With Charles II of Spain infertile and chronically ill, tensions arise in western Europe over the Spanish Succession with both the French King and the Holy Roman Emperor aspiring to install close family members to secure the throne. Meanwhile in eastern Europe, the recently crowned King of Sweden Charles XII is just 17 and perceived as vulnerable by his enemies. With the Kings of Denmark, Poland and Russia having territorial ambitions against the vast Swedish Empire, a coalition is forming... The game's setting is the entire known world, starting from the year 1700 all the way to 1815 and covering most historical events and incidents that shaped the 18th century. Population People are the lifeblood of this simulation. The needs of people steer production and trade, opportunities for profit steers business and capital. The satisfaction and circumstances of the people will be the key factor behind every decision they will ever make; job preference, ideology and politics, migration, assimilation, etc. Economy The economy is a closed system. Resources need to be physically produced and then transported to the would-be consumers; all constructions, trade and payouts result in the circulation of money or resources. The private sector is largely autonomous and rulers typically influence it indirectly through taxes, tariffs, and laws, but interventionist policies with greater state control are possible. Goods are regionally priced. Prices are subject to the forces of supply and demand, transportation costs, production costs and protectionism. Politics The Age of Enlightenment coincides with the last half of the Age of Absolutism, but absolute monarchies are not universal. Powerful polities such as England, The Netherlands and Poland have strong parliamentary institutions and their Monarchs will often have to rule by negotiation and consent. Regardless of the political system, a ruler would be wise to legislate and pass reforms in accordance to the needs and desires of their various subjects, lest they find themselves deposed. War & Logistics A combat system designed with respect to historical warfare. A war's scope isn't just the battles won or the territories captured; it is also the civilians who perished, got displaced or suffered enslavement, the infrastructure that got destroyed, the economic blockades that took place and their effects on global trade. Transportation costs do not only affect the economy, but also military campaigns. Armies deep in enemy territory will often find their supply lines compromised. While raiding the countryside may buy them some time, fighting near friendly territory and defending supply lines from disruption is always the safest course of action. A shrewd ruler should ensure geographical access to critical resources, before even going to war. An island that mines war-crucial iron won't be able to export it anywhere if enemy warships have blockaded its coastline. Choose your destiny Monarchy or republicanism, free trade or protectionism, interventionism or isolationism, revolution or counter-revolution? In Age of Enlightenment every campaign is a unique experience, shaped by your choices and the state of the world.
