Europa Universalis: Our World (Alternate Earth: OOC/Open)

[New Sapienta]

Sorry I've been gone so long, got a heavy work load lately. I'll get up to speed.

[Ayreonia]

Brandenburg, when are you going to hold that party of yours? Seems like my leader attending would be the most action I'm getting. Things are too peaceful in Italy.

[The New Lowlands]

NS Name: The New Lowlands
Nation Name: Manden Kurufaba (The Manden Empire)
Capital City: Niani
Government Type: Semi-parliamentary Imperial monarchy.
Head of State: Mansa Sandaki Ibn Gao II
Claimed Territory:(West Africa, yay!)
State/National Religion: Mystical Islam
Dominant Religion: Mystical Islam
Minority Religion(s): "African Traditional," (Paganism) Shi'a Islam.
Population: 9.7 million
Population Growth Rate: .4%
Military Organization: A system of provincial (and in the case of the river clans, tribal levies) that is best simplified as Conscription.
Military Size: In peacetime, roughly 100,000 freemen infantry, 40,000 archers, and 10,000 cavalrymen, which can be deployed rapidly throughout the kingdom with the assistance of the river clans.
Fleet Size: Fifty ships make up the seabound navy; the vast majority of naval assets are focused on river transport rather than sea transportation and warfare.

National Focus: Tradewinds, Hammer and Sickle
National Idea(s): Printing Press
Trade Policy: Free Trade.
Civil Freedoms: Free Subjects.
Primary Import(s): Slaves, Literature, Spices.
Primary Export(s): Gold, Salt, Exotics (including animals)
Primary Culture: Mandé
Accepted Cultures: Tuareg, Senegambian.

Brief Description of your nation's History: West Africa has played host to great empires in the past; the Manden Kurufaba is the greatest and most recent of these attempts at civilization. Stretching along the rivers Niger, the Kurufuba was a nation born from the Manden Kingdom, formerly vassals of the Ghana Empire; when great Ghana fell, the numerous Manden people remained a united nation. Spreading along the Niger river, west into Senegambia, east into Songhai lands, subjugating the Mossi and spreading their culture far and wide. Contact with the north brought Islam into Manden lands; an odd version of the religion was soon accepted by the Kurufaba, and the Manden Mansas used it to their advantage, spreading Islam into newly-conquered territories, waging Jihad against heretic kingdoms that dared to oppose them.
For decades, the Manden Kurufaba remained at peace, a quiet, Islamic, scholarly Empire. Under the Mansa Sandaki Musa III, great universities were built, copies of great books imported; a fleet of proper warships was constructed and began to operate off of Manden shores. Sandaki Ibn Askia spread Manden Islam to the south, and thus the Kurufaba began it's slow, inexorable expanse through West Africa, interrupted only occasionally by bout of warfare with tiny rival kingdoms. It was in this fashion that lands south of the great Niger River began to bow to Manden rule.
Later, under Mansa Ibn Gao the first, the Provinces were reorganized to have a more centralized structure of rule; the Gbara was reformed to take advisors from all corners of the nation. The Manden nation has stayed quietly prosperous until the turn of this century, and the new Mansa Sandaki, Ibn Gao II, has great plans for his people.

Brief Description of your nation's economy: The economy of the Manden Kurufaba is mostly internal; the vast provinces covered by the Empire trade amongst each other. However, the Hajj pilgrimage made by the Mansa Sandaki from time to time have established trade links to the North, and via the great rivers, to the East. Most of the Manden economy is focused on agriculture, as with almost every country in the world; precious minerals and exotic items account for the Kurufaba's external trade. Gold and salt are used to pay for slaves, both within the provinces and from other nations; the great universities of the Manden Kurufaba demand literature from faraway nations, and spices from the East remain a prized possession.
Brief Description of your nation's government: The nation is organised into many provinces based on ancient tribal affiliations, for example, the province of Gao (with a capital of the same name) in the East. Provinces are placed under the administration of freemen appointed by the Mansa, under the advice and with the assistance of the Gbara. These administrators are required to ensure free trade and the payment of taxes, keep crime utterly in check, and raise provincial armies at the Mansa's request, their loyalty assured by the personal, professional soldiers of the Mansa, who are intended to keep the administrators safe and loyal, or to stab them in the heart at signs of treachery.
Brief Description of your nation's populace:

RP Example: Puppet account.

[Ayreonia]

NS Name: The New Lowlands
Nation Name: Manden Kurufaba (The Manden Empire)
Capital City: Niani
Government Type: Semi-parliamentary Imperial monarchy.
Head of State: Mansa Sandaki Ibn Gao II
Claimed Territory:(West Africa, yay!)
State/National Religion: Mystical Islam
Dominant Religion: Mystical Islam
Minority Religion(s): "African Traditional," (Paganism) Shi'a Islam.
Population: To be determined. According to this, the region at the peak of the Mali Empire held about 40-50 million people, which I'm not sure about. (Figure shown under the 'Kingdoms' heading.)
Population Growth Rate: .4%
Military Organization: A system of provincial (and in the case of the river clans, tribal levies) that is best simplified as Conscription.
Military Size: In peacetime, roughly 100,000 freemen infantry, 40,000 archers, and 10,000 cavalrymen, which can be deployed rapidly throughout the kingdom with the assistance of the river clans.
Fleet Size: Fifty ships make up the seabound navy; the vast majority of naval assets are focused on river transport rather than sea transportation and warfare.

(Image)

National Focus: Tradewinds, Hammer and Sickle
National Idea(s): Printing Press
Trade Policy: Free Trade.
Civil Freedoms: Free Subjects.
Primary Import(s): Slaves, Literature, Spices.
Primary Export(s): Gold, Salt, Exotics (including animals)
Primary Culture: Mandé
Accepted Cultures: Tuareg, Senegambian.

Brief Description of your nation's History: West Africa has played host to great empires in the past; the Manden Kurufaba is the greatest and most recent of these attempts at civilization. Stretching along the rivers Niger, the Kurufuba was a nation born from the Manden Kingdom, formerly vassals of the Ghana Empire; when great Ghana fell, the numerous Manden people remained a united nation. Spreading along the Niger river, west into Senegambia, east into Songhai lands, subjugating the Mossi and spreading their culture far and wide. Contact with the north brought Islam into Manden lands; an odd version of the religion was soon accepted by the Kurufaba, and the Manden Mansas used it to their advantage, spreading Islam into newly-conquered territories, waging Jihad against heretic kingdoms that dared to oppose them.
For decades, the Manden Kurufaba remained at peace, a quiet, Islamic, scholarly Empire. Under the Mansa Sandaki Musa III, great universities were built, copies of great books imported; a fleet of proper warships was constructed and began to operate off of Manden shores. Sandaki Ibn Askia spread Manden Islam to the south, and thus the Kurufaba began it's slow, inexorable expanse through West Africa, interrupted only occasionally by bout of warfare with tiny rival kingdoms. It was in this fashion that lands south of the great Niger River began to bow to Manden rule.
Later, under Mansa Ibn Gao the first, the Provinces were reorganized to have a more centralized structure of rule; the Gbara was reformed to take advisors from all corners of the nation. The Manden nation has stayed quietly prosperous until the turn of this century, and the new Mansa Sandaki, Ibn Gao II, has great plans for his people.

Brief Description of your nation's economy: The economy of the Manden Kurufaba is mostly internal; the vast provinces covered by the Empire trade amongst each other. However, the Hajj pilgrimage made by the Mansa Sandaki from time to time have established trade links to the North, and via the great rivers, to the East. Most of the Manden economy is focused on agriculture, as with almost every country in the world; precious minerals and exotic items account for the Kurufaba's external trade. Gold and salt are used to pay for slaves, both within the provinces and from other nations; the great universities of the Manden Kurufaba demand literature from faraway nations, and spices from the East remain a prized possession.
Brief Description of your nation's government: The nation is organised into many provinces based on ancient tribal affiliations, for example, the province of Gao (with a capital of the same name) in the East. Provinces are placed under the administration of freemen appointed by the Mansa, under the advice and with the assistance of the Gbara. These administrators are required to ensure free trade and the payment of taxes, keep crime utterly in check, and raise provincial armies at the Mansa's request, their loyalty assured by the personal, professional soldiers of the Mansa, who are intended to keep the administrators safe and loyal, or to stab them in the heart at signs of treachery.
Brief Description of your nation's populace:

RP Example: Puppet account.

Your government is awfully advanced for the time period. Note that we have turned down constitutional or absolute monarchies for being too much ahead of time.

Also, is it levies or conscription now? The two differ quite a bit.

[The New Lowlands]

Your government is awfully advanced for the time period. Note that we have turned down constitutional or absolute monarchies for being too much ahead of time.

Also, is it levies or conscription now? The two differ quite a bit.

You have a point. Should I change the Gbara to their historical advisory role?
As for the second, I'm putting it down as "practically conscription."

[Jamzmania]

Your government is awfully advanced for the time period. Note that we have turned down constitutional or absolute monarchies for being too much ahead of time.

Also, is it levies or conscription now? The two differ quite a bit.

You have a point. Should I change the Gbara to their historical advisory role?
As for the second, I'm putting it down as "practically conscription."

I believe one of the existing nations has some sort of invisible "vassal nation" where you are. And there was that other person that signed up as an African nation in that area.

There are still unclaimed European lands (NPCs), mostly in northern Europe. Although the map hasn't been updated in a while so I would suggest asking which NPCs are actually NPCs beforehand.

[The New Lowlands]

You have a point. Should I change the Gbara to their historical advisory role?
As for the second, I'm putting it down as "practically conscription."

I believe one of the existing nations has some sort of invisible "vassal nation" where you are. And there was that other person that signed up as an African nation in that area.

There are still unclaimed European lands (NPCs), mostly in northern Europe. Although the map hasn't been updated in a while so I would suggest asking which NPCs are actually NPCs beforehand.

What, pray tell, does the vassal nation do?
I'll look into it, though.

[Jamzmania]

I believe one of the existing nations has some sort of invisible "vassal nation" where you are. And there was that other person that signed up as an African nation in that area.

There are still unclaimed European lands (NPCs), mostly in northern Europe. Although the map hasn't been updated in a while so I would suggest asking which NPCs are actually NPCs beforehand.

What, pray tell, does the vassal nation do?
I'll look into it, though.

I have no idea. The guy will probably post something about it soon.

[Parhe]

No thanks. That was the best argument I could find. Also you must know other nations were forced to lower their populations as compared to RL so as to keepnnations from being overpowered comparercto neighbors. Also there are negative aspects of having such high populations.
Anyway I am not sure if we are expanding southward yet or Tim's stance on the vassal, which I personally I dislike, since he did not put it on the map.

[The New Lowlands]

No thanks. That was the best argument I could find. Also you must know other nations were forced to lower their populations as compared to RL so as to keepnnations from being overpowered comparercto neighbors. Also there are negative aspects of having such high populations.
Anyway I am not sure if we are expanding southward yet or Tim's stance on the vassal, which I personally I dislike, since he did not put it on the map.

Good, something more accurate. I was questioning the figure, after all.

[Parhe]

No thanks. That was the best argument I could find. Also you must know other nations were forced to lower their populations as compared to RL so as to keepnnations from being overpowered comparercto neighbors. Also there are negative aspects of having such high populations.
Anyway I am not sure if we are expanding southward yet or Tim's stance on the vassal, which I personally I dislike, since he did not put it on the map.

Good, something more accurate. I was questioning the figure, after all.

How about a population of about eight to ten million to make it more comparable. Arumdaum, with more solid numbers, had to half his population for reasons.

[The New Lowlands]

Scrap the Malian idea, someone's already done it better.

[Parhe]

Scrap the Malian idea, someone's already done it better.

He never ceded to demands over population and this.

[Parhe]

You still have a population based off uncertain numbers than Persia does with higher, more stable numbers. Persia only has a population of about 12 or 13 million.

[The New Lowlands]

You still have a population based off uncertain numbers than Persia does with higher, more stable numbers. Persia only has a population of about 12 or 13 million.

9.7 million, then?

[Parhe]

You still have a population based off uncertain numbers than Persia does with higher, more stable numbers. Persia only has a population of about 12 or 13 million.

9.7 million, then?

Yeah sounds great. I telegramed Tim earlier to show your app.

[Mondrova]

I believe one of the existing nations has some sort of invisible "vassal nation" where you are. And there was that other person that signed up as an African nation in that area.

There are still unclaimed European lands (NPCs), mostly in northern Europe. Although the map hasn't been updated in a while so I would suggest asking which NPCs are actually NPCs beforehand.

What, pray tell, does the vassal nation do?
I'll look into it, though.

The vassal nation is just what it sounds like, a nation that is subordinate to the Caliphate, though one could describe it as a tributary more accurately I suppose, however, they do pledge military support if needed, however, so I don't have "free" African soldiers I had never intending on taking them to war other than protecting the southern region of the Caliphate. They were formed through a mutual relationship in the south that begin with the first Caliph of Tangiers, originally ruler of Cordoba, attacking the Almoravid which was also fighting the Empire of Ghana, leading to a mutual alliance of sorts. This would lead to better relations amongst the African states in the area and one state, my vassal, eventually falling under the influence of the Caliphate for protection from its neighbors and the trade of the north.

[Heirosoloa]

Brandenburg, when are you going to hold that party of yours? Seems like my leader attending would be the most action I'm getting. Things are too peaceful in Italy.

Wat?

I am not throwing any parties.
I mean, there's a beat-up-Poland party, but that's about it.

[Kowloon-California]

I was perfectly willing to scale down the population but I never received a proper estimate for what the national population should've been reduced to. That being said I think its perfectly all right for you to go ahead and take that area in West Africa now. I missed that post about pending applications in the speed the OOC runs at so it would be unfair for me to still have a claim on it. Since it would appear that the applications process is much more responsive now I think I'm going to formulate a new one.

[Ayreonia]

Brandenburg, when are you going to hold that party of yours? Seems like my leader attending would be the most action I'm getting. Things are too peaceful in Italy.

Wat?

I am not throwing any parties.
I mean, there's a beat-up-Poland party, but that's about it.

Shit.

I meant Burgundy.

Damn B-nations always getting the better of me.

[The New Lowlands]

What, pray tell, does the vassal nation do?
I'll look into it, though.

The vassal nation is just what it sounds like, a nation that is subordinate to the Caliphate, though one could describe it as a tributary more accurately I suppose, however, they do pledge military support if needed, however, so I don't have "free" African soldiers I had never intending on taking them to war other than protecting the southern region of the Caliphate. They were formed through a mutual relationship in the south that begin with the first Caliph of Tangiers, originally ruler of Cordoba, attacking the Almoravid which was also fighting the Empire of Ghana, leading to a mutual alliance of sorts. This would lead to better relations amongst the African states in the area and one state, my vassal, eventually falling under the influence of the Caliphate for protection from its neighbors and the trade of the north.

Uh, well, I don't mean to be rude, but I don't really want to compromise the territorial integrity of the Kurufaba; could we work something out where it is maintained as a Manden territory?

[Mondrova]

The vassal nation is just what it sounds like, a nation that is subordinate to the Caliphate, though one could describe it as a tributary more accurately I suppose, however, they do pledge military support if needed, however, so I don't have "free" African soldiers I had never intending on taking them to war other than protecting the southern region of the Caliphate. They were formed through a mutual relationship in the south that begin with the first Caliph of Tangiers, originally ruler of Cordoba, attacking the Almoravid which was also fighting the Empire of Ghana, leading to a mutual alliance of sorts. This would lead to better relations amongst the African states in the area and one state, my vassal, eventually falling under the influence of the Caliphate for protection from its neighbors and the trade of the north.

Uh, well, I don't mean to be rude, but I don't really want to compromise the territorial integrity of the Kurufaba; could we work something out where it is maintained as a Manden territory?

I'd rather not, my vassal is useful to my nation for resources and defensive purposes, and I had intended on using for something later on, as the RP progressed. You could say you have some claim to the land, or just want or something, but it would remain its own nation, a vassal to my own.

[Parhe]

I do nit understand how we are allowed to make NPC vassales that just make our own more piwerful.

[Mondrova]

I do nit understand how we are allowed to make NPC vassales that just make our own more piwerful.

Rather simply. You simply show you are making a vassal nation in your claimed territory and mention it in your history. Should you be accepted, then it is fine, if not, then change it, if that was indeed the reason for rejection.

[Transoxthraxia]

Alright, I've been toying with this idea for awhile now, would anyone prefer me to sign up as a Christian Ghana?