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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 23, 2011 0:03:03 GMT -5
This will be a let's play based on Europa Universalis 3 with Divine Wind 5.1 and Miscmods 0.77, in the Dark Continent scenario. The premise comes from Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt, in which the Black Plague killed 99% of the European population and Muslim states moved in the fill the void. Hopefully this goes a little better than my last LP. It will be heavy on pictures, but the size is negotiable, including making thumbnail links if necessary.
I've chosen Catalunya in northeastern Spain for a very specific reason, but otherwise I'm open to however the wind blows. If there's enough reader participation and people want to see an oppressive despotism that puts the serfs in their place and terrorizes its neighbors, or a liberal mercantile republic with immense personal freedom for the masses, or an absolute monarchy that nevertheless favors the merchant class, I'll see what I can do. If people want to propose a personality for an heir or a monarch, I'll play to that as best I can for as long as the king or queen reigns.
Other things that can benefit from reader participation are long-range goals. Liberate Jerusalem? Unite Christianity under a single flag? Push Islam out of Europe? Guarantee the ascendancy of a specific Islamic state? Colonize the new world (which is fairly hard in this mod)?
But if not that's cool, I'll just do my thing.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 23, 2011 0:04:04 GMT -5
Welcome to Catalunya, land of enchantment, under the enlightened rule of Josep de Luna! Located in the Pyreneese Mountains of northern Iberia, it is a place where everyone is happy. And by happy of course I mean "living in desperate fear of the murderous plague that has scoured human life from the European continent". But the key word there is "living," unlike 99% of the people who populated the land just a few decades ago. With Aragon, which has weathered the storm in its Balearic fortresses off the east coast of Iberia, Catalunya is all that remains of the Christian nations of Castile and Portugal. But with the passing of the plague and the dawning of the 15th century, new settlers have come to fill the void. In the ruins of old France, Muslim scholars and theologians have founded a republic called Faransa, dedicated to becoming a light of tolerance and liberalism in the darkness of death and hopelessness. The tatters of Germanic civilization are taken up by the Al-Alemandi, who seek to pursue trade and merchantry. To their southeast lies Magyaristan, which is a home to disaffected soldiery throughout the Islamic world. Scandinavia's new masters, the Skandistani, are outcasts of the mongol Golden Horde; and finding refuge in the empty center of Christendom, Rome, are groups of pillagers and bandits both Christian and Muslim who desire the treasures of the Vatican. They style themselves the Ruma. Beyond Aragon and Catalunya, of the Christian nations, only Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Crete, Sardinia, and Muscovy remain. It is likely their numbers will dwindle too, as all are far weaker than their Muslim neighbors and some may turn from the faith which God has laid low or be destroyed in war with their Christian brothers. But Christians are not the only ones who can fight amongst themselves. In the near south, Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers, and Tunisia busy themselves stabbing each other for a few years before Morocco emerges the clear victor and all but crushes Algiers. Meanwhile, Magyaristan begins to take shape, expanding its influence over nearby lands. In Catalunya, Josep de Luna proves adept at stressing the opportunities open to the country. As survivors continue to straggle in, he encourages them and spreads word that soon the surrounding lands will be reclaimed in the name of God. He is so persuasive that few object when he says that that God is Yahweh! "Every man will feel the blade. He may choose the rabbi's knife, or the executioner's axe." Despite his proclamation, Christians take refuge in Navarra. Who can say whether they will be turned peaceably to the Jewish faith, or be a thorn in the side of this new Jewish nation? But Catalunya abandoning the faith, and seizing the lands of north Spain, does not escape Aragon's notice, and war is declared! They are far more powerful than we are, but victory here could allow another province to be added to our country and a potential rival to be stamped out.
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Post by Art Vandelay on Jul 24, 2011 6:13:37 GMT -5
You wouldn't be a good Jewish nation if you didn't go the mercantile republic route.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 24, 2011 15:37:59 GMT -5
Yeah, because all they want is their Jew gold, right? Racist. But you form a quorum of one, so mercantile republic it will be! Of course, some idiot, who shall remain nameless but is myself, forgot to actually save the game last time. So instead things look slightly different, because the autosave went back a year. No Bearn, but Barcelona instead. And instead of war with Aragon, a power that is nearly as weak as Catalunya, we get a war with Algiers! And slightly later, Tripoli, their ally. And also a major noble rebellion that is five times as large as the royal army. This war starts out poorly, although two new regiments of horse help strengthen the royal army, which stands ready in Navarra to fight the larger and more technologically advanced Algerian army. Problematically, a border colony siezed from Algiers at the start of the war proves to be a significant drag on the fragile economy, so even pouring every bit of money straight into the treasury, there's still a shortfall. One loan has already had to be taken out. Bankruptcy is looming and the war is only a month old. Even on the defensive, the royal army is no match for the Algerians and their king-general. Catalunya's king, Josep de Luna, at the head of his forces, nevertheless manages to get them away mostly alive and intact to fight another day. In the east, Girona falls to the rebels. A week later, a small Algerian force is annihilated by the royal army. When the Algerians engage the rebels, Josep leaves his infantry to continue reducing Almeria while he takes 2000 horse to hopefully intercept a shattered and defeated Algerian army. Perhaps peace can come of this after all! Perhaps not. Catalunya will never surrender! In retribution for the Algerian outrage, a Tripolitanian force is beaten, then run down and destroyed. Unfortunately, it is not enough to keep Catalunya's weakness hidden from the eyes of jealous neighbors. The nation of Aragon declares war, claiming that we hold territory rightfully hers! For the time being, Aragonese troops are nowhere to be found. What could they be planning? At last, in the province of Aragon, the Algerian army is decisively defeated. After five years, the tattered, demoralized remains of their grand army, five regiments, is completely destroyed. It seems to have done little to dent Algerian pride, however, and peace is nevertheless made with Catalunya as the supplicant. The new war with Aragon, and the imminent arrival of fresh Algerian troops, has forced this. Some day revenge will be had! Aragonese forces landed at Navarra! With the royal army free to focus on them, a victory of sorts emerges for Catalunya. If the enemy can be forced onto the swords of the rebels... but instead Aragon proves willing to sign a white peace. The only enemy left are the rebels. Their demands are of course unreasonable, and we would never think of oh god they're in the royal palace. (also visible: Judaism is remarkably tolerant.) The only benefit to this is that their army of five regiments swears loyalty to Josep de Luna. They are quickly disbanded. What sort of madman would support an army of 8000 men? Sadly, this defeat has reshaped our country's policies somewhat. The nobility holds a great deal more power, and the rights of the peasantry suffer as a result. Josep, now nearly 25 years into his reign, is consumed with rage and shame, but immediately begins to maneuver to bring the aristocrats to heel. Perhaps young Nicolau can finish the work he begins? Over the next three years, Josep begins to form connections with the few wealthy families not in the aristocracy, and merchant guilds receive royal attention. His patronage does not go unrewarded: the economy grows dramatically, and wealth begins to concentrate somewhere other than noble hands. With the flickering beginnings of a merchant class, a counterweight to the nobility emerges, and improves the handling of money in the realm. This is a very welcome development indeed, as inflation had started to spiral out of control during the war. From far to the east, merchants also bring interesting news: another state, small and weak, has seen the light. Perhaps some day Jewish nations will dominate. But for now Catalunya and Georgia are far too distant to affect each other. Josep de Luna is nevertheless given a smile. Nicolau de Luna rises to the throne with his father's death, committed to continue his father's policies of favoring merchants and crushing the nobility. One of his first acts is to postulate long-term border goals for Catalunya.
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Post by Art Vandelay on Jul 24, 2011 20:31:41 GMT -5
Yeah, because all they want is their Jew gold, right? Well yeah. It's a scientific fact.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 24, 2011 22:55:54 GMT -5
Please, it's "Jewintific".
Lest I be accused of pro-Semitism.
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Post by Mira on Jul 25, 2011 1:57:55 GMT -5
Woo, I love EU3.
I want to see a Jewish Vatican. And a Jew pope.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 26, 2011 23:42:26 GMT -5
Sadly, the Vatican and the Pope are pretty much non-factors despite poor Josep de Luna spending several years excommunicated by Aragon. But I will put Jewish Rome on the list if you want! Also this:
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Post by Jebediah on Jul 27, 2011 16:09:22 GMT -5
Man, you never finished your last Let's Play thread. And now you're cheating on it with this one. For shame.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 27, 2011 22:20:13 GMT -5
You really loved that Let's Play. If the Democrats ever get their act together, maybe you can marry it.
It's been two years!
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Post by Art Vandelay on Jul 28, 2011 21:04:10 GMT -5
Well you did kinda leave us hanging right before the best bit.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 29, 2011 0:27:15 GMT -5
To be honest, I don't remember where it got left off.
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Post by Art Vandelay on Jul 29, 2011 0:37:53 GMT -5
I think you'd just annexed China and were at war with Russia, and war with the allies was imminent.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 29, 2011 1:11:54 GMT -5
1432 starts off badly with a report about those damn nobles allying themselves to Morocco. If they hate Catalunya so much, maybe they should have just died in the plague. Needless to say, war against Morocco is out of the question at the moment. For that matter, Morocco is probably among the most powerful countries in the world. We aren't that far behind in income, but the economy is quite fragile, our armies technologically and numerically inferior to the Moroccans. Also, the terrain of our core territories - mountains, mostly - are highly unfavorable for hunting down enemy armies. Mountains give incredible defender bonuses. img851.imageshack.us/img851/7366/0038newking.png[/img]In happier news, Nicolau spawns a replacement. Just in case, you know. Little Pere won't be as strong a king as his father, it seems, but that 8 military score will be pretty helpful in getting the armies turned around. It could use the attention: Our focus on the navy - we have zero ships, but apparently our slider is strongly naval - makes the generals nervous. A move to land would be useful, but naval makes colonists cheaper and anyway befits a future merchant republic. So instead they get a stern talking to by Nicolau, which makes naval technology cheaper somehow. In 1435, Salamanca is colonized. Colonists discover the ruins of a university. Although the learned men who once populated it are long since dead, many books are still in good condition. The university is put into use very quickly. So quickly, in fact, that 1436 yields a graduating class. Great job, guys. Apparently the 300 people actually living in Salamanca are entirely focused on the university; typical college town. Also in 1436, some shady people, possibly from Sicily, make us an offer. We can refuse it, though. But we probably shouldn't have. Skandistan declares war later that year. Then Ruma declares war the next year, and Al-Alemand jumps in too. The Germans never actually get involved, though Ruma commits almost 20,000 troops. Where do they find the people? An unwelcome discovery: while Catalunya is a pleasant Jewish peach color, Skandistan, Magyaristan, Ruma, and Al-Alamand are not only all Muslim, but the same kind of Muslim: treacherous. I mean, Kharjite. Only Faransa is some different sect, suggesting that we may have good reason to form common cause. To prove our sincerity, a Ruman army is heavily defeated. It only took a year and heavy losses wearing them down. This victory marks the first point in two years when things are vaguely under control. Then Morocco goes and Moroccos everything up. Also they bring in Tunisia and Granada, making for a total of seven enemies. Those fucking nobles again. Their demands total more than twice the money that's in the treasury. Nicolau gently explains that he has no gold to spare, but he will happily give them cold steel. The next year, with some troops free after peace with Skandistan and Ruma, the nobles get what's coming to them: a slight reduction of their power in favor of the merchantry. TAKE THAT, NOBILITY. Here we can see Steve, who was previously the leader of the noble uprising in the 1420s during the last war with Morocco, fighting Moroccan troops. He wins. He wins so big that Morocco accepts a Catalunyan concession of defeat just six months later, when Ruma and the Mamlukes declare war on them. Generous of them. Which leaves the 1444 borders looking like this. Problematically, inflation is seriously growing. It's above 9% now, and there's no reason to think it will be declining any time soon.
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Post by MaybeNever on Jul 29, 2011 1:15:52 GMT -5
I would provisionally be open to another Hoi2 Let's Play, with Japan even, but probably playing the new re-release called Darkest Hour. I think a multiplayer LP would be a lot of fun too.
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