[PON] Conflict in Europe - Diplomacy & News Thread

[Citizen X]

Athens, Greece, September 1878

THE GREEK PATRIOTS

After passing the whole summer hiding and regrouping in the mountains of Epirus, the Greek Royal army of more than 70000 men with many horses and salvaged cannons moved Southwards to regain its capital. Athens is being administered by a crafty Ottoman head of 3 divisions worth of militia (some 40000 men). On paper we outnumber them and better equipped, but we should be careful as the Turks are still quite psyched up from their previous victories. We do not want a Pyrrhic victory.

We should thank our Russian friends for all this. Their rule of the seas, their presence in mainland Greece and especially their support in the city of Thessaloniki are of paramount importance to take our country back!

We should've countered their obvious move into Epirus, regardless of any diplomatic imbroglios our display of reading-the-enemy skill had resulted in. On the other hand, the anticipated Russian autumn offense had drawn our attention (and troops) away anyways. We had hoped also, that our enemy had come to senses in the mountains of Epirus. Futile hope, as we see now. The Greek shouldn't count on neither forever.

[Kensai]

(should we start a gameplay thread with tips and tricks? indeed, I backed off in a mountainous region because mountains obviously help in a defensive battle as they provide for a very small "battle width"... in the beginning I thought there was an extreme abstraction in the engine when you lose the capital (ie no more reinforcements happened), but fortunately the "reinforcements flow" worked correctly and I managed to rebuild my battered troops with fresh men and cohesion... the lack of depots however did not allow for new regiments when those were completely lost... indeed, you should have never worried about Greece, Russia is the force that "does the talking", let's see how the operations will go until the first snow of the coming winter!)

[Sir Garnet]

(should we start a gameplay thread with tips and tricks? indeed, I backed off in a mountainous region because mountains obviously help in a defensive battle as they provide for a very small "battle width"...

[OOC] Yes there are a lot of tips and tricks. Loki observed that demobilized reserves retain experience for next time - a nice touch in the game that I've not had the chance to see. There are surely many more.

Putting this and other observations in a tips, observations and corrections thread for the manual would be helpful, like the Paradox thread Provide-Your-Input-for-1.03-Update-to-Manual but more inclusive and for 1.04. The 1.03 changes are almost all in the draft already but there are some things not working as they should, as you know, so it will be updated for what is known of 1.04 when released. The manual gets longer and longer, but it's electronic and Acrobat Search is very handy for finding things.

I will create a thread with intro tonight or tomorrow and include the ideas from the Paradox thread, already incorporated in draft.

[Kensai]

Occupied Athens, Greece, October 1878

THE SIEGE OF ATHENS

The Ottomans are using the fortification system of the capital we ourselves built. However it seems they had not calculated our immense firepower, courtesy of the ultra-modern Russian-designed heavy howitzers of our artillery regiments. Moreover, Lieutenant General Petimezas is an excellent engineer who knows the defensive structures of Attica like the back of his hand. The fort system of the Greek capital has been breached!! The defenders are already taking fire.

OOC: a successful (quick) siege demands as many "siege points" as possible. Generals with the 'Engineer' ability and siege artillery raise this score considerably. After the fortifications have been breached, the units start taking damage that according to Pocus rises considerably as breaches are accumulated.

[Jonathan Pollard]

The Imperial Chinese government has decided to grant a 10-year lease of Qingdao (Tsingtao) to Germany. The necessity of a naval base for Germany in the event that an invasion of the Japanese home islands by the international community is necessary to bring lasting peace to the region is evident to the Chinese high command. This transfer will take place as soon as all necessary arrangements are completed. (OOC - If Qingdao is considered sufficiently "behind the lines" for an international transfer, I'd like a script for its transfer to Germany run as soon as possible).

[Kensai]

(obviously you must be joking: this is an extended claim... use the in-game facilities: passage and supply rights or a defensive agreement)

[Sir Garnet]

OSS (Office of Strategic Speculations)

Piracy Resurgent: A resurgence of piracy in recent years has increased insurance rates for shipping, putting at risk the profits of global merchant enterprises. Not least among the pirates are Japanese warships plying the ancient pirate routes off China's shores.

[B]Chinese Land Rush Begins - European Powers Seek Concessions: [/B] With news of a proposed leased concession by China of an entire province to the German Empire for China's protection against Japan, other European powers are considering staking their own claims to concessions to help protect China. "China gets protection. There is no tedious paperwork or taxes for us, what is there not to like?" asks a European merchant.

Belgian Town Installs Peace Mirrors: Locals in the small border town of Vinderloo are reported to have installed mirrors facing the border as a measure to ensure peace for Belgium. Said the honorary mayor, elderly hatter Claudius Joop, "They can't invade us if they can't see us, you see? Our town is safe - if only the whole nation was as enlightened!" Asked about the effectiveness of mirrors in the night hours, Joop admitted that he would consider the problem while milking his cats -"Essential for healthful body and mind!" he explained.

Incognito Bulgarian King Waits in Shadows: The most extraordinary secrecy shrouds the identity of the Bulgarian monarch in anonymity as tiny Bulgaria looks to the conclusion of the Balkan War to gain surrounding territories that will create a greater Bulgaria, thus restoring the ancient and glorious Bulgar people to their own state. "Rumanians watch out!" is sometimes heard from resentful Bulgars "It is not right for them to have a state while we do not." Bulgarians say they will let the world know the identity of their ruler once they get their rightful territories which the Russians will secure.

Sweden to Arms? Why is Sweden seeking to call forward classes to strengthen its armies? With cordial relations to its giant southern neighbor, is it Britain, the Russian Empire or tiny Denmark that must fear a Viking descent, or are Sweden's frustrated colonial ambitions again stirring? Also of importance - why did the measure fell - is this a signal of dissension and potential republican stirrings that could unsettle the ancient throne of this King in the north? Having finally achieved a lasting peace, is it now to be disturbed by the war trumpets of horn-helmed Vikings pillaging the High Street shops of the Baltic and North Sea nations?

Or does more recent news, that of a German degradation of relations with Sweden, signify a chill in German-Swedish amity? Sweden has recently commenced declaration of a protectorate in Rwanda. This is one of the regions east of the Congo nominally under Portuguese military control but for which Portugal, in accordance with its neutrality and good neighbor policies, has offered transit and supply rights for friendly colonial powers. Just a month ago, Portuguese explorers uncovered the depths of Nyasa Zomba, a Nyasa exclave within Mozambique for which the Swedes had requested Portuguese cooperation for their colonization effort based on their accord with the Germans. Said the Swedish agent "Scandinavia will have its place in the warmth of the sun, though we will be careful to keep to the shade in daylight to avoid burns."

Civilized Nations Proposed to Meet at Hague to Review Compliance and Atrocities: The Hague High Commission has called for a meeting in Late November 1878 to review compliance by Hague signatories and examine atrocities against civilians. The Chairman declared "It is time to call barbarous countries to join the ranks of civilized nations and adhere to principles of civilized behavior in the conduct of war."

[De_Spinoza]

OSS (Office of Strategic Speculations)


Piracy Resurgent: A resurgence of piracy in recent years has increased insurance rates for shipping, putting at risk the profits of global merchant enterprises. Not least among the pirates are Japanese warships plying the ancient pirate routes off China's shores.

[B]Chinese Land Rush Begins - European Powers Seek Concessions: [/B] With news of a proposed leased concession by China of an entire province to the German Empire for China's protection against Japan, other European powers are considering staking their own claims to concessions to help protect China. "China gets protection. There is no tedious paperwork or taxes for us, what is there not to like?" asks a European merchant.

Belgian Town Installs Peace Mirrors: Locals in the small border town of Vinderloo are reported to have installed mirrors facing the border as a measure to ensure peace for Belgium. Said the honorary mayor, elderly hatter Claudius Joop, "They can't invade us if they can't see us, you see? Our town is safe - if only the whole nation was as enlightened!" Aksed about the effectiveness of mirrors in the night hours, Joop admitted that he would consider the problem while milking his cats -"Essential for healthful body and mind!" he explained.

Incognito Bulgarian King Waits in Shadows: The most extraordinary secrecy shrouds the identity of the Bulgarian monarch in anonymity as tiny Bulgaria looks to the conclusion of the Balkan War to gain surrounding territories that will create a greater Bulgaria, thus restoring the ancient and glorious Bulgar people to their own state. "Rumanians watch out!" is sometimes heard from resentful Bulgars "It is not right for them to have a state while we do not." Bulgarians say they will let the world know the identity of their ruler once they get their rightful territories which the Russians will secure.

Sweden to Arms? Why is Sweden seeking to call forward classes to strengthen its armies? With cordial relations to its giant southern neighbor, is it Britain, the Russian Empire or tiny Denmakr that must fear a Viking descent, or are Sweden's frustrated colonial ambitions again stirring? Also of importance - why did the measure fell - is this a signal of dissension and potential republican stirrings that could unsettle the ancient throne of this King in the north? Having finally achieved a lasting peace, is it now to be disturbed by the war trumpets of horn-helmed Vikings pillaging the High Street shops of the Baltic and North Sea nations?

Or does more recent news, that of a German degradation of relations with Sweden, signify a chill in German-Swedish amity? Sweden has recently commenced declaration of a protectorate in Rwanda. This is one of the regions east of the Congo nominally under Portugugese military control but for which Portugal, in accordance with its neutrality and good neighbor policies, has offered transit and supply rights for friendly colonial powers. Just a month ago, Portuguese explorers uncovered the depths of Nyasa Zomba, a Nyasa exclave within Mozambique for which the Swedes had requestedd Portuguese cooperation for their colonization effort based ont their accord with the Germans. Said the Swedish agent "Scandinavia will have its place in the warmth of the sun, though we will be careful to keep to the shade in daylight to avoid burns."

Civilized Nations Proposed to Meet at Hague to Review Compliance and Atrocities: The Hague High Commission has called for a meeting in Late November 1878 to review compliance by Hague signatories and examine atrocities against civilians. The Chairman declared "It is time to call barbarous countries to join the ranks of civilized nations and adhere to principles of civilized behavior in the conduct of war."

Just want to say that this was a thoroughly enjoying read. Thanks Garnet!

[Jim-NC]

British Government Paralyzed by storm!!!!

It appears that the British Government for the last 2 weeks has been paralyzed by a storm in the capital. No orders or diplomats have made it to or from London, and we don't know when this will be corrected.

(OOC - There was a storm that knocked out power - still don't have any - thus I can't enter orders for the Friday processing, and depending on when power is restored, I may not be able to submit for Saturday's processing either. I don't have email either).

[Jonathan Pollard]

(obviously you must be joking: this is an extended claim... use the in-game facilities: passage and supply rights or a defensive agreement)

So you are not joking by suggesting that Germany declare a fake war against China in order to obtain control of an objective? That's the only in-game mechanism I can think of for Germany to get control of Qingdao.

[coolbean]

British Government Paralyzed by storm!!!!

It appears that the British Government for the last 2 weeks has been paralyzed by a storm in the capital. No orders or diplomats have made it to or from London, and we don't know when this will be corrected.

(OOC - There was a storm that knocked out power - still don't have any - thus I can't enter orders for the Friday processing, and depending on when power is restored, I may not be able to submit for Saturday's processing either. I don't have email either).

The American government suffering similar fate...


OOC - Jim, I imagine our power was knocked out in the same storm. Am stationed in coastal Virginia right now, and even the base lost power... so everyone has the day off. I will also be heading to the beach this weekend where I won't have access to the internet, only to e-mail. Would anyone be willing to submit the next two turns for the USA (will return Sunday)? Sir Garnet, would you be able to do me this favor? I would be immensely grateful.

[Citizen X]

Civilized Nations Proposed to Meet at Hague to Review Compliance and Atrocities: The Hague High Commission has called for a meeting in Late November 1878 to review compliance by Hague signatories and examine atrocities against civilians. The Chairman declared "It is time to call barbarous countries to join the ranks of civilized nations and adhere to principles of civilized behavior in the conduct of war."

Funny thing, I have always thought, as this means that war is no barbaric atrocity per se.

[Kensai]

So you are not joking by suggesting that Germany declare a fake war against China in order to obtain control of an objective? That's the only in-game mechanism I can think of for Germany to get control of Qingdao.

It is simply not possible for Germany to get Qingdao if we respect the game rules we ourselves devised. You are not supposed to sell or lease non-colonial regions of your nation. And not even colonial, actually, at least not in war as it messes heavily with the game flow (it makes for "moving targets"). Do not tell me about the historical Qingdao, that was only parts of the city (together with other nations), not a whole region which is much more than that (as Luxembourg is much more than the city of Luxembourg).

You want to give the Germans a naval base? Do a passage/supply rights offer or defensive agreement and put a condition that they can land only there. This pretty much abstracts your offer in game (and I am neutral, proposed the same solution for Germany in Suez, although it's gonna be fixed in v1.04).

If you want to change the game on-the-fly again (as you tried with the Chinese suddenly buying tons of ships beyond their force pool) then we should do it the right away, meaning abstract EVERYTHING. Take notice:

- We should abstract the Chinese people being completely angry with their regime into giving such a huge area to the Germans instead of taking the money of peace (from Japan). This means we should add a hefty -50 NM. We should also add scripted revolt risk to all Chinese regions to simulate riots and all hell breaking loose. We should also go a step further and abstract standing Chinese rebels that want to burn Cixi on a stake and are getting their hopes up for the Taiping Rebellion (ie script some 4-5K units of Taiping rebels around the Chinese countryside). Then we should abstract all other nations of the world feeling horribly about this decadent scheme and add automatic CBs (or, why not, wars already started) and lost relations with Germany and China. Hell, why stop here, we should even abstract an assassination of Bismarck and Cixi by Chinese nationalists and give rulers with 1-2 Imperialism instead.

See? I can be a funny guy too.
Please, play IN GAME. At least, be a fair player and ask for all the magic when not in a war...

[lukasberger]

It is simply not possible for Germany to get Qingdao if we respect the game rules we ourselves devised. You are not supposed to sell or lease non-colonial regions of your nation. And not even colonial, actually, at least not in war as it messes heavily with the game flow (it makes for "moving targets"). Do not tell me about the historical Qingdao, that was only parts of the city (together with other nations), not a whole region which is much more than that (as Luxembourg is much more than the city of Luxembourg).

That's just not true. Gb took Jerusalem from the OE in a prior peace. Germany is demanding Suez. Cyprus goes to Gb via event. Heck China even traded a province to Germany in a very similar deal in the other game, which is much more strict than this one regarding historical development etc. You don't like it personally, which is fine. But it's happened before and will happen again. Most of the players have no problems with this sort of deal.

[Kensai]

1) It happened as a peace offer between the respective nations. GBR was at war with TUR and conquered those regions. The equivalent of what is being requested here is like GBR making a deal to buy a border region of Black Sea TUR to attack RUS.
2) Jerusalem was a colony.
3) What other game?

We have not done it in the past, if we have done it then it was probably wrong, and I hope we will never do this again, actually. At least not until we decide these things in calm and not applicable to the current situation.

[lukasberger]

3) What other game?

World in Conflict. The game PhilThib is running that a lot of us are (were) playing too.

[Kensai]

Every game is unique in its house rules, I do not even know what house rules you decided upon on that game. You knew we were playing with the full battery of historical rules when you joined this one. Corrective scripts are allowed to better abstract a reality that perhaps was not possible to abstract through historical events or our moves in game, but certainly not to give an unfair, almost unhistorical, advantage to an involved player. Especially when there is a better equivalent to abstract "leased naval services" of that proportion, ie passage/supply rights or a defensive agreement.

[bjfagan]

It is simply not possible for Germany to get Qingdao if we respect the game rules we ourselves devised. You are not supposed to sell or lease non-colonial regions of your nation. And not even colonial, actually, at least not in war as it messes heavily with the game flow (it makes for "moving targets"). Do not tell me about the historical Qingdao, that was only parts of the city (together with other nations), not a whole region which is much more than that (as Luxembourg is much more than the city of Luxembourg).

You want to give the Germans a naval base? Do a passage/supply rights offer or defensive agreement and put a condition that they can land only there. This pretty much abstracts your offer in game (and I am neutral, proposed the same solution for Germany in Suez, although it's gonna be fixed in v1.04).

If you want to change the game on-the-fly again (as you tried with the Chinese suddenly buying tons of ships beyond their force pool) then we should do it the right away, meaning abstract EVERYTHING. Take notice:

- We should abstract the Chinese people being completely angry with their regime into giving such a huge area to the Germans instead of taking the money of peace (from Japan). This means we should add a hefty -50 NM. We should also add scripted revolt risk to all Chinese regions to simulate riots and all hell breaking loose. We should also go a step further and abstract standing Chinese rebels that want to burn Cixi on a stake and are getting their hopes up for the Taiping Rebellion (ie script some 4-5K units of Taiping rebels around the Chinese countryside). Then we should abstract all other nations of the world feeling horribly about this decadent scheme and add automatic CBs (or, why not, wars already started) and lost relations with Germany and China. Hell, why stop here, we should even abstract an assassination of Bismarck and Cixi by Chinese nationalists and give rulers with 1-2 Imperialism instead.

See? I can be a funny guy too.
Please, play IN GAME. At least, be a fair player and ask for all the magic when not in a war...

I believe you are going overboard again. There is an event that gives Qingdao to Germany later in the game, plus this province is a German objective, so could be claimed as part of a peace. Since the game does not allow for just taking the city, the province goes along with it. All we are doing basically is speeding up the timeline of when the Germans actually get the place.

Code: Select all

SelectFaction = $GER
SelectRegion = $Qingdao
StartEvent = evt_nam_GER_Tsingtao1896|1|2|evt_txt_GER_Tsingtao1896|Event-img_GER_Tsingtao1896|$Qingdao|NULL

Conditions
  EvalIsAtPeaceWith = CHI

SelectFaction = $CHI

EvalRgnOwned = $Qingdao
  EvalEvent = evt_nam_CHI_MurderGermanMissionaries1897;=;1
  MinDate = 1896/01/01
  MaxDate = 1899/12/31
  Probability = 50

Actions
  DescEvent = evt_desc_GER_Tsingtao1896

SelectFaction = $GER
SelectRegion = $Qingdao
SelectRegion = $Qingdao
  ChangeRgnOwner = CHI
  ChgVPCount = 25
  ChgFacRelationships = CHI;15

EndEvent

[Kensai]

Then, declare a war against China to get it, instead of Japan. I was completely against the last time we did something like that (and in that case it was an exchange of lands: between Spain and USA), it ruins the game to speed up events before they happen. Why we even play in that case? Let's have the borders of 1918 and start from there.

You know, I feel quite honored everyone is fearing me as a player. I mean, it's quite amusing even allies who have no reason to see Japan go down fight Japan or even Germany which might be enjoying its primary rivals (USA, France, etc) sweat, makes such a big story of "punishing" Japan because it kicked its ass over Ryukyu a decade earlier, but asking above and beyond all the previous, extra scripted help goes a little bit overboard on your side, don't you think?

I mean, I can take it to have every single nation somehow consider Japan (the 7th most powerful nation in the game according to the rankings) the number one villain, instead of uniting to somehow curtain Germany, but asking for extra scripted help like ships for China (when it was not supposed to have, that's why I considered this war "safe") or bases popping up for my rivals out of nowhere ("just to fix your ships that have to travel half an ocean away").

I am waiting in trepidation to see what bullshit of excuse you're gonna use now to declare war on Japan, I just saw a CB happening. Can't wait.

[Sir Garnet]

[OOC]: Some points to consider regarding the Qing Empire:

1. Concessions in China can be weakly represented by structures, more correctly by enclaves of territory under foreign jurisdiction with a wide economic "sphere of influence" that is currently represented by structures in the game.

2. Concessions were forced upon the Chinese at times of great weakness by by concerted western efforts.

3. China is strong right now - militarily, economically - check that Excel file posted (thanks Kensai!) .

4. The West has been far from concerted - very disconcerted, in fact, repeatedly and bloodily. The proper role of foreigners is to provide tribute and be played off against each other to serve China's ends.

5. Foreign intrusions were a serious source of growing unrest historically, and with the loss of Manchuria and enemy occupation of "Little Brother" vassal Korea, with past and current full-scale wars against Russia, Britain, USA and Japan, anti-foreign sentiment must be considered to be much higher than historically imaginable.

6. Since the Manchu Qing dynasty is itself foreign (not Han), the challenge of sustaining legitimacy by cloaking itself in Chinese robes and strong "pro-Chinese" policies, especially in times of anti-foreign unrest, becomes more difficult and any concessions to foreign devils more dangerous to the regime itself.

7. Like the Ming rose to throw out Mongol rulers, Han rebels could easily rise in enormous numbers to throw out Manchu rulers (who, they would point out, were not even able to hold on to Manchuria) as well as foreign devils.

[Kensai]

Athens, Greece, October 1878

THE SIEGE OF ATHENS AND REBELLIONS EVERYWHERE

The Ottomans tried to sally forth with their Athens garrison and standing armies, meeting the Greek army in their camps in the Northeastern part of Attica. The entrenched Greek units were waiting and opened fire promptly, devastating the proud Turks. Our rivals suffered 3x our losses. The fortnight ended with the arrival of a Russian support contingency with two extra brigades.

In Peloponesos and Dodecanese the Greek patriots rised against the Ottomans as the news reached them that the liberation of the capital is near.



(let's hope the game's Suleiman Pasha lives up to his historical counterpart! )

---

Yellow Sea, October 1878

AMERICAN FIRST FLEET SIGHTED... AND FELT!

The Japanese trade routes with China were hit hard this past fortnight as the American First Fleet ships disrupted many of our merchant ships. Admiral Arai made a valiant attempt to stop them, but his Shogunate-era sail ships were no much against the powerful American fleet. He managed to escape to attend his wounds.

[bjfagan]

I am waiting in trepidation to see what bullshit of excuse you're gonna use now to declare war on Japan, I just saw a CB happening. Can't wait.

Give me a few minutes...

[Sir Garnet]

The erfundenschwierigerkriegsgrund with expectant interest awaited is.

[Franciscus]

Hi guys.

It's just a game, isn't it ?

[lukasberger]

Hi guys.

It's just a game, isn't it ?

You'd be surprised

[Jim-NC]

Not really.

IC -
British engineers fix communication problems within the Empire. We are pleased to announce that Britain is able to again communicate with the world.

[Savoyard]

The erfundenschwierigerkriegsgrund with expectant interest awaited is.

Persian has the same word order.

[Jim-NC]

1) It happened as a peace offer between the respective nations. GBR was at war with TUR and conquered those regions. The equivalent of what is being requested here is like GBR making a deal to buy a border region of Black Sea TUR to attack RUS.
2) Jerusalem was a colony.
3) What other game?

We have not done it in the past, if we have done it then it was probably wrong, and I hope we will never do this again, actually. At least not until we decide these things in calm and not applicable to the current situation.

So Kensai,
You are asking for blind obedience to the red events then? I mean if Germany can't get the territory until the red even happens, then why are we trying to make the world our own? Why are we playing a different game if we only want what happened historically.

In your comments, you say "it ruins the game to speed up events" (see below). Thus, America and Spain must go to war in 1898 to satisfy you? By your reckoning, Spain can't declare war right now, as it didn't historically?

Blind obedience is not the answer.

[Sir Garnet]

OOC: The concession is at least not a force-field dodge, but something like basing rights to prosecute a war.

Regarding the automatic event - based on the list of points I mentioned above, clearly the conditions for easy concessions are not yet ripe. Which does not prevent a government from doing something politically dangerous to its legitimacy such as giving up ancient historical territory without a fight, but there should be serious domestic repercussions in terms of political stability as well as hit to legitimacy/prestige.

That a power seeking a concession is coming to the rescue of China does matter, but China in these last few months is much less in need of further rescuing since the rescue is well under way. The "dwarf barbarians" are no longer at the gates of Peking but driven out of the mainland, out of Taiwan, and imminently out of Korea.

[Kensai]

So Kensai,
You are asking for blind obedience to the red events then? I mean if Germany can't get the territory until the red even happens, then why are we trying to make the world our own? Why are we playing a different game if we only want what happened historically.

Red events are "stimuli". Red events prone you to respond, in case you want to be a happy puppy in peace with everyone. If the red events are designed correctly (not all of them are, unfortunately) they will give Prestige penalties in case you don't reply to them. Germany can make the world it wants, but the Chinese player should not be allowed to sell Chinese national territory as we have no means to abstract correctly what would the population would say about it. That's why I urge everyone to play and resolve things IN the game, not out of it.

In your comments, you say "it ruins the game to speed up events" (see below). Thus, America and Spain must go to war in 1898 to satisfy you? By your reckoning, Spain can't declare war right now, as it didn't historically?

They can go to war, they don't must. If they don't, one of them is gonna lose Prestige. That's the whole point with the red event stimuli. Force you in dilemmas and shape the history with alternative what if.

Blind obedience is not the answer.

Sure, but changing the rules mid game and mid war isn't either. I will say it again, if I knew that some players were gonna change the rules midair I would have had a different strategy for Japan. I did what I did with what I thought was possible and ALLOWED using the game's facilities. And this not even in a gamey way.

I started a war with another regional power that I knew it had no serious navy (and couldn't get one) and I was aware that most Europeans would not care to interfere given the long way from home ports. These were sound assumptions made in game that were impossible to change without asking for some witty uncalled for script.

---

The problem in this game is that people fear players, not nations. It happened to sagji, now it happens to me. No problem, I can play along as long as you make a viable story. To me, the American-French insistence to interfere in this war does not make any sense given Japan's and China's ranking and its regional nature. However, let's just say for the moment that they know (possibly only in hindsight, unfortunately) that a strong Japan might challenge them in the future. Let's say ok. But Germany? Germany should be partying behind the scenes actually for this war, as it makes its direct rivals weaker, instead we see Germany finding Japan "a menace to the world", which is quite anticlimatic for the historical prose of the game.

Anyway, I will enjoy this immensely as I still have a minor suspicion that all this might be "a plan within a plan" from the American-French side. They are about to lure Germany in a war with a Far East power it should not have a stake into and they will disengage at the right moment (possibly changing sides as well) leaving Germany to fight alone Japan, while allying with the rest of Germany's rivals. If this happens, that would be immensely fun indeed. And it will make more sense, historically and gamewise, as Japan is not a menace to the Prestige rankings.

Onwards! Let's give them a run for their money, please post nice stories for our AAR!