The WASP is coming

[cegorach]

Hi Cegorach1,

Actually I've been kinda holding back asking because I didn't want to give away the initials but now that it's been guessed... I'm looking for info on Poland during the period between the GNW and the partitions particularly their military.



Cheers,
Comte de Clare

I was preparing something similar at someones else's request so I can find something for you as well. Should be quite easy, in my opinion.

Send me what do you actually need ( PM or e-mail) and I will do my best.

I am actually preparing similar info fot the NTW2.
BTW - recently I was chosen 'the history buff' of the Lords forum, so I think you can be sure that you will get something useful

My regards Cegorach


P.S. I thought it is the war of austrian succession, but I couldn't figure out what this 'P' really means.

[SwordsMaster]

Austrian succession? I thought it would be more lke Spanish succession....

Ah, you never know...

BTW, if you need info on Spain or Peter the Great´s russia, I might be able to give you a hand.

[dclare4]

"Yes it was the worst time in polish military, but in game it would be possible to change it "

Exactly my thoughts! Should be a nearly impossible task like it was historically but I'd like to give Poland the chance to determine her own destiny independent of the Saxons, Russians and Austrians (oh and French).

Right now I'm compiling info on the entire era (ambitious yeah) but I'd like to make it detailed and to capture the spirit of the age without getting, well, boring.

Sure I'd love to get more info on Russia and Spain as right now I'm more familiar with the western states, particularly France and Britain (they got the most info on the period out there) and also because this is a bit of a segue from the Jacobite Rising mod in MTW (the Jacobites are included here too never fear!)

Cheers,
Comte de Clare

[dclare4]

What is WASP?

WASP actually stands for the War of Austrian Succession Period, though that's not entirely accurate as the mod stretches from the War of Polish Succession in 1733 to just before the American Revolution, ending in 1773. Technically it covers what is colloquially known as the Lace-Wars period as the armies were stylishly dressed in coats with heavy amounts of lace, but I felt that Lace Total Wars would conjure up images of Victoria secret models battling for Europe while Enlightenment Total War would be mistaken for Entertainment Tonight Weekly or something and WASP had a definite 'sting' to it, so WASP it is.

Why the WASP?

The three wars represented by the period - the War of Polish Succession, the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War - are to their time period what the Russo-Japanese War, World War 1 and World War 2 are to ours. Indeed no less than Winston Churchill called the Seven Years War, 'The First World War' in his History of the English Speaking Peoples, for the war did indeed span the globe as English and French interests clashed in North America and Asia. The War of Austrian Succession also saw fighting between Spain and England (the War of Jenkins' Ear) in Georgia, Florida and Cuba while in Canada the North American colonials captured the key fortress of Louisberg.

The period saw great advances in science, the arts and philosophy and these I aim to capture in the mod through striving toward the 'Industrial Revolution' which will give you access to 'futuristic' (ie.19th Century) troops and weaponry (elite rifle battalions, advanced light infantry tactics, shrapnel, staff college, industrialization) but at the risk of upsetting the delicate balance of ruler and ruled (as more people became 'aware' or educated there's growing discontent at the rule of despots, enlightened or not) so you are forced to walk a tightrope between advancing to the future and maintaining the harmony of your realm. Of course these advances also give you better ancilliaries and more wealth - for instance, improving your Banking houses gives you 'National Debt' in the form of extra money but at dire cost to happiness, while building Theaters, Operas, Salons and the like will attract better quality spies, diplomats and courtesans (and even soldiers of fortune) but threaten to increase squalor through degeneration of public morals. And so on...

I wanted to be as accurate to each nation/faction as I could and the faction listing changed many times over the last few months. I could see though that the ultimate objective of the European wars of the time was maintaining the balance of power while jockeying for a more advantageous position (all states are equal but some are more equal than others) but since (or until) specific non-conquest goals are included in RTW the primary objective is the conquest of the Holy Roman Empire (played by the SPQR Senate Faction) specifically Vienna and the three ecclesiastical states that were 'Archchancellors' for Germany, Italy and Gaul - Mainz, Trier and Cologne - as these states can only raise local defense forces and are stronger diplomatically than militarily it is primarily the Hungarian-Bohemian (Brutii) player's responsibility to protect them and while military conquest is an option, diplomatic conquest is also a possibility (if possible a script to be written that will automatically 'give' the HRE/Senate faction lands, characters and forces to the Imperial Faction - Hanover/Julii, Hungary/Brutii, Bavaria/Scipii - that can defeat the other two).

Development is divided into EARLY, CONTEMPORARY and LATE as well as ADVANCED. EARLY represents the technology and military of the early and previous century such as Pikemen, Caracole Cavalry and matchlock armed Infantry. CONTEMPORARY represents the state of development during the time of the Polish and Austrian Succession Wars, with trotting cavalry, socket bayonets on flintlocks and mitre-hatted grenadiers. LATE represents the advances and reforms made following the Austrian Succession, particularly in Great Britain, France and Prussia, which saw greater use and discipline of light forces and skirmishers, better disciplined troops and bearskin-hatted grenadiers. ADVANCED takes uniforms, arms and technology into the Revolutionary period with some Napoleonic developments such as shrapnel, widespread and more effective riflemen, steam power, bicorne hats and even BIGGER bearskins.

Original RTW New WASP Mod Definitions

ROMAN FACTIONS IMPERIAL FACTIONS - Belonging to the Holy Roman Empire

Senate/SPQR Heilige Römische Reich
- The minor, Archchancellery and ecclesiastical states plus Vienna.

Julii Hanoverian Britain
- British, Hanoverian, Brunswick and Hessian confederation.

Brutii Bohemia-Hungary
- 'Playable' HRE faction that includes most of the imperial dominions (non-German imperial dominions)

Scipii Bavaria
- ambitious 'minor' electoral state that looks to challenge Hapsburg rule.

This setup defines the central objective of the campaign - control of the Holy Roman Empire and the virtual unification of Germany. The ultimate objective is the conquest of Vienna (capital of the HRE/SPQR faction).
The Holy Roman Empire includes Trier, Mainz, Koln, Baden-Wurttemburg, Hesse-Darmstadt (the Kreis or circles) and Vienna. The great factions of

GREEK FACTIONS GERMANIC FACTIONS - German and Northern Principalities

Macedon Prussia
- economically weak but militarily powerful under the Hohenzollerns (Alt Fritz).

Seleucid Saxony
- small but culturally rich duchy whose king has claims on the throne of Poland.

Thrace Scandinavia
- technically Sweden with Denmark/Norway as a province.

Greek City States Poland
- the Polish sejm (parliament) under native Polish princes such as Czartoryski & Potocki.

The campaign starts after the death of King Augustus of Poland (the Electoral ruler of Saxony) and I wanted to give the Poles a chance for 'self-government' while simulating the conflicts of interest that brought about the War of Polish Succession (which was a precursor to the more terrible Wars of Austrian Succession and Seven Years Wars). Historically each side (Saxony, France, Russia) had his own candidate - Poland was a crucial buffer state between the mighty Russian Empire and the Germanic nations. The Polish are included as a full faction to give them the chance of resurfacing as a nation though they may suffer utter defeat early in the game (w/c is what happened historically). While a Polish-ruled Poland is not impossible it will certainly be very difficult, particularly in the face of conflicting foreign interests.

CARTHAGINIAN FACTIONS MUSLIM FACTIONS - Eastern Muslim Kingdoms

Carthage Ottoman Empire
- massive and aggressive empire weakened by internal dissension.

Numidia Barbary States
- conglomerate of piratical bey-doms preying on and trading with the Europeans.

The Ottoman Empire is the largest empire (territorially) stretching from the Balkans to the Crimea to North Africa. However following the defeat before the walls of Vienna in the last century a downward spiral started as political infighting and 'Byzantine politics' (pardon the pun) threaten the stability of the empire. The Muslim powers start with few friends - only France supports the Ottomans as a counterweight to Austro-Russian ambitions - and Persian incursions under Nadir Shah threaten the eastern borders of the Ottoman Empire. The Barbary States for their part do not have the land forces capable of taking on European armies (not without serious reorganization/training) but their naval strength is so fearsome they can (if they wish) attack on European trade with impunity.

EASTERN FACTIONS GALLIC FACTIONS - French and West European Principalities

Parthia France
- Nec Pluribus Impar! Louis XV stands ready to challenge Britain for European dominance.

Sarmatia United Netherlands
- the sons of the sea-beggars are more ready to trade than fight.

Armenia Jacobites
- the exiled Pretenders to the British throne are ready to claim their inheritance.

After defeat at the hands of the Grand Alliance in the War of Spanish Succession, France stands ready to fight - whether to take on the Hanoverian-British coalition and Britain's old rival/trading partner, the United Netherlands, or
to fight the Bourbon family rivals, the Austrian Hapsburgs, France's large and powerful army is more than a match for many foes. They can also choose to support the Jacobites, rival claimants for the English throne, who still have strong supporters in Scotland and the north of England. The Dutch have fallen somewhat in the eyes of Europe since the glory days of the Glorious Revolution and the succeeding War of Spanish succession. Now governed by an oligarchy of the Estates General they rely heavily on unreliable mercenaries and a policy of neutrality to protect them from their larger neighbor. The Jacobites for their part have to take back the British throne before they are crushed by British troops.

BARBARIAN FACTIONS LATIN FACTIONS - Mediterranean Powers and Principalities

Dacia Spain
- The powerful Bourbons of Spain rule a vast empire in Iberia and Italy.

Iberia Portugal
- Fiercely independent, they defy domination by Spain, while being protected by Britain.

Gaul Piedmont
- A small but strong Franco-Italian duchy that rules Sardinia and blocks the road to Italy.

Germania Genoa
- Once a great trading empire they now rule only their city state and rebellious Corsica.

Pontus Papacy and Independents
- Papal and Catholic states plus Swiss Confederation, Mecklenberg, etc.

Briton Venice
- The once powerful Venetian republic still maintains a great trading empire in the Adriatic.

The Spanish and Portuguese are very powerful colonial empires. They occupy the mountainous Iberian peninsula which is hell to fight in (an invading king once said, 'Spain is where large armies starve and small armies are defeated') and the Bourbon kings of Spain have added Naples and Sicily as well as Parma in the Po Valley to their empire. They must deal with internal corruption and the very poor state of their military. Portugal has a very profitable trade going with Great Britain for Portuguese liquor and look to Britain as their military protector. The small states Piedmont-Savoy/Sardagne and the rival Most Serene Republics of Venice and Genoa were important minor powers during the period, with Venice controlling Dalmatia and Corfu and Genoa ruling Corsica. The Papacy actually includes the Knights of Malta as well as the Independent States of Mecklenberg and Danzig (Hanse) and the free port of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and have generally good relations with the Catholic powers (France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Bavaria, Piedmont, Genoa and of course the Holy Roman Empire and Austria) while remaining at peace with the Protestant states. I wanted to have non-'Rebel' faction independent states that you can trade with or war with as the case may be. Like the SPQR faction they have strong diplomatics but a respectable enough military (Swiss particularly) to defend their territory against invasion.

EGYPTIAN FACTION RUSSIAN FACTION - Imperial Russia

Egypt Russia
- The massive Russian Empire under the rule of the heirs of Peter the Great.

The massive Russian empire occupies a few very, very, VERY large provinces and they have a HUGE agricultural base with which to support their massive armies. Of all the powers they are in the best position for expansion whether against the Swedes in the north or the Turks in the south, while the dissolution or control of Poland might even open up expansionist opportunities in the west. However Russia, due to its distance from the West, is rather slow to catch up to developments there and will need to advance and develop drastically if they are to safely expand westward.

SLAVE FACTION REBELS BRIGANDS AND PATRIOTS - Rebels

Rebel Rebels Brigands and Patriots
- Rebels and un-recognized independents

This will represent, among others, independence movements in the great empires, particularly among the Greeks, Irish, Cossacks as well as representing the Persian incursions under Nadir Shah. Bands of highwaymen as well as ravaging wolf-packs are also included in this mix.

[Eastside Character]

Greek City States Poland
- the Polish sejm (parliament) under native Polish princes such as Czartoryski & Potocki.

I don't know if you know, but many of those native princes helped foreign powers like Russia or Austria to gain influences in Poland. So my conclusion is most of them should be made extremely disloyal, so there would be rebellions and all kinda domestic troubles a faction can get. I wonder how would you depict the powerlessness of Polish Sejm and state. The powerlessness that was ended with the reforms of king Slanislaus Augustus.

BTW,the mod's lookin interesting.

Regards
EC

[dclare4]

Hi Eastside Character,

Yeah, actually the idea I had for Poland was to make it part of the 'Mediterranean' (Barbarian) faction group but give it culture and buildings from the 'Nordic' (Greek) faction group so they suffer a cultural penalty to simulate the effect of the shifting factions. Perhaps that might be a better way to do this? I'm familiar with the Polish problems (generally) but not the details. I want to have a Polish nation yes, but will make it very weak with the French, Russian and Saxon diplomats in their territories (ready to bribe!) and some areas (Lithuania, Courland) in Saxon hands. Open to any ideas and suggestions!

Cheers,
Comte de Clare

[eadingas]

It's enough if you make the cities start with different 'faction_creator' than their current owner. Then if they rebel,they revert to that faction, instead of just going rebel. If you make eastern cities created by Russians, southern by Austria, western by Prussia (you might want to leave the Warsaw province originally Polish ;), then as rebellions progress it would reflect the partitions pretty well.