This game, however, is quite different: players will assume the mantle of new governments scattered across the contiguous forty-eight states of the United States a century and a half into the future.
The world was shaken to its foundation in 2044 when global war was initiated between the United States and her NATO allies, and a Chinese-led East Asian coalition including Vietnam, North Korea, Burma, Laos, and others. Though the nuclear exchange was brief (and relatively limited in its destruction), the effects worldwide would be enormous.
The United States deployed the first ever nuclear defense shield in 2041, effectively protecting the United States from any potential ICBM attacks. Point-defense systems would also ensure that the country could be protected, for the most part, if the missile shield failed or was sabotaged. Indeed, Chinese agents attempted to sabotage the missile shield mere hours after the war began, but ultimately failed. Sleeper cells and spy agencies on both sides went to work eliminating each other's dignitaries and government leaders. Very little fighting – at least on US soil – occurred, but the cities of New York, Washington DC, and Chicago were heavily damaged by dirty bombs (whose contamination periods still last to this day), conventional bombs, and riots. The other medium- and smaller-sized cities throughout the country suffered severely from overpopulation (from the influx of refugees from other cities), severe supply shortages, massive and devastating riots, economic collapse, and starvation. Millions died in the wake of the war as the United States of America ceased to exist.
Don't confuse this scenario with something like Fallout, though. Despite these enormous stresses on society and on the population of the former United States, many millions more survived. Resource collection and distribution networks, while severely damaged, were still reparable; infrastructure outside of the hardest-hit cities, while damaged and used close to the point of collapse, was still existent; military supply depots, harbors, and other military installations remained, for the most part, intact. Libraries, government records, and journals still exist, so people know what life was like before the destructive war. Knowledge of the pre-world war and America is still taught in schools (in the stable countries, anyway). Some people yearn for new government, and for the United States to return again; some simply wish to be left alone. Others have more sinister plans. After over a hundred years since the war, the country is already starting the very slow and very painful process of rebuilding. Some countries are more developed in that regard than others.
The governments in existence across the country vary greatly in size, population, strength, and ideology. At the game start (in the year 2150), there are:
- two monarchies (one absolute monarchy, one parliamentary);
- one military junta dictatorship;
- one Marxist-Leninist state;
- two plutocratic republics;
- one theocratic republic;
- one socialist constitutional republic;
- three presidential dictatorships (one a left-wing authoritarian state, the other a proto-fascist dictatorship);
- and ten free (mostly) secular republics of varying constitutions.
This allows for a lot of variety in the game. There will definitely be revolutions, restorations, civil wars, power struggles, border (and other) disputes, and diplomatic crises; you can't escape the wrath of the GM.
Some countries are old and stable; some are young and hopeful, but in danger of collapse. Some command authority and legitimacy through military might and the terror of the secret police; others do so through the people's love of the government and its leader(s). Some respect tradition, others respect liberty; some demand order, others oppose it; some prefer war, others avoid it. Demographics vary widely, and no one state will have it easy. Infrastructure always threatens to fall into disrepair and collapse; and without the strength of the United States Government, who knows what the future holds for the successor states?
That is where you come in. You will play as these governments in an attempt to forge a path to peace and prosperity for your people – either through war or through peace. Seeing as how this is a signup thread, you can stake your claim by posting your top three preferences for countries (either “in order” or non-preferentially). I'd also like to say that just because you request a country does not mean you will get it (or be in the game at all).
Also, before I give you guys the map and general summaries for each country (stats will come in the proper game thread), let's lay down some rules:
- The GM is always right (hehe)
- I reserve the right to alter update results or change the setting for any reason
- I reserve the right to kick those who are disrespectful to me, the game, or other players
- When conversing with me, you cannot lie about your intentions (forthrightness is a virtue)
- I can add new rules whenever I please
- Lastly, if you have a problem, talk it out with another player, or come to me
The game will play out simply. I will post a deadline for orders every now and then. Each country has TWO orders per turn. Each turn is a year. Players can use these orders as they like in their role as the government: recruit more infantry, build two more cruisers, launch a surprise attack against country X, carry out a purge of your military. You can do as you like, as long as it is realistic. Accounting for your ability to carry out such an order, along with its realism, I will "roll" on your order and determine its success or failure in the update. Mini uodates may also appear between main updates, which provide background for diplomatic crises, in-depth discussion of wars, and domestic political emergencies. If your nation is involved in a mini update, I will ask you to submit mini orders by a certain deadline. If you are at war, you will also be given TWO war orders (several sentences to a paragraph in length each – I don't want any essays), which can detail your war effort. War orders can ONLY be used for the deployment, operation, and RoE of your military. You can't use a war order to recruit more troops; similarly, you can't use a normal order to explain your offensive plans. Nations will also get ONE election order if and when they have elections, to describe their plan for their government (which party they want to succeed and how they're going to do it). Remember that it won't always be a success.
Here is a brief summary of government stability in stats, government types, and party ideologies.
Army/air force/navy quality:
Terrible – Poor – Average – Good – Excellent
Government stability:
Collapsing – Low – Average – Good – Excellent
Collapsing – Civil strife is rampant. Few, if any, recognize the government's authority and legitimacy. The police struggle to deal with large crowds of disobedient people as the economy, for lack of a better phrase, crashes and burns. The government is on the verge of collapse with a lack of a solid base of tax revenue and few, if any, obeying its laws. Political violence – physical and otherwise – is a serious problem that the government cannot hope to tackle head-on. Real-life examples include Somalia and South Sudan.
Low – Serious problems plague the towns and cities of the country. Protests and riots against the government's actions are common. Clashes between the police and these protestors will lead to people wounded on both sides, and potential deaths. People are openly questioning the legitimacy of the current government, with some calling for its overthrow, replacement, or, in more mild ways, serious and far-reaching reform and change. One wrong move on the government's part can jeopardize social order throughout the country. A present-day example is Venezuela.
Average – There are occasional protests against the government's economic, political, etc. policies at home and abroad. While a large plurality of people are discontented with the government to some degree, they are willing to support it in times of duress and national emergency. Present-day examples include the United States and Russia.
Good – There are few popular movements against the government and its policies. A large majority of people approve of their government and its operations. Barring disasters out of the government's control or serious mishaps, there is little need for concern on the government's part. A present-day example is Poland or Italy.
Excellent – Support for the government is at an all-time high among the people. Even the voices of those that vehemently oppose the government's policies are drowned out by those that agree with them. Real-life examples are Norway or Japan.
Party ideologies:
Liberals primarily support and defend the concepts of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, secularism, and other “inalienable rights”.
Progressives generally support social democratic policies, primarily when it comes to social welfare, civil rights, and the regulation of markets.
Populists will openly support the rights and authority of the common person while disparaging the wealth and power of the elite.
Conservatives support a smaller central government and more “traditional” social policies and laws.
Centrists oppose policies that are generally characterized as being from the “right” or “left” and tend to favor middle-ground resolutions and policies.
Nationalists are great patriots of their country, who would rather prioritize the needs of their own country over the needs of allies in diplomacy and foreign affairs. They also nearly always favor a strong or stronger military.
Catch-all parties are similar to centrist parties in that they refuse being characterized as “right” or “left”, but seek to unite the entire electorate under their banner through appealing to various demographics' most important concerns and preferred policies.
Isolationists would rather leave foreign states and countries to their own wars and destruction, and would much sooner avoid war altogether than get entangled in alliances and coalitions.
Communists base their philosophy off the works and lives of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin (and may be inspired by other communists from before the Apocalypse as well), favoring the abolition of social classes, the nationalization of domestic production, a one-party state, a command economy, and opposition to capitalism domestically and abroad.
Interventionists support a much more active foreign policy in making friends and allies with other states that share common interests and goals.
Expansionists favor the expansion of their country's influence and power, whether through military conquest, diplomacy, or economic domination, in nearby regions.
Centralists support the agglomeration of government powers and authority with the central government and, in a confederal or federal state, may advocate for the abolition of lower administrative districts altogether. They may face much more opposition in a confederal or federal state than otherwise.
Federalists support, in a centralist state or federalist state with a strong central government, the devolution of government powers from the central government to more local political entities and regions. In a confederal state, they support the strengthening of the federal government, but do not oppose the existence of lower administrative units.
Militarists advocate for the rapid expansion of the military or continued support of the military if it is already very strong.
Mormon parties support a state that actively promotes Mormon values.
Socialists promote popular ownership of the means of production, direct democracy, and secularism, and oppose authoritarian government policies.
Left-wing authoritarian parties support an authoritarian state that promotes social justice alongside political equality in an authoritarian manner.
Successionists are those that believe that their government is the rightful and legitimate heir to the legacy of the United States, and actively campaigns for the government to declare it so. At game start, only one party in the entire game is successionist: the Washington Club, an opposition party in the Confederation of the Chesapeake.
Monarchist parties support the institution or restoration of a monarchy in their country, or are staunch supporters of the current monarchy (if there is one).
Republican parties support the abolition of monarchical institutions if they exist, or are very strong supporters of the current republican form of government.
Fascists support a mixture of broad interventionism and expansionism, high to extreme levels of nationalism, economic autarky, and militarism, while combining elements of anti-communism and anti-capitalism.
Government types:
A federal government balances the powers and authority of the state between the central government and the various subordinate states and administrative regions.
A centralist or unitary government concentrates all state authority in the central government. Lower administrations and districts exist, but their powers, boundaries, and purpose are dictated by the central government.
A confederal government hands most domestic power and authority to the various state and/or regional governments. The central government dominates matters of diplomacy and the military, but cannot do much else.
A presidential state has a head of state who is elected separately from the legislature and has powers over the military and the executive branch.
A parliamentary state has a head of state who is elected alongside and as a member of the legislature.
A republic is a state in which the people elect, directly or indirectly, their representatives both in government and abroad.
A plutocratic or merchant republic is a republic in which the wealthy usually monopolize government power and authority.
A proletarian dictatorship is a state dominated by Marxist-Leninist theory, seeking to abolish social classes and introduce public ownership of property and production via a totalitarian model.
An absolute monarchy is a government ruled by a single person in the style of a monarch, with hereditary succession, who rules with absolute power.
A constitutional or parliamentary monarchy is a state in which a monarch rules as head of state, but performs no governmental duties, and is purely ceremonial; an elected body or office (President, the legislature, etc.) carry out the responsibilities and powers of the state.
A presidential dictatorship is a modified form of government that can exist in any presidential republic, whereby the current head of state/government controls the government with an authoritarian hand, either altering civil law or ignoring it altogether to fit his needs. He is able to get away with this either through broad popular support, with the help of the military, or both.
A socialist republic is a democratic form of government which reflects the values, goals, and policies typical of 20th and 21st century socialism. The government can either allow or disallow other political parties, but does not abridge freedom of speech or other democratic ideals.
A military junta dictatorship is a state that is controlled by a council or grouping of high-ranking military leaders who rule with absolute power. A military dictatorship is a modified form of this government where only a single military officer rules.
A fascist dictatorship seeks to mold the country into a one-party state, expand the military (which plays a central role to fascist ideology), and achieve autarky through militaristic and economic expansion; fascists also favor a mixed economy and will generally promote economic equality to a certain extent. Fascists prioritize order above all other ideals, and will generally favor aggressive expansion and war if it will lead to greater prosperity.
A theocratic state is one led by a religious leader or leaders, who generally dictate policy and the bureaucracy along religious lines, whatever they may be.
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