Interim claims

[Kaiser Kirk]

I posted the concept earlier, no one objected.

So as part of HY1, 1912, we will allowing Darman to claim 3 ports because he wasn't quite ready when the turn started.
Likewise, Maddox has now had more time with the Inca, and while he had passed on the chance to claim 2 spots with the Inca, he can now.

For the T1 NPCs, they will each grab 2 spots.
That is China, Rajasthan, and Azteca.
This is their "starting" to wake up.

For easy viewing, I put all claims in hot pink crosshatch with big pointers and text.

At this point, it's up for Player Discussion.
Is there a real problem with these?

I do have a rationale below for any interested in being bored to tears.

NPCs.
Part of getting the NPCs slightly more active is to have them claim territories.
They will not contest with a player – this is simply to give them some overseas interests.
Plus to make them more viable for future players.

Moving forward :
China/Azteca/Rajasthan will try for 2 ports, or expand several spaces around current conquests. They will not contest. There will be a maximum.

The Horde, while a big power, will not become a player, and is not expanding overseas.... Snip can correct my understanding if it's off.

NPC Strategic Outlook
China : Borders the Golden Horde on land.  Has sizable minorities in the nations bordering the South China Sea. Has a historical foe in Japan. Has a longstanding trade interest inland through Parthia to Byzantine, and a naval route through the Straits of Malacca to Suez.

Targets : Either locations to protect trade or project power vs. Japan.
Western Borneo gives a base to protect trade.
Okinawa gives a base to project power vs. Japan, or protect trade from the Japanese.

Choice : Okinawa and Pontianak, Borneo

Azteca
Note : Foxy has submitted San Diego as a choice.
The History for the Aztecs includes being the American side of the Triangle trade with Mali and Europe. Mali would get slaves, sell to the Aztec, they would farm sugar, send to Mali, who would buy more guns to get more slaves... All of that came crashing down already.
The Aztec have a long and bloody history and had dominated the Caribbean in the past. Europeans have suddenly moved in force into the Caribbean  Also concerning, the appearance of these Romans to the NE.  Lastly, far to the NW, beyond the mountains and deserts, the Parthians have shown up.

All things considered, the Romans are just across the Rio Grande, AND in Cuba, Florida and the Bahamas, most of the rest of the Caribbean has been claimed by Vilnus, the Parthians are there too. The Parthian enclave 1000nm NW of the Pacific holdings is a lesser concern. The Aztec are more concerned with the Europeans adjacent and on their old stomping grounds, than the Asians in the Pacific.

Choice : Expand NW along the Rio Grande to Block Rome, claim the Windward Islands on the East side of the Caribbean to serve as base to operate against the European lines of Communications. The southern Bahamas were also considered, but the Windwards are more substantial and 'Fort-de-France Bay' on Martinique will make a fortified base.


Rajasthan :
A militaristic nation, they are mainly a land power surrounded by other large nations. They have a modest coastline and navy and maritime trade is not vital to them.  They have seen Parthia/Byzantine and Iberia lay claim to the shores of the Indian Ocean. They are expanding due to a large population and a desire to be 'in the game'. They would probably choose places in the Indian Ocean basin.

Choices : Perth, Inhambane (East Africa between Durban and Maputo).

[Desertfox]

Wait Okinawa isn't Japanese? *zooms into map* Oh hey it is white... That is quite a bit of a problem. I might need a general idea of the strength of China sooner rather than later.

Those would have been my #2 and #3 options for the Aztecs. Trinidad or the northern Windwards would have been better but you guys got to them first. St Lucia also has a nice harbor, they managed to fit this ship in: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Bliss

[The Rock Doctor]

The NPCs sound okay, but am I supposed to see a map?

[Kaiser Kirk]

The NPCs sound okay, but am I supposed to see a map?

*facepalm*

I may have been more tired than I thought last evening.

[The Rock Doctor]

Huh, my laptop reckons the host site is malicious.

Wonder what my phone thinks...

[The Rock Doctor]

My phone likes it just fine, alright.

Interesting. 

[The Rock Doctor]

Obviously I'm shocked and appalled that Mario wants prime real estate adjacent to Union territory.

Interesting to see others building trade routes across the oceans.

Anyway, cool stuff.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Darman's Puerto Mantt in Chile was actually a spot I was eyeing for Parthia, to close that around-the-world-loop.
But Iberia seems to be taking the same general approach, so that makes sense.

[maddox]

Obviously I'm shocked and appalled that Mario wants prime real estate adjacent to Union territory.

I do have my own piece of real estate (together with Phoenix). No need for more over here.
On the other hand, Sapa Inca, what he wants, that's another matter.
Mamapacha urged me to send our farmers/craftsmen with army protection to the fertile lands east and north of Urcunina. The lands there are fertile and plentifull.

[snip]

Is it bad that I completely dont remember claiming the mouth of the Amazon? O well, guess I can get some rubber to go along with all that sweet Texas oil.

[Desertfox]

I was wondering about the map... I was eyeing Port Moresby myself, darn it Darman! The East Indies are getting crowded.

The more I think about it, I am really not liking China in Okinawa at all.

[Kaiser Kirk]

There's actually a long list of places I planned on, but others have grabbed.
Madagascar, Uruguay, the Spice Islands, Seattle, Jakarta & Bali...and now Chile... when will it end?

The more I think about it, I am really not liking China in Okinawa at all.

As in there's a game-play issue/ the choice doesn't make sense.
OR as in...
darn that is inconvenient...which would be China's goal.

[Darman]

The more I think about it, I am really not liking China in Okinawa at all.

There is a solution to that *cough*war*cough*

[Desertfox]

Where you trying to grab the whole world!?  ;D

As in there's a game-play issue/ the choice doesn't make sense.
OR as in...
darn that is inconvenient...which would be China's goal.

A little of the first mostly the second. Inconvenient is not the word I would use...  Inconvenient would be the Chinese taking the center of the Philippines or the other side of Java. This is more... provocative. Its 400nm away from my homeland, right in the middle of my important sea lines, right next to were I sent 3 fleets and 7 army units, and filled with Japanese civilians. This is as close to invading Japan as you can get without actually invading Japan.

There is a solution to that *cough*war*cough*

That it is... Kirk, how much free time did you said you had again?

[Kaiser Kirk]

The two moves seemed the best in view of Chinese interests.

I did research the history of Okinawa a little before. The islands are not home to ethnic Japanese, and was ruled by the indigenous Ryukyu Kingdom.
It could be that the Chinese view it as defensive.  The Chinese consider Okinawa to be part of China, as it pledged fealty starting in the 15th Century. Now starting in 1609 it also started pledging to the Japanese, but also maintained the pledge to China. "Ryukyuan sovereignty was maintained since complete annexation would have created a conflict with China".
Apparently here the 1872 Japanese invasion and annexation does not seem to have occurred....probably because China is not weak.

War IS an option.
Realize that China is a T1, and so the same rough strength as Japan, but with excellent security so we all don't know the details....


Right now I have weekends free.
I'm trying to get all the messy stuff out of the way by August.
That's when I am most likely to be gone for 2 week intervals on fires.
So I need things running smooth by then :)