Rise of Empires: Europe at War

[Revan529]

Rise of Empires: Europe at War
A Forum Game by Riccardo93 and Sneakyflaps

​

Hello everyone. I am Riccardo93/Revan529 and I, along with my intrepid and dutifully diligent co-GM Sneakyflaps, am pleased to announce our latest forum game, Rise of Empire: Europe at War. Set in the backdrop of the Holy League, the Northern War, rising discontent in England, absolutism in France, and decline in Spain, our game opens on the first of January, 1686.

Rules and Procedures​

Much like other games of this ilk, you are the (almost) undisputed leader of your nation, and you will send your orders to both myself and Sneaky; from there, those orders are into actions and voila, we have an update. These orders can range from the mundane (build a road from point A to point B) to the militaristic (Dispatch 10,000 men (6,000 infantrymen and 4,000 cavalrymen) to besiege Pavia), and can be as vague or as precise as you wish (though I highly suggest favouring the latter, as GMs can and on occasion will invoke the monkey’s paw and wreak havoc on nations with highly interpretable orders).

A turn will consist of, at a minimum, a single update spanning twelve months; however, mini updates and other fluff will at times be presented to either go more into depth regarding a particular situation, or to announce a changing situation (the Pope dying, etc.). Typically, in the event of a mini update, nations participating in it should send in an extra set of orders (the type and amount to be defined per situation) whenever such an update is planned.

What are the goals of the players? Whatever goals you set for yourself. Attempt to make Charles II the best Spanish King? Well, you can try. You can, and are encouraged, to create alliances, build, expand, and generally improve infrastructure, the quality and size of your army and navy, and guide your nation through this turbulent era. However, keep in mind that your actions as leader of the nation have not only external, but internal consequences; as such, players may request to know the general sentiment of their people; however, it cannot be stressed enough that it is not the GM giving you information, but advisers, confidants, and sycophants to your leader, and what they know (or what they don’t) can depend on a simple dice roll.

Orders​

Every turn (barring special events, mini updates, and the like), players will submit a set number of orders. There are two distinct types of regular orders, Normal and War. Normal Orders are used to conduct simple administrative, bureaucratic, and diplomatic missions; with these, you will govern the internal affairs of your empire, from legislating to enacting new taxes to levying a new army. War Orders are used in three situations: to contend with internal rebellions, in the prosecution of a war against another state, or in taking any hostile action against another nation, even those with whom you haven’t declared hostilities to (for example, you may issue carte blanche's to pirates against Spain using war orders).

There is however a type of special order: overseas orders. This allows all European nations with a sea-connection to (or at least attempt to) colonise the world.

The Great Powers of Europe, the most influential, affluent, and generally strong nations have a limit of two normal orders and two war orders, whilst all other nations receive only one of each.

GMs
SneakyFlaps: Eastern Europe and Stats
Riccardo93: Western Europe and Maps

Nation Selection​

Quite unlike my previous game, Sneaky and I agreed that the best way to run this outfit would be from a distinctly Eurocentric point of view; as such, only nations in eastern or western Europe (including the Ottoman Empire) can be played; a more or less complete list of available nations is provided here:


When signing-up, it is suggested that you take at least one Great Power (largely those nations not Italicised) and at least one other power; you can however request something along the lines of:

1. Kingdom of France
2. Duchy of Saxony
3. Ottoman Empire
4. Kingdom of Portugal

Depending on the order of your preference, and the importance of the nation, you’re places are determined from there.

Stats​

Unlike several other nation-based role-playing games, nation stats will not be immediately available to everyone. Let us say I’m playing England, and I want to know how much I’m making every year; I need only message Sneakyflaps and he will provide me with all relevant information. Now let’s assume I am also at war with France, and I want to know what I’m dealing with, so I ask Mr Flaps for that information, which he provides - however, due to this system, the numbers I receive may be wildly inaccurate (I may learn that France has 85,000 troops raised in Normandy when in truth they have only 10,000, or that they are making more or less than they are). Such information depends on the favour of dice rolls and the GMs discretion. You can at least trust on the stats and information for you nation being (reasonably) accurate.

IRC
​

Being on IRC is not a requirement, though it is recommended, for ease of communication between players and GMs (particularly in coordinating campaigns and the like).

The Official channel of Rise of Empires is #RoE_Main
The Alternative channel is #CrossandCompass (because we're all lazy and want to use the established one)

1) Go to ColdFront using the link above.
2) Choose the Flash or Java Client.
3) Create a screen name.
4) The client will auto-add you to #coldfront. Leave this channel.
5) In the command box type "/join #RoE_Main" or "/join #CrossandCompass."

You should then be logged in and ready to chat.

 

[Revan529]

The Nations of the World, A.D. 1686

Please note, this map is not entirely finsihed; if any corrections are needed, or if you have any suggestions, feel free to PM me.

Player List​

GMed by Revan
Kingdom of England, Scotland, and Ireland: Watercress
Dutch Republic: Andre
Kingdom of France: Duke of Britain
Kingdom of Spain: Maxwell
Kingdom of Portugal: Gorganslayer
Duchy of Savoy: Shynka
Papal States: Noco
Grand Duchy of Tuscany: Bakerydog
Serene Republic of Venice: Easternbloc
Serene Republic of Genoa: Ironhide
Swiss Confederation: Dutchguy
Serene Republic of Lucca: Corman
Duchy of Modena and Reggio: Clophiroth
Duchy of Lorraine: Dadarian
Duchy of Mantua: Ab Ovo

GMed by Sneakyflaps
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Revan/Riccardo
Kingdom of Sweden: Alexander
Duchy of Brandenburg-Prussia: Aedan
Tsardom of Russia: Baboush
Archduchy of Austria: Jeeshadow
Ottoman Empire: Ranger
Kingdom of Denmark and Norway: Sealy
Duchy of Saxony: XVG
Duchy of Bavaria: Artistove
Republic of Ragusa: Terraferma

 

[Revan529]

The Great Powers of Europe, A.D. 1686​

Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales​

For the last 83 years the Stuarts has ruled the kingdoms of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, uniting the British Isles under their crowns and ending centuries of warfare. The price has however not been light, neither for the Kingdoms nor for the Stuart family. The biggest conflict came to a head when Charles I came into open war with his parliament, when Charles, an absolutist to the core, refused to accept parliamentary restrictions on his power. This led to a power struggle between the two powers which resulted in a civil war that lasted 9 years, during which king Charles I was deposed and executed.

During the next decade, the English was ruled by Oliver Cromwell until his death; shortly thereafter, Charles I’s son, also named Charles, returned to England to reclaim the throne, which resulted in the restoration of monarchy in 1660. The next 25 years saw the British Isles at peace internally with Charles II as monarch, which continued until his death, upon which his brother James, a staunch Catholic took the throne. Rebellion quickly broke out, led by James Scott (the Duke of Monmouth and Charles II’s bastard son) – he was quickly captured and executed. This however brought no relief to the new King, as further uprisings continued and popular discontent soared, so much so that in 1685, James II raised a standing army, against tradition, to guard himself, and used his power to appoint Catholics to the army. He abused his power and allowed his officers to avoid swearing in with accordance to the Test Act, and as such when parliament objected, it was disbanded on prorogued, not to return during his reign.

Kingdom of Spain​

Following the Thirty Years War, whilst it was not immediately clear how weakened the Spanish Empire had become, it was evident that their military dominance had finally been broken. The Thirty Years War was however only the beginning the Spanish decline: the Franco-Spanish war lasted another 11 years, which in the end resulted in a loss of land from Spain, and for France had finally cut the road between the Spanish Netherlands and the remaining Spanish holding.

Further blows were dealt to the empire in 1647 and 1653, when the Spanish government was forced to declare bankruptcy. Reforms were desperately needed but none would come, as the nobility refused to give ground on any financial or tax reforms. And following several defeats to the Portuguese rebels, Spain was forced to acknowledge Portugal as an independent kingdom.

Still more trouble was to come to the Spanish Empire in 1665, with the death of Philip IV and his son Charles II succeeded to the throne. Thoroughly unfit to rule, a regency council was made for him, which led to many years of court intrigue and further destabilized Spain. His reign has also been a disaster as the nation has faced continued problems, hitting a low point from 1677 with famine, plague, natural disasters, and economic upheaval and signs of the end of strife first appearing in this year. This has left the already weakened empire further strained, with a poor economy and civil strife. The biggest problem that faces the Spanish court is however none of these, but that of its king Charles II. Charles II has been unable to produce and heir, and at this point it has become clear that he will produce none: as such the Spanish court looks for potential successors, while William of Orange, Louis of France and Leopold of Austria look with hungry eyes towards its empire.

Kingdom of Sweden​

During the Thirty Years War, the Kingdom of Sweden emerged as a great power of Europe, becoming what is now considered the Swedish Empire. It was the military genius of Gustav II Adolf, as well as the state behind him which was continuously able to find funds for his war in Germany, that allowed Sweden to rise out of its previously poor place. However, the next few decades would test the Swedish monarchy and state, as the successor of the great Gustav Adolf, Christina, lacked his restraint and ability, and instead spent vast amount of money. This continued until the end of her reign, and the ascension of Charles X Gustav, who proved to be an able politician and was able to bring stability back to Sweden, whilst the debt accrued by his predecessor was greatly reduced; however, hungry for glory, he started a war against Poland, commonly known as the Second Northern War.

The Polish war quickly spiralled out of control, with Denmark, Russia, Austria, the Dutch as well as the Prussians eventually joining the war. As such it proved a large expense for Sweden and when King Charles X died in 1660, the regency council for his son, Charles XI, quickly moved to end the war. The eventual peace was the Treaty of Oliva, with the help of French mediation was reached a deal favourable to the Kingdom of Sweden. The treaty had left Sweden as the largest of Northern Kingdoms, and granted them vast amounts of lands.

During the regency of King Charles XI, corruption became rampant, which resulted in the Swedish power being hired by foreign states, the government was further known as slothful and careless, lacking proper talent among the statesmen. The first of these happened already in 1661 with the Treaty of Fontainebleau, where the Swedish in exchange for a considerable sum of money, supported the French candidate for the Polish throne.

Following this Sweden was torn between either supporting or opposing Louis XIV in his attempts to control the Spanish Netherlands. The Swedish originally opposed Louis XIV, and joined the triple alliance. But in 1672, the Swedish changed position and signed a treaty with Louis XIV, where the French would pay 400.000 Riskdaler per annum during peace times, and 600,000 in wartime. In 1674 Louis XIV called upon Sweden to fulfil their part of the agreement which sparked the Scanian war. While Sweden could never have gained the concession they did on their own, the Swedish king gained a strong dislike and anti-French bias from now on.

When King Charles XI returned to Sweden, he called together the Riksdag of the Estates, since then he has been able to restore the Swedish economy, as well as install an absolute regime in Sweden. As such Sweden has finally had a proper heir to Gustav Adolf.

Ottoman Empire​

The Ottoman Empire has faced a period of stability since 1612 and the reign of Murad IV, who asserted his authority and recaptured Iraq in 1639. 8 years after his death, a period which became known as the sultanate of Women came to power, where the mothers of Sultans exercised power on their behalf. Following this the Köprülü era came to be, where the control of the Empire was in the hands of a sequence of Grand Viziers. This rule saw initial military success but it came to a disastrous end in 1683, during the siege of Vienna where the army was beaten back by the Catholic forces. The Ottoman Empire is now in an increasingly dangerous position as the Holy League marches through Ottoman Hungary.

Russian Tsardom​

The Russians Tsars proved to be weak and powerless in the early 1600s; the new dynasty, the Romanovs, was not what was hoped, and in fact power within the realm continued to slip into the hands of others. Several wars occurred between Russia and Poland-Lithuania, one of them ending in the unsuccessful attempt to regain Smolensk in 1632. In 1649, a new legal code was introduced, which gave landlords complete control over their peasants. It furthermore made serfs who attempted to escape from their lords state fugitives. It also increased taxes and regulations in wake of the times of trouble that had preceded it. Russia also continued its growth with adding Eastern Ukraine to its empire. Another large issue the Russian Empire faced was the rise of Nikon, who initiated many reforms and brought great instability to Russia. In 1671, Stepan Razin led an uprising against the Russians. The uprising caught Moscow by surprise and it allowed the rebels to quickly take over the Volga River Valley, it was eventually put down by Royal troops. Now Russia is ruled by two monarchs, Ivan IV and Peter, both under regency.

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth​

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth faced a large revolt in 1648, one that lasted for 9 years and is a part of what is known in Poland as the Deluge. The revolt was just the beginning of the issues that the Commonwealth faced; in 1655 the Swedish invaded the

Commonwealth which sparked a large war across the east, involving most states in the surrounding areas. The Deluge was particularly devastating for the Polish Commonwealth as roughly a third of the population was killed during the five years of war. This was

the first time that proper inland territory had been attacked and it had left the kingdom devastated. The serfdom-based economy of the Commonwealth has done nothing to help the Polish state recover. There are several rival factions which are now fighting within the kingdom, which has left it devastated and unable to recover its previous power, the kings has lost a lot of power. Intolerance has become a part of Poland, which has resulted in several groups making their special statuses confirmed, only to further divide the nation. Poland has however had a moment to breathe and has since declared war on the Ottoman Empire, joining the Holy League initiated by Pope Innocent XI. It was during the Second Siege of Vienna that the Polish played a vital role, and are now engaged to push the Ottomans further back towards Constantinople.

Duchy of Brandenburg-Prussia​

Following the Peace of Westphalia, Brandenburg gained Minden, Halberstadt, Farther Pomerania, and the duchy of Magdeburg. In 1657 the electors of Brandenburg also managed to be released from the Prussian vassalage to Poland. The population of Brandenburg and these new territories had been devastated in the war, and much of the Great Elector’s reign has been spent rebuilding and improving the realm. As such he opened his land to immigration of Protestants from all over Europe, as well as made the first standing army of Brandenburg Prussia.

Kingdom of France​

France ended the Thirty Years War as the dominant power on the continent. King Louis has reigned as King of France since 1643, and has shaped much of Europe and politics to his liking since then. A firm adherent to the notion of the divine rights of king to rule with absolute and total power, he has initiated several policies to help cement his authority: he has ordered his nobles to attend him at Versailles regularly, to ensure that they are not off on their estates plotting rebellions. King Louis XIV has also sought to bring religious uniformity on his kingdom, having only just repealed the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and allowed the practice of Dragonnades since 1681, causing many Protestants to leave the country. Louis XIV has carried out several wars such as the War of Devolution and the Franco-Dutch War, this has brought several territorial gains to France, but at the same time has caused much opposition in Europe to France and Louis XIV regime. As such the League of Augsburg was formed to oppose Louis and his aggressive policies. Another issue that the regime of Louis XIV has caused is a large debt which has resulted due to the building of Versailles.

Dutch Republic​

The Dutch gained their formal independence in 1648, after 80 years of war against the Spanish. The next 40 years would prove to be a golden age for the Dutch. The Dutch merchant ships are dominating world trade, the county of Holland is the wealthiest and most urbanized region in the world, and the republic has made the world’s first stock exchange in 1602. The Dutch Republic does however face many different issues. The leading factions within the society are at odds, with William of Orange having been made a Stadtholder, following the murder of Johan de Witt in 1672. The republic has also begun facing financial issues as they must continue to field a large army to contain France and the expansionist policies of Louis XIV. Furthermore, several wars with England has proven costly, and the rise of the French and English colonies have also proved fierce competition. The Dutch are no longer as strong as they were merely 20 years ago.

Archduchy of Austria​

While the Habsburgs lost power, the Austrian Habsburgs fared far better than their Spanish relatives. While the Austrians might not hold the same control of the empire as they aimed for, they are still sitting strong in Austria, Bohemia and their remaining lands. Following the Swedish hostility towards the Polish Commonwealth the Austrians signed an alliance with Poland, resulting in the Austrians joining their side in the Second Northern War. Originally Leopold was favorable towards Louis XIV of France, but as Louis continued his aggression towards the Dutch, this began to turn. Eventually Leopold joined the alliance against Louis to prevent further French aggression, taking part in the Franco-Dutch war.

In 1663, Leopold made an important change to the constitution in the Empire. He made the imperial diet become a body permanently in session at the Regensburg, which would now serve as a tool for consolidation of Habsburg power under the reign of Leopold. Leopold was furthermore able to increase power in his own lands, while losing Imperial authority. He has also since joined the League of Augsburg. In 1683, the Ottoman Empire once again attacked Vienna and put it under siege like they had done before. This sparked a new war between the Austrians and the Ottoman Empire. The siege was eventually relieved with the help of the Holy League and Polish forces, which gave the Holy League a decisive victory. Now the Austrians are pushing the Turks back in Hungary.

 

[Andre Massena]

1. France
2. Dutch Republic
3. Saxony
4. Savoy

 

[bakerydog]

1. Tsardom of Russia
2. Duchy of Brandenburg-Prussia
3. Kingdom of Sweden
4. Kingdom of Denmark and Norway

 

[Dexander]

1. Kingdom of Sweden
2. Dutch Republic
3. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
4. Duchy of Brandenburg-Prussia

 

[aedan777]

1. Duchy of Brandenburg-Prussia
2. Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth
3. Serene Republic of Venice
4. Duchy of Bavaria

 

[jeeshadow]

1. Archduchy of Austria
2. Duchy of Saxony
3. Dutch Republic
3. Serene Republic of Venice

 

[Gorganslayer]

1.) portugal
2.) poland-lithuania
3.) England, Scotland, Ireland
4.) Duchy of Austria

 

[Duke of Britain]

1. Kingdom of France
2. Duchy of Bavaria
3. Habsburg Monarchy (Austria)
4. Kingdom of Portugal
5. Duchy of Saxony

I'll be satisfied with any of these. If I get into the game, feel free to put me in any of them, although France gets the obvious priority.

 

[XVG]

1. Sweden
2. Saxony
3. Tuscany
4. Bavaria

 

[Maxwell500]

1. Kingdom of Spain
2. Kingdom of England, Scotland and Ireland
3. Habsburgische Erblande (Archduchy of Austria)
4. Tsardom of Russia

 

[Clophiroth]

1- Kingdom of Span
2- Archduchy of Austria
3- Kingdom of Sweden
4- Duchy of Saxony

 

[Watercress]

1. England, Scotland and Ireland
2. Papal States
3. Genoa
4. Venice

 

[baboushreturns]

1.Russia
2.France
3. Portugal
4. Brandenburg-Prussia

 

[Ranger900]

1. Dutch Republic
2. Ottoman Empire
3. Saxony
4. Savoy

 

[alexander23]

1)Kingdom of sweden (aka Swedish empire)
2)Dutch Republic
3)Bradenburg-Prussia
4)Grand-Duchy of Tuscany.

 

[EasternBloc]

1. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
2. Venice
3. Papal States
4. Ottoman Empire

 

[alkatraz777]

1.Ottomans
2.Commonwealth
3.Russia
4.Venice

 

[Shynka]

1. Kingdom of France
2. Savoy
3. Swiss Confederation
4. POPE