New Civilizations (2nd Era, OOC, Always Open )

[Orostan]

Perhaps I will start expanding again.

(Image)

I reckon to have at least in paper control over the areas in yellow (except for the area south of Saratov as the Single Market already has it as well as whatever the Commonwealth's allies to the west are). The Volga and its tributaries would thus serve as Vostoslavia's (an alternative name for the A.S.S. that literally means East Slavia since Yugoslavia is South Slavia) highways that links its settlements together.

That’s a big area. How long have you been expanding?

[Europa Undivided]

Perhaps I will start expanding again.

(Image)

I reckon to have at least in paper control over the areas in yellow (except for the area south of Saratov as the Single Market already has it as well as whatever the Commonwealth's allies to the west are). The Volga and its tributaries would thus serve as Vostoslavia's (an alternative name for the A.S.S. that literally means East Slavia since Yugoslavia is South Slavia) highways that links its settlements together.

That’s a big area. How long have you been expanding?

As I said, on paper.

Saying that we control it is different from actually controlling it. The areas that would actually be under Vostoslavia's boot are the settlements on river banks closer to Volgagrad and Moscow, while the others that are farther away into the east would act more as vassals/allies.

I should add that I have the benefit of having a preset highway system that makes it easier to control a larger area.

[Joohan]

Perhaps I will start expanding again.

(Image)

I reckon to have at least in paper control over the areas in yellow (except for the area south of Saratov as the Single Market already has it as well as whatever the Commonwealth's allies to the west are). The Volga and its tributaries would thus serve as Vostoslavia's (an alternative name for the A.S.S. that literally means East Slavia since Yugoslavia is South Slavia) highways that links its settlements together.

As I recall, eight tribes ( 3/4ths ) broke from your confederacy. I don't remeber you re subsuming them, or conquering an area nearly the land size of Alaska in the two years after your event. In fact, haven't you only coerced a single tribe into your union since then?

[Europa Undivided]

Perhaps I will start expanding again.

(Image)

I reckon to have at least in paper control over the areas in yellow (except for the area south of Saratov as the Single Market already has it as well as whatever the Commonwealth's allies to the west are). The Volga and its tributaries would thus serve as Vostoslavia's (an alternative name for the A.S.S. that literally means East Slavia since Yugoslavia is South Slavia) highways that links its settlements together.

As I recall, eight tribes ( 3/4ths ) broke from your confederacy. I don't remeber you re subsuming them, or conquering an area nearly the land size of Alaska in the two years after your event. In fact, haven't you only coerced a single tribe into your union since then?

I took back another three in the five years.

Also, this is a future thing, not a present thing. These are plans for the future.

Also, on paper control.

[Joohan]

Hey G, could you remind me of the details regarding your repeating crossbows? How they are designed, draw weight, bolt head type all that jazz? I'm doing some research for an upcoming post and those are going to be an important point.

[Europa Undivided]

Question, if we did make gunpowder right now (which is made of some of the most common elements around and actually not hard to make AT all), what would be the best things that can be made with it? Primitive bombs, no?

[Joohan]

Question, if we did make gunpowder right now (which is made of some of the most common elements around and actually not hard to make AT all), what would be the best things that can be made with it? Primitive bombs, no?

I and G each have made primitive cannons, and there is a single company in Icedonia that employs muskets.

Yes though, you could make some primitive bombs. I don't you should go that route though. Take a note Orostan. You are currently in an extremely unstable state the moment. As a veritable military overlord, you've subjected numerous peoples across a vast land mass to your domination, and have begun implementing what is no doubt the most authoritarian governmental measure ( your constitution ) ever subjected upon these previously totally free peoples, and subverting their native culture/religion.

You're not really in a state for advanced technological experimentation - you're a state of, at any moment my realm might implode - I actually need to start organizing and laying down the foundations for an actual society.

[Orostan]

Question, if we did make gunpowder right now (which is made of some of the most common elements around and actually not hard to make AT all), what would be the best things that can be made with it? Primitive bombs, no?

I would go for disposable guns. When I get gunpowder I want the first weapons made using it for personal use to be disposable bamboo tubes that each fire one or two projectiles. The idea is that you could carry more than one on your back and use them quickly in the opening stages of a battle before going into melee.

Guns and stuff will have to come later, and I don't plan on inventing smokeless powder. Instead I want to use cordite like the british did which doesn't seem as complicated to me to produce and can give a lot of the same result.

[Europa Undivided]

Question, if we did make gunpowder right now (which is made of some of the most common elements around and actually not hard to make AT all), what would be the best things that can be made with it? Primitive bombs, no?

I and G each have made primitive cannons, and there is a single company in Icedonia that employs muskets.

Yes though, you could make some primitive bombs. I don't you should go that route though. Take a note Orostan. You are currently in an extremely unstable state the moment. As a veritable military overlord, you've subjected numerous peoples across a vast land mass to your domination, and have begun implementing what is no doubt the most authoritarian governmental measure ( your constitution ) ever subjected upon these previously totally free peoples, and subverting their native culture/religion.

You're not really in a state for advanced technological experimentation - you're a state of, at any moment my realm might implode - I actually need to start organizing and laying down the foundations for an actual society.

Yeah, as if it is my Author that has actually done the conquering and forced conversion, right? No. I'm a vizier whispering to an increasingly ailing king's ear, not a military overlord.

[Orostan]

Question, if we did make gunpowder right now (which is made of some of the most common elements around and actually not hard to make AT all), what would be the best things that can be made with it? Primitive bombs, no?

I and G each have made primitive cannons, and there is a single company in Icedonia that employs muskets.

Yes though, you could make some primitive bombs. I don't you should go that route though. Take a note Orostan. You are currently in an extremely unstable state the moment. As a veritable military overlord, you've subjected numerous peoples across a vast land mass to your domination, and have begun implementing what is no doubt the most authoritarian governmental measure ( your constitution ) ever subjected upon these previously totally free peoples, and subverting their native culture/religion.

You're not really in a state for advanced technological experimentation - you're a state of, at any moment my realm might implode - I actually need to start organizing and laying down the foundations for an actual society.

Oh yeah for sure. The only places with a real functioning democracy that understand what they're supposed to be doing are the cities. The rural areas which are going to be urbanized, sometimes by force, don't really know what's going on and think they're in some kind of grain sharing agreement. The reason I've been able to assimilate them without a major revolt in the way I have is because the environment is getting worse. A village lets itself get integrated into the PGC because they understand the PGC has the best weapons and the biggest militia. They get protection, famine relief, and tools in exchange for providing grain to the public stocks in the cities.

When that agreement fails though they don't provide grain and basically riot, as I had in my last post. Next post I want to have an actually somewhat organized revolt take place in between the Yellow And Yangtze rivers where the plains and large river systems have made urbanization faster and easier. I also am going to talk about how some parts of the PGC's territory might be incorporating Aaron in as a mythological figure of sorts or a demon responsible for bad harvests and tyranny. I also want to have villages and towns outside of the PGC cooperate to try and forcibly cross the border to steal grain. They won't get far, but combined with a good deal more violence in general and continuing agricultural difficulties it will not make for the best times if you are a villager or live in a smaller town.

Also the Liangzhu culture is a thing and will be a thing for hundreds more years. I want to either trade with them or regularly fight them. The area they occupy might be essentially ungovernable because of its distance from the PGC and much better food security.

I and G each have made primitive cannons, and there is a single company in Icedonia that employs muskets.

Yes though, you could make some primitive bombs. I don't you should go that route though. Take a note Orostan. You are currently in an extremely unstable state the moment. As a veritable military overlord, you've subjected numerous peoples across a vast land mass to your domination, and have begun implementing what is no doubt the most authoritarian governmental measure ( your constitution ) ever subjected upon these previously totally free peoples, and subverting their native culture/religion.

You're not really in a state for advanced technological experimentation - you're a state of, at any moment my realm might implode - I actually need to start organizing and laying down the foundations for an actual society.

Yeah, as if it is my Author that has actually done the conquering and forced conversion, right? No. I'm a vizier whispering to an increasingly ailing king's ear, not a military overlord.

Then your king will be viewed as a weak leader who can't stop revolts. Your empire is laying claim to more area than it actually controls and everyone would know that.

[Europa Undivided]

OP, I'm playing a vizier that will soon grow tired of the king's weakness.

[Joohan]

I and G each have made primitive cannons, and there is a single company in Icedonia that employs muskets.

Yes though, you could make some primitive bombs. I don't you should go that route though. Take a note Orostan. You are currently in an extremely unstable state the moment. As a veritable military overlord, you've subjected numerous peoples across a vast land mass to your domination, and have begun implementing what is no doubt the most authoritarian governmental measure ( your constitution ) ever subjected upon these previously totally free peoples, and subverting their native culture/religion.

You're not really in a state for advanced technological experimentation - you're a state of, at any moment my realm might implode - I actually need to start organizing and laying down the foundations for an actual society.

Yeah, as if it is my Author that has actually done the conquering and forced conversion, right? No. I'm a vizier whispering to an increasingly ailing king's ear, not a military overlord.

The fact that an ailing king is managing to conquer and expand so much, and that it just so happens that in his wake all the ideas of his advisor are being implemented, is a pretty big tip off.

Rule 4. The people of the year 3,000 B.C., are not stupid - or even that ignorant.

[Orostan]

OP, I'm playing a vizier that will soon grow tired of the king's weakness.

If this is in any way convincing then your vassal states will view your government as weak because of that.

[Alaroma]

OP, I'm playing a vizier that will soon grow tired of the king's weakness.

If this is in any way convincing then your vassal states will view your government as weak because of that.

Yeah, at least Andrew embraces his role as aide and general to the king. Ofc the King is free to do his own shit. And Andrew isn’t exactly contesting for his position.

[Europa Undivided]

OP, I'm playing a vizier that will soon grow tired of the king's weakness.

If this is in any way convincing then your vassal states will view your government as weak because of that.

I don't have any.

[Europa Undivided]

Yeah, as if it is my Author that has actually done the conquering and forced conversion, right? No. I'm a vizier whispering to an increasingly ailing king's ear, not a military overlord.

The fact that an ailing king is managing to conquer and expand so much, and that it just so happens that in his wake all the ideas of his advisor are being implemented, is a pretty big tip off.

Rule 4. The people of the year 3,000 B.C., are not stupid - or even that ignorant.

I didn't say anything about conquering, did I?

If I did, that was retconned.

[Orostan]

If this is in any way convincing then your vassal states will view your government as weak because of that.

I don't have any.

You just said a number of the tribes in your confederacy are more similar to vassals or allies.

[Europa Undivided]

I don't have any.

You just said a number of the tribes in your confederacy are more similar to vassals or allies.

Those are plans for the future... Sheesh. I haven't even expanded yet.

All I have right now is Moscow and the surrounding settlements, plus Volgagrad and its neighbors as well as Venetogrod and Skaleviv. That's about it, along with control of much of the Volga and Oka Rivers.

[Orostan]

You just said a number of the tribes in your confederacy are more similar to vassals or allies.

Those are plans for the future... Sheesh. I haven't even expanded yet.

All I have right now is Moscow and the surrounding settlements, plus Volgagrad and its neighbors as well as Venetogrod and Skaleviv. That's about it, along with control of much of the Volga and Oka Rivers.

Then why are you claiming areas you haven't even been to? The control you describe here makes much more sense to claim and actually administer.

I am going to have a bunch of military governments on my most dangerous borders ran by a commander appointed by the central government to keep out the barbarians. Why don't you do the same, and have an area you properly administer with an area around that controlled by what is basically a vassal king?

[Europa Undivided]

Those are plans for the future... Sheesh. I haven't even expanded yet.

All I have right now is Moscow and the surrounding settlements, plus Volgagrad and its neighbors as well as Venetogrod and Skaleviv. That's about it, along with control of much of the Volga and Oka Rivers.

Then why are you claiming areas you haven't even been to? The control you describe here makes much more sense to claim and actually administer.

I am going to have a bunch of military governments on my most dangerous borders ran by a commander appointed by the central government to keep out the barbarians. Why don't you do the same, and have an area you properly administer with an area around that controlled by what is basically a vassal king?

The claimed areas are what I plan to take in the future. Give or take 50 years.

[Orostan]

Then why are you claiming areas you haven't even been to? The control you describe here makes much more sense to claim and actually administer.

I am going to have a bunch of military governments on my most dangerous borders ran by a commander appointed by the central government to keep out the barbarians. Why don't you do the same, and have an area you properly administer with an area around that controlled by what is basically a vassal king?

The claimed areas are what I plan to take in the future. Give or take 50 years.

Oh, in fifty years.

I've got a much bigger plan for the next five years. I figure that if my state has no powerful opposition between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers it can take over that area by advertising itself first as famine insurance and protection, second as a superior method of governance, and third as something that will continue to raise quality of life.

I also have the best sharp sticks, which doesn't hurt.

[Europa Undivided]

The claimed areas are what I plan to take in the future. Give or take 50 years.

Oh, in fifty years.

I've got a much bigger plan for the next five years. I figure that if my state has no powerful opposition between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers it can take over that area by advertising itself first as famine insurance and protection, second as a superior method of governance, and third as something that will continue to raise quality of life.

I also have the best sharp sticks, which doesn't hurt.

Cool, I've been doing kind of the same for a while now. I've gotten four of the eight separatists back now... with lots of compromise and lengthy discussion.

Best sticks? Steel halberds amiright?

[Orostan]

Oh, in fifty years.

I've got a much bigger plan for the next five years. I figure that if my state has no powerful opposition between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers it can take over that area by advertising itself first as famine insurance and protection, second as a superior method of governance, and third as something that will continue to raise quality of life.

I also have the best sharp sticks, which doesn't hurt.

Cool, I've been doing kind of the same for a while now. I've gotten four of the eight separatists back now... with lots of compromise and lengthy discussion.

Best sticks? Steel halberds amiright?

Iron right now, though I'd like to be producing steel in at least limited quantities in the next five years. Steel is most likely going to be reserved for tools and steam boilers as well as mechanical parts. There's no reason to use steel for more than a few weapons if Iron does a better job than anything else in the area.

[G-Tech Corporation]

Hey G, could you remind me of the details regarding your repeating crossbows? How they are designed, draw weight, bolt head type all that jazz? I'm doing some research for an upcoming post and those are going to be an important point.

Well, there are three different types, first off - though they all follow the same broad principle of a latch-trigger crossbow with reciprocating action. The two heavier variants are multiple-latch, which is the key to the repeating nature. Fundamentally, they operate with an overhand goat-foot lever action, built into the frame, which catches and then moves the bowstring down a series of roll-locks. The crossbowman essentially 'pumps' the lever action to move the bowstring down the roll-locks to the nut-lock, the final stage, where the trigger controls release. The only difference between the variants is the number of roll-locks (and thus the draw weight), and the sturdiness of the composition.

A light cavalryman's crossbow, designed to be used from the saddle or in maritime circumstances, will only have a single roll-lock, the nut-lock itself, and doesn't have a draw-weight greater than what a trained soldier can use - 60-80 lbs, depending on manufacturing tolerances. Crossbows like that will categorically shoot more of a broadhead than a penetrative tip, being designed for use against unarmored or lightly armored targets. Perhaps one shot in two will hit at an angle to cut through padded armor or common mail, but that draw weight has no hope against any sort of neatly forged plate, even iron plate.

Heavier infantry crossbows work on two additional roll-locks, and use heavier bowstrings, bringing their draw weight up into the range of 350-400 lbs. That'll increase the fatigue from firing them, and marginally decrease their speed of use, but the higher draw weight allows them to throw a heavier bolt further and with far more lethal intent. Only decently put together iron plate will have a shot at resisting such an impact, or very well riveted mail, though steel plate and a combination of layered armors will still largely be immune.

The heaviest crossbows used, those we deploy in pavise skirmish formations, run all the way up to 1250 lbs. They use an additional winch alongside the roll-locks to secure the bowstring through the spanning process due to the energies involved, and are thus much slower to fire - probably only two or three bolts per minute - but something with that heavy of construction will go straight through any point of armor save a lucky angle on a thick piece or a direct hit on the thickest part of the breastplate.

[Europa Undivided]

Cool, I've been doing kind of the same for a while now. I've gotten four of the eight separatists back now... with lots of compromise and lengthy discussion.

Best sticks? Steel halberds amiright?

Iron right now, though I'd like to be producing steel in at least limited quantities in the next five years. Steel is most likely going to be reserved for tools and steam boilers as well as mechanical parts. There's no reason to use steel for more than a few weapons if Iron does a better job than anything else in the area.

Alright.

I must post soon, for I have a slaver caravan to destroy.