Scenario
The year is 1080 CE. The fall of Rome is but a distant memory in the peasants of yore, save for nations like Byzantium and the Holy Roman Empire who claim heritage. This era is a time of conflict: in religion, in ideas, and in Europe. In Iberia, Muslim invaders threaten the Christian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal and — should they succeed — even France. In the east, nascent Muslim caliphates wage war on the last bastion of Eastern Christendom. For many God-fearing citizens in Europe, this is a time not of kings but of God. The empires of Europe must drive the Saracens back! Now is the time to Crusade! Deus Vult!
Disclaimer: This is not a traditional nation roleplay. The nations on the map are sparsely populated and their names perhaps anachronistic. This is for ease of use and to improve the spontaneity of the game, something lost in more rigid and "by-the-book" roleplays.
Rules
There are several rules that all players must keep in mind:
- No powergaming or metagaming.
- Notify the GM by DM if you have secret plans, plots, or espionage actions.
- These rules are subject to change.
- Good luck and have fun!
Mechanics
There are some unique mechanics featured in this nation roleplay. They may be familiar if you've played my earlier roleplays.
If you're familiar with grand strategy or nation roleplays, then you'll know these mechanics: waging war, diplomacy, popular support, etc.
All white tiles on the map are considered uncivilized or Barbarian spaces. These locations are open to being colonized or traversed at will, though walking through these may see your troops assaulted and thinned. More information on colonization below.
Every turn, all nations on the map may claim adjacent Barbarian territory. Typically, Major nations may claim two per turn, Minor nations may claim one per turn, and Special nations cannot claim any territory. If two nations claim the same territory, a fight will break out and the winner will become owner, with the loser missing out on a turn of colonization. A nation's ability to colonize may be modified by several factors including but not limited to their unique ability, as in the case of Russia, or by a Papal Edict.
The Pope resides in the Papal State, on the Italian Peninsula. He is the supreme authority on the Will of God for Christendom. Nations that are liked by the Pope may receive preferential treatment or bonuses that other, less desired nations won't. As such, if one is Christian, it's in their best interest to be on the Pope's good side at all times. Unless you're the Holy Roman Empire, in which case you have carte blanche to make your own Antipope.
Crusades. If Papal Favor is high enough, or a Muslim invader threatens a Christian nation, or the Holy Land is being occupied, or any number of reasons, the Pope may call for a Crusade on a targeted nation or region. During this time, all Christian nations are expected to participate. Failure to join a Crusade will lower a cowardly nation's Papal Favor. Additionally, attacking a Christian nation involved in a Crusade will lower a nation's Papal Favor.
Jihads. Muslim nations, which are not beholden to the Papacy, can declare their form of holy war called Jihad whenever they please, on whoever they please. These holy wars are far more localized. This means Muslim nations are not expected to honor each other's calls to Jihad and that multiple Jihads can be active at the same time.
Military represents the skill and competency of your levies. In this era, there are no standing militaries. Instead, when war breaks out, your lords are ordered to rally and arm their peasants for combat. You cannot expect too much from common rabble, but given a good enough Military stat, your army could stand toe-to-toe with seasoned mercenaries.
Honor is a manifestation of how your people, your vassals, your neighbors, your enemies... pretty much everyone in Europe think about you. If your nation honors an ally's plea or aids the Pope when he desires, you'll accrue more Honor. It's useful for making friends, getting favorable deals, and inspiring your people. On the flip side, if you have negative Honor, you instead fall into the stat of Dread.
Dread is still the way the people around you view you, and it isn't good. You're going to be hard-pressed to make or keep allies if you're acting dishonorably. The Pope may even come to hate or excommunicate you, since you'll be an embarrassment to the faith. But it isn't all bad. If your nation is known for being dishonorable and spreading Dread wherever they go, you'll strike fear into enemy armies, especially if they're not very disciplined.
Wealth is the status of your nation's economy, commerce, and trade. Wealthy nations find it easier to field more technologically advanced armies and bribe others. Additionally, if their military's lacking, even hiring expensive mercenaries isn't out of the question. Money truly does make the world go round, so don't neglect it.
is the centralization and level of control you possess in your realm. If your is low, rebellions or other unfortunate events will be common. Your vassals will stop respecting you, too, and may even refuse to enlist their soldiers for your wars if you don't possess enough .
Piety is the religious fervor of your people. Piety is used for appealing to nations of like faith, greasing up the Pope, and performing well during Holy Wars. It may be useful to stock up on Piety in preparation for adopting a Papal Edict.
Nations
The focus of any nation roleplay is the nations. Here we have three categories of them: Major, Minor, and Special. Major nations are ones favored at this era. Minor nations, as their name betrays, are anything but. They are still significantly powerful countries with the same raw capacity for greatness as the Majors, but their geopolitical positions or otherwise disfavorable features makes them tougher to play than the Majors. The Special nations are a class entirely on their own and the only category to be completely non-playable. This includes significant nations like the Papal State and the Mongols.
Major Nations List
These are the major nations. They're considered the big players of this era and shouldn't be underestimated. They carry significant weight throughout Europe and will be key players in shaping the world to come.
 England |
Kingdom of England Founded in 1066 by William the Conqueror, the English are fresh faces in Europe. That isn't to say they're weak, however. Their fighters are the best of any, and their resilience knows no bounds. Now, to only deal with the Scots and unify the island... DetailsCapital: London |
 The Moors |
Almoravid Dynasty The Moors have been waging war on Christian Iberia for several hundred years. Stubbornly opposing its dominance are the fledgling Spanish and Portuguese kingdoms. It's not only a clash of swords on Iberia, but a clash of ideology and faith. DetailsCapital: Marrakesh |
 Holy Roman Empire |
Holy Roman Empire Many view the Holy Roman Empire as a mockery or pretender to the successor state of Rome. Many call it a sham, an embarrassment to Christendom, and a curse to be born into. Perhaps they're right. DetailsCapital: Vienna |
 Milan |
Republic of Milan The Milanese take pride in their surroundings. To the north, they are safeguarded by the Alps from barbarian and other incursion. To the south, their trade ports are open to the merchants of the Mediterranean. Life is good. DetailsCapital: Milan |
 France |
Kingdom of France The French live a life a paranoia and persecution. They are surrounded on all sides by hostile powers that would do well to see them suffer. A rich and storied history, the French pay respects to the Franks before them that drove the Muslims out and formed an empire. Now, the French may have to relive their ancestor's achievements. DetailsCapital: Paris |
 Russia |
Kievan Rus' Known officially as the Kievan Rus', the Russian people are a hardy and fortuitous type. No strangers to harsh conditions, they're masters of living in even the remotest of areas. They are strangers, however, to a settled lifestyle. Formerly a nomadic people, they have rallied around Novgorod as the capital of the Russian peoples' nascent country. DetailsCapital: Novgorod |
 Venice |
Most Serene Republic of Venice As the greatest trade and naval power in Europe at this time, the Venetian Republic is in a position to claim the top spot. Despite these boons, competing with its Italian neighbors and the Holy Roman Empire may prove a sizable challenge for the Serene Republic, however. DetailsCapital: Venice |
 Byzantine Empire |
Byzantine Empire Rome has seen better days. With the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, all that remains is Byzantium: the Eastern! It is here that former Roman emperors have sat, but it is now where cowards and losers remain. DetailsCapital: Constantinople |
 Egypt |
Fatimid Caliphate Egypt is a progressive and scientific capital of the world at this time. A melting pot of religion, culture, and innovation, the Fatimid Caliphate is right to think themselves the greatest. But this greatness doesn't find its way to the Egyptian military, however. DetailsCapital: Cairo |
Minor Nations List
These nations, though minor, are still very important. For players interested in a more difficult but rewarding game, pick one of these.
 Denmark |
Kingdom of Denmark The Danes have recently surrendered their Pagan and sea-raiding days to become a respectable Christian kingdom. Pacification of Scandinavia would be a great boon to our prestige, but we must not neglect the prescence of the Reich. Making strong allies should be our first priority. DetailsCapital: Roskilde |
 Hungary |
Kingdom of Hungary As the frontline of Catholicism in the east, Hungary stands proudly against the expansion of Russian and Byzantine interests. That isn't to say Hungary's Catholic neighbors aren't worrisome, too. Poland and the Holy Roman Empire blockade Hungary from expanding west, so it must contend with elbowing out its Orthodox competition. DetailsCapital: Esztergom |
 Poland |
Kingdom of Poland Though originally an ally of the Holy Roman Empire, the Reich has modified its stance lately to see us as competition. Even our Hungarian neighbors look upon our lands with disdain. Poland must hold the line, at any cost. DetailsCapital: Krakow |
 Portugal |
Kingdom of Portugal The Reconquista has seen a wave of trouble over Iberia. Though Spain purports themselves a staunch ally, they also claim themselves the rulers of all Iberia. How much is their word really worth, then? But for now, driving back the Moors is surely the greatest issue facing Portuguese independence. DetailsCapital: Coimbra |
 Scotland |
Kingdom of Scotland The English may lord over the south of the isle, but they've got another thing coming if they want to take the north. The Scots are as stubborn as they are tough, and a conflict for supremacy is sure to be long, arduous, and with several thousand English bodies upon Scots soil. DetailsCapital: Scone |
 Seljuk Turks |
Seljuk Empire In 1071, the Byzantine Empire was humbled by the nomadic Turks at Manzikert. Since that victory, the Seljuk Turks have been hard at work centralizing their people and turning them into a force for conquest and Islamic proliferation. DetailsCapital: Baghdad |
 Sicily |
County of Sicily and Calabria Our land was freed from Saracen hands by Papal decree. We are the chosen of God, and will see his truth realized through all Europe. But first, consolidating power someplace would be a good move. Perhaps the rest of Italy? Or North Africa? DetailsCapital: Palermo |
 Spain |
Kingdom of Castile and Leon The Moors have been waging war on Christian Iberia for several hundred years. Stubbornly opposing its dominance are the fledgling Spanish and Portuguese kingdoms. It's not only a clash of swords on Iberia, but a clash of ideology and faith. DetailsCapital: Toledo |
Special Nations List
These are unique NPC nations. You'll encounter them throughout your time playing, though not all to start.
 Papal States |
State of the Church The Papal States is the seat of Catholicism and Christendom. The Pope resides within its walls, and issues his orders for excommunication, indulgences, and crusades in the comfort of the faithful. DetailsCapital: Vatican City |
 Barbarians |
Disunified Barbarian Tribesmen Invading barbarians were but one of the many reasons Rome fell to her knees. Now, living in her shadow, the barbarians continue to wander and plunder whatever they please. DetailsCapital: None |
 ??? |
??? We've caught word of a mysterious Christian kingdom to the east. Led by the illustrious King Prester John, the Eastern Kingdom is a wholly unknown but welcome force. Perhaps some nation can finally establish contact with Prester John for additional aid in crusading against Saracens? DetailsCapital: ??? |
Map
The map is the lifeblood of any map painting simulator such as this. Click here to access it.
Nation Customizer
In the interest of creating a more personalized and dynamic roleplay experience, minor tweaks to one's nation may be made. Click here to check it out.