1850 : Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC][CLOSED]

[Old Tyrannia]

Queens consort are not customarily afforded regnal numbers. Plus none of the names you've used are actual Scandinavian names. And is this version of Sweden-Norway governed by the House of Bernadotte or some other native dynasty?

[Oscalantine]

Well... there's the answer. Plus that region is somewhat in reserve ^^;;;

That, and we are still "closed" and is starting reboot, i cannot say for certain that the app is acceptable.

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Centers of Modernization

The following are rules concerning the level of technology for Alternative Divergence:

• Every nation in the RP has a flat 5-year lag from the cannon year (ex. IC year 1900CE; max level of technology up to 1895CE)
  • A technology is available if there was a working prototype in the Western World by specified year.
  • If a critical flaw existed in the year of working prototype and this was fixed later, the technology will be carrying this flaw until the year it is fixed.
• Every nation can nullify this lag by being a member of Centers of Modernization.
  • There are three Centers: European, Oriental, and Mesoamerican.
• Any nation can be a member of any of these centers as long as they follow a very specific rules described below.
• Any nation can either start off as a member if enough justification is given, or can work towards “westernizing” into being a member of these centers through IC posts.
  • TGing the OPs to get noticed on the "westernization" posts on IC threads is recommended.
• Being a member means following the rules of these cultures in the IC as well as applications.
• Failure to follow the rules of each Centers of Modernization will result in OP board warning you on first offense and dropping the nation's membership on second.
  • Dropped member will retain technologies invented specifically by the nation.
  • Dropped member will have the nation’s technological advances frozen until 5-year lag is met.
  • Dropped member will lose all privileges that being part of specific center gave.
  • Dropped member can reapply to be a member again or join a new center at any time through IC posts followed by TG to one of the OPs.

European Centers of Modernization

In the Alternative Divergence, the Western Europe has been among the first regions in the world to go through systemized urbanization and centralization. As a result, many of their population are densely populated in major urban cities where factories and governing institutions exist. These cities are connected by some of the most intricate network of railways, which at the very least connect major cities to each other. Perhaps due to this connection between cities, most of the major cities in the European culture exist centralized within their mainland, with colonies only serving to provide raw materials and its natives only serving to further their markets.

Further elaborating on the nature of Renaissance, the human rights within Europeans are usually considered to be inalienable. This is contradictory to many of their policies towards colonies, but Europeans are progressive in the areas of universal suffrage and human rights. This certainly does not mean that Europeans only accept democratic states; Europeans will find it strange is a nation’s population does not protest to governments who are unwilling to improve social justice for their citizens.

On the topic of social justice, Europeans have long since accepted that their government is conservative and reactionary in nature. As a result, even if their government has since reformed to be progressive Europeans always have minority political voice speaking vocally against the government. While how each European government deals with the vocal minority varies from acceptable to oppression, Europeans consider these minorities too vocal and too active to simply ignore.

Aside from nullifying 5-year lag in technology, Europeans also enjoy several other advantages:

• Ownership of Non-Eastern, Sub-Saharan Africa: European nation can take lands from non-Europeans in non-Eastern, Sub-Saharan Africa during a war without treaties solidifying this land-grab.
• European’s Burden: Europeans as a norm cannot have open revolts in overseas colonies due to strict military and cultural control.

Oriental Centers of Modernization

The nations in the Oriental culture contribute their industrial revolution to continuation of Song Dynasty’s inquisitive nature. Perhaps as a direct result of being inspired by a Chinese Empire with proud Treasure Fleets, the Orientals are focused more on ports. While railways and other inland transits do exists, Orientals pride themselves of their maritime culture and cannot imagine their culture being without any major trade ports. Furthermore Orientals are extremely proud of their Asian heritage and will not accept anyone that is not part of Asian continent. While Oceania and Siberia is normally treated as being an acceptable distance to be part of “pan-Asia,” Orientals find nations within Middle East and beyond to be too strange to be part of their culture.

While Orientals wholly accept that there can be people above another group of people and that some are more privileged than others, a nation without uncrossable dogma is unacceptable. Every nation must have a core tenants, be it religious or philosophical, that the nation will not violate, and if violated the nation’s leader must be challenged. The only way that the Orientals would accept new dogma would be to prove them with blood and iron: Orientals will never accept another philosophy into their nation unless it has been challenged and came out victorious.

Perhaps due to their resulting “Asian pride” and acceptance of classes, Orientals find comfort in bloodlines. Orientals believe that these bloodlines spiritually define their culture as superior to others and are willing to commit genocide in order to preserve them. Although Orientals see European and Mesoamericans as worthy potential for furthering their bloodline, interracial mix of blood is generally frowned upon. As a result, Orientals are wary of anyone who does not actively counter this mix of inferior bloodline as unworthy of respect.

Aside from nullifying 5-year lag in technology, Orientals also enjoy several other advantages:

• Secrets of Our Ancestors: There were many overtechnologies in Far East and other parts of Asia. Orientals long since had access to these technologies and can use this secret knowledge alongside more common technologies to augment their list of possible technologies.

Mesoamerican Centers of Modernization

Mesoamericans in Alternative Divergence timeline has been hardy individuals who were dedicated to distinguish themselves from Europeans and Orientals despite the overwhelming disadvantage and have managed to achieve such ideals. Such a goal would not have been possible without often times wildly radical decisions that could only come from those learned individuals who have not only the wisdom to know the steps to tread, but actually walk through the path. For Mesoamericans, this came not from some bloodline or miracles, but from people whose literacy was guaranteed and government who selected those based solely on their ability to achieve success. Therefore, Mesoamericans find other cultures that follow rigid, unmovable social structures to be strangers, and they frown upon those who discriminate against another based on superficial traits.

When the Old World came to exploit their father’s lands, Mesoamericans formed a united front against the Old World at any costs. Some outsides will see this as brilliant act of self-preservation by the Mesoamerican governments, but to Mesoamericans this was selfless act of the many to preserve not their own self, but the community that they belonged. Mesoamericans therefore can openly believe in their governments to act in accordance to this ideal: to enact policies that will always put the community and society first. To outsiders, these policies may be branded as Socialism. But to Mesoamericans, it is their people’s wisdom to stand together against all enemies.

When the first explorers from the Old World came at Mesoamericans’ door, it was the swift actions by the government that prevented the spread of the curse of the Old World. While the plague brought by explorers and colonists fell many nations, Mesoamericans were saved by their hygiene and healthcare policies. Mesoamerican cities were long since known for their hygienic systems in place such as sewers and baths long before the coming of Europeans and Orientals. Furthermore healthcare of citizens were long considered a social good that equaled in importance as defense, for a healthy people meant healthy soldiers in both mind and body. Still, no amount of preparation would stop the deadly disease completely and plague left its mark on the Mesoamerican society: no Mesoamerican government would neglect on hygiene and healthcare policies for any reason. Even if navy is left wanting and other political options are more advantageous, nothing has higher priority than these two sectors of government at any times.

Aside from nullifying 5-year lag in technology, Mesoamericans also enjoy several other advantages:

• Solution Makers: Mesoamericans were faced such a drastically treacherous odds early in their interactions with the Old World that they have learned to better adapt into new technologies. Even whilst they are now one of the leading members of international community, their ability to quickly adapt to new technologies have not diminished, allowing them to resolve critical flaws that any technology may have 5 years quicker than canonical date.

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Guidance System
[[OPTIONAL]]

The guidance system is one opportunity that every nation has to completely affect the canonical history of Alternative Divergence IC. Consider it as making a new rule in the RP. As this RP follows the classic “IRL unless said otherwise” rule for canonical history, this application allows everyone a chance to affect what is accepted as IRL history in this RP!

As you can probably expect, the process of doing guidance will be very difficult. Please understand that Guidance system is OPTIONAL and not meant to be treated as power-boost for your nation.. The rules for Guidance is as follows.

• Guidance application can only be submitted by nations that have already been accepted.
• Guidance application can only be submitted by nation who has one or more coauthor who will work with the applicant through this process.
  • In other words, more than two nations must work on a single guidance with one nation acting as the main author.
  • Participating nations MUST be directly affected by the guidance’s immediate effects.
• Submit the guidance application using the code provided below.
  • Guidance cannot be used to provide superlative (i.e. “strongest,” “most technologically advanced,” “greatest”) adjectives to nation or nations.
  • Guidance application must involve all the nations involved in the creation process in the description of the application.
  • Guidance CANNOT be used to replace or nullify rules made by the main OP
  • Guidance CAN be used to nullify or edit other existing guidances.
• Once accepted by OP board, all involved nation MUST EDIT their nation’s app to match the canonical history that will be created by the Guidance. TG the OP board once finished.
• Once the Guidance application is accepted and OP board has approved of the edits made to every participant of this Guidance. It will be posted on the main OP as cannon history that must be respected by everyone.
  • Non-applicant nation does not need to make changes to their app when new Guidance is made.

[Western Pacific Territories]

Hmm, I see. And I was told that we would probably use this same thread when the reboot occured.

[Oscalantine]

[Map 2015.12.25]

Updated~!

Oh and it should be about time that we move to new thread:
[OOC - 1855 AD]

I'll start TGing everyone who was involved. Let's meet in the new thread, ya?

[The Grand Republic of Hedgeland]

Guys! I've almost finished my app! It's taken me more than an hour to get this far, but it's almost finished!

[The Grand Republic of Hedgeland]

OH NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

[The Grand Republic of Hedgeland]

Eh, I might as well finish it.

[The Grand Republic of Hedgeland]

I doubt the map here is carried over to the reboot.

[Turigurania]

I'm out! I don't exist anymore! Sorry I'm not used to this medium, my fault.

[Sabara]

-deleted-

[Cabana]

Are Washington State/California/Oregon/BC claimed?

You might wanna check the date of the post above you.

[Caraani]

Full Nation Name : The Sovereign Territory of Tamankra and its Surroundings - S.T.T.S.
Majority/Official Culture : [[What your people identify themselves with… French, Chinese, Iroquois, Touareg, etc.]] There is no official culture in Tamankra due to it being a hub of mercenaries, pirates, thieves, hooke- I mean working girls, thugs, criminals and traders of all nationalities. However the city-state was once a small thai village. The Thai native population still holds most of the common, non-illegal jobs, albeit most of them know english, korean, german, and any other language that seems to be the lingua franca of the time. The religious, buddhist culture of the Thai is also very much visible in the city, mainly due to the giant statue of the buddhist monk Mạngkr Ngeīyb, the monk that accepted to shelter 2 dutch pirate ships in the 1650s, according to the legend. The statue is on the southern rock facing the northern part of the port, greeting the ships that visit the city-state.
Territorial Core : [[place where you have absolute control over]] Thailand, IRL Phuket Island, called Tamankran Peninsula or the Iron Island. The city was initially founded on the Southern-Eastern coast of the peninsula, where there was, and still is, a sanctuary perfect for ships wanting to escape justice. It has since expanded, first on the main, central beach, then on the southern and northern beaches facing the bay, eventually growing into one of the biggest cities of its time, in the 1750s, populated by mainly indian, chinese, koreans and europeans. In 1758, when a Dutch geographer visited incognito the city, he described the city as: ''At the same time a venice of the east, full of richness, small districts on water in the bay, a big plaza in front of a temple where people gathered to pray, rich merchants protected by mercenaries, and also a vile, wretched hub of villainess and crime, full of pirates and women of demonic libido and arrousing gestures on the streets, in the middle of the day, when policemen drink themselves into an early grave. Such is the fate of people of my natal place aswell, of Amsterdam, dutch men and women who have been corrupted by this city and which come here to hide their money in Tamankran banks, ease their pain in Tamankran delights, and savour their tastes with the finest spices in Asia.'' In 1782 the city was attacked however by the Siamese King for refusing to pay a special, bigger tax then before, and so the city was invaded by the siamese, which besieged it for 5 months and 2 weeks, untill the soldiers, tired from fighting mercenaries in the jungles and starved due to persistent thieves ambushing the supplying wagons, surrendered. Most of them were then killed, their heads sliced, and after the mercenaries drove the rest of the siamese loyalists out of the Tamankran peninsula, the same heads were impaled on spears and left on the beach facing continental Siam. An embargo then ensued for 3 months, barring Siam from trading anything with the europeans, or their neighbours, untill Siam accepted a treaty through which it accepted the Sovereignity of Tamankra's initial territory, the Peninsula, and left surrounding territories in the limbo, for future possible conquest by adding the phrase ' ...- and any territories surrounding Tamankran land shall be considered its possessions.- Since Tamankra is an island nation, and a city-state controlling an island at that, the Siamese have accepted it.
Territorial Claim : [[OPTIONAL]] [[region NOT your core where your nation’s ambition lies]] The Adaman Islands.
Capital City : [[Its IRL location and name]] Tamankra ; Location: Chalong IRL.
Population : 750.000

Government Type : [[Monarchy, Republic, etc.]] De facto - Elective Republic/Kritarchy ; De jure - Constitutional Theocracy.
Government Ideology/Policies : [[OPTIONAL]] [[Militant, Imperialist, Expansionist, etc.]]
Industrialism -

Tamankra has, since its opening to westerners, and in particular western traders and explorers, been very keen on observing and adopting ideas that were considered beneficial from both the east and the west. With the rising of the west, Tamankra is adamant in it's desire to mimic the european powers in their finest hour.

;

Intellectualism -

Albeit one may think that because of Tamankra's portrait, only brutes and sly traders might call it their home, due to the intense contact with the west in the last 100 years, Tamankra was a sanctuary for ideas such as that of republicanism during the french revolution, and has held many philosophers and authors that might otherwise be dead today if they were to stay in Europe. As for the east, Tamankra has been a pilgrimage and a point of interest for many buddhists way before the westerner thinkers came to Tamankra, mainly due to the giant statue built at the port entrance. Today intellectuals are seeked and seek rich merchants to found their enterprises and protect them in the City of Wonders that is our Tamankra.

;

Individualism/Liberalism -

One of Tamankra's pillar founding ideology is that which declares all men and women equal and perfectly capable of pursuing their own desires by themselves, and so free to choose who they love (Tamankra maintained the pre-european cool stance on homosexuality, albeit lesbians are looked down upon as dirty whores (ironicly)), who they work for, and what they spend their money on.

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Utilitarianism -

This one is hard to explain, since it's a cultural, rather then a thing of the government. Utilitarianism is something that is deep inside people's brains, inside how they behave in the city. It can be said that it may be used for explaining why Tamankra lets pirates and thugs in, and whores to work on the street, or it can be said that it raised out of Tamankra's rather narrow initial spaces, or out of the money worship that has been going on lately, or due to Tamankra's main ambition, which is to survive, causing it to leave the beautiful in exchange for the useful. Maybe its all of the previously said reasons, maybe its none of them. It can only be said that its a feeling, its a cultural thing that is not said, nor explained, but observed, tasted, felt, and, ultimately, if you stay long enough, a part of who you are.

Capitalism - ...Really, do I really have to explain it?
Government Focus : The Government of Tamankra, like all governments, have an interest in most if not all sectors. So I will take it one by one, and expose them:
- Military: Tamankra, military wise, is only interested in the protection of the Island, and, if it will have them, any possible future holdings outside the isle. The Island is called the Iron Island for a reason, since it built lots of fortifications and towers on the beaches to protect against invaders and the ports near them, ports used by the small but virtually uncatchable, fast and reliable marine of the city that protect the island from invading forces. There is no fleet outside the coast guards, and no army outside the casual mercenaries that are left to live in the forts and towers and paid in food and shelter for their service, and in case of war with real money. In case of war however, armies, info, possible traitors, and even treaties if things go wrong will be all bought. Tamankra can also relly on its money pay other powers to attack their enemies in case of war.
- Economy: The main focus of any Tamankran Government, the Economy is main maintained and nourished through incentives for local industry that spawn the island, which has been cleared of most if not animals outside those used for food for the people that work for the government. Most farms are owned by the state and produce food for those who work for it, and around the island which has seen it's vegetation shrink since the industrial revolution kicked in there are mostly factories. Foreigners get incentives to build factories on the islands, but if they are not profitable then they are demolished. Tamankra is a free market economy, open to investment and foreign business, aswell as what Tamankra's officials call 'Criminal Tourism', which refers to criminals, thugs, etc.. coming to Tamankra to escape justice, 'tourism' which has shrinked considerable since Tamankra industrialized, having to assure investors that they won't be robbed or their workers won't be killed. Thugs nowadays are hunted by other thugs for disrupting the peace if they harass the industry or the more important momentary intellectual protected by the state. A huge boon to the economy is also the fee for the harbours of the nations, which protect any ship that come to Tamankra. There have been more then a few incidents with both the asians and the europeans regarding ships been taken over by tamankran coast guards for harassing ships that came to Tamankran harbours, and since then both the Khaganate and the Europeans have known to leave the little nation alone. For high profile criminals there are quasi-auctions between the nation or the company that desires the criminal, and the criminal himself and their protector. Whoever pays the most gets the criminal.
- Culture: Most of the thai culture has remained in the city, due to the statue, the many temples and the buddhist mentality that influences most things on the island. However due to Tamankra being an open nation, this has led to a cultural melting pot, where indian, chinese, indochinese, australasian, european, arabian, and even african cultures meet and leave their mark on the city. There are catholic and protestant churches besides mosques, hindu temples beside confucian pagodas, shinto shrines alongside animist ones, and sikh temples near monasteries of the jesuits. Many words have become inter-linguistic, such as the Mersi of the french, used as a thank you when speaking in any language.
Head of State : [[highest-ranking individual in the nation according to rule of law]] The Phuna, The Leader. Head of the local monks, and is elected by them.
Head of Government : [[highest-ranking defacto ruler]] The Consul, first among judges.
Government Description : Tamankra has a very anormal political structure, being led nominally by the leader of the monks, elected by them, and holding said office until death, but factually by the Consul, elected by judges that are chosen by the Phuna based on their capabilities and studies of governmental policies of Tamankra and other nations and of constitution that dates the year 1783, which is however based on older ones, going as far as the founding of the city. The judges as such posess vast knowledge in many areas, and so are considered to be intellectuals. They then elect the Consul, which is considered as the most capable, and is elected every 5 years. A consul can be relected twice, and a member of his family cannot again become consul for the next 100 years.

Majority/State Religion : [[OPTIONAL]] [[It does not have to be IRL religion]] Buddhism is the religion of the majority, though there is no state religion.
Religious Description : [[OPTIONAL]] -

Economic Ideologies : [[Capitalism, Mercantilism, Socialism, Communism, etc.]] Capitalism.
Major Production : FREEDOM! Tamankra is a heavy importer of natural resources, which are then transformed into goods such as furniture, chinaware, ship parts, guns, machine parts, etc...
Economic Description :

Army Strength : 2500 of the best mercenaries act as spies and commando troops around the isle against any possible threats. In case of war strategies to counter the enemy have been stated above.
Army Weakness : They are mercenaries..-Cough- though it is hard to buy them, since it's Tamankran land you are trying to buy them on, and more importantly Tamankran money that can counter any offer.
Naval Strength : 25 small ships that are used to guard the island; 2 destroyers are docked at the entrance of the port and always guarded by men and ships. Said destroyers are ready to show enemy invaders or over the top pirates what Tamankra does to non-believers in our neutrality.
Naval Weakness : Few ships.
Further Military Description : [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals : To exist, to expand into, hopefully, all the other markets, to establish the Adaman islands as a shield against possible future invaders. To expand its economy and to thrive. World peace .
National Issues : [[what needs to be fixed in order for your nation to achieve its true potential]] Other nations should stop fighting and begin to trade and talk more. And to invest. INVEST IN TAMANKRA NOW! BEST PLACE FOR YOUR MONEY, WE HAVE BANKS, WE HAVE MEN, WOMEN, LAND (working on it) AND ALL THAT YOUR HEART DESIRE! COME, VISIT TAMANKRA NOW! Warning: Guaranteed survival in the city not included.
National Figures of Interest : [[OPTIONAL]] Mother Teresa and Moses. Vlad Draculesti, secretary of the foreign observation office ( O.O.F.) is one of the most influential men in town, and acts as the de facto foreign minister of Tamankra. He also has a wide network of spies, his son-in-law being the leader of the Foreign Information Office (O.I.F.).
National Ambition/Aspirations : [[OPTIONAL]] To be the singapore-switzerland of this world. That's right, a mix of the two. Mostly singapore in the economy department, and switzerland in the political one. Maybe establish a third block in case a cold unpleasantry (that's how I like to call war) happens between this world's next superpowers.

History : [[Can be in paragraph or bulletpoint timeline.]] Will be added.

Comparison Points – Political : [[How much national focus is gone into administrating the government, i.e. espionage, royal marriages, counter-intelligence, etc.]] 3
Comparison Points – Cultural/Religious : [[How much national focus is gone into religious and or cultural aspects, i.e. asking for excommunication, call for crusade, soviet revolution in other nations, etc.]] 1
Comparison Points – Economy : [[How much national focus is gone into economic matters, i.e. embargo/blockade efficiency, lasting through war of attrition, simply feeding your people better, etc.]] 4
Comparison Points – Military : [[How much national focus is gone into military, i.e. discipline, morale, better tacticians/generals, etc.]] 2
Total Comparison Points used (10 Points MAX) : 10/10

Found it.