Balance of Power: 1914
Europe is unknowingly holding its breath before what will become one of the world's most devastating conflicts. The effects of the Great war are far easier to list than its definitive cause with historians scratching their heads at who was truly to blame for the war. Perhaps the Great War was simply a combined European effort caused by centuries of rising tension that ultimately erupted into this tragic war. You may have heard that the war began when Gavrilo Princip shot the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, this was however more of the “spark” that ignited the war, it escalated into world war with Germany executing the Schlieffen plan, anticipating that Russia would declare war on Germany and Austria, thus triggering the Franco-Russian Alliance. Executing the Schlieffen plan meant that Belgium’s neutrality would be violated, this therefore brought Britain to arms against Germany and the stage was now set. Europe would destroy itself with 4 years of total war and forever change the world. In this timeline where will the spark ignite? The Balkans remains as the proverbial powder keg of Europe but perhaps another match will be lit elsewhere. It is up to you the player to decide the fate of your individual countries whether that road leads to victory or ruin.
Alliances
The alliances listed represent most of the core agreements responsible for the causes and escalation for the Great War. You the players are encouraged to look into the terms of your own treaties to both negotiate and perhaps object to changes etc made. It is your responsibility to point the flaws out and I as the GM to simulate a reaction similar to that of a newspaper. Breaking agreements, depending on the severity of the breaking and of the term itself being broken will be at the expense of player reputation and trust along with the possible implications of your respective governments splitting etc. Reactions by AI both outside of your respective countries and in equal measure within your countries will be handled at my discretion as I see fit for the benefit of RP.
Entente-Cordiale
British and French establishing a diplomatic understanding between the two nations. No military obligations as of yet.
Anglo-Russian Convention
Similar to that of the Entente Cordiale.
Franco-Russian Alliance
Defensive Pact.
Triple Alliance- Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany
Defensive Alliance.
Treaty of London (1839)
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Belgium, the French Third Republic, the German Empire, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Russian Empire and finally the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Starting Map
Current Map
Prelude
Several matches were lit in the previous years but none have lit the flame of a global war. 1914 sees a great standoff between two great blocks, powers affiliated with the Entente alliances (mostly unified by the threat of Germany and Austria-Hungary) pitted against the Triple and uneasy alliance between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy (an alliance born out of fears of diplomatic isolation). Tensions are as high as ever in the Balkans after the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina during the previous year and that of the Balkan wars. What we see before us is the pinnacle to the idea of "Nationalism". The loyalties of communities largely answer to that of the state and as radical ideas of self-determination, jingoism and Pan-Slavism ring out through the various social classes of Europe. One thing is clear, not all will survive this period and for some it may mean finally bending to the will of the masses. only time will tell whether or not the European powers will bend or break when confronted with issues at home and the looming threat of war.