while a fun idea, having 9 clumps of nations is not what I had in mind (I would play it for a different game though!). I really wanted to try to emulate the split power aspect like in the Colonial 1885 map.

Ooh, I remember that from back then. I only remember it being a personal failure for me :/ I've been inactive for quite a while, but would like to join if you'd have me. Personal preference is B because I value random chaos over fairness.

I'm in. No preference on format

One issue with 'split powers' is that in most cases the best strategies involve sacrificing where you are weak to reinforce where you are strong. With isolated powers, this involves team-members being sacrificed, reducing the size of the team (and thus, reducing its identity as a 'team').

Basically - teams are going to try to form clusters as soon as possible; all starting them spread out does is mean that when they form the clusters there are less survivors in the team than if they'd started together.

I believe wanting to start with split powers is fine if your goal is to focus on the chaos and not the teamwork aspect. Should I set up a different team game thread for those wishing to start off together to explore the teamwork aspect more?

Presumably, no one but me would want to lean hard into historical role playing, right?

I would love that, actually.

What we need is a pick-your-power program for Europa Renovatio so we can run these things with fewer players

Pick your power program?

Mouse, while that is certainly a strategy, especially when the split powers are actually one power, since these teams are 4 separate powers, I think this effect will be lessened. For example in Colonial 1885 Holland often abandons their home center in Europe, favoring the Indies. However, in this, QQ can't sacrifice builds to build in England or something, the builds still have to go to QQ. And here, keeping your weak nations alive can help in preventing stalemates from forming which might be a good incentive :)

Even if someone is defeated, I'd like to encourage that they still exist in the game as a diplomatic player (just with no units). Would be a way for them to remain engaged in the game!

1. erikip107
2. MagicalSand
3. han-shahanshah
4. Xenon Radon
5. hakureimarisa
6. Lei Saarlainen
7. ingebot
8. drano019
9. MiraiNikkiSan
10. Orange
11. Mitomon
12. mouse (maybe)
13. Samj
14. DungDefender
15. halfasleep
16. gopher27 (commented but I don't think has explicitly said in?)
17. folie
18. alarix
19. jason4747

1. erikip107
2. MagicalSand
3. han-shahanshah
4. Xenon Radon
5. hakureimarisa
6. Lei Saarlainen
7. ingebot
8. drano019
9. MiraiNikkiSan
10. Orange
11. Mitomon
12. mouse (maybe)
13. Samj
14. DungDefender
15. halfasleep
16. gopher27 (commented but I don't think has explicitly said in?)
17. folie
18. alarix
19. jason4747
20. Battalion

If I had to make a suggestion by they way, if we are making the team publically known this time. I would suggest to split each team into groups of two in different regions of the map, such as lets say Sweden and Novgorod, and then Naples and Papacy for a team. Rather then having all 4 team members all next to each other. Keeping it spread out like this would help to prevent the entire map to stalemating instantly I feel, makes for more chaotic and fun gameplay, and favors teams who are able to link up.

Count me in if you need players.

1. erikip107
2. MagicalSand
3. han-shahanshah
4. Xenon Radon
5. hakureimarisa
6. Lei Saarlainen
7. ingebot
8. drano019
9. MiraiNikkiSan
10. Orange
11. Mitomon
12. mouse (maybe)
13. Samj
14. DungDefender
15. halfasleep
16. gopher27 (commented but I don't think has explicitly said in?)
17. folie
18. alarix
19. jason4747
20. Battalion
21. flipster14191
22. ubercacher16

I like MagicalSand's suggestion of grouping the teams into two pairs. That would help with people getting eliminated super fast with no hope of survival like last time.

I didn't noticed the vote, here is my list.

B, D, C, A

I'll add a further caveat to C. I think that perhaps the captains should either pick countries only, players would then be random, or players only, countries would then be random.

1. erikip107
2. MagicalSand
3. han-shahanshah
4. Xenon Radon
5. hakureimarisa
6. Lei Saarlainen
7. ingebot
8. drano019
9. MiraiNikkiSan
10. Orange
11. Mitomon
12. mouse (maybe)
13. Samj
14. DungDefender
15. halfasleep
16. gopher27 (commented but I don't think has explicitly said in?)
17. folie
18. alarix
19. jason4747
20. Battalion
21. flipster14191
22. ubercacher16
23. Beon The Hesitant

Oh yeah, there is a vote

I'll say E (the teams split into pairs idea),B,C,D,A

Oh yeah:

E (Sand's idea), B, D, C, A

I am a fan of MagicalSand's idea. My vote is

E(that),D,C,B,A

Seems to be some confusion around which E is being voted for… E (drano’s idea) or E (Magical Sand’s idea).

I would suggest once we have a list of players, re-poll for votes again on the top options, and don’t provide an option for modified or new suggestions.

There are lots of options for combinations of these too, and so here’s my GM heavy suggestion to combine some of the most popular (after recommending there be no more new suggestions!):

Generate 9x(2&2) semi-randomly selected but geographically paired teams. That is 2 countries together in one location and another 2 together elsewhere, not touching the first pair. The pairs should be generated first, either by hand based on country rating to try to balance relative power some, or purely random.
Teams of pairs should probably be semi-random assignment with oversight to keep absurd power blocks from forming like QQ Otto’s + Novgorod Livonia sandwiching a GH Lithuania or something. Information on country pairing should be blind, in other words each team doesn’t know which pairs of pairs the other 8 are.

Then for player drafting: conduct a limited information blind order draft (captains don’t know which order the other captains are drafting) but where captains draft players instead of countries. Captain selection can be random and blind to the general group. Captains will know who the other eight captains are but not the draft order. This is the most complicated part, but I have a few ideas how to achieve this.

Assignment of teams to geography happens randomly. 9 teams to 9 2&2 locations.

The GM then PMs assignments to each player for a choose your country game, and informs each player only who their other three teammate are.

The captains have next to no info on who was drawn to which team, and there is very little discoverable up front about other teams.

I also suggest having alternates ready to jump in for CD’s to keep the balance and flow running smooth.



Lastly, count me in.

So far:

A. Last-time's method. All RNG but no one can border a teammate. That got a little hairy with countries like Genoa and what it meant to be "bordering". Somebody (non-player) generated the teams and then DM'd each of us who our teammates were. There are other rules we could implement or we could better define "bordering".

B. If we do unknown teams, I think it would be worth it to consider truly random teams; while it probably won't end up balanced, this game is for fun anyhow. A true mystery.

C. We determine 9 "captains" before the game starts, and once we get in-game, those captains draft or bid on their teammates. Further details to be decided if we pick this one; we have a lot of ways to do this.

D. We sort out which countries go into which set of teams before the game starts, and go in with random country assignment.

E. Drano's idea. We choose the 9 captains(by rank or by election). After the game starts, all captains submit a ranked list of three picks to a third-party to decide what they get for the first round of bidding. If possible, they are all assigned their first choice. If not, multiple picks crash, they get second, or third. If someone end up with nothing, then this round is redone. We do it for three times. Each round, every captain only knows which countries are still available, while others know nothing.

F. MagicalSand's idea and Lief_Syverson's supplement. Each team is two pairs that do not connect with each other or sandwich another pair. Details to be discussed.

D,E,F, all seem cool to me. Up to y’all though

Oh also - will this game be unrated? Just out of curiosity

Also just checking will this game be unrated?

Oops Vdip is glitching out my bad

with the nature of it, I think it would certainly have to be unrated

Rated=Let's ignore the rule and win
Unrated=Let's have fun

Without a doubt it would be unrated. People would likely refuse to play otherwise.

I like Leif/Magicalsand's idea. Also like my own of course. But what I would like the most is for us to get enough people to start the game :)