New Reality Seeds

[TGLS]

I really don't see how:
1) How this guy resolves the problem of the realignment of Austria-Hungary to Germany and Russia to France, which began while this guy's still in high school
2) How the arms race is dealt with, which again, began while this guy's in high school.
3) Russia avoids collapse, either from German invasion or internal pressures
4) Following 1, German power doesn't drastically expand (either through something similar to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, or by coming in to support breakaway states like Ukraine and Finland)
5) How this timeline has so little inertia that a trivial change in the late 18th century ripples ahead to bring a big change, while having so much inertia that apparently little else changed over the long 19th century.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by TGLS

I really don't see how:
1) How this guy resolves the problem of the realignment of Austria-Hungary to Germany and Russia to France, which began while this guy's still in high school
2) How the arms race is dealt with, which again, began while this guy's in high school.
3) Russia avoids collapse, either from German invasion or internal pressures
4) Following 1, German power doesn't drastically expand (either through something similar to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, or by coming in to support breakaway states like Ukraine and Finland)
5) How this timeline has so little inertia that a trivial change in the late 18th century ripples ahead to bring a big change, while having so much inertia that apparently little else changed over the long 19th century.

Basically, Duval is a one off. A genius at diplomacy in a period of talentless and unimaginative time servers. Yes, even a genius can only do so much. Duval is basically a handwave. Just as most science fiction authors can't fully explain the details of the engines of their spacecraft, I can't fully explain how Duval papered over the yawning gaps in late 19th century statecraft.

This is a higher tech Belle Epoc with early diesel tech. Enjoy.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Inspired by the Osiris series of world I offer you the Maple series of worlds!'

Years earlier on this thread, someone had asked about a world where Canada was the leading state, and I came up with Canuck:

On Canuck (Q6, current year 1950), global temperatures rose roughly from 1900 to 1925, as Canada became the greatest power and the rest of the Earth suffered. Warm Czarist Russia fell to revolution and Imperial Germany, while Imperial Japan conquered and exploited northeast Asia; in between are unique syncretic states of various Europeans and Asians. The United States has a depopulated southern half and, while Europe west of the Rhine is dependent on Canada. There are outposts of civilization in the southern hemisphere, but in between are mysterious, uninhabitable tropics. Infinity and Centrum are trying to figure out this strange global warming.

I even had a whole GURPS Alternate Earths description, with Major Civilizations, Great Powers, and Outtime Operations (both Infinity & Interworld are mostly interested the weird global warming).

[Astromancer]

Ethiopia-3

This Q6 Low Mana parallel diverges in the 8th century. The Roman Pontiff, trying to reinforce his supremacy over the other Patriarchs of the church, gave the Negus (the formal title of the Ethiopian Emperor) the right to appoint twenty bishops and thus make the Ethiopian Church Autocephalous (self-headed i.e. independent). The Negus leaped at the chance.

The long brutal period where the Patriarch of Alexandria appointed Ethiopia's bishops never occurred. The Ethiopian Church was far better organized than in Homeline history. Educational and charitable foundations were on a near par with Europe. When the Portuguese made contact with Ethiopia in the 1400s they delt with the Ethiopians as equals.

Although held back by by the terrain of their nation, the Ethiopians quickly absorbed European technology and culture.

In the present day (1885 ) Ethiopia is focused on the Scramble for Africa . They are determined to get a large share of the continent for themselves. They already have Dijibuti(sic) as a port. They are interested in getting all of Somalia. They are trading their Kenyan claims with Britain for help gaining Somalia and large internal African territories.

Centrum sees Ethiopia as problematic. They are way too religious for Centrum's liking. Although Ethiopia is a conservative monarchy (although constitutional in this parallel) the presence of a strong Black African state treated as an equal (or at least a full member of the group) has radical political implications. Centrum sees the prosperity of Ethiopia and the rise of Japan as direct threats to imperialism. It doesn't matter that both nations are highly imperialistic, their very success threatens imperialism.

Homeline mainly wants to limit Centrum's interference. The Cabal is seeking rare lore ( this Ethiopia has vastly more libraries and ancient documents than most Ethiopias).

Basically, espionage and diplomacy in both 19th century Europe and Africa.

[Astromancer]

Stalin-4

Stalin-4 diverges with Stalin deciding that the Western powers would betray him as soon as the Germans and Japanese were beaten. After Churchill was replaced by Atlee and FDR's death Stalin struck in three directions.

First, he offered the Japanese an alliance. He planned to use them to distract the Americans. And to have them aid Mao in China.

Second, he used his troops stationed in Iran to conquer Northern Iran and then planned to drive the British out of the South.

Third, he simply advanced the Red Army into Western Europe.

It's now January 1946. The Red Army is stalled at the Rhine. Finding that the same kinds of logistical issues that plagued the Whermacht plaguing them. The Turks have entered the war against the USSR and Iran and Iraq are killing fields. India, afraid of the USSR as they never were of Japan is rallying fresh troops to fight them. Meanwhile, Japan, exhausted, is playing for time. The A-bombs seemingly withheld for other targets.

Some outtimers are interfering in this world and have introduced transistors early. The USA is producing Walkie-Talkies early. Britain and the USA are collaborating on improved computers for codebreaking.
Either the same outtimers who introduced the transistors to or others have spread rumors of Russian biological weapons. Which aided Truman in getting National Healthcare passed.

Homeline is interested in who is manipulating this Q6 Low Mana parallel, what the extent, scope, and purpose of the manipulation is. Centrum is desperately hopeful that an early collapse of the USSR could extend the life of the British Empire. They also want to know who is interfering. The Cabal sees this world as interesting. They think they might have some extra opportunities here.

Basically, espionage in a warzone. Moreover, espionage against the British and the Russians. Arguably the best players of the espionage game.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Stalin-4 diverges with Stalin deciding that the Western powers would betray him as soon as the Germans and Japanese were beaten. After Churchill was replaced by Atlee and FDR's death Stalin struck in three directions.

First, he offered the Japanese an alliance. He planned to use them to distract the Americans. And to have them aid Mao in China.

That isn't going to work. The Japanese were almost as anti-Communist as the Nazis. Even if the Japanese leadership can be got around to the idea by weirdness of some kind, they'll get murdered by junior officers when it becomes public, as was fairly frequent in Japanese politics from the late 1920s to the end of WWII.

The rest of the scenario is workable, but this part is not.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by johndallman

That isn't going to work. The Japanese were almost as anti-Communist as the Nazis. Even if the Japanese leadership can be got around to the idea by weirdness of some kind, they'll get murdered by junior officers when it becomes public, as was fairly frequent in Japanese politics from the late 1920s to the end of WWII.

The rest of the scenario is workable, but this part is not.

It really doesn't have to be. The Japanese were on their last legs. But remember, like the Germans, the Japanese believed that the Western allies would inevitably fall to fighting with each other. They would have jumped at any chance to speed that up.

Further, throughout the war, the Japanese kept fairly friendly diplomatic relations with the soviets. Before the Russian declaration of war the Japanese had been trying to get the Russians to broker a peace deal for them.

I agree the Japanese and the Soviets would never be allies in a real sense. But as a last ditch maneuver to save their hides they might try anything.

[Astromancer]

This as yet unlabeled parallel (Q6 Low Mana) diverges in 1913 with an unknown plague. (Homeline researchers haven't figured out what it was yet). The plague created multiple changes in the timeline.

Franz Ferdinand is the Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph having died in the first wave of the epidemic. Serbia was brutally hard hit by the plague and is quiet just now.

Ireland gained Homerule in 1914. Ulster didn't rise because of the plague. But the mood is bitter. Russia took by far the worst hit from this pandemic.

Wilson, still in his early reformer phase and with the first Mrs. Wilson for a partner, passed National Healthcare. Teddy Roosevelt was a major ally in getting that done.

Centrum is interested in this world. They hope they can prevent WWI. They don't understand that the removal of a major Casus Belli doesn't eliminate the underlying causes. Homeline doesn't want WWI either. But wants to A) keep Centrum from getting too much power, and B) find out what really happened.

[Astromancer]

Shannon

This Q6 Low Mana parallel is a myth parallel but the focus seems to be on Ireland alone. Most of this parallel seems like an ordinary echo going through the year 1956. The technology seems a little advanced but only experts would notice. Ireland, however, is... different.

From what Homeline and Centrum can figure out (and if they ever compared notes would see they agree on this Ireland) is that all of the mythic beings of Irish myth and folklore exist in this High Mana Ireland. However, everybody human, Fay, ghost, whatever, seems to be in a conspiracy to hush it all up.

This being a mythic reflection of Ireland, hilarity ensues.

This Ireland is more prosperous than Homeline Ireland in this period. De Valera acted on FDR's request to join the allies in January of 1945. Stalin still hates Ireland, but ignores them more. And those who fought for the allies (even those that left the Irish military to do so) were welcomed back with respect.

White Star lines is buying rights to distribute Irish music which is going through an incredible period of achievement and creativity beyond anything in Homeline history.

Basically, this place is a mystery. Finding out what gives would be a major undertaking for anyone. Note: The local Irish know all of that Oirish/Plastic Paddy garbage. And can fire it right back into the faces of rude guests.

Further Note: Even with actual Leprechauns and Banshees in the room, no one in this Ireland admits to believing in faeries. Not even the faeries. Have fun.

[Astromancer]

Britainnia-7

This Q6 Low Mana parallel diverges with the introduction of a early version of the Moldboard Plow into Roman England. Crop production soared. Population followed crop yields and taxes followed both.

For reasons not understood Gaul simply didn't adopt the British plow. Thus Britannia became an isolated island of prosperity in the Roman West. Scriptoriums kept both Greek and Latin literature alive. Roman technology got more widely used in Britainnia-7 than in other parts of Rome. All of which is deeply mysterious.

The local year is 476AD. Britainnia is stable peaceful and run by the local elites through a sub-senate (the only one of its kind). The local Tech Level is a mixture of 3 in the countryside and 4 in the towns.

It's seen as massively anomalous that Britainnia is so radically changed but most of the rest of the world closely parallels Homeline. Path/Book Magic is unusually commonplace in this world and Britainnia seems to be a stronghold of paganism while also having strong Christian communities.

Deeply confusing Homeline researchers is the lack of either Centrum or Cabal presence on this parallel.

Basically, a late Rome early Byzantine period Europe with odd mysteries. Of course the PCs could just use Britainnia as a stable base for adventures elsewhere.