Prussia’s national ideas

Austria’s national ideas

So, we meet again? Welcome to the March of the Eagles developer diary 17, where the two German powers, Austria and Prussia, go head to head. As we measure these masters of central Europe, who will get your eager leadership? Which of the eagles will you lose to?Having come out of the Seven Year’s War as one of the strongest and most militarized states in Europe, Prussia controls the continental route to the Baltic Sea and its army has become a byword for professionalism and efficiency. It was one of the leaders in the early wars against the French Republic, but called it a day with the Treaty of Basel in 1795. In the years before March of the Eagles starts, Prussia used the French wars against Britain and Austria as an opportunity to grab even more German lands, including Hanover for a time. But Prussia won’t just play along with France for long – it may cede the west bank of the Rhine, but central Europe is another matter.The Prussian Discipline will increase the mobility and defense of the guard troops.Guard defense: +25%The introduction of Prussian virtues will lead to a modern legal order, administration, officer corps loyalty to the crown, and patriotism. This is especially important for keeping Polish and Danish territories peaceful.National revolt risk: -2.00As Enlightenment ideas spread through Germany; it becomes clear that the old ways of ruling the people are inadequate. Liberate the peasants from serfdom!Morale of Armies: +0.25, Morale of Navies: +0.25The new Military Academy will educate soldiers and commanders for the Prussian General Staff.Morale of Armies: +0.25National Manpower Modifier: +25%Land Maintenance Modifier = -0.25The new education system will introduce an official language and train young men for the military and the bureaucracy.National Tax Modifier: +5%Monthly Diplomats: +1Monthly Idea points: +5Prussia is in a curious position. The status quo does not suit Prussia, for too long we have played second fiddle to Austria in German affairs and even our gain of Silesia has not tempered Austria's arrogance. We must be free of Austria, but to merely replace her domination with that of France is no better outcome. This is going to take cunning diplomacy and masterful military timing to prosper, but prosper Prussia shall. Prussia’s main challenge is that it is surrounded by three major powers (Austria, France and Russia) each of which can impose its will if Prussia can’t find an ally to back it. Prussian naval dominance will depend on controlling the Baltic, and it will need to juggle its alliances to keep hope of land dominance.A new name for an old thing, the Austrian Empire is the Hapsburg Monarchy recast as more a national and less a dynastic phenomenon. But make no mistake – Austrian power is based on centuries of directing the course of events in Central Europe, standing against Turkish expansion to the south and being the center of German culture. Vienna is at least as classy a town as Paris.The age of her dynasty means that all great victories will echo throughout Europe, but Austria is surrounded on all sides and stuck with a hidebound aristocracy. Can you restore the double eagle to its rightful place at the top of the European heap?The legendary Austrian army carries the burden of centuries with it, so our adversaries will tremble with fear with every triumph.Prestige from Land battles: +25%Austria is a polyglot empire of German, Czechs, Italians, Hungarians and Balkans peoples. Be on the lookout for trouble. The Network of Spies will monitor dissent and report to the secret police.National Revolt Risk: -2The Frontier soldiers are professional military, ready to move to all European battlefields.National Manpower Modifier: +50%Land Maintenance Modifier: -25%To defeat our enemies we need to adopt the nation in arms principle and the French war organization and tactics.Morale of Armies: +0.25National Manpower Modifier: +25%Land Maintenance Modifier: -25%The Austrian National Bank is founded with the aim of reestablishing monetary order in Austria.National Tax Modifier: +5Interest: -0.50Even more than Prussia, Austria’s position is almost untenable. Austria is under pressure on all fronts. In the west we have lost control and influence in the Low Countries and Italy to France. In the north, Prussia is putting pressure on our pre-eminent position in Germany and to the east we have an advancing Russia and the loss of the Polish buffer state. Only the south is quiet, but there is no guarantee it will remain so. It may be safe to expand into Turkey, but what happens when our back is turned? Fortunately, Britain is once more at war with France. This is an opportunity to regain our position in the west and improve our strategic position. There is a danger, we have done this twice before and both times we paid for the defeats with humiliation and land. Do we risk it but can we dare not?The Central European major powers are both very challenging to play and will require more deft diplomacy than, for example, Russia or Britain. There is no easy way they can survive on their own with a purely military game. And they must watch each other, since both Prussia and Austria have legitimate claims to being the dominant German state; Prussia is the rising power, but Austria has the power of tradition. They only need a Metternich like yourself to make the most of it.Let the game begin, who has your vote?Cheers,Solsara