[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Several weeks ago, following a discussion about the political landscape of Catica in the 1960s, the idea of an IDUvian Great World War, which would be similar in scope to the real-world second world war, was proposed by either Laeral, Legionas, Xiomera, or Eiria (I frankly can't remember which user). We discussed it at length in the region's Discord server and even outlined its general structure. Unfortunately, that conversation has long been buried under a pile of other equally significant discussions. I figured that it would be a good idea to make a thread devoted exclusively to the development of this so called "Great [World] War". Hopefully we can work out a lot more of the conflict's specific details using the forums (this thread) and wiki.

What we've got so far

• Before the war, a non-player controlled nation located in northern Catica began growing in size and threatened the safety of several bordering nations.
  
• This aggression lead to the forming of a Northern Catican coalition, which included most democratic and anti-expansionist nations on the continent.
  
• War broke out in 1961, with the aggressing nation calling in the support of several other large world powers.
  
• The war spilled over into the rest of Catica, Hespia, and even Liberalia in the following years, leading to a state of near universal militarization.
  
• The expansionist faction was beaten back over the next six or so years.
  
• Despite their initial aggression, the non-player controlled nation was ultimately dissolved in 1967, leading to an armistice.

Please feel free to voice your thoughts below.

[Xiomera]

To document what was previously discussed as far as Xiomera’s role in regards to this: Xiomera sided with the non-player controlled nation in the hopes of being able to use that alliance, and the war, to be able to expand into neighboring areas controlled by Legionas, Eiria, Cape Auria and other nearby nations. Xiomera, at the time, was controlled by a highly nationalistic government which had the belief that a “Greater Xiomeran Empire” was not only the nation’s destiny, but its birthright.

As their alliance failed, the Xiomerans avoided being completely defeated and occupied by an emergency intervention from the military which overthrew the Emperor at the time. The new Emperor would sue for peace and manage to seize victory (or, at least, stalemate) from the jaws of defeat.

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

It’s also worth noting that the instigating nation is called Darya. I did some digging in Discord’s records and found quite a few mentions of the NPC nation. As best as I can tell, it occupied much of the space west of Legionas and dipped down into the heart of Catica, making it a pretty large nation. It’s Hindu inspired, meaning that it’s architecture would probably be similar to that of India. The nation was ultra-expansionist and probably fairly jingoistic in nature.

[Legionas]

We also discussed the possibility of including other like-minded (i.e highly militaristic and expansionist) NPC nations which would have allied with Darya. I believe there was a proposal drawn for one in Southern Catica- below Arcadia-Dazeber- another in Hespia, either in the North East, bordering Gonhog, Laeral, High Fells etc, or in the North West, bordering Trive, Lauchenoiria, Kerlile etc.

I think I actally have some of the maps.

1. Proposed territory of Darya


2. Proposed area of 2nd Catican NPC nation


3. a)Proposed area of Hespian NPC nation


b)Proposed area B of Hespian NPC nation


b.1) Alternate proposed Area B of Hespian NPC nation


These were some of the proposed areas of various NPC nations

[Lauchenoiria]

In response to the map proposals: due to the presence of newer nations that are now on the map, many of those proposals cannot work. My own puppet Zongongia is in 3a) and there is another nation where Darya was meant to be.

Also noting that "Darya" can be a human name, and I had a character named that. See: The Liberal Life of Students (Tales of Lauchenoiria)

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Yeah, those are some pretty big slots for NPC nations. We may want to consider reducing them in size by about 50-66% since we want to keep our options open and most nations will have been founded before 1967.

Regarding Lauch's point, I don't see why the name Darya would be a problem. While it's true that there are people in the world named Darya, there are also people in the world named Georgia and Jordan.

[Legionas]

The maps were just quick proposals, I'm sure we'll be able to agree upon the sizes. Although I do think Darya's size should not see a drastic decrease, if we are to believe that it expanded heavily during the mid 20th century.

[Gardavasque]

IIRC from the Discord conversation, Darya was an anti-communist nation. Gardavasque was also staunchly anti-communist in mid-20th Century, owing to the fact their religiosity and tight embrace of capitalism in those times. Thus, Gardavasque, though geographically far removed from the main hostilities, provided a substantial amount of military support and personnel to the Daryan cause. Many Gardavascans fell for the Daryan/Anti-Coalition propaganda that the war was in fact about "preventing the spread of communism" when years later it would be revealed at the it was really just garden-variety greed and territorial aggression all along.

Economically, Gardavasque enjoyed an initial boom from arms sales and manufacturing from 1960-65. However as supply lines for raw materials were disrupted, economic activity slowed. With few allies or trade partners other than war-ravaged Darya, many Gardavascan manufacturers began to cut corners using substandard materials and shoddy construction methods. This in turn contributed to fewer victories on the field. Gardavasque's involvement in the hostilities came to an decisive end when its entire Sixth Fleet was lost in battle on a single day at the Battle of Elkjop.

Prior to the war, Gardavasque's Navy was among the most robust in the region, and it's ability to manufacture arms in mass quantities was formidable. As part of the 1967 dissolution agreement, Gardavasque agreed to remove offensive capabilities from it's military and permanently renounce war as a sovereign right of nation. To this day, Gardavasque spends >1% of its GDP for defense, maintains no offensive weapons nor weapons of mass destruction, and relies upon diplomacy, trade, and technological superiority for security.

After the war a significant number of refugees from both sides immigrated to Gardavasque forcing the dominant racial and ethnic groups to embrace multiculturalism. In a generation, many traditional social institutions either adapted to a rapidly diversifying population, or slipped into decline.

[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoiria, a communist nation at the time, would likely have been a target of Daryan aggression as an easy propaganda target. Kerlile and Zongongia would have remained neutral. Lauchenoiria would've likely tried to avoid fighting on their home territory (unlike in 2018 lol) and would probably have sided with other communist nations and followed their lead on things.

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Libertas Omnium Maximus would side with those who opposed the Darya faction, though I suspect they would avoid open affiliation with the communists. In reality, they would probably be fighting more with the North Hespian nations. I simply can't see a nation of 20 million committing their troops to fight in a war that far from home. 

I might suggest that the North Hespian nation nearest to Shuell be Germanic in culture, reflecting the surrounding states. With that said, I'd like to avoid making them 3rd Reich 2.0, perhaps this means giving them motives outside of the standard "ethnic cleansing and spreading the superior race" reasoning.

[Laeral]

Good to see some discussion and movement on the World War!

Laeral would be a member of the coalition opposing the Daryan-led nations, possibly after an attack from the Northeast Hespian NPC nation near Laeral, and because Daryan dominion over the sea and closure of ports/waterways would threaten Laeralian commercial interests. I could see Laeral entering the war wholeheartedly and devoting substantial blood and resources into the conflict. While High Fells and Serriel would've likely played only marginal roles in the conflict, Andhra, being a small nation bordering Darya with a similar culture, would have likely been an early (and easy) target of Daryan expansionism, and I'd enjoy having a major part of Andhra's cultural pride in the present day being tied to the national heroes who resisted the Daryan invasion.

Re: the various NPC nations, I echo LOM's point on being sure not to take up too much map space for them. I like the map and size of Darya as Legionas suggested.

I spoke with Xiomera some time back regarding the setup of the RP, and my plan was to settle the initial details through a discussion thread like this one, before creating a Google Form to take up suggestions and votes as to how various events of the war (ie, specific battles and campaigns) would go. Once that framework is in place, my idea was to settle details through some small-scale RPs (likely focusing on individual characters) taking place during the war, to occur during spring/summer 2021. The form I can whip up within a week or so.

[Slokais]

Depending on what year it is, it could be during, after, or before the Slokasian Civil War. This could mean that the Preisdent of Slokais, Juan Costa might side with one side, while after the civil was our Preisdent would support another side, At this time the Slokasian Military was at its largest point.