User:Cpl. Wilding/Europe 1680

The year is 1678. Dutch scientists are on the brink of finding a new technology, a technology that may change sea warfare forever. The Dutch citizens are happy, they lead in technology and have the largest navy in the world. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Mayan Empire is having troubles keeping itself stable internally, thus it has turned to the Vikings. Germany and the Netherlands have made a secret allaince due to previous years of warfare with the Vikings, Mayans, Aztecs and French: Should Netherlands or Germany be attacked by any of the named countries, then the other will immediately declare war on the offending parties. Ethiopia, on the other hand, is largely neutral in the conflicts, having allies on both sides.



The stage is set, and in two years time, there will be war on Europe once again.

France has been a longtime rival of the Netherlands. Similarily, the Vikings hated the Germans for centuries-old reasons. The Aztecs hated the Dutch for founding Judaism and because the Aztecs and French closely followed Hinduism, were outraged when the Dutch converted to Judaism. In about a year's time, the Germans too converted and allied with the Dutch. The Vikings and Mayans followed Buddhism and were enemies of near everyone. The Ethiopians, again, were neutral, never being involved in religous wars and largely having no warfare experience.

In years previous, the Netherlands fought a decades-long war with the Aztecs and French, mainly because Dutch ambassadors refused to give in to French and Aztec demands. The French king, infuriated with Dutch inflexibility, declared war. The Aztecs followed not long after. The Vikings and Mayans took advantage of this and declared war on the Netherland's ally, Germany. Although the war ended with peace treaties on all sides, Germany had lost on of her cities: Essen. Viking macemen and axemen proved too much for German archers to handle, and the city was overrun.

The year is now 1680, and the Vikings, French, Mayans and Aztecs again declare war on Germany and the Netherlands. With six nations at war, the Ethiopians declare a zone of neutrality: any warring ship or soldier passing through Ethiopian land will be shot at. French soldiers begin moving toward Amsterdam, but are slowed down by longbowmen and new musketeers. Aztec soldiers are awaiting French go-ahead to take the city of Njugen, which, since the last war has been heavily garrisonned. In fact, most Dutch cities other than Rotterdam have a heavy garrison force, consisting of musketmen, spearmen, swordsmen, horse archers and longbowmen. The crossbow had only been in use with Dutch hunting groups, usually hunting deer and beavers along the frozen North Dutch coast. Germany too had gunpowder, but did not employ it in large numbers like the Dutch did.

It is apparent, even in the first hours of the war, that the French and Aztecs are in the losing bracket in terms of technology.