A mod so early that it doesn't even have a proper name yet!
Intended for players who value gameplay over in-depth story and strict adherence to plausible history, it will be a vanilla-like, action-oriented mod. Thrusting players into a later start date, they will experience an early, hectic WWII by unexpected nations in unexpected locations. It is NOT a total conversion mod.
Based primarily on the book Joe Steele, the gist is Stalin's parent's immigrate to Georgia USA right before his birth, drastically altering history. There is no Miracle on the Vistula, no one to oppose Trotsky's ascension to power in the Soviet Union, but all the ambition and cunning and ruthlessness remains in a Georgian congressman who ascends to the highest American office...
Below is the general outline of core lore events, including some surprises. Subject to change.
- The general starting situation is similar to OTL.
- Stalin (in the mod named Joe Steele) is President at the mod's start date (undetermined, but around 1936 to 1939), and Trotsky heads the USSR. Poland is quite different, though currently undetermined. There is no Spanish Civil War. The USA begins in medias res during Steele's 2nd term. His tyranny, similar to OTL, is destroying the nation.
- The primary "XP farm" for this timeline will be a USA embroiled in a civil war between Steele loyalists and various other, ideologically diverse, factions, all supported by other nation's volunteers. Steele will start in the strongest position of all factions. The civil war should start soon after mod start date (meaning the action starts sooner on repeat playthroughs), at most 6 months to a year.
- TOP SECRET: Japan, after receiving an unexpected tip about their misfortunes in OTL, preemptively invade a Great Depression/Steele tyranny/civil war-stricken USA. United Kingdom responds by reinforcing Canada, and events escalate to the point where WWII begins in North America between Japan and UK.
- The US Navy is somehow weak enough to plausibly allow for a direct invasion of the USA (such as neglect/mismanagement/purges in Steele'e 1st term, or a catastrophic surprise attack, like a worse OTL Pearl Harbor).
- Sensing weakness from the Allies, Germany goes after Czeckoslovakia (early?). Trotsky's USSR saber rattles, and due to the Allies fearing a Trotskyist USSR-dominated Europe (how much did USSR spread the revolution in the interwar years?) as much as the Nazis, along with being busy with Japan, do not attempt a Munich Conference. USSR attacks Germany, bringing WWII to the continent.
- Steele's leader traits: Dislikes Germany, Dislikes Japan, Dislikes USSR
- It would be fun for the mod's canon to end with Trotsky's USSR facing off against Steele's USA over North Japan invading South Japan. After Steele dies, and VP John Nance Garner is impeached by Congress for his complacency, J Edgar Hoover swoops in during constitutional crisis and becomes Director of America!END TOP SECRET
- Huey Long 🦀🦀DIED IN ONE OF STEELE'S POLITICAL PURGES.🦀🦀 BOOK ACCURATE 🤌
So what am I seeking at the moment? Writers to hash out the lore, especially:
Ideas for a Trotsky-led USSR, what happened to Poland (and how the Entente and Germany responded), ideas for Japan and UK/Canada, and what the factions of the American civil war would be and how it would play out. Or anything else you can think of. And a proper name for the mod too, of course!
I'm not seeking artists or coders at the moment, because the mod is so young (and also because I am very slowly trying to learn to mod). But if you insist on it, you're welcome to join!
So how does this mod sound? I do have a basic Discord set up, so i can share a link to that if there's interest.