Balance of Power (Sign Up/Rules/Commentary Thread)

[Lumine]

Balance of Power:
The Belle Epoque Game

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Welcome to the world of Balance of Power. The 20th Century has just started, and there’s optimism in the future across most of Europe and the United States with the Edwardian Era, the Gilden Age and, of course, la Belle Epoque. Bismarck is gone, but the game of politics continues and alliances are bound to be destroyed and or created. You will take over as the leader of a nation and try to lead it to the top. Of course, should you fail or become too unpopular, you might lose elections (if country has them) or even face revolution should you go too far.

Basic Rules:

1. Turns: Very similar to the Crown and Country Game, players will have to play turns that represent six months, in which they will react to ongoing crises and events and post their policies, moves and reactions to what other players do. These six-months turns shall last until the beginning of armed conflict between two or more players, and we will enter a special war mode (specific to the players at war if said war is limited, for all players if we enter a true Great War).

2. Historical Context: The Game starts on the beginning of 1901, but for practical reasons all events up to March in OTL (like Queen Victoria’s death) have already happened.

3. Messages: Like in Crown and Country, secret messages between players must include the GM and Assistant GM, otherwise they can’t be recognized.

4. Data: The GM and Assistant GM will provide updates on certain situations and they will provide simple data if needed (that is, if the actual data is not available due to changes ITT, like polls for the democratic countries)

5. Historical Events: OTL events that do not depend on the player moves will be determined via random number generator (1-50 for said event not happening, 51 to 100 for that event happening). And, of course, expect new events to be added as time goes by...

6. Popularity: Finally, and to add flavor to the game, popularity ratings for each leader will be released each year (that is to say, after two turns), using Very High to Very Low. This will be used to balance the game, as unpopular leaders will not be able to take certain choices.

7. Game Over: Game Over can come in three ways: A.- By getting defeated in war and then deposed by the enemy. B.- (Democratic Nations) By losing the election for President/Primer Minister, and C.- (Monarchies/Dictatorship) Losing a Revolution/Civil War that ends the Monarchy or the ruling dynasty. Assasinations and ending one's term in office will not count as Game-Overs, and you will continue with the sucessor. In case of a game over for a player who led a nation that still exists (or has changed leaders via elections), said nation will be offered to another player.

[Lumine]

Players:

The World in 1901: (Thanks to Snowstalker)

The game is designed for eight people, one GM, one Assistant GM, and the main six players, who will represent the six key players (Great Powers) of the World. Of course, should we find new players, four other minor powers will be also available. Otherwise, these minor powers shall be managed by the GM and the Assistant GM, and I'll need a volunteer to fill that crucial role.

Great Powers:

British Empire:

You play as Prime Minister Salisbury. Queen Victoria is dead and a new era is beginning under King Edward VII, the Boer War should be over soon, but the nation is divided because of it, and the Liberals are not planning on losing the next general election.  The German Empire is currently discussing a potential alliance with you, and you must decide which allies do you really want to have. (Played by Spamage)

French Republic:

You play as Prime Minister Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau, a fiery personality who has seen the sucessful Paris Exposition, the defusing of the Fashoda Crisis and the consolidation of the Russian alliance. Yet, the clerical question grows more complicated each day, and the Dreyfus Affair, while thought finished, may yet have a few surprises left, and it is your job to keep France strong and stable. (Played by Dr. Cynic)

Russian Empire:

You play as Tsar Nicholas II, absolute ruler of all Russias. You are one of the richest and most powerful men on earth, but your country suffers from a bad economy, unhappyness and the demands for a constitutional monarchy keep growing. You have a stable alliance with France and the Transiberian Railroad is almost finished, but your army and navy are in poor shape and Japan is growing as a powerful rival in the east. Can you unleash Russia's great hidden potential? (Played by Snowstalker)

United States:

You play as the recently reelected President William McKinley, and you preside over an economic boom and a recent victory against Spain, leading to the occupation of Hawaii, Cuba and the Philippines. You have a lot of political capital and you must choose what to do with your new territories, so despite the lack of interest on European affairs, you possibilities remain quite open. (Played by Simfan)

German Empire:

You play as the powerful Kaiser Wilhelm II, and it is your desire to bring Germany to "its legitimate place in the sun". Under your rule Germany has dramatically increased military and economic power, and you have the backing of Italy and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance. However, German overseas territories are rather small, your attempts at diplomacy have not been sucessful, and you will probably be forced to choose between getting closer to Britain or having a powerful navy. (Played by IBDD)

Austro-Hungarian Empire:

You are Franz Joseph I, the so called "last monarch of the old school". Your nation is strong, the economy stable and you have a powerful ally on Germany, but Russia is percieved at getting stronger, the czechs and other nationalities are demaning greater autonony and political reform, and the rise of pan-slavism is bound to give further strenght to your enemies. It will take skilful leadership to guide Austro-Hungary into true prosperity, but it can be done. (Played by Jack Enderman)

Minor Powers:

(only playable if the six Great Powers are taken)
Empire of Japan:

You play as Emperor Mutsuhito, the man who is percieved to have modernized Japan and destroyed the Shogunate. Yet, the country is actually countrolled by nine powerful elded statesmen, known as the Genro, headed by sitting Primer Minister Ito Hirobumi. Japan has built a powerful navy and humilitated China in 1894, and a war with Russia seems likely. Will you follow the wishes of the Genro, or will you finally become your own man? (Played by SJoyce)

Kingdom of Italy:

You play as King Vittorio Emmanuele III, the King of Italy. Despite the constitution now giving you much power, Primer Ministers tend not to last long, leaving you as the one figure capable of saving the Kingdom while defusing the tensions between North and South and the socialists. Can you bring Italy to the modern era and regain some of your power? (Played by Sawx)

Ottoman Empire:

You are Abdul Hamid II, the Sultan, and probably the best survivor in Europe. Your government has been ruthless, your secret police incredibly efficient, and minorities incredibly unlucky, but the Ottoman Empire has regain some stability. But the challenge of creating a modern Empire while surviving the turnmoil in the Balkans requires a strong leader, and the people hope their Sultan will restore the greatness of the Empire. (Played by Kalwejt)

Chinese Empire:

You play as the most powerful woman after Victoria's death, the Empress Dowager Cixi. You have managed to remain in power after defeating coups and revolutions, even defeating Emperor Guangxu, who is now just a figurehead. China is been ravaged by foreigners, and the Boxer Rebellion has brought chaos and disorder. Can you step up one more time and save the Empire? (Not available)

[Lumine]

Question: Is the assassination of McKinley going to happan as IRL?

That is one of the events I will determine with a 50/50% chance, but if McKinley dies then that player takes over as Theodore Roosevelt. On second thought, McKinley dying in the exact same way is unrealistic, so no, he is not supposed to die.

[Lumine]

IIRC there were socialist uprisings and assassinations all across Europe. If one plays as McKinley and their character gets killed, would their time end, or would they succeed as TR?

Oh, no, you suceed as TR inmediately, assassinations will not result in a game over, xD

[Lumine]

but do re-election denials count as game overs?

Wait a minute, I will update the rules with the game over part!

[Lumine]

I want to be my country.

I would like to be Germany

Alright!

[Lumine]

Can I be UK?

Welcome aboard, Prime Minister!

[Lumine]

Will the GM be actively looking for sparks to light the fires of war akin to the assassination in Sarajevo?

It wouldn't be fun if we lived in peace all the way until 1914, right? I have more than a few flashpoints in mind! (and I don't doubt our players will create many more)

[Lumine]

Crap, I missed UK AND US... How about France?

France is yours, Mr. President!

[Lumine]

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Yes, Mein Kaiser.

And with that I just need the Tsar and the Assistant GM and we should be almost ready, xD (unless we have Minor Power players)

[Lumine]

I'll take Russia.

BTW that map definitely isn't from 1901 (actually I'm pretty sure it's anachronistic in several points). This is better, open in a new tab for a larger/less blurry version:

I was looking for one like that (specially one that reflected the Russian takeover of Manchuria in early 1901 and the end of the Boer War), thanks, Snowstalker! (And yes, you are now the Tsar).

With the six main players ready to go I only need an Assistant GM (which I'll try to find as soon as possible). The game should start tomorrow in the late afternoon, so you have more or less one day to make some research if needed.

NOTE: The four minor powers are now unlocked in case someone else wishes to join. Players will be able to join at any given point after the game starts, but they have until tomorrow to join if they wish to play from the first turn.

[Lumine]

Very well, we have our Assistant GM with Windjammer! I still have to clear many points with him (I have some doubts), but we should be able to start later today (I'll be away in college for a few hours). I will announce one change: Windjammer pointed out that the President of France had little powers in relation to the Primer Minister, and so the French player will be playing as Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau instead of Loubet (my apologies to Dr. Cynic).

[Lumine]

Jumping in as Japan.

Welcome, your majesty!

[Lumine]

Question: I sent my responses to the three questions to Lumine and Windjammer via PM. Was I supposed to do this or was I supposed to post them openly in the thread?

Yes, from now on the answers will be sent via PM. Since I wrote the rules rather quickly I seem to have neglected that sending them via PM will really help backstabbing!

[Lumine]

Do we really have to have my country's Archduke dying as the first picture in the gameplay thread?

I spent quite a long time looking for something appropiate, and I just didn't like the pictures of the Dreadnought, xD

[Lumine]

I think the PM system should really only involve communique you wish to keep secret rather than for traditional cables, correct?

Indeed, but since a good part of the answers should be a secret (for some time), and since this is one aspect of the game that I did not plan very well, I chose to go with the answers being a secret. I apologize again for the constant changes, and while this system will remain in place for this turn, I will change this part at the start of the second turn.

Can I join as the Ottoman Empire?

Welcome, Sultan! I will post the issues you will face for this turn as soon as possible.

[Lumine]

I'll take Italy.

Very well!

We have nine players now, and I believe this is pretty much the ideal number unless the game becomes too complex. Because of that, China is not available anymore and Sign-Up is officially closed for now.

[Lumine]

[China's] recognition of Japanese sovereignty over Taiwan.

Well one doesn't see this everyday!

It does look slightly implausible, but the British moves have forced Cixi's hand, and she can always retract that if circumstances change...

[Lumine]

I must say I am surprised that three players already decided to gang up against the Ottomans and try and carve their Empire, xD

This is getting really amusing! (specially with the PM's I have received so far)

[Lumine]

Just to clarify, has the game (and the war mode) been satisfactory for the players so far?

[Lumine]

Very well, gentlemen, I prefer to step in now and make some changes before we have more problems. Posting the orders seemed to have been working, but Kalwejt does have a point, and modificating them could potentially bring unfair results. For that reason, and starting next turn, military orders will go via PM, and we'll see how it works.

Also, True Federalist does have a point in military orders and deployments not being realistic enough, so I will install further penalties on troop deployment. The French contingent is small enough, and the Russians can deploy a good number of troops, but Spamage is leaving too much of his Empire undefended, and he is already facing heavy trouble with logistics. I will forbid further troop deployments into the war for the British, for the time being.

[Lumine]

Lumine, will you wait until there's a new player to replace IBDD before starting a next turn, or will you take over Germany until such time?

My intention is to start next turn tomorrow, but I won't do so if we don't have a player as the German Empire. The world is growing bigger and I am simply not willing to take over a world power.

[Lumine]

I would jump in as Germany.

Welcome, Kaiser Wilhelm!

We have all players again, next turn will start in the afternoon.

[Lumine]

I would jump in as Germany.

Welcome, Kaiser Wilhelm!

We have all players again, next turn will start in the afternoon.

Thanks. I just have a little question - if it were possible, I would like to be another monarch. Like Wilhelm died with IBBD, and I'm now Friedrich IV, his son and heir? If not, Ill play as Wilhelm, but so I would be more free in my actions.

Sure, but remember that Wilhelm's heir was Crown Prince Wilhelm (20 years old as of Late 1902), and thus you will play as Kaiser Wilhelm III. I will acknowledge the change via a special event: the assassination of Wilhelm II in the hands of an anarchist (as he was almost killed in Bremen in OTL 1901).

[Lumine]

Is the signup still open?  If so, I'd like to take Spain or Portugal.

Sorry, not for now, I have a lot of trouble handling all the players as of now, xD

That said, both Cranberry and Jack are facing a very complicated internal situation, so those countries might be open in the next turns (and Jack failed to send his answers in the past turn, so he only has one turn to recover).