[BOP 1884] Signup Thread
- Thread starter Almalexia
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I, too, will be doing the co-hosting thing. So yeah.
Amontadillo? said:
I'd like to drop please.
Denied. Nobody gets off Mr Bones' Wild Ride.
Paronomasia12
Master Knight
Shut up. You smell.Cocktus said:
INTRODUCTION TO BALANCE OF POWER
As we are introducing many new players and new faces to the game, I’d like to welcome you all, as well as give a bit of an introduction to how Balance of Power games work. First off, let me begin by welcoming our second co-host, Amontadillo, and thank him for graciously offering to help in getting BoP: 1884 started! Both Austupaio and Amontadillo are indispensable for the game to continue, so I am highly appreciative of all their efforts so far.
To begin our introduction, in essence Balance of Power attempts to simulate the realities and challenges of running a country, from command of military units and strategy, to guiding economic growth and prosperity, to struggling with domestic reform and internal dissent, all with one final aim: to outsmart and outmaneuver your rivals to become the most dominant nation, and set the balance of power at your whim. In gameplay and scope, it is similar to many Grand Strategy games: 1884 models itself consciously off Victoria 2, for example, however forum Balance of Power achieve a level of depth and control beyond any video game simulation by freeing itself from the bounds of computer scripts, artificial limiting mechanics, and abstractions by basing its processing through the efforts and imagination of your host(s). Thus, while us hosts may be imperfect at time, from math mistakes to simple forgetfulness, the players are emancipated from the limitations of the video game medium, and free to guide their country totally in whichever direction they like: in other words, you will have total and utter freedom to run a nation as you wish.
That said, the ways your country, and that of other countries, react to your rule and decision making is also significantly more dynamic, and “gaming” the system is much harder. To introduce the basics of BoP, the first question is simple: how then does one play? The answer is relatively simple as well, though players’ “styles” can vary enormously based on writing style, attention to detail, and tendency towards exposition or brevity: all Balance of Power games’ key to success in orders rely on a combination of allocation of resources, and the battle of wits between players, and between players and the host. The allocation of resources aspect is reasonably simple: the more you wish an action, a policy, a strategy to succeed, the more you allocate money and/or resources to ensure it is successfully carried out. Policies require money and resources to implement, and the sinews of war, is, as the proverb goes, infinite money.
That is only half the battle, however. The bulk of players’ orders is the exposition: convincing the host why their actions will succeed, through what means, by establishing what rules, by making what preparations, and so on. In essence, you must fight me, or the other hosts, to convince us in a sort of battle of wits where we pursue whatever loopholes we can find, and you close whatever holes in the plan you can think of in advance, and potentially lay out contingencies should one measure or another in your plan fail.
When you begin, your country will start with a number of issues confronting it, manifesting either in issues in your Turn 0 report, poor scores in one or more of your Country Card’s attributes, or in the issues and crises confronting the world at large, as well as your own personal ambitions and goals for your nation. How you solve them follows the general format above, but otherwise is entirely up to your imagination and discretion. The amount of writing, research, and background knowledge in various fields that you pour into your plans is up to you, and varies significantly between player to player. Some veteran players have orders stretching 15k words long: others who have been playing just as long have orders 500 words long. The average is typically somewhere between 2,000 to 5,000 words, but how much you feel like writing is entirely up to you. Neither will be penalized necessarily based on length of their orders: only keep in mind that better thought out plans are generally more likely to succeed.
Below, I’ll attach a couple examples of players’ orders from previous Balance of Power games to give you something of a guide and example to go off of when beginning your own orders for your first BoP game. Keep aware that Balance of Power games are rarely 100% serious, and ourselves and other players will throw in humor from time to time to lighten the mood or just for simple enjoyment. We play to have fun after all. Just remember that above all this is a game of competition, between yourselves and other players, and to an extent with us, the hosts. In terms of diplomacy, cooperate with others where beneficial, forge alliances for defense or attack, but always keep your own nation’s interests first, or you may find yourself prey to the manipulation of others or the anger of your own people. Welcome to Balance of Power.
Almalexia BoP 1910 Turn 1 Orders:
Outline:
Imperial Reformation
Marriage of Charles and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma
Creation of the Habsburg Outremer Legion
South Pole Expedition
Armored Car Production
Kingdom of Bohemia
Defense Plans
Expenditures:
400 Credits to Reforms
300 to Coronation and Wedding
50 to South Pole Expedition
200 Credits to Armored Car Development (Collaborating with Belgium, who is sending 15 IC)
100 Credits to Cavalry Reform (Unit: New Model Cavalry Divisions)
40 IC, 100 Credits to Berlin-Baghdad Railway (Collaborating with Italy, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire)
280 IC to 7 Infantry Divisions
Total IC Spent: 320
Total Credits spent: 1,150
Reform the Empire: Establish the Kingdom of Bohemia and the High Imperial Parliament:
400 Credits
Since the creation of the Dual-Monarchy in the mid-19th Century, the Austrian Empire was divided between the Kingdom of Hungary, dominated by the Hungarians, but ruling over other minorities such as Croatians and Ruthenians, and the Austrian Germans, who presided over a much more diverse array of ethnicities and religious groups. Under this system, according to the rights granted to the Hungarians as a result of the Compromise of 1867, their dissidence and pride was rewarded with autonomous rights and such influence within the Empire that they could lord over all the other minority groups at whim. Such has the Empire stood, and the conservatism of the Hungarian lords (whose rule is assured by the far more limited suffrage in the Kingdom) has held us back: but no longer.
At the insistence of the heir of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, as well as the sensibilities of the next in line, Archduke Charles, the Empire will be reformed. The Czechs of Bohemia long have yearned for the recognition of their nation, and this will be given to them, for their lands fall entirely under the jurisdiction of the Austrian Empire, and ultimately whatever the objections of the Hungarians, it is our decision alone. The action is relatively painless, in any case, as they already operate under a parliament of their own, the Moravian Diet: the proclamation is recognition of the rights of the Czech people and their contribution to the Empire, and accord them influence accordingly. Distinct Bohemian units will be raised or otherwise designated, but will remain under the unified command of the Austrian Army. To appease the Hungarians, however, the crown of Bohemia will not be laid upon the head of the Emperor, but that of the Archduke Charles, the next in line, as Franz Ferdinand's morganatic marriage leaves his line a dead end for the dynasty. The Empire will remain Austro-Hungarian, but the Trialist theory will govern its affairs from henceforth.
This will come at short-term expense of the Austrian Empire, but the creation and recognition of the Kingdom of Bohemia will not be entirely without conditions. To accommodate the new Kingdom, and to streamline administration across the entirety of the Empire, on this occasion the High Imperial Parliament shall be established, replacing the ad-hoc and provisional Delegations (with their associated byzantine complexity) that once decided common Imperial law, to ensure no one Kingdom/ethnic group can hold a unilateral stranglehold over the affairs of the entire Empire. Each Kingdom will provide delegates drawn from their own parliaments for annual meetings of the High Imperial Parliament, presided over by the Emperor, who will discuss matters of foreign affairs, common trade law, and internal domestic affairs, as well as regularize financial matters and avoid the usual ten year political crises.
In return for the recognition of the Kingdom of Bohemia, we explicitly expect their support in further internal reorganization of the Empire in following years, in return for continued good treatment of the Slavic people within the Empire and abroad, and indeed we hope they will recognize the Habsburgs as champions and protectors of the Slavic nations. Their support in the High Imperial Parliament to further liberal economic and social laws across the Empire is expected, and in their own best interests, but their loyalties, won from their recognition not by rabble-rousing or revolutionary fervor, but by the pure benevolence of the crown, will be requested at a later date.
Coronation and Marriage of Archduke Charles to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma
300 Credits
With the coronation of Archduke Charles as Prince Charles of Bohemia, his grooming for eventual assumption of state must begin. Most importantly, in lieu of the right of Franz Ferdinand's children to succession of the crown, responsibility lies upon Charles to continue the venerable line of the Habsburg family. To this end, we have chosen the Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, a beautiful and strong-willed woman, and together we hope the two will lead the Empire to a brighter and stronger future. Their coronation will follow shortly afterward, and we desire to make this an event of particular splendor, as celebration of the newfound Kingdom of Bohemia, linked intimately and unmistakeably with the Habsburg family, indistinguishable and unbreakable in mutual commitment.
South Pole Expedition:
50 Credits
It is time we made our appearance on the truly world stage, and make our first landmark steps beyond Europe. In the previous century we had made notable achievements in catching up to the rest of the European colonial powers in exploration, discovering Franz Josef Land in the Far North, and circumnavigating the globe in the Novara Expedition. Knowledge from these previous, long distance and polar expeditions shall be put to use, as well as new technologies and methods employed for the last great Exploratory achievement left on Earth: reaching the geographic South Pole. The British already have a head start in Antarctic exploration, so we must prepare fastidiously and train our party relentlessly, using the glaciers of the High Alps, to prepare them for the long odyssey ahead, like nothing humanity has experienced before. Julius von Payer, the surviving leader of the North Pole Expedition, will also be consulted and serve as the expedition supervisor from the ship, coordinating supplies and pick up, as well as offering advice to the expedition leader and his men.
In addition to all the latest cold-weather gear and clothing, navigational devices, high nutrition preserved rations, as well as transportation. To attempt to reach the South Pole before seasonal climatic conditions become too severe, the team will attempt to reach it by specially prepared and modified automobiles, the best and most reliable we can fashion, and adapted to handle the snow and freezing temperatures. To ensure the expedition is not lost if the automobiles break down, however, they will also have backup sleds and dog teams to be transported upon an additional truck, to cover the rest of the distance at speed and haul the rest of the supplies. Success is of paramount importance, and should the team plant the Hapsburg Eagle on the South Pole, the Last Place on Earth, they will be celebrated throughout the Empire, and received by the Emperor personally to be awarded medals. For selection of team members, they must be of the utmost physical condition and specialized in critical expedition requirements, but as much as can reasonably be achieved be drawn from as diverse a cast from the Empire's peoples as possible. This should be symbolic, of mutual struggle being overcome through cooperation with our other nationalities to achieve everlasting fame.
Production:
280 IC for 7 Infantry Divisions to the (Habsburg) Outremer Legion
New Army: Outremer Legion
The Habsburg Outremer Legion (HOL) is inspired by the model of the French Foreign Legion, drawing from volunteers from all the territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Switzerland, and the German Empire, and anywhere the language of the Germans can be found spoken, as well as from any nation of Europe or North America who is willing to learn the language and has a desire for adventure. There are two requirements: the ability of every member to understand and speak German, to ensure rigorous unit cohesion and responsiveness, and total, unflinching personal loyalty to the Habsburg Crown, cultivated to ensure the peak of esprit-de-corps. Their duty is the defense of Christendom beyond the borders of the Empire, and the carrying of the banner of the Habsburgs to foreign shores to spread the true faith. The Legion is the Eagle, and it carries the crests of a dozen nations in its talons: with its mighty wings it shall carry the banner of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ever higher, and in doing be an inspiration for the whole of the Army. Ultimately, in its image the Austro-Hungarian Army will be recast, to make it the mightiest Army in Europe.
The Berlin-Baghdad Railway:
40 IC, 100 Credits
As part of the settlement with the Ottomans, Italy and Austria-Hungary are to assist in the construction of the yet incomplete landmark Berlin-Baghdad Railway, which will connect Mitteleuropa with the far center of Eastern trade in Baghdad, and thus bypass the Suez Canal. Italy has committed to assisting developments within the Ottoman Empire, and for my part I will focus on rail development along the route through my lands. Rail connections to the East have always been sparse compared to the west, particularly in the highly developed regions in Austria and Bohemia. With the threat of war in the Balkans looming, it seems just as prudent to develop our rail connections East for our own sakes as for those of the Ottomans. In addition, our recent friends, the Bulgarians, have agreed to assist in this venture, with the implicit agreement being its use to allow us to swiftly aid them with economic, materiel, and military supplies. Thus we will focus our efforts on constructing a line from Vienna-Budapest-Sofia-Constantinople, supplementing or expanding existing lines where possible.
Armored Car Development:
200 Credits
Austria-Hungary has always been known for hosting some of the most legendary cavalry in Europe, from the Hungarian Hussars to Polish lancers to Austrian dragoons, cuirassiers, and uhlans. The world has changed much since their heyday in the 18th and 19th Centuries, but nonetheless they remain a potent force in the field, and rely on their courage to break the lines of the enemy and to monitor their every movement. Recent developments in automobiles by local Imperial industries, however, have caught the interests of our most forward thinking military men, who have caught the ear of Prince Charles and Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand. Using these as a platform for mobile machineguns, we can establish parity of firepower between our cavalry and infantry divisions, or even outmatch them, while still sacrificing none of their mobility and speed. To jumpstart our armored car industry, we are committing Kronen to fund research, and partnering Daimler with assistance from Belgian automobile and armored car producers, who will help with producing the industrial parts and machinery as well as research and design.
Cavalry Reform:
100 Credits
It is not enough to simply tack armored cars into the midst of a rabble of cavalry and expect them to work in unison: our cavalry units must be reorganized and retrained to accommodate the new equipment, tactics, and strategy. Our crew in the armored vehicles must be able to communicate and coordinate with their horseborn compatriots in the midst of the noise and confusion of combat, and their inherent reduced visibility. Altogether, the armored cars shall be used to punch holes through the enemy's lines and plaster strongpoints with their rapid fire machineguns, while the cavalry rushes forward to exploit the gaps and overwhelm the enemy in close combat, shattering enemy units in the open before they can dig in. We will draw from the best cavalry traditions existing in Europe, combine them with the most cutting edge technology, and together, form a force both nimble and capable of massive hammer blows.
Military:
Rename Second Austrian Army to 1st Bohemian Army
Move First Hungarian Army to Lemburg, Galicia-Lodomeria
Defense Plans:
We anticipate should any attack come, it will be from the North-East along the Russian border, and the South-East along the Ottoman border. The North-East is of primary concern, particularly due to Russian requests for the ceding of Galicia to their Empire. Thus the 1st Hungarian Army will be transferred to Galicia-Lodomeria, with the command centered at the regional capital of Lemburg. In the case of war with Russia, all active units are to be sent North, while the 1st Hungarian retreats from the border and focuses on fortifying the main railheads. Their own rail network is weak and undeveloped, even compared to ours in Galicia, thus we must use our superior mobility to draw them into our borders and then spring the trap and encircle them, while using cavalry to monitor their advances, screen our offensives, and raid and disable their rail lines leading to the Front. The Russian bear may be massive, but if we are nimble and dance around them, we can dizzy them, cut off their supply routes, and knock them flat to the ground with a single mighty punch. Should they manage to push through Galicia before we can concentrate our forces for the encirclement of their main offensive and deliver the knockout punch, scorch the land, disable the railways behind us, and let them try to face us on the open Hungarian plain. In either situation, they are to be drawn in via a feint, allowed to pursue the resultant “break” in the line, then encircled and destroyed with heavy use of artillery, before being mopped up with infantry or cavalry.
The South-East is of far lower concern, and should the Ottomans be so bold to test the borders, the 2nd Hungarian and the 1st Austrian Armies should be sufficient to fend them off at the border. Once the initial attacks are repulsed, we can coordinate with our friends in Bulgaria, and potentially Romania and Greece, in mopping up their armies at the Front, then work together in pushing them back and out of Europe.
Outline:
Imperial Reformation
Marriage of Charles and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma
Creation of the Habsburg Outremer Legion
South Pole Expedition
Armored Car Production
Kingdom of Bohemia
Defense Plans
Expenditures:
400 Credits to Reforms
300 to Coronation and Wedding
50 to South Pole Expedition
200 Credits to Armored Car Development (Collaborating with Belgium, who is sending 15 IC)
100 Credits to Cavalry Reform (Unit: New Model Cavalry Divisions)
40 IC, 100 Credits to Berlin-Baghdad Railway (Collaborating with Italy, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire)
280 IC to 7 Infantry Divisions
Total IC Spent: 320
Total Credits spent: 1,150
Reform the Empire: Establish the Kingdom of Bohemia and the High Imperial Parliament:
400 Credits
Since the creation of the Dual-Monarchy in the mid-19th Century, the Austrian Empire was divided between the Kingdom of Hungary, dominated by the Hungarians, but ruling over other minorities such as Croatians and Ruthenians, and the Austrian Germans, who presided over a much more diverse array of ethnicities and religious groups. Under this system, according to the rights granted to the Hungarians as a result of the Compromise of 1867, their dissidence and pride was rewarded with autonomous rights and such influence within the Empire that they could lord over all the other minority groups at whim. Such has the Empire stood, and the conservatism of the Hungarian lords (whose rule is assured by the far more limited suffrage in the Kingdom) has held us back: but no longer.
At the insistence of the heir of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, as well as the sensibilities of the next in line, Archduke Charles, the Empire will be reformed. The Czechs of Bohemia long have yearned for the recognition of their nation, and this will be given to them, for their lands fall entirely under the jurisdiction of the Austrian Empire, and ultimately whatever the objections of the Hungarians, it is our decision alone. The action is relatively painless, in any case, as they already operate under a parliament of their own, the Moravian Diet: the proclamation is recognition of the rights of the Czech people and their contribution to the Empire, and accord them influence accordingly. Distinct Bohemian units will be raised or otherwise designated, but will remain under the unified command of the Austrian Army. To appease the Hungarians, however, the crown of Bohemia will not be laid upon the head of the Emperor, but that of the Archduke Charles, the next in line, as Franz Ferdinand's morganatic marriage leaves his line a dead end for the dynasty. The Empire will remain Austro-Hungarian, but the Trialist theory will govern its affairs from henceforth.
This will come at short-term expense of the Austrian Empire, but the creation and recognition of the Kingdom of Bohemia will not be entirely without conditions. To accommodate the new Kingdom, and to streamline administration across the entirety of the Empire, on this occasion the High Imperial Parliament shall be established, replacing the ad-hoc and provisional Delegations (with their associated byzantine complexity) that once decided common Imperial law, to ensure no one Kingdom/ethnic group can hold a unilateral stranglehold over the affairs of the entire Empire. Each Kingdom will provide delegates drawn from their own parliaments for annual meetings of the High Imperial Parliament, presided over by the Emperor, who will discuss matters of foreign affairs, common trade law, and internal domestic affairs, as well as regularize financial matters and avoid the usual ten year political crises.
In return for the recognition of the Kingdom of Bohemia, we explicitly expect their support in further internal reorganization of the Empire in following years, in return for continued good treatment of the Slavic people within the Empire and abroad, and indeed we hope they will recognize the Habsburgs as champions and protectors of the Slavic nations. Their support in the High Imperial Parliament to further liberal economic and social laws across the Empire is expected, and in their own best interests, but their loyalties, won from their recognition not by rabble-rousing or revolutionary fervor, but by the pure benevolence of the crown, will be requested at a later date.
Coronation and Marriage of Archduke Charles to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma
300 Credits
With the coronation of Archduke Charles as Prince Charles of Bohemia, his grooming for eventual assumption of state must begin. Most importantly, in lieu of the right of Franz Ferdinand's children to succession of the crown, responsibility lies upon Charles to continue the venerable line of the Habsburg family. To this end, we have chosen the Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, a beautiful and strong-willed woman, and together we hope the two will lead the Empire to a brighter and stronger future. Their coronation will follow shortly afterward, and we desire to make this an event of particular splendor, as celebration of the newfound Kingdom of Bohemia, linked intimately and unmistakeably with the Habsburg family, indistinguishable and unbreakable in mutual commitment.
South Pole Expedition:
50 Credits
It is time we made our appearance on the truly world stage, and make our first landmark steps beyond Europe. In the previous century we had made notable achievements in catching up to the rest of the European colonial powers in exploration, discovering Franz Josef Land in the Far North, and circumnavigating the globe in the Novara Expedition. Knowledge from these previous, long distance and polar expeditions shall be put to use, as well as new technologies and methods employed for the last great Exploratory achievement left on Earth: reaching the geographic South Pole. The British already have a head start in Antarctic exploration, so we must prepare fastidiously and train our party relentlessly, using the glaciers of the High Alps, to prepare them for the long odyssey ahead, like nothing humanity has experienced before. Julius von Payer, the surviving leader of the North Pole Expedition, will also be consulted and serve as the expedition supervisor from the ship, coordinating supplies and pick up, as well as offering advice to the expedition leader and his men.
In addition to all the latest cold-weather gear and clothing, navigational devices, high nutrition preserved rations, as well as transportation. To attempt to reach the South Pole before seasonal climatic conditions become too severe, the team will attempt to reach it by specially prepared and modified automobiles, the best and most reliable we can fashion, and adapted to handle the snow and freezing temperatures. To ensure the expedition is not lost if the automobiles break down, however, they will also have backup sleds and dog teams to be transported upon an additional truck, to cover the rest of the distance at speed and haul the rest of the supplies. Success is of paramount importance, and should the team plant the Hapsburg Eagle on the South Pole, the Last Place on Earth, they will be celebrated throughout the Empire, and received by the Emperor personally to be awarded medals. For selection of team members, they must be of the utmost physical condition and specialized in critical expedition requirements, but as much as can reasonably be achieved be drawn from as diverse a cast from the Empire's peoples as possible. This should be symbolic, of mutual struggle being overcome through cooperation with our other nationalities to achieve everlasting fame.
Production:
280 IC for 7 Infantry Divisions to the (Habsburg) Outremer Legion
New Army: Outremer Legion
The Habsburg Outremer Legion (HOL) is inspired by the model of the French Foreign Legion, drawing from volunteers from all the territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Switzerland, and the German Empire, and anywhere the language of the Germans can be found spoken, as well as from any nation of Europe or North America who is willing to learn the language and has a desire for adventure. There are two requirements: the ability of every member to understand and speak German, to ensure rigorous unit cohesion and responsiveness, and total, unflinching personal loyalty to the Habsburg Crown, cultivated to ensure the peak of esprit-de-corps. Their duty is the defense of Christendom beyond the borders of the Empire, and the carrying of the banner of the Habsburgs to foreign shores to spread the true faith. The Legion is the Eagle, and it carries the crests of a dozen nations in its talons: with its mighty wings it shall carry the banner of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ever higher, and in doing be an inspiration for the whole of the Army. Ultimately, in its image the Austro-Hungarian Army will be recast, to make it the mightiest Army in Europe.
The Berlin-Baghdad Railway:
40 IC, 100 Credits
As part of the settlement with the Ottomans, Italy and Austria-Hungary are to assist in the construction of the yet incomplete landmark Berlin-Baghdad Railway, which will connect Mitteleuropa with the far center of Eastern trade in Baghdad, and thus bypass the Suez Canal. Italy has committed to assisting developments within the Ottoman Empire, and for my part I will focus on rail development along the route through my lands. Rail connections to the East have always been sparse compared to the west, particularly in the highly developed regions in Austria and Bohemia. With the threat of war in the Balkans looming, it seems just as prudent to develop our rail connections East for our own sakes as for those of the Ottomans. In addition, our recent friends, the Bulgarians, have agreed to assist in this venture, with the implicit agreement being its use to allow us to swiftly aid them with economic, materiel, and military supplies. Thus we will focus our efforts on constructing a line from Vienna-Budapest-Sofia-Constantinople, supplementing or expanding existing lines where possible.
Armored Car Development:
200 Credits
Austria-Hungary has always been known for hosting some of the most legendary cavalry in Europe, from the Hungarian Hussars to Polish lancers to Austrian dragoons, cuirassiers, and uhlans. The world has changed much since their heyday in the 18th and 19th Centuries, but nonetheless they remain a potent force in the field, and rely on their courage to break the lines of the enemy and to monitor their every movement. Recent developments in automobiles by local Imperial industries, however, have caught the interests of our most forward thinking military men, who have caught the ear of Prince Charles and Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand. Using these as a platform for mobile machineguns, we can establish parity of firepower between our cavalry and infantry divisions, or even outmatch them, while still sacrificing none of their mobility and speed. To jumpstart our armored car industry, we are committing Kronen to fund research, and partnering Daimler with assistance from Belgian automobile and armored car producers, who will help with producing the industrial parts and machinery as well as research and design.
Cavalry Reform:
100 Credits
It is not enough to simply tack armored cars into the midst of a rabble of cavalry and expect them to work in unison: our cavalry units must be reorganized and retrained to accommodate the new equipment, tactics, and strategy. Our crew in the armored vehicles must be able to communicate and coordinate with their horseborn compatriots in the midst of the noise and confusion of combat, and their inherent reduced visibility. Altogether, the armored cars shall be used to punch holes through the enemy's lines and plaster strongpoints with their rapid fire machineguns, while the cavalry rushes forward to exploit the gaps and overwhelm the enemy in close combat, shattering enemy units in the open before they can dig in. We will draw from the best cavalry traditions existing in Europe, combine them with the most cutting edge technology, and together, form a force both nimble and capable of massive hammer blows.
Military:
Rename Second Austrian Army to 1st Bohemian Army
Move First Hungarian Army to Lemburg, Galicia-Lodomeria
Defense Plans:
We anticipate should any attack come, it will be from the North-East along the Russian border, and the South-East along the Ottoman border. The North-East is of primary concern, particularly due to Russian requests for the ceding of Galicia to their Empire. Thus the 1st Hungarian Army will be transferred to Galicia-Lodomeria, with the command centered at the regional capital of Lemburg. In the case of war with Russia, all active units are to be sent North, while the 1st Hungarian retreats from the border and focuses on fortifying the main railheads. Their own rail network is weak and undeveloped, even compared to ours in Galicia, thus we must use our superior mobility to draw them into our borders and then spring the trap and encircle them, while using cavalry to monitor their advances, screen our offensives, and raid and disable their rail lines leading to the Front. The Russian bear may be massive, but if we are nimble and dance around them, we can dizzy them, cut off their supply routes, and knock them flat to the ground with a single mighty punch. Should they manage to push through Galicia before we can concentrate our forces for the encirclement of their main offensive and deliver the knockout punch, scorch the land, disable the railways behind us, and let them try to face us on the open Hungarian plain. In either situation, they are to be drawn in via a feint, allowed to pursue the resultant “break” in the line, then encircled and destroyed with heavy use of artillery, before being mopped up with infantry or cavalry.
The South-East is of far lower concern, and should the Ottomans be so bold to test the borders, the 2nd Hungarian and the 1st Austrian Armies should be sufficient to fend them off at the border. Once the initial attacks are repulsed, we can coordinate with our friends in Bulgaria, and potentially Romania and Greece, in mopping up their armies at the Front, then work together in pushing them back and out of Europe.
I hope you have enjoyed the introduction, and hope you will enjoy the game we’re pulling together! However, if you feel this isn’t quite for you, or have commitments coming up that will make it too difficult to keep up (Balance of Power games rarely require too much time in anything other than one or two sittings, besides intermittent diplomacy with other players, but nonetheless if you feel it is too much) feel free to let us know, and we can open up the player spot. As hosts, we’d rather handle switching around players/countries before the game begins, rather than after we’ve already put in the work writing out the Country Cards, Turn 0 reports, etc., as well as potentially throwing a wrench in the diplomatic plans of other players. If you have any other questions, you can ask me here or PM me and I can walk you through whatever you were wondering about. Otherwise, I’ll keep you updated with major progress as it comes along!
Kind regards,
Your Hosts
Last edited:
tl;dr
So does everyone. If you want to insult me, be specific.Angelsachsen said:
Paronomasia12
Master Knight
I appreciate it, Alma.
