I've noticed that the Bloodiest European conflicts fall into one of two categories:
1. Tyrant's wars (Napoleonic, World War 2)
In this, the leader of a single nation, through use of a revolutionary weapon or tactic expands rapidly across Europe, and forces the other powers into alliance against him. The “struggle of good vs. evil” is a common theme in art during these periods, where is in the offending nation, the theme of “imperial glory” is common.
2. Alliance Dominoes (World War One, Thirty Years War)
In this, a small local conflict is exaggerated to a continent spanning war through great power intervention, and a system of alliances drag other nations into the fray simply to avoid alienating the other powers. Unlike the Tyrant's wars, these lack a clear "good guy" and "bad guy". The "blind leading the blind" is a common theme in art during these periods.
AH writers should keep this in mind when writting ALT European conflicts.
1. Tyrant's wars (Napoleonic, World War 2)
In this, the leader of a single nation, through use of a revolutionary weapon or tactic expands rapidly across Europe, and forces the other powers into alliance against him. The “struggle of good vs. evil” is a common theme in art during these periods, where is in the offending nation, the theme of “imperial glory” is common.
2. Alliance Dominoes (World War One, Thirty Years War)
In this, a small local conflict is exaggerated to a continent spanning war through great power intervention, and a system of alliances drag other nations into the fray simply to avoid alienating the other powers. Unlike the Tyrant's wars, these lack a clear "good guy" and "bad guy". The "blind leading the blind" is a common theme in art during these periods.
AH writers should keep this in mind when writting ALT European conflicts.