1870 : Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC][Discussion]

[Sanabel]

It would be weird strategically, since Palanga would be the only port connecting Lithuania and Poland with the Baltic(and subsequently the rest of the nation).

In wartime a tiny offensive by an enemy power by land or sea could divide the nation in two, putting you in a precarious spot.

That's as the claims lie now, though.

Keep in mind no claims are final atm.

Yep.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Keep in mind no claims are final atm.

Yep.

Soon

[Sanabel]

Yep.

Soon

What are you claiming?

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Soon

What are you claiming?

Reprising glorious Persia, so...

Iran, Afghanistan, a tiny bit of the Caucasus....mostly what I claimed before. I might try to snatch up Turkmenistan as an Ossetic homeland, returning the Scythians to the steppe and all that

[Atreidya]

So for my al-Sulaimani Caliphate I was thinking, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan east of the Nile.

Would this be okay?

[Elerian]

So for my al-Sulaimani Caliphate I was thinking, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan east of the Nile.

Would this be okay?

Sounds good to me.

[Atreidya]

So for my al-Sulaimani Caliphate I was thinking, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan east of the Nile.

Would this be okay?

Sounds good to me.

Wonderful!

[Oscalantine]

Sounds good to me.

Wonderful!

Second El's opinion as another member of the board ^^

It would be VERY interesting to have an Islamic nation, as this RP really lacked that particular tidbit for awhile.

That said, you ARE basing yourself from Ethiopia, right? As in your capital? Technicality matters because if you are from anywhere more west, that would be Heart of Africa and you would be imperialism target for the rest of the developed world. If you are from Ethiopia, you shouldn't be. It is a weird rule that we set up in the beginning of the AD's lifespan, and I am planning on respecting it, that's why ^^;;;

[Zostra]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

[Sanabel]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

democracy is good.

You could join New England and Novgorod as a bastion of political freedom...

[Imperial Idaho]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

democracy is good.

You could join New England and Novgorod as a bastion of political freedom...

What about a hardline republic where you have to vote in a land where transport to the capital where voting is done is difficult and long.

[Atreidya]

Wonderful!

Second El's opinion as another member of the board ^^

It would be VERY interesting to have an Islamic nation, as this RP really lacked that particular tidbit for awhile.

That said, you ARE basing yourself from Ethiopia, right? As in your capital? Technicality matters because if you are from anywhere more west, that would be Heart of Africa and you would be imperialism target for the rest of the developed world. If you are from Ethiopia, you shouldn't be. It is a weird rule that we set up in the beginning of the AD's lifespan, and I am planning on respecting it, that's why ^^;;;

Yes I planned on making my capital Addis Ababa. I have no reason to expand into africa's interior until everyone can, I also realize I could be a prime target for someone to try and colonize but I feel confident I can hold them off.

[Tracian Empire]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

democracy is good.

You could join New England and Novgorod as a bastion of political freedom...

The Imperium is.. all in one, really. It is an absolute monarchy, but with a strong republican aspect, and even some oligarchic elements. Roman citizens however, enjoy much more freedoms than many other people in the world.

[Zostra]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

democracy is good.

You could join New England and Novgorod as a bastion of political freedom...

Yeah, trying to bring democracy to China could be pretty fun. I envision something similar to Turkey where a strongman dragged the country into modernity before transitioning to multi-party democracy a decade or so before the RP starts.

[Togeria]

Sup

[Oscalantine]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

This is going to be VERY fun. Main rationale is that your northern neighbor Korea is going to be SUPER imperialistic and will be very much a military pressure from North that you will need to maintain a friendly relationship with. Japan is to a lesser degree, but will be directly competing with you over colonies in Southeast Asia and beyond. It would certainly be interesting for all three nations trying to hot-potato this political mess between ourselves XDDD

[Oscalantine]

Second El's opinion as another member of the board ^^

It would be VERY interesting to have an Islamic nation, as this RP really lacked that particular tidbit for awhile.

That said, you ARE basing yourself from Ethiopia, right? As in your capital? Technicality matters because if you are from anywhere more west, that would be Heart of Africa and you would be imperialism target for the rest of the developed world. If you are from Ethiopia, you shouldn't be. It is a weird rule that we set up in the beginning of the AD's lifespan, and I am planning on respecting it, that's why ^^;;;

Yes I planned on making my capital Addis Ababa. I have no reason to expand into africa's interior until everyone can, I also realize I could be a prime target for someone to try and colonize but I feel confident I can hold them off.

The coastlines of Swahili... if it isn't claimed by other nations... should serve as your point of expansion until the event, as COASTLINE of Africa is free-game. But yes, since you indeed are going to be exempt from African region you will be held at the same esteem as everyone else in colonizing. That said, however, I feel like you will have a bit of an advantage... which I think I will try to figure out a lore-friendly way to do so. After all... your nation should have seen more of the geography of Africa at least to SOME degree (as long as your people have backyards and decide to peer into the horizon every once in a while), so it makes sense that you will gain some advantage that you can bargain with European and Oriental powers.

[Old Tyrannia]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

A republic wouldn't make much sense seeing as the East Asian nations modernised independently of the Europeans and would have no reason to adopt European political theories. South China would probably be some kind of Confucian monarchy, although it could have developed into a democracy.

[Tracian Empire]

If we're in 1870, could Rome have railways?

[The V O I D]

If we're in 1870, could Rome have railways?

Italia, too?

[The New Byzantine II]

Hey, are there unclaimed lands in Europe nor Asia?

[Tracian Empire]

If we're in 1870, could Rome have railways?

Italia, too?

Well, in the past threads, when we started in 1850, Rome had no railways. But by the time the last thread ended, so 1870, the Imperium already had railways and there were plans to connect Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria with a big railway.

[Tracian Empire]

Hey, are there unclaimed lands in Europe nor Asia?

France, maybe? As for Asia, I'm not sure.

[Oscalantine]

Trying to decide which direction to take southern China. Possibilities include a (somewhat) functioning liberal democracy, an authoritarian modernising republic akin to the Kuomintang, or a constitutional monarchy split between aristocrats and popular movements.

A republic wouldn't make much sense seeing as the East Asian nations modernised independently of the Europeans and would have no reason to adopt European political theories. South China would probably be some kind of Confucian monarchy, although it could have developed into a democracy.

Hmm... putting it that way, it DOES make sense. Considering that this new China is spiritual successor of Song Dynasty, it would fall to similar values of having an Emperor served by bureaucrats of scholar-gentry. Meanwhile, the concept of "democracy" and "republic" is something of European invention, sown back into European politics via Napoleon. I completely forgot about this particular tidbit XDDD.

I was trying to make a compromise... but Ty is right. Man, evolution from monarchy to republic would be SUCH a drastic turnover in Asian philosophy. Perhaps a similar revolution as Europe happened in your history? Tired of corruption and war, a commoner takes arms and fights for the rights of the people, stating that Emperor lost the Mandate of Heaven. His policy of including the people (for he was a commoner with little knowledge), he held a sort of "popularity poll" among his troops to vote in whoever was the brightest and best represented of his aids. These chosen aids created the inner circle of political decision and assisted the Leader with his efforts to overthrow the crown. The revolution eventually succeeds, but just before the Leader is assassinated with no heir to be found. Rather than throwing the country into chaos, the inner circle of aids continue the Leader's dream of China by accepting the will of the people.

Over time, the popularity polls still occur, but only in the capital city, where the denizens receive much more privileged lifestyle. They eventually form into rich central elites that compete for political power, expanding their influence. There still if a figurative Emperor, but in golden statue only, sort of deified as spiritual leader of the people. His words are immortalized into scriptures that serve as a quasi-constitution of the land, and its meanings are interpretative by central circle elected by the popularity poll within the capital city.

... that's the best I got. Edit it, scrap it... whatever you want with it. I was trying to figure out a way for China, of all nations, to have SOME form of democracy and this is the best I could do while maintaining the historical status quo.

[Oscalantine]

If we're in 1870, could Rome have railways?

Italia, too?

This is to both Trace and Void, but... technically speaking, the only ones with true railway would be nation in Germanic region. Rest would indeed have railways, but they would nowhere NEAR be spread and sprawling as you would like.

Railways would exist, for instance, covering Constantinople to Persian Gulf, as there would clearly be a need for them. Similarly, Rome to Venezia to Germanic region would be something logical, as trade is again concerned. However... would you have country-spanning railways networks like Germanic region? I have to say no to that one ^^;;;