PON GC - Prussia Defiant

[Jajusha]

So, going to give a humble attempt at Prussia in the GC after some test games.

Prussia at 1850 is between major powers. Austrian relations seem good, but we do plan to expand southwards sooner or later, and the situation is always tense with both France and Russia. Goals will be to unify with northern Germany as soon as possible, and then southern Germany.

Starting with our economy: Steel, man. goods and chemicals is where we are the strongest, and we can even export them to stimulate the economy, and we stop selling coal (as our production deficit won't allow it for now). But wood, cotton, textile, dyes, iron and above all mineral production is lacking. I decide to focus on minerals, as they are needed for our steel, mech parts and arms factories (and steel is later needed for man. good). We have 2 suitable regions for mineral extraction, and we could build a total of 4 extra mines, but the poor population in Braunschweig lowers this number to only 1 mine for now. So be it, we order its construction immediately.

We have a decent military, but with more holes then swiss cheese. Our navy is missing ships, our Garrisons are missing men and artillery. Transport and light warship replacements are ordered, for we plan to explore some colonial ventures as soon as possible. We will also need a new trade fleet, but we lack the funds to start its construction right now.

This is our target for colonial expansion, Cotonou. As we are 100% dependent of North America to buy the needed cotton for our textile factories, we will colonize and build cotton farms here in the Gulf of Guinea. There is also coffee and Tropical fruits nearby, so, expansion will be a matter of time.

 

[Stonewall]

Excellent start. Please keep us updated and don;t worry if not a lot of people are replying to you at the start. If you write it, they will come.

 

[Jajusha]

1850 - Early February

Tension near my border. Austria has just declared war against the Swiss confederation. No details over the reason, austrians report that switzerland violated some obscure treaty from 1615. Either way, the terrain is very dificult, but Austria already has the venerable Joseph Radetzky von Radetz ready for the invasion.

Our naval industry is working at full steam both in Hamburg and Westpreussen, and the new trade fleet composed of 6 commerce clippers has just received green light

 

[Raen]

Interesting read so far. Please keep going!

 

[von Sachsen]

Cool! But to stop such things as the Austrian war on the Swiss from happening in the future, just go into the /Diplomacy/40-Forge-Casus-Belli and change the cost to 21. It basically removes the ability to declare war without a crisis as there can be no CB. Otherwise I have found Austria and S-P in particular tend to go on a rash of stupid wars.

 

[Thormodr]

Very nice start.

I shall read with interest.

 

[Jajusha]

1850 - Late May
Had to order the shutdown of 3 mechanical part factories as mineral shortage worsens. There's a high demand worldwide for mineral right now, and my regular trade partners are starting to stockpile instead of selling them. Can't let my steel furnaces shut down because of this. If needed i'll shut down arms factories instead.

Cotton is also at critically low levels, started to purchase textiles directly to the UK.

Invested at a sawmill at Konigsberg, as the demand worldwide is high, and Konigsberg is finishing its rail yard.

Been using my diplomats to "seed" the desire of unification in Hannoverian people, so far, they are receptive to the idea.

Finally, a Crisis has erupted between me and the USA over Samoa, a remote and undeveloped location. I start by calling the support of my local allies, both Austria and the german minors, raising the stake but giving me just cause (i was the initiator of the crysis, as you see my "portrait" on the left. The -1 on the second icon means just cause was on the USA side.). After having just cause i gave a press conference, exposing the American ruse but at the same time angering them as they threatened with mobilization. Finaly, just as my diplomats presented "official" documents that showed Prussias right to Samoa the USA issued an ultimatum, and eventually war.

Unjustified war of course and i won over 500 prestige while they only 50. Prussia isn't too bothered by it. We have an ocean between us and while their navy is superior, the puny american army is no match to Prussian discipline and any amphibious disembark attempt is doomed from the start.

 

[nim8or]

Where do I find the 40-Forge-Casus-Belli file to edit?

 

[Jajusha]

Where do I find the 40-Forge-Casus-Belli file to edit?

Your Pride directory/VGN/GameData/Diplomacy

I don't think ill change it for now, going to try to see how the game develops with the current patch incarnation. I do think austria has some claims on switzerland to begin with, i'll check it tomorrow.

 

[Jajusha]

1850 - Late June

Have enough for a second manufactured goods factory, Berlin will be the target, as it has enough pop and rails. As it mainly uses steel (that i produce plenty) won't have troubles keeping it open.
Also aproved the roads project, and will connect my last province to Russia with the road network decision.

Used the good weather to reform my army. This is how my eastern and southern frontier look like:

Western:

And the austro-switss war is ending:

 

[Stuyvesant]

Excellent! A full-on PON AAR! I'll be following along! The diplomacy system (which I absolutely do not understand yet) sounds intriguing and very different from the usual Paradox fare. Good luck building up Prussia and getting ready for the eventual settlement of differences with Austria.

 

[PSJK]

Nice start. Definately will be following this!

 

[Jajusha]

1850 - September

In an act of provocation, the Americans brought a transport and an escort fleet to our shores, but the Atlantic crossing wasn't kind on them. We saw ripped sails on many of them, so we knew they weren't in full strength. We order 4 of our frigates to intercept them before they try to disembark in Hamburg, but the Americans turn around and flee back to the Atlantic. I plan to fortify Hamburg in the next year, it is out biggest harbor and would be a severe blow to lose it. Also, we got word from Hannover in that they accept german unification!

Our government also recently approved sewer systems. We plan to implement it immediately in Braunschweig as we desperately need the population increase there to expand our mineral extraction.

Our textile industry has halted all production. The conflict with america means we don't have any source of cotton. Expansion into Africa is now even more imperative, we order the recruitment of the 1st Colonial Brigade, composed of 2 colonial infantry regiments and some field artilery. They will ensure our future cotton production will not be disrupted. Its still not decided if a leader will go to Africa with them.

 

[Jajusha]

1850 - December

We have a new Minister President, Otto Von Manteuffel.

And we started the construction of a railroad in the Dortmund region, to connect Central germany to its western part without having to rely on foreign rail. Being able to rail an army from any point of Germany to another is of the utmost importance.

 

[Jajusha]

1851 - February

Good news on the diplomatic front Hessen-Kassel and Hessen-Darmstadt are both ready to accept german unification. This makes a total of 3 states openly accepting the idea of a great germany.

And what about the economic improvemens in this past year? Well, we managed to secure our supply of minerals with the construction of mines in central Germany, and right now we have all factories across Prussia working at 100%.

Finally, Prussias steel industry gets the credit it deserves in international press.

 

[devoncop]

Excellent...a campaign PON AAR........

Good luck with this...fascinating........... will be watching this avidly for tips!

 

[Jajusha]

Thanks to all the posters for their encouragement words.

1851 - June

Sewer system in Braunschweig has been completed, and we immediately order the construction of 1 more mineral mine (as the pop bonus we got from the sewers allows it) and 1 more steel furnace in western Prussia. Can't spend all the private funds steel exports are giving me currently, a true time of prosperity!

This brings us to Prussias colonial ventures. Firstly, we sent our newly built trade ships to the gulf of Guinea, they will be the ones responsible for the shipping of supplies to the region, and materials back to Prussia. Secondly, our brave colonial brigade arrived in Lome and they will overseer the construction of a safe anchorage and tropical fruit plantation there. Why Lome and not Cotonou as initially planed? Lome has a higher Colonial penetration, and sending supplies directly to Cottonou proved to be a hard task. Lome will become our base of operations, and from there, we will expand to the cotton and coffee rich lands when the colonial P. of those regions permits.

 

[loki100]

excellent to see a full campaign game ... I got a little lost though - are the colonial upstarts(tm) still at war with you or was that the sum total of their attempt?

 

[Jajusha]

excellent to see a full campaign game ... I got a little lost though - are the colonial upstarts(tm) still at war with you or was that the sum total of their attempt?

USA and Prussia are still at war, but they havent tried coming close to Prussia again. I see a fleet or two patroling the african coast from time to time, but we haven't had a battle yet.

 

[Panchito]

Good AAR, the quick updates are very nice.

Good luck!