[OOC] Precipice of War - We Write Under The Sign Of The Goat

[Wilted Rose]

... I think I need to catch up. Cannibals? On an unrelated note, I was wondering. Should I continue playing as Japan? I feel like Aaron has plans involving it, and I wouldn't want to mess up any storylines by coming in as Imperialist Japan, probably destabilizing Asia. If so, I wouldn't mind taking something else. I didn't really know how interweaved everything in Asia was when I joined. Not to mention, I only posted once so far, so its not like tons of work would be lost.

@Shiro

Well, its up to you in the end! I mean, as long as you and Aaron talk things over through PMs or whatever I'm sure you'd be able to make decisions and stuff over both of your story lines. To make things easier.

[Chapatrap]

South America and Africa are in need of someone.

@Rare

I think Feo is handling Africa as we speak. :P

[Wilted Rose]

RIP Africa

[Chapatrap]

RIP African canon.

[Pepperm1nts]

RIP in peace.

[Meiyuuhi]

Join the glorious American Isolationist Squadron.

[Wilted Rose]

Nein, remain Japan. Form Tri-Imperial Pact™ with the great Empire of Italia™ and [Insert Monarchy here]. Terms and Conditions may apply.

[Chapatrap]

... I think I need to catch up. Cannibals? On an unrelated note, I was wondering. Should I continue playing as Japan? I feel like Aaron has plans involving it, and I wouldn't want to mess up any storylines by coming in as Imperialist Japan, probably destabilizing Asia. If so, I wouldn't mind taking something else. I didn't really know how interweaved everything in Asia was when I joined.

@Shiro

You've got a few options here, imo: -Stick with Japan and see where you can go with it. As Japan, you're practically one of two (I'm sure Aaron would argue otherwise) powers of East Asia and the only none-Chinese influenced nation east of Kazakhstan. Japan still has a bit of an empire going too, which could lead to some interesting story arcs in the Japanese East Indies concerning rebels, experimentation on natives or even coming into conflict with the British/Australians. -Go with an African country. Africa, as it stands right now, is a pretty canon-empty continent south of the Ethiopian Empire. The power down there goes to South Africa, which are probably the third African "power", if you could call them that. As far as I'm aware (if we're still going with Tempest canon), Mozambique/Tanganyika and Zambia are pretty heavily influenced by Ethiopia while Botswana and Angola are more leaning towards South Africa. Feokris is rebuilding his British Empire, which could lead to some interesting conflicts in that part of the world and this Spanish/Ethiopian conflict could use some commentary from the southern African states. -Go with an North/South American country. The America's were fairly barren from Mihn leaving during MCF up until now, where we now have three players there. South America is known for being a bit of Bermuda Triangle when it comes to players, with people picking up countries and leaving after one or no posts. The only consistent South America player is Mihndar and I'm sure he gets bored down there all by himself. Central America and the Caribbean are brimming with potential. Since France and Britain still maintain a presence in the Caribbean, you're looking at colonial tensions brewing in Jamaica, the Bahama's and the Antilles. Central America has never been touched in this RP, as far as I am aware and anything happening there will be watched closely by Revan and Byrd. North America, you have one choice - Canada. I'm pretty sure Canadas player hasn't been seen in years but his canon on a warlike Canada still stands. Canada invaded Greenland and Alaska, had an oil baron revolution, fought through several wars with its neighbours and is now in the wake of having a large chunk of it's western provinces and former NWC annexed by America. I don't know what you could do with Canada or if any of Arnie's old stuff is even considered canon but the option is there. -Go with a European country. Your final choice is to go with a European/Near East country. Europe is and always has been the continent most populated by players and we've seen various iterations of every single country imaginable in Europe. I think at the moment, not including Evan and I, there are 7 players in Europe and things are looking to kick off in various fronts - Germany is looking at Poland and beyond with hungry eyes (if Hugs would post), Serbia is looking to annex the Balkans and create a Yugoslav state all while the remnants of Turkey are looking to retake Independent Istanbul and go to war with it's former colonies. Europe is a bit tense at the moment and it'll only take a random border conflict to kick off. Also, France is the only current world power that has never had a long-time player, so there's that. Take a look through the map, have a think about what you'd want to do with Japan and then make a decision on what to do - keep going as Japan or look elsewhere in the world. PoW is fairly flexible if you're willing to play by the rules and seeing as you have only posted once in a country with previous canon, I think we can let you off if you decide to choose another country.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Or you can stay with Japan. What I wrote out earlier in reference to any imperialistic desires was a warning on such. China likes a nice stable Asia, and disruption to it will be acted on swiftly to settle it. Plus, Japanese crimes against China in the Revolution are still pretty fresh, it hasn't even lapsed a generation out yet and weakened. I recall earlier you also mentioned intentions to invade Siam, which is why I decided to emphasize the Chinese stance on imperialism.

[Pepperm1nts]

Aaron can be very protective of his Asia, but don't let that stop you.

[Wilted Rose]

Not to mention, Japan can have very interesting arcs about Tradition vs Modernity, similar to what I assume China is doing. Not to mention, Japan has what it wanted currently. A large empire from which it can extract resources to fuel its(once) rapidly growing industrial might. The East Indies were, and probably still are, the most valuable land in Asia except for India. Essentially, Japan has so much potential I'd stay if I were you.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Not to mention, Japan can have very interesting arcs about Tradition vs Modernity, similar to what I assume China is doing. Not to mention, Japan has what it wanted currently. A large empire from which it can extract resources to fuel its(once) rapidly growing industrial might. The East Indies were, and probably still are, the most valuable land in Asia except for India. Essentially, Japan has so much potential I'd stay if I were you.

@Wilted Rose

Well, Chinese Communism is a weird thing in retrospect. As opposed to Maoism who like to preach the Four Olds and shit, Houist China just hasn't really touched it. Hou hasn't ordered armies of energetic youths to burn down all the shrines and destroy everything that might threaten the Revolutionary Regime. In a manner, it re-incorporates it as a defense. A point in Chinese law here is to identify and "preserve" traditional elements as part of the multi-colored fabric of the Revolution. This of course has lead to a lot of contention between Christians and Muslims, of which I'm dealing with the major figurehead of the later in Chinese politics. As for Japan, I imagine an issue that might effect them is the demands of their non-Japanese citizens for autonomy or independence in the Empire. The Japanese as I've come to read have historically in some way be pretty racist towards non-Japanese citizens. So though their colonies exist for the make benefit of Japan, they're probably pretty rocky places to be. Of course, they're as-of-yet to be really explored in the same way I'm exploring Xinjiang.

[Vilageidiotx]

Japan has a lot of potential, but it would require some skill to pull off. You're looking at a Japan that never went through the post-WW2 Americanization. The only force acting against Japanese tradition would be the communism of China, but Japan is also playing the part of the Disgraced Empire, and because of this nationalism and revaunchism would take hold. Their relationship with China would be a teeth-grinding grin and bear it, and the youth would grow up in a depressed society with a tendency toward angry conservatism. So really, more than anywhere else in the Precipice world, Japan is the one place that would most likely become a Fascist state. Not using the term Fascist of course, since that term was specifically invented during the rise of Mussolini which did not happen here. You'd probably be seeing signs of eternal struggle. Communists and socialists being harassed, or even murdered. Paramilitary organizations forming around traditional Japanese concepts of honor. Fanatics wanting to fight an unrealistic war against China while the less fanatical look at the Pacific as their own playground. This can all be done, and you can toss caution to the wind in this unique instance so long as you realize a few things. One, Japan cannot defeat China. It would be youthful overconfidence, or a belief that honorable defeat is better than peaceful skulking, that would ultimately drive them against China. China's industrial and military abilities could bring Japan down though. No question about that. The other thing is that, even if nationalism draws them into Pacific Imperium, there isn't much to be gained there. A Pacific Empire might fulfill certain emotional wants, and it might get them some minor economic boons, but it will not make them a major power. So that is kind of what Japan could be. Exploring the creation of a Fascist state while always living in the shadow of your neighbors.

[Dinh AaronMk]

It's a process that might take a few years. Though if I remember right, Japan would already have the international policy of a fascist state. I'd try to find the policy itself, but in short notice this is the closest I could find. But I do recall reading it involved an almost mythical belief Japan should own the four winds or something, and effectively own the world because the Shinto Gods had placed this mission onto the Emperor. Or something like this. So yea, it's probably a political powder keg.

[Pepperm1nts]

Japan sounds like a really cool place to play, but it'd take a lot of research so you get all their beliefs and traditions right and don't end up writing the script to a Naruto episode.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Japan sounds like a really cool place to play, but it'd take a lot of research so you get all their beliefs and traditions right and don't end up writing the script to a Naruto episode.

@Pepperm1nts

"Will Senpai notice me? Believe it!"

[Meiyuuhi]

Well, they could take over Australia. That might provide them with significantly more resources and manpower to better be able to fight China if it comes down to it. And it's not like dealing with rowdy foreigners they have conquered is new to them. And also keep in mind Indonesia's population alone in 1980 is 150 million. Throw in Japan and South Korea, you've doubled that and you still haven't gotten to Papua New Guinea and whatever else they might own in the Pacific. Japan's military power would be nothing to sneeze at, considering they both industrialized before China and they have the numbers to at least compete, being around a 2:1 ratio without the massive population boom associated with Maoism. So no, they probably couldn't defeat China but it would hardly be a smashing defeat.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Well, they could take over Australia. That might provide them with significantly more resources and manpower to better be able to fight China if it comes down to it. And also keep in mind Indonesia's population alone in 1980 is 150 million. Throw in Japan and South Korea, you've doubled that and you still haven't gotten to Papua New Guinea and whatever else they might own in the Pacific. Japan's military power would be nothing to sneeze at, considering they both industrialized before China and they have the numbers to at least compete. So no, they probably couldn't defeat China but it would hardly be a smashing defeat.

@Mihndar

I doubt the Koreans or the Indonesians would be at all loyal to the Japanese, or only really love themselves. The native populations wouldn't really want to support them voluntarily and the ashkaris they could pull from the islands wouldn't be worth much. Not to mention Australia is basically a whole lot of nothing and full of people even more opposite to the Japanese culture than the Koreans being raped or the Indonesians. So attempting to take Australia would just mean a lot of prolonged police work as well as attracting the ire of Britain, since Australia wants to and is trying to, or already has joined the Commonwealth. So they got some political protection there. China as well would have it support from parties in the International. And since they'd act independently then they're not coming on Beijing's orders. Aggression on mainland Asia would also most likely attract universal ire from the Asian bloc who'd have enough power in the International Politburo to all declare war on Japan. They may not be able to contribute naval assets, but they could the land assets needed to turn a landing into a proper meat grinder while mainland Japan is burned from 30,000 meters.

[Meiyuuhi]

<Snipped quote by Mihndar> I doubt the Koreans or the Indonesians would be at all loyal to the Japanese, or only really love themselves. The native populations wouldn't really want to support them voluntarily and the ashkaris they could pull from the islands wouldn't be worth much. Not to mention Australia is basically a whole lot of nothing and full of people even more opposite to the Japanese culture than the Koreans being raped or the Indonesians. So attempting to take Australia would just mean a lot of prolonged police work as well as attracting the ire of Britain, since Australia wants to and is trying to, or already has joined the Commonwealth. So they got some political protection there. China as well would have it support from parties in the International. And since they'd act independently then they're not coming on Beijing's orders. Aggression on mainland Asia would also most likely attract universal ire from the Asian bloc who'd have enough power in the International Politburo to all declare war on Japan. They may not be able to contribute naval assets, but they could the land assets needed to turn a landing into a proper meat grinder while mainland Japan is burned from 30,000 meters.

@Dinh AaronMk

Considering they've been under Japanese domination for forty-odd years, an entire new generation would have grown up that knows nothing of the pre-Japanese days and frankly probably wouldn't care nearly so much. This new population, containing almost all of the soldier-age population, would be significantly more loyal to the Empire than the older generation that remembers. There's no guarantee they wouldn't have significant enough air assets and potentially aircraft carriers to both fend off any stuff you send off at them but also place pressure on your forces attempting to contain their landings. Naval forces bombarding your coast and air support combined could easily turn your defensive line into as much of a meat grinder as their landing area. A quasi-fascist state would have invested much more of its power into building these assets than an isolationist China, bolstered as it may be by the other bloc members.

[Dinh AaronMk]

<Snipped quote by Dinh AaronMk> Considering they've been under Japanese domination for forty-odd years, an entire new generation would have grown up that knows nothing of the pre-Japanese days and frankly probably wouldn't care nearly so much. This new population, containing almost all of the soldier-age population, would be significantly more loyal to the Empire than the older generation that remembers. There's no guarantee they wouldn't have significant enough air assets and potentially aircraft carriers to both fend off any stuff you send off at them but also place pressure on your forces attempting to contain their landings. Naval forces bombarding your coast and air support combined could easily turn your defensive line into as much of a meat grinder as their landing area. A quasi-fascist state would have invested much more of its power into building these assets than an isolationist China.

@Mihndar

I'm sure that's what the Turks told themselves again and again during their occupation of Armenian territory. Or even Kurdish. Nationalism isn't that easily breed out over generations. Especially if you're two different peoples. Modern nationalism doesn't just leave the mindset of a people when a generation or two passes in or out of the social framework. If anything, it'd get passed down from one generation to another. Because that's their identity. And identity is important. Tribe is important. And Japan is all about their tribe and the Japanese. Not the Indonesians or the Koreans. It's all for the make benefit of them and the Japanese imperial institution would have been well built for that way of thinking. The Emperor is a God. And the Japanese are the people of that God. Everyone else is not. Besides, the dutch had been fighting Indonesian nationalism for a long time before Japan no doubt seized the islands. Though the Japanese may have used these nationalists to overthrow the Dutch and get themselves in it was never a serious commitment to favor the Indonesians. Any attempts at seizing this or acting out wouldn't be acted to kindly. And then all of a sudden there's a cycle of violence in the region much like Isreal-Palestine. Or modern Xinjiang with one side trying to get a head on the other, and the other being seriously offended and violent. They would not be loyal. Not until they all die. And then there goes the 150 million.