Age of Steam: Conflict and Prosperity(Interest Check)

[Phidius]

Europe, 1872. Typical of its tumultuous nature, the European continent is in upheaval. As a result of the Franco-Prussian, which finally ended in 1871, a new empire has formed in Central Europe: The German Empire. Though both countries have ceased hostilities and are working on rebuilding after consequences of war, the political situation of the whole continent is tense.

Further south in the Ottoman Empire, there is talk of rebellion and independence in Serbia and Romania. The Kingdom of Italy, only a decade old, is still finding its way in the world. The British Empire continues to grow and expand its holdings around the world, as does the vast Russian Empire, stretching from Eastern Europe, through Asia, with holdings in North America. Spain continues its business in the New World. The fairly new country on the North American continent, the Confederate States of America, prospers 18 years after its victory against its northern neighbor, the United States of America.

This is also a time of amazing technological marvels. Electricity has been discovered and is being harnessed, the first light bulbs being produced by different inventors simultaneously, though Thomas Edison claims the patent. It is an age of steam power and progress, and the state that puts enough time and recourses into the sciences may well become master of the battlefields of the future.

You will take the helm of one of the European nations and will have the opportunity to work towards the betterment of your people, or for personal glory. You have all the tools of a great leader at your disposal: cunning, deception, diplomacy, and of course war. Manipulate domestic issues and those of your neighbours, and perhaps you will be the next great European superpower!

This is a Steampunk styled game of world domination based around Europe. We're starting in the year 1872, just shortly after the creation of the unified German state. The Industrial Revolution has happened, and technology is on the rise, waiting for new and brilliant minds to take advantage of it for civilian and military applications.

Each player will be required to write up a detailed nation description. You are allowed some creativity in your nations leaders, as well as other details as we will be breaking from history. Most nations at this point of time were Monarchies of some sort.

You will be required to write about your diplomatic endeavors, your battles, your political functions and internal and external affairs. You will be required to work things out amongst yourselves in the OOC. If there are major points of contention, I will step in and make a final decision as GM.

Technology, as it stands now:
-Steam Engines are in use on the railways and off in the form of heavy machinery.
-Dirigible style airships are becoming more common throughout Europe for freight as well as pleasure craft. Their applications in war are just starting to be explored.
-Breech loading cartridge firing bolt action rifles are a recent invention, and becoming swiftly common.
-Artillery is in the form of various howitzers and, Dr. Richard J. Gatling's rapid fire gun has been in use for some years., with breech-loaders becoming increasingly common
-Horsemen would still be in use.
-Ironclads are becoming a more common sight on the water.

To improve your technology, you need to put time and money into specific areas of research. You could do it generally, and move everything along slowly, or specialize in certain ideas and come to them more quickly. I may guide, or even put a cap on certain strains of research if they seem too fast/powerful/completely ridiculous. Time will also slowly move along, years rolling on. I'll make posts about that sort of thing, to keep things easy.

Your profiles should include the following details:
Nations Name:
Leaders Name:
Leaders rise to power: (Heredetary position? Political coup? Violent coup? Election?)
Leaders Particulars: (Age, appearance, and anything else you might want. A picture is allowed.)
Estimated Population: (Try checking wikipedia. If you have colonies {Australia, Nigeria} try to note them seperately)
Type of Government: (Dictatorship, Constitutional Monarchy, Republic, etc.)
Status of Military: (Basic numbers, technological advancement, support {cavalry, artillery, other} etc.)
Status of Navy: (In essence, the same as above. Numbers of men/ships, how advanced are the ships, if at all.)
Major Imports/Exports: (Fairly obvious. What do you have in abundance? What do you need?)
Recent National History: (the last decade or more, if there's anything you wish to add that I haven't mentioned above)
Economic Status: (Is your economy growing, shrinking, stagnant, etc.)
Other: (Anything I've missed or you want to add.)

[Mustakrakish]

I have never participated in an RP like this before, and I am willing to step up to the plate. Are we required to use nations that exist during this time period, or are we allowed some creative freedom in creating our countries? Also, say we are required to use non-fictional states, are we able to alter the details of their government and inner workings a little bit? For example, perhaps England is not a constitutional monarchy, but a dictatorship?

[Phidius]

Ok...no on the imaginary nations. Here are the nations you can play: England, France, Germany(I'll be playing this), Russia, the Ottoman Empire, the United States of America, the Confederate States of America, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, China, and Japan.

Yes, you are allowed to switch up the inner workings, though not to an extent that the country isn't recognizable as what it is(ex. Britain as a, say, Socialist state: NO).

[Sponsored content]