Taking requests....

[Velociryx]

The Scotland thread will be wrapping up soon, and I'd like to keep two going here....so, to that end, any sugesstions for what nation we can chart history for? I had considered Aragon on impossible level, perhaps? A major power, 'tis true, but I don't really know how many events they've got....attractive Iberian and Italian cultures, so that's nice.

Venice was another good possibility....some interesting cultures, but almost no events....and since we've already GOT a game going where there are no historical events, I wasn't sure if we wanted to make it two.

I definitely have no aversion to playing the majors (we'll just play on impossible level to keep things at least a little dicey), but...if the interest is there, and if anybody has any sugesstions....

-=Vel=-
EDIT: The only request/requirement I would make is...PLEASE don't stick me with some crappy little country that only has one culture. I HATE playing countries that only have a singular culture. Okay, "hate" is too strong a word, but it's so....confining. Bohemia is great, Savoy, Austira, of course, England, Brittany, Lorraine (yes!), Navarra....whole HOST of countries sporting multiple cultures, and any of them would be fine!

[Nikolai]

What about Byzantium? Lots of cultures and definately a challenge! If you use the AGC or the EEP, you'll get lots of interesting events as well.

[Velociryx]

Byzantium would be coolio! An excellent choice, that one! And with EEP....yeah (tho, they must get more cultures in EEP via events, cos IIRC, I started an EEP game with them once, and quit when I saw that they only had one culture?)

-=Vel=-

EDIT: One thing I remember about playing them....they have a REALLY groovy event that gives Italian culture IF you go Catholic for a while...nice, but it TOTALLY screws you for the 20-odd year period...OUCH!

[ravagon]

I've been playing around with a user-made scenario called Fantasia-scramble a bit lately ... in my couple of spare moments anyway.
Its not bad at all although I've had a problem or two running it in 1.06.
Its similar to the original Fntasia scenario - single province start, all units can explore, automatic merchants/colonists, very tough natives, etc - except that instead of only 8 starting nations you have all of the original hundred or so plus all of the new nations that can form throughout the game.
Ideally you can colonise a couple of neighbouring provinces (once you've discovered them) but then you'll run into another nation and the fur starts flying.

Venice is great fun if you like a lot of leaders (I've just got the guy with +4 to siege! ) and the starting CoT but, as you've pointed out there aren't a whole lot of events.

OTOH if you want to stick to the GC and want significant events you could always try the Golden Horde ... they have significant events.

[General Ludd]

I second Byzantium. Not that I bother to read any of the AARs or anything, though...

[pg]

i had a great game as novgorod a while back on impossible, and it would be interesting to see how'd you do. of course i reloaded many times, but i wonder if you could survive without reloading. of course if you do manage to form russia the rest of the game is usually pretty easy especially if you manage to get to the siberian corridor early(like i did).

[Nikolai]

The Byzantines can get Italian and Turkish(but then you won't get the conversions and culture changes from other events...) by events in the EEP. They have Greek and Slavonic from the start.

In the AGC, they can get Turkish(but then they once again won't get the conversions and culture changes...), Syrian(and some provinces will become Syrian if you choose to take it), armenian(I think the same implies here as with Syrian) and Slavonic. You start with noly Greek as your state culture.

[Velociryx]

Looks like Byzantium has the early lead, tho Nov sounds enticing too....

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

Hmmm...I don't know what sorts of cultures they may have, but Malacca could be entertaining....CoT....very nice!

[Velociryx]

Side note - while waiting for the council of lords to chime in re: Lorraine's future, I started a purely casual game as Aragon...FUN little country to play! Annexed Naples and just built my first refinery....not playing with any particular goal in mind, just trying to maintain an honorable rep and defend myself...haven't launched an aggressive war yet (tho early on, Naples attacked me, and I beat the snot out of them and took Apulia)....been interesting so far!

-=Vel=-

[hexagonian]

I'd stick with a country that isn't geared toward colonization. Makes for a more interesting game...

Here are some suggestions...

Poland is cool, although it may be too easy once you get over the hump - Sweden to the north, Russia to the northeast, Ottos to the south and the Austria-Hungary-Bohemia axis to the west. It took me a couple of shots to get it right. That game taught me the value of alliances. Oops, I think they may have only Polish culture - and not many CB shields, although it seems like everyone and their brother has one on them...

Da Viet, or one of the other Southeast Asian nations, though I do not know how many events they have. Still, having China in your backyard is fun. Don't know what culture(s) they have...

Do something with the Moslem group (not the Ottos - too easy - but a nation like Oman, Persia?) Moslemize Europe.

[Velociryx]

Hex, that's pure evil! I love it!

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

Update...I *did* start a Byzantium game, but I'm not really happy with it. Am growing, verging on reducing the OE to a one province minor, but...sheesh, what a grind! Add to that the fact that I'm mired in my religious troubles (took the nasty even to get Italian culture and essentially paralyzed myself for 20 years....OE jumped me once I was alone and without allies, and beat up on me with the help of Karaman and the Mamelukes....OUCH...but, we had two good leaders and eventually stemmed the tide (more or less). OE is down to two provs (one of which I have under siege, and the other is besieged by rebels, so they can't recruit)....but my country is falling apart at the seams! 12% inflation in just over 30 years, verging on having to take a second loan to just survive this fight, and IF I take OE territories, my already sucky stab cost is going to go thru the roof...then of course, when I switch back to orthodoxy, I'll be right back at -3 stab....I dunno....a tough row....

-=Vel=-

[Dinner]

The union of churches event happens in the standard game and not just in EEP. EEP does add a bunch of new events though so it would be worth trying.

How about a nonwestern game? You cold play Ethiopia or Vijanger.

[Dinner]

Failing that Triebizond is always fun. Especially if you retake Constantinople after the Turks have built a supply center there allowing you to become Byzantium.