So the latest blog post for Imperator Invictus talked about an update to the Imperator → CK3 converter. Which reminded me that converters exist for all of these Paradox games, even if they aren’t always great. You maybe see where this is going. Take a small out-of-the-way nobody in Imperator and make them an important piece of history from the Roman era onwards. Imperator → Crusader Kings 3 → Europa Universalis 4 → Victoria 3 → Hearts of Iron 4.
No idea how this is going to go or how long it might take. Any link in the converter chain could break and ruin the whole thing. But hey, we’ll give it a shot and see what happens! I’ll dig around in save files if I need to(I need to remember NOT to play any of these ironman as that uses a lightly encrypted file format rather than plain text).
Some rules I’m setting for myself:
- Save scumming is absolutely allowed if it looks like we’re on the verge of doom. Otherwise, we’ll take our lumps as they comes.
- Depending on how things are going, I’ll likely use the time jumps between games to tweak areas of the world that have maybe gotten out of hand. Don’t know that I have any interest in starting as a major power before Vicky 3 and HOI4 which are both built to handle that kind of gameplay more naturally.
- Outside of getting off the ground initially, I’m far more interested in roleplaying an alternate history than playing optimally. I have no interest in this turning into a world conquest prior to HOI4.
- I’ll mostly be playing on max speed in the interest of maybe having a shot at ever completing this. Will probably do something of a detailed overview at the dawn of each new age but otherwise will probably be updating as things of interest happen, which may be many years apart.
Without further ado, after reviewing the maps of each game to make sure I chose something available throughout, let me introduce to you to the Plutocratic Monarchy of Soqotra circa 304 BC.
Not familiar? It’s that island that the Horn of Africa points at.
Here’s a closer look:
In the real world Socotra is a largely arid and hot island that is primarily known for its biodiversity and native species that are found nowhere else. Most famously it is the home otherworldly Dragon Blood Tree
Throughout history Socotra has played a role in trade, sitting at the confluence of trade routes coming in several directions. The setup in Imperator leans towards the trade aspect, so we’ll make that our initial direction. Our heritage trait gives us a big boost to export value and makes the province investment to increase trade route slots 30% cheaper at the cost of natural population growth.
At the start we have a diverse array of cultures amongst the freemen of our population with none of our native Macrobian pops represented as such. Instead, the Macrobians are limited to Tribesman and Slave pops. Clearly this cannot stand long term.
Our religious picture is as diverse as our population. We mostly follow the Waaqi pantheon with the Caananite deity Melqart sneaking in there as well. What’s Waaqi? Apparently a native monotheistic from this region of Africa that worships the god Waaq. Wonder how far in history that religion will convert. Hmmm, we’ll have to find out!
Imperator uses a province system that groups together many settlement/city territories. Socotra is just one city within the Province of Aromata. Obtaining control of our whole province will be our first expansion priority. In order to help with that, I swiftly ally Mosylon to the west.
Militarily, though, we’re very weak and Mosylon isn’t exactly a powerhouse either. Here’s the rather meager extent of levies we can raise.
Thankfully, our focus on trade should allow us to hire enough mercenaries to punch above our weight a bit. But that’ll take a little while to get established so until then we need more friends.
Hadhramut to our north on the Arabian Peninsula is one of the largest powers in the area and likes us almost well enough to agree to an alliance. We’ll work improving relations with them which should be a big help as we get started.
And with that, our grand Socotran adventure begins!
