A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
-Edmund Burke, in his famous book Reflections on the Failure of the Revolution in France
Map: http://imgur.com/FrRSF1a
IC: Right Here!
The sun rises over the glittering palace of Versailles in 1836. A proud testament to the power and resilience of the Ancien Régime, it serves Louis XVII as it did his brother: as an opulent refuge from the trials and tribulations of governing his nation. As London is a center of industry and commerce, Versailles is a testament to the refined, time-tested, and admired culture of French nobility: the pillars guarding its entrance honoring the Royalist heros of 4 decades past who's heroic actions spelled the end of La Grande Anarchie and the godless Terror of the so-called "National Convention" who'd almost brought ruin to the entirety of France. One only need look at the contrast between the Royal Palace and the slums of Paris; much of which still bares the marks of the destruction and death wrought by the attempted Revolutionaries, to breath a sigh of relief they had not succeeded that day.
In retrospect, it was hard to see how the Republicans could have succeeded in pushing back the October Counter-Revolution (Also known as The Redemption of Paris), when 30,000 Royalist patriots under the command of national hero Richer de Sévigny marched into Paris to answer the call of its rebelling locals, outnumbering the exhausted and demoralized Republicans 6 to 1. Only a military genius, unmatched by any other in the era, would have been able to succeed against such odds, but out of the generals loyal to the Revolution only Jacques-François Menou, a former nobleman himself, was available to command the defenders*. A timid and mediocre commander, Jacques would prove unable to sustain his men's moral in the breech: his men being overwhelmed by the Royalist charge and breaking under pressure, allowing the loyalists to storm the National Convention and slaughter the rebellious leadership in one fell swoop. Without direction , the scattered Traitorious armies could be hunted down piecemeal by foreign armies and one another; skirmishing over political rivalries, the Royalists holding Paris gleefully welcoming back the rightful Sovereign, Louis XVII, upon his (heavily escorted) return from exile. Radicalism had died, and the Old World's firm ideals of Order and Tradition once again vindicated. With the Revolution strangled in its cradle, the specters of a greater European war, driven by the total mobilization of the Levee en Mass were for a time settled, and the Kings, Princes, and Emperors sat easy on their thrones. And, of course, happy to see their French rivals taken down a peg or two by the chaos.
That does not mean, however, Europe has been entirely idle, for even if not entirely successful the embers that lit the Anarchy in France can not be entirely extinguished, and the great nations of Europe play the same games of influence on the world stage as they always have. The growing forces of Industrialization and the wealth it creates are putting increasing pressure on traditional society, threatening to start displacing the power of the landed aristocracy and the homes of the rural peasantry both in England and elsewhere. The Holy Roman Empire, an ancient institution creaking under its own weight, is increasingly becoming a zone of tensions between the different German states, as the powerful try to bend the institution to their will, the weak try to survive with their autonomy intact, and the different powers play their favored factions off one another, just as they do among the minor states of Italy. In Latin America, the independence of Haiti and increasing weakness of Spain seems to sound the death knell for one wave of colonization and raises the question of the morality of slavery... just as the increasing weakness and Opium-addition of China and frailty of the other Asiatic states seems to suggest the opening a new one. Yet, for the time being, the world has remained a mostly safe place for crowns and conservatives... the nobility and land-holding elites retaining power in almost every area that counts: even the American Republic having its own influential, psudo-aristocracy in the "Cotton Lords" of its slave-holding states, who continue to butt heads with the new, industrial forces of her northern states.
*Another General would have been available a few weeks earlier, one Napoleon Bonaparte, but due to his association with the former Robespierre regime, doubts about his loyalties following his refusal to command infantry the Vendee forces in the west and his unpopularity among the current powers that be in the parade of factitious and disorganized Revolutionary government, had conveniently allowed himself to be safely removed from the country by petitioning to be transferred to Constantinople, where he could receive the Artillery commission he desired.
Rules
Rule I: Though shalt not Mod any Gods before me: Self-explanatory. Everything you do has to happen for a explainable reason, and can't be too wacky or out-of-character. An example of breaking the first principle would be having an army of 20,000 teleport to the Americas. And example of the later would be the British throwing the Portuguese; their oldest and most loyal ally, under the bus.
Rule II: Though shalt not be an idle: If you're not going to be reasonably active, please don't sign up. To avoid important nations being held up, reservations will be good for 48 hours: be sure to finish them before that.
Rule III: The shalt not use they language in vain: Please keep content and discussion civil, or at least period appropriate (speaking in positive terms about slavery or acting in shock to an atheist state would thus be acceptable, within limits)
Rule IV: Though shalt remember the Canon and kept it holy IE. The Canon is the law. If an event has already been established to have happened (by a nation reflecting on their own history, for instance) please keep this in mid and do not contradict it, and keep it in mind if need be (A war between the US and Britain in the resent past would make them reluctant to buddy-up, for instance)
Rule V: Honor thigh Limitations You can't do everything at once. Most countries have political, logistic, communication, ect. issues that prevent you from overextending yourself. Technology is also that of 1836 (military tactics are even worse, considering no Napoleonic Wars), so remember to keep that in mind. For example, you want to conquer part of Asia? Fine. But your men only have smoothbore muskets or early rifles and your ships are all powered by sails, and don't think you can keep control of all of China with just 3,000 men.
Rule VI: Do Kill BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD, SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE. Seriously; have some conflicts at some point; just keep in mind Rule VI
Rule VII: Do Commit Adult-ness: Avoid text-speak and generally childish ways of writing; we're all adults here
Rule VIII: Don't Steal too much stuff: Gather some secret intelligence is alright, but you don't know exactly what's happening in the palace of a nation on the other side of Europe; if they're moving troops, making major visible changes, ect. you can act like you know, but if it's written in a way that seems secret, keep it secret.
Rule IV: Nothing clever to say here Covet they neighbors stuff all you want
Rule X: Don't boil a kid in it's mother's milk: If you do, you're kicked out of the RP. A general rule against being too graphic; not too much blood or gore or inserting of tab A into slot B
Extra Rules: POD is October 5th, 1795. All events prior to that year are no-negotiable. Changes afterwards will be acceptable, within the realm of possibility (for example, no Swiss Empire). Indeed, alternative histories are encouraged. Also, please keep in mind changes that would made by the lack of the Napoleonic Wars (For example, Prussia wouldn't control all of the Rhineland without some good reason, and the War of 1812 wouldn't have happened)
However, no stable, modernized, centralized China. This is for the sake of balance, since China basically out populates all of Europe combined.
Remember to follow the principals of diplomacy as best you can. Having solid reasons for your wars, respecting the rights of civilized nations, ect. This is still the age of dynastic politics (albeit its twilight); not the not-yet-born Bismarkian Realpolik.
Nations running countries will be allowed to play a rebel group from the start, assuming it is aligned with/funded by your country. Otherwise, rebel groups will only be accepted once the nation count reaches a critical mass. The exception to this rule is groups seeking independence from colonial rule in the Americas, who can be applied for immediately.
Nation List
The Ottoman Empire: OP/New Granadeseret
Brandenburg-Prussia: Greater Dutch Republic
Denmark-Norway: Stadenwick
Swedish Empire: Ficiscia
Austria/Holy Roman Empire: Valloria
Electorate of Hanover: Xathuecia
Kingdom of Bavaria (And Taiping Rebellion): Kelvinsi
Kingdom of France: Commonwealth States
Two Sicilys: Yurizlansia
Great Britain: Segmentia
Kingdom of Portugal & The Algarves: Gadrana-Eshil
Dutch Republic: Prince-Bishopric of Liege
Tsardom of Russia: Russian people of America
Republic of Ragusa: Sanabel
United States of America (and Republic of Texas): Franco-Iberia
Haitian Empire: Arvenia
The Middle Kingdom/Empire of the Qing: Reatra
Qajar Persia: Plessur
NS Name:
Nation Name: (You are encouraged to include both its formal name and its informal name)
Head of State:
Head of Government:
Head of Diplomacy:
Territory (Vicky II Map type Preferred)
Flag:
Demonym:
Capital:
Currency:
State/Primary Religion:
Government Form:
Ideology: (Political, not economic)
Foreign Policy: (How does your nation see the world? What is its stance or position on issues outside its country? What important relations do they have?)
Domestic Policy: (What sorts of internal issues does your nation face? How are they dealing with them?)
Civil Freedoms /10:
Political Freedoms /10:
Economic Freedoms /10:
Military Size:
-Army:
-Navy:
-Elite Forces:
Military Description: (ie, quality of equipment, doctrine, etc.)
Strengths and Weaknesses: (What is your military good at, and what is it bad at?)
Short Description of Your Nation's Economy:
Short Description of Your Nation's Government:
Short History of the last 40 years:
Population of entire empire:
Rebel Group Application
Organization Name:
Areas of Operation: (Must be actual nation(s)/region(s):
Governmental Information
Group Ideology:
Leader: (If multiple leaders then please list all)
Group Information
Membership Size: (How many members do you have?)
Resources: (Does your group have access to any equipment? Facilities? If so, what kind?)
Militia: (If multiple militia forces, please separate into different groups)
Other information:
Example/OP application
NS Name: New Granadeseret
Nation Name: (Formal)The Most Glorious and Holy Dominions of the House of Osman, informally known as The Ottoman Empire, or Turkey
Head of State: Sultan Mahmud II
Head of Government: Grand Vizier Topal Izzet Mehmed Pasha
Head of Diplomacy: Chief of the Scribes, Koca Mustafa Reşid Paşa
Territory (Vicky II Map type Preferred) http://i.imgur.com/W1ZiGwX.png
Flag: BEHOLD
Demonym: Ottoman
Capital: Qustantiniyye, Known in the west as Constantinople.
Currency: The Ottoman Kuruş
State/Primary Religion: Sunni Islam
Government Form: Semi-Prussian Constitutionalism (Limits on monarchal power are mostly self-imposed by Mahmud and his brother/predecessor Selim III. Weather these will solidify into actual legal code is still in limbo)
Ideology: Islamic Cosmopolitanism, Ottomanism, "Enlightened Despotism"
Foreign Policy: Ottoman foreign policy is dominated by its rivalry with Russia; in the Caucuses, Black Sea, and Danubian Principalities. The humiliation at the hands of Tsarina Catharine in the Russo-Turkish war has not been forgotten, the lose of the Crimean Khanate particularly stinging, and the Sultanate's largest concern is holding off or turning back Russia's southward advance. They also have traditional worries of their long-time rival Austria; both due to centuries of warfare and the Hapsburg's historic rivalry with their French allies. In terms of minor powers, the continued activity of the Knights of St. Johns out of Malta; the last remnant of Crusader freebooters in the Mediterranean , is a growing annoyance following their own attempts to curtail the raiding activity of their own subjects on the Barbary Coast.
For allies, the Ottomans align closely to the France: the 3 century old Franco-Ottoman Alliance being one of the oldest in Europe (Though hardly holding a candle to the Anglo-Portuguese alliance), and the two having fairly prosperous trading relations. They also share somewhat good relations with the British: largely based on commerce, but also in the mutual goal of limiting Russian expansionism, and continue traditionally friendly terms with the Scandinavian countries. Lacks much in the way of formal relationships with the nations of the Americas, and not particularly interested in the current events of Northern Germany.
Domestic Policy: Austrian and Russian agitation in the Balkans is a constant source of concern, as well as the threat of reactionary forces pushing back against attempted modernization: some of the more conservative forces seeing the adoption of Western ways as "Unislamic" and pressing for a return to the old ways, as well as nomadic peoples in the Empire's southern reaches who resist attempts to settle and "civilize" them. For the time being, the Empire is trying to reform its governing system to modernize the Millets and placate activities in the Balkans, while trying to conduct a series of land re-distribution efforts in an attempt to at least get the Bedouin and Kurdish tribal groups in defined "Borders" where they might be more effectively and fairly taxed.
Civil Freedoms 7/10:
Political Freedoms 3/10:
Economic Freedoms 4/10:
Military Size:
-Army: 240,000
-Navy: 50,000
-Elite Forces: 10,000
Military Description: The New Model Army, solidified as the main Ottoman military force following the decisive defeat of the rebelling Janissaries during infamous Day of the Dammed in 1808, is modeled on the European design: stressing co-ordination, drill, and planned movements of infantry lines as the staples of combat. However, due to the importance of massed land-based Artillery during her campaigns against the Mamluk Rebels and restoring order to the outlying Barbary provinces and the strong impacts of the efforts of Napoleon Pasha, Ottoman armies place a heavy emphasis on the power of cannons: acting in concentrated groups to put pressure on a single point in the enemy's line in hopes of achieving an "breakthrough" in a manner similar to what a cavalry charge might do in decades past. Largely equip with flintlock rifles.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Well-equipped and one of the highest quality Artillery corps (Topçu Ocağı) in Europe.
+ Nizam-ı Cedid infantry are drilled and trained in the Western European style, allowing the Ottoman forces to stand toe to toe with their rivals and decimate more primitive foes
+Recent naval construction/fleet replacement means the Ottoman navy is fairly up-to-date
- Cavalry forces, in the modern design by supplemented and heavily influenced by Sipâhi veterans, are obsessed with the charge and lack tactical flexibility
-Use of lots of high-power artillery means Ottoman armies travel heavy, making them slow on the march.
Short Description of Your Nation's Economy: Largely agrarian, with Egyptian and Mesopotamian cotton slowly losing ground to slave-based production in the southern U.S.A, the Empire's population is mostly small farmers and herdsmen. Despite Northern Europe's head-start and a general disadvantage in pre-existing capital, however, the Empire has seen the start of industrialization; largely in Western Anatolia, Thrace, and Lebanon; having a particular advantage in Silk cloth and brass metal works. Orchard crops such as Olives and citrus, as well as bulk grain, are also important exports. She's still hardly one of the manufacturing powers of the world, near the level of of the rest of the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, and attempts to encourage manufactured are slowed by the nobility's heavy investment in agricultural land.
Short Description of Your Nation's Government: In theory, the Sultan is an absolute ruler. In practice, he has several, self-imposed limits, and needs to keep the favor of the bureaucracy and provincial leaders in order for his writ to be exercised. The country is largely run by the bureaucrats, appointed by the Ministers and Viziers who are appointed by the Sultan. In essence, one might call it an Administrative Monarchy
Short History of the last 40 years: TBA
Population of entire empire: 38,000,000
