- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Space 1882
Preface:
It is the late 19th century, but not the one we know. Here, miraculous things can occur and the solar system is not one we know. A British scientist, Dr Cavor, has invented an artificial metal that resists gravity. Quickly, his research has been seized by the British government. Unfortunately, not before a series of incidents spread the secret of the metal to the four corners of the earth. Now, a new race begins, for just as the secret spread, Dr Cavor has launched the first spacecraft, a simple pressurized metal sphere which entered earth's orbit and circled the globe, taking pictures. Upon return, he was hailed as a hero. Now, the Scramble for Space begins.
Cavorite:
Cavorite is a metal that resists and redirects the flow of gravity, allowing for flight and interplanetary travel.
Cavorite has three main properties:
- Cavorite is an artificially produced substance.
- Cavorite only causes gravity to cease affecting it when an electrical current runs through it.
- Lead shielding is the only known technology capable of blocking the effects of Cavorite.
Game Format:
This game is a GSRP starting in 1882 in a Steampunk world. It takes inspiration from various 19th and early 20th-century sci-fi novels. Consider it similar to Space: 1889.
World Map
Available Nations:
Available Nations:
United States of America:
By the 1880s, the United States stands tall. The Gilded Age is in full swing, ringing in an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the North and West. Thanks to the mass production of railroads, creating traveling and shipping conveniences, most western states are experiencing an economic boon. Thanks to Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, the nation has begun to see light and sound transmitted from sea to shining sea. The era of cowboys, outlaws, and Indians has started to move in a different direction toward civility and, unfortunately, reservation.
Abundant rainfall and the promise of free land under the Homestead Act draw easterners to the plain. Farmers have started to organize into groups called Granges and Farmers' Alliances to address the problems farmers face. Though new farming machines are coming off production lines, horses, oxen, and people still provide most of the machinery's power. Severe winters threaten to wreak havoc for many ranchers. However, as during the Civil War, the strong will survive and continue making America the greatest country in the world.
United Kingdom:
The British Empire always exudes conviction, solace, and spirit and is ever expanding.
In 1882, Great Britain is close to achieving the pinnacle of her power. She maintains endless pride and prestige, for she rules over a quarter of the Earth's mainland and oceans with a subtle yet iron fist. She controls large parts of international commerce, and her industry is more advanced than most other nations. She maintains a political stability unknown amongst the other nations of Europe who are seemingly always embroiled in wars of conquest or revolution.
There seems to be no limit to British energy, determination, and ambition. Every day, the empire's frontiers push out further, and Great Britain seeks to extend her domain to the stars.
German Empire:
Germany consisted of various minor states and principalities for most of her history. However, Germany's victory over France led to the proclamation of the new German Empire and the King of Prussia as its emperor.
Thus the German states unified. Following this political unification was a social unification as the various national minorities and the different peoples and social classes from what were now regions rather than nations had to find a common identity. Today, the bourgeoisie has achieved the objective of a German constitutional state, with the nobility and the military also being able to identify with the concept of a constitutional monarchy and the victorious army. The German elite consisting primarily of officers and the rural Junker class or Prussian landed gentry, complemented by an increasing number of industrialists.
The lower classes have not yet become a part of the new state. Likewise, the former German states continued to have a strong regional character, preventing the inhabitants of the newly founded empire from developing a common identity. The emerging nationalism, therefore, pursues the goal of creating an ethnically homogeneous national state.
Republic of France:
Republican France has remained a nation of small producers, traders, and consumers. The surge of industrialization that marked the era of Napoleon III had unfortunately stopped short of a full-scale industrial revolution. The static or slowly changing sector far outweighed the new dynamic sector of the economy.
The bulk of the country's industry is smaller and more dispersed than in other industrializing nations. Ninety percent of France's industrial enterprises employ fewer than five workers; in the extensive textile and clothing trades, more than half of the employees still worked at home rather than in factories. Commerce and trade followed the same pattern, with small shops and banks in abundance. Similarly, small subsistence family farms dominate rural France. Fifty-two percent of the population are farmers, and another forty-five 4percent are independent producers, traders, and farmers.
Empire of Russia:
Russia is undoubtedly the most backward of all the great nations. Suffering a defeat in the Crimean War at the beginning of his reign led Tsar Alexander II to enact various reforms.
The most consequential of these reforms would be the abolition of serfdom in 1861. The newfound freedom for the masses of rural peasants freed would lead to financial dependency upon their former masters, now landlords, that was no longer accompanied by any obligations from the landlords. This financial dependency has led to widespread dissatisfaction among the peasants, who have begun to form secret societies. Some of which would develop into terror organizations.
Alexander II's rule is becoming increasingly repressive after several attempts on his life. He currently rules with an iron fist and has granted the Okhrana, the secret police, free reign.
Ottoman Empire:
The Ottoman Empire once reigned over almost all of Western Asia and North Africa, but by the 19th century, it had lost vast swathes of its former territories. During the second half of the 19th century, the attempts of the so-called "sick man of the Bosporus" to reorganize itself and effectively reform the ailing state structures with a new justice and tax system were in vain.
The government has carried out reforms. Most notably, non-Muslims within the empire now qualify for similar rights as Muslims. The country has also opened itself to Europe.
However, the European powers have annexed parts of her former territories. France seized Tunisia, and Great Britain recently occupied former Ottoman Egypt. Frequent territorial conflicts with Greece also led the Ottoman Empire to lose more land, and the war against Russia in 1878 was a catastrophe for the Ottoman Empire.
From the inside, the empire lies shattered; the ruling elites under Sultan Abdülhamid II pursue a stern, reactionary course and fight all of the population's democratic ambitions.
Furthermore, the once incredibly rich Ottoman Empire is bankrupt and dependent on European money. Since the Berlin Congress, Abdülhamit II has been relying more and more on the German Empire. With the support of German experts, the empire's budget is currently undergoing reorganization, and the Ottoman army is restructuring.
Austria-Hungary:
Austria-Hungary consists of two countries united under the Hapsburg crown. As such, Austria-Hungary is the most extensive European state in terms of area and the second-largest population.
Emperor Franz Joseph has governed the nation for over 40 years, aided by a prime minister who has to comply with his desires. He rarely manages to acquire renown of his own – or indeed to stay in office long enough to have a real influence on political matters.
Austria has experienced histrionic changes since Franz Joseph's coronation in 1848. Austria lost her territories in Northern Italy in the Second Italian Independence War of 1859 and has become less influential since Prussia's influence soared in 1866.
At the same time, domestic riots would have caused the collapse of the state if the crown had not made concessions to Hungarians in 1867 to establish a dual monarchy.
Hungary was given its constitution, parliament, and prime minister, thus becoming a kingdom that the emperor of Austria also rules. Consequently, Franz Joseph has effectively become the head of state of two countries that only act together in foreign affairs and war policy matters.
Kingdom of Italy:
The great national hero Garibaldi led to the formation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860 when he and 1,000 of his men led a campaign that would unite most of the Italian states in a year.
The unification would take years and necessitated the swapping of previously French regions and the seizing of several areas from the Austrians with the aid of Prussia.
The young nation is rife with severe problems. The northern regions enjoy subsidized industrial growth while the south lies neglected, causing the area to become increasingly impoverished.
Although Italy now stands united, it constantly suffers from insurgencies, strikes, and political disputes. The nation is currently heavily indebted and has laid the burden on its citizens, who bear exceptionally high taxes and abysmal wages.
To calm down the situation inside the country, the government of King Umberto I makes every effort to achieve success abroad and recently joined the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria.
Empire of Japan:
The reign of Tennô Mutsuhito led the Japanese Empire to experience profound changes. Tennô Mutsuhito, the ruling emperor, ascended to the throne on January 25th, 1868.
Mutsuhito has taken actions to diminish the military's influence and the predominant magistrate administration. The emperor's restored influence enabled him to carry out a series of reforms focused on strengthening the country economically and militarily.
Japan has also opened itself diplomatically and financially to Europe and the USA. These new ties and economic policies have led to an industrial revolution and raised Japan to Europe's level within a relatively brief period.
The educational system has also undergone revisions, and the country has recently established a parliamentary body.
Japan is on the cusp of entering the circle of "ruling powers."
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