[Civ V]: Imagine a world without Europe

The Game Room
1

I’ve just finished reading the excellent alt-history book by Kim Stanley Robinson, The Years of Rice and Salt. In it the plague wipes out Europe, world history is completely changed.

So what if we played this out in Civ V? Let’s find out how history goes. I’ll be playing as the Japanese who in the book get conquered by a Chinese powerhouse and become a diaspora, mainly in Fangzhou (America). There will be no European civilisations, Europe is completely empty. Playing on a world map with civs in historical positions, vanilla Civ V only, no expansions. Prince difficulty since I suck. Also enabled random personalities for Civ leaders, because who doesn’t like a nuke-happy Gandhi.

Awake to Emptiness:
Behold, ancient Yamato. In the shade of Mt. Fuji stands our capital, Kyoto, where we are constructing the Great Library. In the north of our sacred isles we have founded Osaka. We have first contact with the Polynesians, a proud seafaring peoples far to the east. Dude is ripped, must be doing a few sit-ups on that beach. We agree to open borders with them.

Construction of the Great Library is finished. Being an island peoples ourselves, we direct our scholars to comb the shelves and scrolls for better understanding of navigation. We begin construction of a Great Lighthouse to guide ships safely into Kyoto’s harbour, sending triremes out into the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan. We make contact with the Siamese, their ruler having some serious bling. An agreement for open borders is quickly agreed upon.

Helloooo, Empress of China. Chinese settlement is extending into the Korean peninsula not far from the islands of Nippon; so we decide upon a friendly relationship with their ruler. From the plains to the north ride the Mongols; we can count on kami, divine spirits, to protect us from their horde.

Japan is a land of culture. We have progressed far in the liberty of our peoples and a great scientist, one Michael Faraday, is born in Kyoto. Despite yammering about cages, we direct him to theological studies, ushering in a new age of progress for the Japanese people.

The Polynesianspropose making a declaration of friendship to the world, which we accept - I’m not annoying someone with those doomsday pecs. While in Kyoto the Great Lighthouse is completed to the north a Colossus ushers gold toward Osaka’s harbour. Wu Zetain hopes fluttering her eyelashes will part me with 100 gold, but I play hard to get for now. In response she friendzones me.

We’ve made contact with renowned warmonger Gandhi, who expresses approval at our friendship with China, as does our Polynesian pal with the washboard abs. To defend against goddamn Mongorians, China also completes a Great Wall which will make invading them much more difficult. Genghis sets his sights further south, and declares war on Siam.

In order to get faster access to nukes Gandhi proposes a research agreement. Unlike Wu he’s not bending us over a barrel and demanding half of our treasury, so we accept. Speaking of China, to our surprise they join with Mongolia in declaring war against Siam. As our military is a bit, er, lacklustre we shall avoid picking sides. Chinese victory seems assured though, they have already made friends of India, Polynesia and Mongolia.

Join us next time when we find out what war, huh, good God y’all, what is it good for. We also continue our naval expeditions west to make contact with strange and exotic peoples in the nations of Dar al-Islam and the emptiness at the end of the world in dead Europe.

2

Island Continents:

Back to the history that never was. The Empress of China has also been taken in with the hunky islander, hinting that in the future a pan-Pacific alliance between China, Japan and the Polynesian islands might be in the cards. Further west we encounter another peoples, the Persian Empire, bordering our good friends in India.

One of our triremes has skillfully navigated through the rocks and ice suffering much hardship to discover the empty land of Europe, where we find not a living soul, only overgrown ruins. It is a land rich in resources though, so whichever nation claims these lands as their own will be blessed indeed. It is a shame it is so far from Nippon.

The war in the jungles of Siam goes China’s way, for now. The Siamese city of Lampang falls, the ruthless Chinese start to tear the place down brick by brick. The Siamese broker a ceasefire, but it seems that Wu Zetian can’t get enough war and attacks those goddamn Mongorians so they don’t break down their wall.

Meanwhile back in the homelands we finish building the Hagia Sofia, advancing our nation further - a John Dalton discovers astronomy for us in Kyoto. We have been ushered in to the Rennaisance Era, but several unknown civilisations have beat us to it.

As they say in Kyoto, chotto matte! Wait a minute there, Gandhi - all of our iron! Why not ask for all out cherry blossoms too? Yada. Apparently it’s charity season as China comes begging claiming things aren’t going well, either through famine, drought, declaring war on all their neighbours… We’re not doing badly money-wise, the markets of Nippon turn a healthy profit, so we decide not to annoy our powerful neighbour.

The age of exploration continues as we sent our first ocean-going vessel accross the vastness of the eastern ocean. We find a huge island, which is not uninhabited. Despite wanting friendly relations with us we don’t trust anyone who rips out hearts. We also meet the more pleasant Haudenosaunee and Inka, both at war with Montezuma.

Despite being inhabited by unpleasant types, several Japanese colonists emigrate the home islands to found the city of Fangzhang. The timing is fortunate, as we have recently discovered a most marvellous powder which explodes when brought to spark. If any natives seek to challenge the Japanese people we will blast them with our firelocks to the world of darkness.

We aren’t the only ones founding colonies across the globe. Our bishi from Hawaii has discovered the island of Aozhou and promptly claims it. The New World continues to be a dangerous place, as the Haudenosaunee sense that our presence will turn the tide in their war against the Aztecs. They ask us to bring our gunpowder to bear against them, but our toehold across the ocean is still vulnerable. We decline…for now.

Join us next time for more exploration, discovery, war and politics in a world where England, France, Spain, Germany, Rome, Greece, Rus and the Norse have vanished, leaving opportunities galore.

3

Nice attention to detail - If I recall The Years of Rice and Salt correctly, a city is founded on the northern side of the Golden Gate rather than the southern, and you seem to have done the same in your game! :wink:

4

Pfft, who would found a city south of the Gold Gate? Far too hilly and foggy!

5

The Haj in the Heart:
Our journey to the west bumps into another leader, Harun al-Rashid of Arabia, seen here about to sneeze.. Apparently we’ve made a declaration of friendship with one of his enemies; most likely India or China. We also meet Askia the Great whose Songhai Empire dominates North Africa and the expanse of the Sahara. On the other side of the globe another empire shows its true colours - eager for sacrifices to ensure the sun continues to rise, Montezuma declares war and marches his fearsome Jaguar Warriors on Fangzhang. The sons of Nippon will fight to the last rather than be dragged up their heathen pyramids.

We sign a defensive pact with the Haudenosaunee League to deter any other opportunistic attackers while we fend of the Aztec hordes. Our scout spies an Inka incursion heading towards the Valley of Mexico. Despite their bravery, the slingers are cut down to a man. Further north the savages have surrounded Fangzhang, bombarding us obsidian-tipped arrows.

A quick look at the state of geopolitics.. The Haudenosaunee and Inka are our allies in our struggle against Montezuma’s aggression, while in the Old World Arabia is at war with pretty much everyone except Nippon, the Songhai Empire and Egyptian Caliphate, a land of wonders. Much needed reinforcements arrive from the Home Islands - our frigate blasts the primitives into a fine red paste. They attempt a direct assault, but our musketmen give their pikewielders a whiff of grapeshot and shoot them down in the streets without mercy. They have the numbers, but we’ve got the guns.

In the Old World war once again erupts in the steppes of Central Asia; Gandhi wants our assistance taking down poor old Genghis. We’ve got our hands full defending Gold Mountain so decline - a land war in Asia is generally a bad idea unless you’re the Mongols. The latest economic reports are out - Hiawatha and Pachacuti have enough gold to make Solomon blush, which bodes well for our war. The sinews of war are infinite money.

Beneath Gold Mountain we finally expel Aztec forces from our territory. The cotton armour provides no defence against our muskets. Seeing his men wiped out prompts Montezuma to offer a peace treaty, to search for easier captives. We refuse - he must be punished for his aggression. Back in our homeland a scientist discovers how to make our bullets spin in flight, increasing the accuracy of rifles.
Riflemen arrive from across the ocean along with a caravel. The war is straining our coffers - fortunately trade unions reduce the cost of infrastructure and boost the gold taken in by our ports. With Samurai now available, we march into the Aztec hinterland seeking righteous revenge. The northern reaches of Montezuma’s empire is full of mines, we get to work pillaging and looting whatever we can, leaving a trail of destruction behind us. Unfortunately the Aztecs must have captured muskets during their siege of Fangzhang and begin pouring forth from the causeways of Tenochtitlan.

The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Our brave warriors are granted the best possible death, but we cannot continue losing units if we are going to maintain our foothold to the north. If only we were able to train our naval cannons on the battlefield, but the Aztec heartlands are far inland. We pull back having pillaged what we can and declare a ceasefire. For now. In Europe settlers from Persia have taken up the torch, claiming the abandoned land in the name of their king of kings.

6

It looks like he’s got the mountains making his defensive problem easier. Are there any spare spots for more Japanese cities in North America?

7

I have to admit, the one feature I dearly wish had been retained from Civ 3 was the period-appropriate leader appearances.

Are there any sub-saharan African civs in this scenario, or are you just yet to encounter them so far?

8

Yeah, I mean, I know Shaka was only like 200 years ago, but it starts to feel silly when he’s throwing futuristic bombers at you while wearing a grass skirt.