[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/302877826724528138/302877879622959105/A_New_World_-_Banner.png[/img][/center] In the dead of night there were fifteen falling stars that streaked across the sky. The lands to the east saw the lights above the sea, and those here in Albion watched as they streaked over the mountains and across the fair plains. Far to the west, the lights were even spotted by those brave adventurers that tried their fortunes at settling the world. Never in living memory had such a shower been seen; the superstitious pointed to the sky and foretold impending doom and death. The wise men of the old ways consulted their tomes and cast their spells to decipher whatever sign the heavens had seen fit to show, whereas the skeptics, men of these new times, struggled to explain the phenomenon through science and logic. The apathetic just laughed and sat by as they always did. Those fifteen meteors were fitting, for they marked the coming of the year 1500. Today is the turn of a century, and with it, an era. Magic has began its decline and now as its practitioners dwindle in number, so too does their power seem to fade away from this world. In place of magic have come a great many new and terrifying things: gunpowder, steel, and industry. All manner of wondrous new innovations come from the eastern lands; the Commonwealth has united those lands of the rising run under one banner and sparked a golden age of technology and science. Today also marks a monumental day for the Commonwealth: the fortieth birthday of Wladyslaw III, Divine Emperor and First Citizen. As his days grow numbered, he seeks ensure that his name is glorified and remembered. Many whisper that he looks to Albion in the west, wanting to bring those divided lands under the Commonwealth's great banner to establish a lasting legacy of his reign. But the nations of Albion have their grand ambitions too; five years ago the New World was discovered by pirates and explorers, and in these past years there has been a scramble to chart the western lands and claim their riches. So just as the New World lies seductively in the west, a new world of a different sort comes from the east to take Albion by storm and bring about a technological revolution; it is be an age of industry and steel, of science and philosophy, and it that will shake Albion to the core. This era could see Albion and its ancient civilizations fade into dust and irrelevance, or it could be a golden age in which declining states could rise to rule the world. What will happen? Only time can tell. [hr] [center][color=Gold][h1]OOC Information and RP Details[/h1][/color][/center] First and foremost, we have [url=https://discord.gg/6avqV2F]a Discord channel.[/url] Feel free to jump in and say hello! In fact this is the fastest way to contact me. [b][color=Gold]Plot information:[/color][/b] [hider=Most recent map of the world] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/302154596804067329/343171499630526464/Custom_Map_5.jpg[/img] [/hider] Conflicts brew from many sides. The Commonwealth is of course a looming threat that has cast Albion in its shadow; with each passing year, its influence over the continent grows. As colonialism begins to take root, conflicts over the western lands will no doubt arise. Even in Albion there is conflict between magic and technology and between the different faiths. [b][color=Gold]Game Mechanics[/color][/b] The RP will be broken into loose "turns". Each turn will represent one month of time IC. You are allowed to perform multiple action on each turn; the point isn't to restrict action so much as keep a consistent flow of time and help us keep track of how long certain actions (like raising an army) have been going on for. Simply write down what is happening in your nation and mention what you would like me to focus on in my round wrap up. [b][color=Gold]Rules:[/color][/b] Though not an exhaustive list, here's some important rules to keep in mind: 1. Good grammar and some effort please. I've labeled this RP to be Mid/High Casual and will thus expect the effort of at least a few paragraphs per post. 2. On the topic of posts, going inactive for a long time without at least telling us will result in us having to terminate you from the RP and go through the effort of either writing your nation out of the story. It probably also means having someone else control it when needed. That's all a big hassle, so please don't make the commitment of joining this RP unless you're ready to keep it. 3. If you feel it necessary to keep your secrets, plotting against nations and the like can be done in PMs instead of on the OOC. I'll ask that you include me though, just so that I can keep in the loop as GM. 4. Regarding technology level, let's try to keep things near the early Renaissance time period for the nations of Albion, at least for the beginning of the RP. I am willing to allow certain fantasy materials like mithril or adamantine so long as they aren't ridiculously powerful. 5. At the bottom of each IC post, add a small summary placed inside of a hider. This becomes very helpful when trying to look back or for those that are struggling to keep up with the RP. [b][color=Gold]FAQ[/color][/b] [i]Can I still join?[/i] At the moment, no. Possibly very soon as i am about to clean house and check who dropped out since the interest check. Feel free to PM me or post in the OOC if you are interested though. [hider=Nation Sheet Template] Name: (Feel free to make some giant fancy wordart for YOUR GLORIOUS NATION'S EQUALLY GLORIOUS NAME) Flag/emblem/symbolism: (optional; feel free to give picture or description) Demonym: (What are your people called? The English? The Bwitish? The Fwench? The 'muricans?) Description: (A summary of your nation goes here; basics on what's going on and what the country is about. Traditions worthy of note go here, recent history, unique traits,...) Government: (Your rolls gave you a general guideline, but feel free to elaborate and go into as much detail as you like here) Economy: (Just describe the major industries, activities and how they are organized. What are notable exports and imports? What is your nation lacking? Your rolls should help you figure this out) Religion: (If present, more than one?) Geography: (Jungle, grassland, mountains, etc. Be sure to identify where on the map you are, preferably by posting a clip of the region you wish to occupy, keeping in mind the relative size of your territory as was given in your rolls. We may have to move you around to make it work.) Population: (Was given in your rolls) Demographics (Makeup of your population; info of the different species of your people, further subdivided into ethnic groups if you like, maybe even mention linguistics) Notable Locations (Give us some info about your capital, other important cities, maybe where your forts and colonies (if you have any) are located) Personalities of Note (Your ruler, perhaps your highest military officers, generally just use this space to help us keep track of your POV characters) Institutions: (Major non-military institutions of the nations, such as legislative bodies, guilds, religious sects) [b]Military:[/b] [u]Organization:[/u] (Professional/militia/levy/..., doctrine, tactics, equipment, though the latter can be put underneath as well, etc.) [u]Troop Total:[/u] (Keep reality and upkeep in mind, e.g. 3% of your population as full-time professional soldiers would be a whole lot. Many seemingly unrelated factors can go into this, including abundance/lack of food and your nation's wealth) [u]Army:[/u] [u]Navy:[/u] [u]Other:[/u] (Such as siege equipment, internal security, important mercenaries, spies, etc.) [b]Other:[/b] Special traits, remarks, boons and flaws(Here is your chance to decide something unique and important about your nation without basing it on the rolls I gave you. You may have 1 big strength that makes you special, 2 big strengths and 1 big weakness, or 3 big strengths and 2 big weaknesses. Ask if you're having trouble coming up with something)[/hider] [hider=Accepted sheets] [@Zealous Blade] [@CaptainBritton] [@Lady Selune] [@mifune] [@LokiLeo789] [/hider] [b][color=Gold]Some credits:[/color][/b] Credits to Chenzor and several of the other guys in the [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/157987-civilization-new-lands-new-glory-v-2-0/ic]Civilizations RP[/url] Discord chat. They gave us the motivation to try making this RP and they helped us iron out some of the ideas. And lastly, we have [@Archetype Zero] for making the banner at the top of this post.