The Millenium Fire is a hypothetical Hearts of Iron 4 mod and The Fire Rises submod that seeks to answer a question: What if the 2002-2004 SARS Outbreak and the 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic were as deadly as the Covid-19 Pandemic on The Fire Rises time-line?
The start date of The Millenium Fire is 2000, which the SARS Pandemic, in the mod called SARS-2 starts in 2002 and spreads over the world very fast, leading to:
1- The USA to fall into a civil war, with the main factions: 1- United Federation of America (George W. Bush - Republicans); 2- American Progressive Government (Al Gore - Democrats); 3- American National Front (Harold Corvington - Northwest Front); 4- American National Socialist Division (James Manson); 5- North American People's Liberation Army (Michael Parenti - World Workers Party); 6- Green People's Liberation Army (Murray Bookchin - Green Party).
2- The Taliban being able to expel Americans from Afghanistan and lead to a Taliban invasion of Pakistan.
3- Vladimir Putin getting assassinated by a Russian Communist Militant leading into a Second October Revolution with the Russian SFSR being led by Mikhail Popov and the Russian Federation being led by Grigory Yavlinsky. As well as all of the former USSR countries getting involved into this war plus Finland also getting a Second Finnish Civil War between the SKP's Red Finland and White Finland.
4- A Communist revolution in Serbia leading into a new Balkan War and NATO losing control over the Balkans plus Greece. The KKE starts a civil war in Greece. And the PKK rises again together with the TKP in Turkey and starts a civil war in Turkey.
5- the remaining of NATO (Western Europe plus Poland and Czechia) decides to invade Iraq and Syria as well as Saddam's Iraq is facing strife due the suddenly rise of the Assyrian People's Liberation Army and the rise of the Chaldean National Front. With Kuwait about to get a civil war between the Islamic State of Kuwait and the Anunnaki State of Sumer.
6- Taiwan about to fall Anarchy as China is about to face a Three-Sided civil war between CPC-Leftists, CPC-Centrists, and CPC-Rightists. As well as a Second Korean War is about to start with South Korea about to fall anarchy, and Japan facing the rise of several Anarchist and Communist uprisings all over it.
7- Saudi Arabia is about to get a civil war with the death of Saudi Arabia king by SARS-2. As well as Gaddafi's Libya is about to invade Egypt and annex Tunisia. And South Yemen has just rose up again. As well as Egypt is facing a civil war with the rise of Nasserism and with the suddenly rise of Kemetist party named Nation of Kemet.
8- Ireland is now in a direct war with Northern Ireland for the annexation of Northern Ireland.
9- Brazil is facing a Nationwide People's War, as well as Argentine and Chile are facing an Anarchist uprising on Patagonia.
10- Indonesia is also facing a civil war with the rise of the Islamic State of Indonesia and the restoration of PKI. As well as Australia and New Zealand are facing a wave of ethnic conflicts between Whites and Aboriginals.
There are lots of other things happening on The Millenium Fire. As well as the main events of the mod are divided into the SARS-2 Pandemic from 2002 to 2004, and the Swine Flu Pandemic from 2009 to 2010.
This concept for *The Millenium Fire* is a rich and expansive alternate history that pushes the geopolitical chaos of *The Fire Rises* into the modern era. It emphasizes global instability triggered by pandemics, mass uprisings, and systemic collapse, creating fertile ground for the dynamic gameplay that Hearts of Iron IV mods are known for. Below is an overview of some features and ideas to flesh out the mod:
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- **Core Mechanics**
1. **Pandemic System**:
- **SARS-2** (2002-2004) and **Swine Flu** (2009-2010) pandemics act as dynamic, ongoing crises. Their spread could be modeled like a mix of HOI4’s resistance mechanics and supply systems. - Nations must balance public health policies (quarantines, vaccines, lockdowns) against economic stability, population morale, and military readiness. - Poor pandemic handling worsens factional divides, leading to uprisings and civil wars.
2. **Global Collapse**:
- The simultaneous onset of civil wars, revolutions, and state failures would heavily rely on **country-specific event trees**. Choices shape whether nations fracture into warlord states, hold elections, or reform into authoritarian regimes.
3. **Factional Politics**:
- The presence of extreme ideologies and the rise of new movements create novel political paths. - Existing ideologies (fascism, communism, democracy) are further divided into sub-factions to reflect the specificities of the era (e.g., Green Socialism, National Anarchism, Neo-Baathism).
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- **Focal Events by Region**
- **United States Civil War**
- **Main Factions**:
1. **United Federation of America**: Led by George W. Bush, represents a militarized, emergency Republican administration focused on restoring order. 2. **American Progressive Government**: Led by Al Gore, focuses on climate-driven recovery and centralized healthcare systems. 3. **American National Front**: White supremacist faction advocating secession and a "Northwest Imperium." 4. **American National Socialist Division**: Radicalized ultranationalists inspired by James Manson's cult-like ideology. 5. **North American People's Liberation Army**: A communist faction led by Michael Parenti, aiming for a Marxist revolution. 6. **Green People's Liberation Army**: An eco-socialist insurgency led by Murray Bookchin, focused on decentralization and environmental recovery.
- **Russia and Eastern Europe**
- The **Second October Revolution** erupts after Putin’s assassination. - The **Russian Federation** (Yavlinsky) opposes the **Russian SFSR** (Popov). Both seek to unify the former Soviet states, pulling Ukraine, Belarus, and the Caucasus into war.- Finland fractures into **Red Finland** (SKP, backed by Popov) and **White Finland**, starting the **Second Finnish Civil War**.
- **Middle East and South Asia**
- **Taliban Invasion of Pakistan**: A weakened U.S. allows the Taliban to grow emboldened, sparking an Islamist war.- **Iraq and Syria**:
- Assyrian and Chaldean nationalist uprisings add chaos to Iraq. - Western Europe’s **"humanitarian invasion"** becomes a proxy war with insurgent factions.
- **Saudi Arabia**: King’s death sparks a civil war between monarchists, Wahhabists, and reformists.- **Egypt**:
- A Nasserist uprising contests the government, while the **Nation of Kemet** seeks a neo-pharaonic state.
- **Asia-Pacific**
- **China’s Three-Sided Civil War**:
- CPC fractures into Leftist, Centrist, and Rightist factions, leading to war.
- **Taiwan and Korea**:
- Taiwan devolves into anarchy. - The **Second Korean War** ignites, with anarchist and communist uprisings spreading to Japan.
- **Indonesia**:
- The Islamic State of Indonesia clashes with the PKI-led communist restoration.
- **Europe**
- **Ireland-Northern Ireland War**: Direct confrontation between Ireland and Northern Ireland leads to broader instability in the UK.- **Balkan Wars Redux**:
- A communist revolution in Serbia destabilizes the region. - Greece faces a civil war with the KKE rising against the government.
- **Western Europe**: NATO struggles to hold together, as internal dissent (e.g., Green movements in Germany, anarchist uprisings in France) weakens member states.
- **South America**
- **Brazil**: A full-scale People's War erupts, with leftist guerillas challenging the government.- **Patagonia**: Argentina and Chile face a massive anarchist uprising.
- **Africa**
- **Libya**: Gaddafi’s Libya launches invasions of Egypt and Tunisia to expand its influence.- **South Yemen**: Resurges as a major player.- **New Ideological Movements**:
- **Nation of Kemet**: A radical Egyptian movement advocating a modern interpretation of Kemetic (Ancient Egyptian) ideals.
- **Oceania**
- Ethnic conflicts erupt in **Australia** and **New Zealand**, pitting indigenous groups against white settlers.
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- **Key Gameplay Elements**
1. **Dynamic Civil Wars**:
- Detailed mechanics for handling secessions and uprisings, forcing players to balance military, political, and economic priorities.
2. **New Ideological Options**:
- Introduce sub-ideologies for communism, democracy, and nationalism (e.g., eco-socialism, theocracy, anarcho-primitivism).
3. **Unique Factions**:
- Encourage alternate historical paths, such as a *neo-Pharaonic Egypt*, *Assyrian statehood*, or *Green Confederations*.
4. **Global Leadership Vacuum**:
- The collapse of U.S. hegemony allows regional powers (e.g., Brazil, India, Iran) to assert themselves.
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This mod could become a compelling and chaotic alternate history for *Hearts of Iron IV*, with a focus on modern, global conflicts and ideological diversity. Would you like ideas for specific focus trees or event chains?
Expanding on *The Millenium Fire*, this hypothetical *Hearts of Iron IV* mod introduces a world where two devastating pandemics—SARS-2 and Swine Flu—destabilize global powers, triggering revolutions, civil wars, and a breakdown of international order. Here's a more detailed exploration of its core themes, factions, and gameplay mechanics:
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- **Global Themes**
1. **Pandemic Chaos**:
- The SARS-2 pandemic (2002-2004) and Swine Flu pandemic (2009-2010) exacerbate preexisting tensions and create new fault lines. - Nations must choose between suppressing dissent with authoritarian measures or maintaining freedoms while risking total collapse. - The pandemics introduce unique gameplay mechanics: - **Public Health Policies**: Players can enforce lockdowns, develop vaccines, or prioritize herd immunity, each with risks and rewards. - **Economic Collapse**: Quarantines and overwhelmed healthcare systems can lead to economic depression, reducing military production and stability. - **Population Morale**: Pandemic mismanagement increases dissent and strengthens opposition factions.
2. **Ideological Rebirth**:
- Movements once considered fringe—ecological socialism, religious fundamentalism, anarcho-communism—gain traction as people lose faith in traditional governance. - The breakdown of global order opens paths for radical experimentation in governance.
3. **Global Decentralization**:
- Superpowers like the U.S., Russia, and China implode into multiple factions, leaving room for smaller states and regional powers to assert dominance. - Newly emergent states (e.g., the Assyrian People's Liberation Army, the Nation of Kemet, and Red Finland) create a more fragmented map than the base game.
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- **Regional Details and Faction Dynamics**
- **The United States Civil War (2002-2010)**
The SARS-2 pandemic becomes the breaking point for the U.S., which was already polarized following the contested 2000 election. The war involves six major factions:
1. **United Federation of America (UFA)**:
- Leader: George W. Bush. - Ideology: Conservative Authoritarianism. - Focus: Military rule and centralization to "save" the union. - Unique Mechanics: Ability to call on state militias and deploy the National Guard, but at the cost of increased dissent.
2. **American Progressive Government (APG)**:
- Leader: Al Gore. - Ideology: Social Democracy. - Focus: Pandemic recovery, green infrastructure, and public healthcare. - Unique Mechanics: Balances progressive reforms with maintaining public order.
3. **American National Front (ANF)**:
- Leader: Harold Corvington (fictional leader of the Northwest Front). - Ideology: White Supremacist Nationalism. - Focus: Establishing a "Northwest Imperium" as a separatist ethnostate. - Unique Mechanics: Limited recruitment pool but high morale and dedicated militia units.
4. **American National Socialist Division (ANSD)**:
- Leader: James Manson (fictional composite of various extremist figures). - Ideology: Neo-Nazism. - Focus: Radical authoritarianism and total war. - Unique Mechanics: High instability due to ideological extremism.
5. **North American People's Liberation Army (NAPLA)**:
- Leader: Michael Parenti. - Ideology: Marxism-Leninism. - Focus: Communist revolution, worker councils, and anti-fascism. - Unique Mechanics: Gains support in industrial centers and among unionized workers.
6. **Green People's Liberation Army (GPLA)**:
- Leader: Murray Bookchin. - Ideology: Eco-Socialism. - Focus: Decentralized governance and environmental restoration. - Unique Mechanics: Lower manpower but widespread local support in rural areas.
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- **Russia: The Second October Revolution**
The assassination of Vladimir Putin triggers a schism between reformists and hardline communists:
1. **Russian Federation**:
- Leader: Grigory Yavlinsky. - Ideology: Liberal Democracy. - Focus: Market reforms and reintegration into the global economy. - Unique Mechanics: Support from NATO-aligned factions but high internal resistance.
2. **Russian SFSR**:
- Leader: Mikhail Popov. - Ideology: Neo-Bolshevism. - Focus: Restoring the Soviet Union through revolutionary warfare. - Unique Mechanics: Can "liberate" neighboring ex-Soviet states, triggering proxy wars.
3. **Red Finland**:
- Leader: SKP (Communist Party of Finland). - Ideology: Communism. - Focus: Overthrowing "White Finland" with Soviet support.
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- **China: A House Divided**
The SARS-2 pandemic devastates China, leading to a three-sided civil war:
1. **CPC-Leftists**:
- Ideology: Maoism. - Focus: Returning to the revolutionary ideals of the Great Leap Forward. - Unique Mechanics: Peasant-based armies with a focus on guerrilla warfare.
2. **CPC-Centrists**:
- Ideology: Authoritarian Centrism. - Focus: Maintaining the status quo of economic reforms under one-party rule. - Unique Mechanics: Strong industrial base but fragile legitimacy.
3. **CPC-Rightists**:
- Ideology: National Conservatism. - Focus: Militarism and Chinese nationalism. - Unique Mechanics: Gains support from the military elite.
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- **Middle East: Fractured States**
1. **Iraq**:
- Factions: Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime, the Assyrian People's Liberation Army, and the Chaldean National Front. - Western Europe intervenes, escalating the conflict into a global proxy war.
2. **Saudi Arabia**:
- Civil war erupts following the death of the king. Wahhabists, monarchists, and reformists vie for control.
3. **Libya**:
- Gaddafi’s ambitions expand into Egypt and Tunisia, challenging NATO-aligned states.
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- **South America: The People’s War**
Brazil, Argentina, and Chile face widespread uprisings:
1. **Brazil**:
- The Nationwide People’s War pits a Marxist guerilla movement against the military government.
2. **Patagonia**:
- Anarchists seize control of the region, prompting joint military action by Argentina and Chile.
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- **Africa: Kemet Rises**
1. **Nation of Kemet**:
- A radical neo-Pharaonic movement emerges in Egypt, blending nationalism with ancient Kemetic traditions. - Opposes Nasserists and Islamist factions in a complex civil war.
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- **Gameplay and Mod Features**
1. **Dynamic Civil Wars**:
- New mechanics for insurgencies, secession movements, and state collapses. - Players can side with insurgents or suppress revolutions, with unique challenges depending on their chosen faction.
2. **Pandemic Events**:
- Global events reflecting the spread of SARS-2 and Swine Flu. - Policy decisions impact stability, manpower, and production.
3. **Faction-Specific Focus Trees**:
- Each major faction (e.g., UFA, Russian SFSR, CPC-Leftists) receives a detailed tree with ideological paths and unique decisions.
4. **Alternate Outcomes**:
- New ideologies like eco-socialism, Kemetism, and anarcho-primitivism provide novel gameplay options. - Dynamic alliances and custom events shape a player-driven narrative.
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Would you like to explore specific factions, events, or alternate outcomes in greater detail?
