. Should we encourage them?"
picture = panama
date = { day = 14 month = march year = 1878 }
offset = 30
deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1885 }
action_a = {
Name = "Yes, build it for the glory of France!"
command = { type = trigger which = 139029 } #A French Canal Across the Isthmus?
command = { type = prestige value = 2 }
command = { type = relation which = CLM value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = USA value = -10 }
}
action_b = {
Name = "No, it will never work."
command = { type = prestige value = -2 }
command = { type = relation which = USA value = 10 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 139029 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162224 }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162225 }
}
}

##########################
# A French Canal Across the Isthmus?#
##########################

event = {
id = 139029
random = no
country = CLM
#triggered by FRA 162223A
name = "A Canal Across the Isthmus?"
desc = "A group of French investors wish to build a canal across the Panamanian Isthmus. They promise a percentage of the revenue. We would grant the company the land, but would retain sovereignty over it. Should we take the deal, which could be profitable, or refuse, because the United States already has rights there?"
picture = panama
action_a = {
Name = "We like the French plan."
command = { type = trigger which = 162224 } #The Colombians Agree
command = { type = relation which = USA value = -50 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -50 }
command = { type = treasury value = 30000 }
command = { type = pop_militancy which = north_andean value = 1 where = }
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162225 } #The Colombians Refuse
}
action_b = {
Name = "We honor our previous commitment."
command = { type = relation which = USA value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 50 }
command = { type = relation which = FRA value = -75 }
command = { type = pop_militancy which = north_andean value = -1 where = }

command = { type = trigger which = 162225 } #The Colombians Refuse
command = { type = sleepevent which = 162224 } #The Colombians Agree
}
}
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
##############################
# The Colombians Agree to a French Canal #
##############################

event = {
id = 162224
random = no
country = FRA
#triggered by CLM 139029A

name = "The Colombians Agree "
desc = "The Colombian government agrees to our terms."
picture = panama
action_a = {
Name = "Start digging!"
command = { type = treasury value = -130000 }
}
}

#############################
# The Colombians Refuse a French Canal #
#############################

event = {
id = 162225
random = no
country = FRA
#triggered by CLM 139029B

name = "The Colombians Refuse"
desc = "The Colombian government has rejected our terms"
picture = panama
offset = 30
action_a = {
Name = "A disappointing development..."
command = { }
}
}

 

[aprof]

The trigger should read:

flag = { [color=yellow]name[/color] = SUEZ_CHANNEL value = 1 }

Otherwise it's fine.

 

[Taear]

Are there any plans to make some new flags for the USCA? As it is, they've got the same one for all three governmental types.
Even Scotland has 3 different flag designs, and that isn't even a country in the time that Vicky covers, unless you release it yourself.

And possibly some new events too. Maybe a "Purchase of Belize", and/or even an "Eyes To The North" event where the USCA decides to take some land off of Mexico - maybe to absorb the Yucutan. Just for a little variety. After all, if the Yucutan is willing to ask Texas for help, why wouldn't they ask a now stable, more powerful and closer neighbour for that much needed aid?

 

[aprof]

Are there any plans to make some new flags for the USCA? As it is, they've got the same one for all three governmental types.
Even Scotland has 3 different flag designs, and that isn't even a country in the time that Vicky covers, unless you release it yourself.

Not sure if anyone is working on flags for the USCA. You can post a flag request in the graphics subforum and get some made, I'm sure.

And possibly some new events too. Maybe a "Purchase of Belize", and/or even an "Eyes To The North" event where the USCA decides to take some land off of Mexico - maybe to absorb the Yucutan. Just for a little variety. After all, if the Yucutan is willing to ask Texas for help, why wouldn't they ask a now stable, more powerful and closer neighbour for that much needed aid?

We certainly can take the "Purchase of Belize" event for Guatemala and copy it for the USCA. As for aiding Yucatan, that might be an interesting idea as well. I'll put the "Belize" event down on my to do list for v04, and I'll certainly think on the "Eyes to the North" idea.

Good suggestions Taear. If you have others, please post them.

 

[Quarto]

We certainly can take the "Purchase of Belize" event for Guatemala and copy it for the USCA. As for aiding Yucatan, that might be an interesting idea as well. I'll put the "Belize" event down on my to do list for v04, and I'll certainly think on the "Eyes to the North" idea.

Ooh, that reminds me. Quite a while ago, after I first played VIP with the UCA, I read up a bit on the UCA's history. I found out some stuff about its relations with Mexico. Before its annexation by Mexico (pre-Vic era), the UCA also included the Chiapas province (which, on the Vic map, would consist of roughly one and a half provinces, unfortunately). After regaining independence, the UCA still held a part of Chiapas, which was then grabbed by Mexico after the UCA collapsed (I don't remember the year, nor the exact details - which in any case were very sketchy; I can only guess that there wasn't a war or anything like that). Then, even later (1880s, I think), Mexico grabbed a part of the Flores province (annoyingly, this would be a portion, but not all of, Vic's Flores province).

Mind you, I'm talking from memory here, so none of that stuff is exactly ready to be turned into events. Anyway, here's roughly what I did with this stuff in my modified version of VIP (which I really should have kept when I uninstalled Vic ):

1. I gave the UCA Chiapas at the start of the campaign, and a claim on the province next to Chiapas (don't remember its name). On a sidenote, I also gave the UCA claims on all of Yucatan, as Yucatan was once a part of the Vice-Royalty of Guatemala (briefly - but if the UCA has claims on Panama, whose association with Guatemala was even briefer...), and of course on Belize.

2. I scripted an event chain for Mexico's land-grab of Chiapas - basically, Mexico had the option of demanding the province, and if it did demand it, the UCA (or Guatemala, if no UCA) could either cede it or threaten Mexico with war (Guatemala would almost always fold, while the UCA would be more willing to fight). If they threatened war, then Mexico had the option of backing down, or... well, war. Then, to prevent Mexico from eating up all of the UCA/Guatemala, there was an event which allowed the UCA/Guatemala to give up Chiapas if the war was going badly enough.

3. I didn't script anything for that second land-grab, but I was planning to have a similar chain for the Flores province.

I'd be interested to hear more details about this stuff from anyone that has a better grasp of Mexican history, BTW. I don't have any books that would talk about Central American history in any detail, and the internet didn't provide anywhere near as much info about this as I would have liked .

 

[Taear]

We certainly can take the "Purchase of Belize" event for Guatemala and copy it for the USCA. As for aiding Yucatan, that might be an interesting idea as well. I'll put the "Belize" event down on my to do list for v04, and I'll certainly think on the "Eyes to the North" idea.

Ahh, that's good to hear. The only problem I envisage in this is that in reality, Belize views itself as a carribean nation, rather than as a central american nation. Concievably, this would result in a few uprisings in the province if it did join the USCA.

An interesting event chain could be some Dictatorial events, in a similar vein to what occurs in South America. I've trawled around for a few people who could, realistically, have attempted to grab leadership in the USCA, finding Francisco Morazán of Honduras (who, in reality, attempted to keep the union together) and José Santos Zelaya of Nicaragua. Zelaya seems like the best candidate for this, as he was a dictator in his own country, eventually ousted by the US.

This could consist of a few uprisings, possibly a civil war event, or maybe an event called "The Empire Of Central America" which allows you to switch flags to the Monarchy flag (assuming one exists at this point, heh), possibly changes your name, and sets up some more imperialistic events. Or, else, you can choose "We Shall Remain Free!" and fight the dictatorial forces. It may be a good idea to have this as the precursor to "Eyes to the North".

Adding in something to encourage the player to take Panama would be nice also. If you're the Empire, a hitler-esque "Unification of the Central American peoples" would seem to make sense here. As the vanilla USCA, I'm not sure exactly how this could be justified. "Purchase Of Panama", possibly. If this occurs, the USCA should DEFINITELY get the option to build the panama canal earlier than normal, if they meet certain criteria - say 300 industrial score? Or, as an alternative, "The French Offer", in which france donates money to you, and shares in the +prestige of building the panama canal.

These are just some random ideas though - all my central american history comes from Wikipedia, so I'm not sure how feasable it is.

 

[Quarto]

Ahh, that's good to hear. The only problem I envisage in this is that in reality, Belize views itself as a carribean nation, rather than as a central american nation. Concievably, this would result in a few uprisings in the province if it did join the USCA.

Not really. Err... I mean, yes, you're right - Belizeans definitely did not view themselves as central americans (totally different cultures, since they were a mix of Africans and British settlers, while Central America was all Spanish and natives). However, given that the population of Belize at this time was in the thousands (IIRC, around 30 thousand), uprisings would be pretty silly.

(I'm sure we'll all agree that the 5-men uprisings that you sometimes see when a small POP rebels in Victoria are annoying and useless )