A map game started by Muwatalli'. Its thread can be found here. It has been preliminarily dubbed “The Second Asterisk Universe” (jokingly referring to the thread's title). The acronym is COAAW 2*.
It is the sequel to Countries of an Alternate World * and it's part of the Countries of an Alternate World series of map games, the first of which was started by theReturner in November 2009.
This map game won the 2013 Turtledove Award in the “Best New Map Game“ category.
The countries are listed according to the order of their appearance in the map game. They are listed according to the following template: official name of the country - description of where the country's OTL location would be - flag or other insignia of the country - name of the board member who created the country
Map of ATL countries and their former or current colonial powers (post-1700 AD) (courtesy of Benkarnell)
Map of ATL countries and their former or current colonial powers with an overlay of OTL country borders (post-1700 AD) (courtesy of Benkarnell)
Map of Europe in 2012 (Work in progress) (courtesy of Muwatalli')
A more detailed map of the small Indian states and polities around the location of OTL Goa in 2012 (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Historical map of Gautland (courtesy of Æsir)
Schematic map showing modern Pictia's highways (courtesy of Muwatalli')
Development of states in Europe and the northern half of Africa from 400 to 1900 AD (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Christian divisions around 1750 AD (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Reference map for the entire ATL Pacific (2012), overlayed on an OTL map (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Population density map of southern Africa (2012) (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Language family map of southern Africa (2012) (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Detailed political map of the region around Goa (courtesy of False Dmitri)
A map of Gautland before the loss of its Pomeranian and Livonian counties (courtesy of Aesir)
Countries of the world arranged by population (courtesy of Aesir)
Timeline of Christian denominations in the 2* universe (courtesy of False Dmitri)
Sorted according to their homelands, with the countries sorted alphabetically.
Willhielm III. - Last king of Allemannia.
Hanneleire Merz - Current chancellor of Allemannia.
Halmund Scidbert - Current consul of Allemania.
Gaio Kurdul - Muhtar (HoS) of Avaria.
Paulo S. Duber - Avaria's Consul.
Lorenzo de Balochia - The Lusitanian adventurer who helped unite the Balochi Raj in the 1880s.
Sabzpari II. - Princess regent of Balochia. She officially took the powers of the sovereign in 2002 when her father's health began to fail, and she continues in that role today.
Samurputni Putra - Current consul.
Dava Vayapeek - Current prime minister.
Cyril V. - Pope of Alexandria, leader of the Coptic Church and Head of Government.
Chonstantfine VII. - Current King of Egypt.
Paflos Maras - Leader of the current political opposition.
Ptolemaios Tanos - Commander of the Egyptian army, marshal.
Chemsarpo Khesar VI. - Current Dragon King of Druk Yul.
Bhawana Caad - Queen Consort of Chemsarpo Khesar VI.
Thongdrel Tsechu - Head Advisor to the Dragon King.
Ugyen Parash - Royal Treasurer of Druk Yul.
Lobsang Kirpoche - Head Lama of the Redhats Sect, giving a speech at a Royal Council (parliament) meeting in June 2012.
Tenzin Namgayel - Head Lama of the Yellowhats Sect. Photo from January 2012.
Rangupati Puran Pema - Head Lama of the Greenhats Sect, giving an interview for the domestic and Guangjistani media in May 2012.
DJ Dr00k-Tashi! - Famous Druk Yul electronica artist. His number one international hit to date was On The High Mystic Peaks, No One Can Hear You Scream (When You're Plumneting to Your Death), from his third studio album Shoo Lay Log Jay Ge, Suja (“See You Later, Butter Tea”).
John VIII. - King of Hijaz, Yaman and Najd.
His Holiness Umayya VI. - Catholicos of Najran. The Catholicos is the senior-most official among all Coptic Arabs. He occupies an ancient see in southern Yaman that was the center of one of the earliest Christian communities in Arabia. Ex officio, he is also jointly head of government of the Kingdom of Hijaz, Yaman and Najd, but since the 20th century the Catholicate and the Holy Council have avoided interfering in politics and concerned themselves only with church governance. Umayyad VI has spearheaded programs of religious revival, aimed largely at gently discouraging the pagan practices so common in Arabian popular religion.
Juhani Leppälä - Current consul of Finland.
Lauri Joki - Current prime minister of Finland.
Overview of Grand Duchy of Lemuria monarchs since the 18th century to 1968 - Excerpt from Who's Who in Lemurian History ?, (C) Chimurenga Publishing, 2014 (2nd edition).
Overview of Grand Duchy of Lemuria monarchs since 1968 and overview of current officials - Excerpt from Who's Who in Lemurian History ?, (C) Chimurenga Publishing, 2014 (2nd edition).
Zinedine Yidir - Current First Minister.
Bilal Dayak - Current Steward.
Siman Boutmazought - Current Governor-in-Chief of the Imazighen Federal Tawsheten (IFT).
Issouf Rafini - Current Governor-in-Chief of the Tuareg Federal Tawsheten (TFT).
Rabiu Harouna - Current Chief Representative of the Hausa People's Tawsheten Council.
Tizemt Talbensirt - Imazighen folk-rock and alternative rock musician.
Rhissa Kuni a.k.a. RhiK Ahaggar - Tuareg rock musician.
Queen Kalotida - Current ruler of the nation.
Girven Gyanendra Pang - High King of Khasadesh
General Rama - with the committee of officers that really rule Khasadesh.
King Onorjo of Burgundy and his wife, Queen Darija - The queen is related to the exiled Ukrainian royal family and grew up in Burgundy.
Constantina Petrafia Coval - The Strategos (head of government) of Burgundy. She is the third woman in a row to hold this position.
Boleslaw VIII. - Current King of Poland.
Mieszhlaw Dubrowski - Prime minister of Poland.
Johan I Ålgran - First king of Swedland.
Current king of Swedland Eirik IV. and his wife, queen Ingrid
Ólaf Gröberg - Prime minister of Swedland.
Slavomír Aladár I. of House Borievka-Lekváros - The first king of the modern day Kingdom of the Tatras and Carpathia-Beskidia. Father of the current king, Peter IV.
Csilla Yevdokiya Havrylovna Borievka-Lekváros (née Yankovichova/Jankovičová) - Famed Rusyn novelist of Carpathia-Beskidia. Queen consort of Slavomír Aladár I. and mother of Peter IV.
Olena Dukhnovitchova/Duchnovičová - The first female Palatine of the Realm (serving for two terms in the 1950s, from 1951-1955 and 1955-1959). Deemed a great reformer of the education and healthcare systems.
Rastislav Tanács - The long-time leader of the Carpatho-Beskidian Agrarian Party in the 1930s and 1940s. Served as Palatine of the Realm from 1939 to 1943 and then again from 1947 to 1951. An influential political thinker, dashing diplomat and proponent of co-operation between the central European nations, many domestic and foreign historians have often labeled him “a man far ahead of his time and geographic origin”.
Petro Taras Šmigo - Minister of Finance in the 1930s. Spearheaded a programme to restore the value of the national currency after the 15 year turmoil of the Global War and the Disunion Wars that followed it (they came after the collapse of the Grand Union in the early 1920s). The restoration of the peoples' trust towards the old florin and its eventual replacement, the brand new toliar, proved to be the biggest succeses of Šmigo's bumpy, but distinguished carreer.
Štefan Timotej Almási - Minister of Transport and Vehicular Industries during the early 1950s. Creator of the current railway franchise in the country, instigator of the effort to interconnect the existing railway network into a more flexible one. During his second term in the early to mid 1960s, he oversaw the revitalization of the struggling Carpatho-Beskidian aerospace industry. This effort was derided by many of his contemporaries as needless expense, but already in the 1970s, the industry was booming and Carpathia-Beskidia became one of the foremost aviation producers in Europe. So far, it has succeded to hold on to this position.
Illés Monastyrsky - World-famous Old Believer missionary and microbiologist. Travelled many of the most troubled regions of Africa during the 1930s-1950s, helping establish an astounding amount of local healthcare centres and medical schools. His experiences with many badly understood tropical diseases led him into their deeper research. Over time, he inadvertently became one of the world's foremost experts in this field. When news about his endeavours reached the international media and public, he was heralded as a pioneer of a completely new approach to these epidemics that were once feared by many. Despite the accolades and awards, he kept to his image of a pious stoic, rejecting fame, and urged the developed countries to support the modernization of healthcare infrastructure and medical education in the poorer countries of the world. The modern day International Monastyrsky Insitute for Microbiological Research (IMIMR) is named in his honour.
Katalin "Iron-willed Kati" Tetőfedő - The young defender of the royal city of Košice during the Disunion Wars.
Peter IV. of House Borievka-Lekváros (1943-present) - Current king. Ascended the throne in 1962, after his father, Slavomír Aladár I., fell into a coma (and died two years later). The country recently held grand celebrations of his 50th anniversary on the throne. Though a little weary from the many problems he had to face during his youth and early royal carreer, Peter IV. remains an energetic, cheerful and immensely intelligent gentleman. One of his notable diplomatic successes was the reconcilliation effort between Carpathia and Lemuria that he spearheaded during the 1970s and 1980s. Since the thawing of the traditionally strained, icy relations, both countries have embarked on a new path of mutual understanding and cooperation. The relations have improved to the point that the ruling families now annualy pay each other a visit.
Darina Pčolinská - Current Palatine of the Realm (first term, 2009-present).
István Böszörményi - Previous Palatine of the Realm (2 terms, 2001-2009).
Matej Vlček-Varga - Royal General (Commander of the Armed Forces). Here you can see him giving a speech to his determined troops on the fortnight of Carpathia-Beskidia's deployment to the peacekeeping mission in war-torn Nubia.
Silvia Slivinská - Governant (governor) of the royal autonomous overseas territory of the Sealion Islands (OTL Canary Islands).
Timanfaya Armenine - Chief Representative of the Native Ethnicity (CRNE) of the royal autonomous overseas territory of the Sealion Islands (OTL Canary Islands). Born in 1983, she is the second female and the youngest to hold the position since its creation in the early 1940s.
Tichomír Hranostaj-Halász - Governant (governor) of the royal autonomous overseas territory of New Carpathia, New Beskidia and New Tatrania (OTL St. Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha).
Gerges Khader - Kolachi Navarc (equivalent to Admiral, the one on the right), with some of the other chiefs of the navy of Kolachi. The navy has run the government since 1998 but promises to relinquish power any day now.
Solomon Doshi - The figurehead Great Consul and legal head of state, is the man to whom Kolachi's reformers pin their hopes. Popular and liberally minded, Mr. Doshi has nevertheless had to cooperate with the navy brass in order to maintain his position.
King Caucen III of the of the United Kingdoms of Lusitania (centre), with his son (Prince Leonardo) and wife (Queen Maria) - All three attending the main military memorial ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (found in Olisipo's Royal Cathedral) on the anniversary of the treaty ending Lusitania's participation in the Global War.
Rama Gabani - The dynamic young consul of Nawanagar. He has become a symbol of the city-state's economic exuberance.
Cador Langwern - Legatus (PM) of New Cornwall, meeting with a member of the Cornish Ducal family.
Silas Teodorus Pontes and Marco Rafael Palex - The current consuls of Numidia.
Pazande Nyau - The current Paramount Chief, greeting foreign investors. Born in 1969, Pazande believes in reforming the Ture nation into a modern land.
Dafidd Glas - Current president of Pictia.
Migael Bridain - Current Chief Minister of Pictia.
Avjani Prem Gudjartha - Deputy Minister for the Government Solutions Bureau of the Hindustani Department of State for Foreign Affairs. In the photo, he greets well-wishers at the Nôordfryslân Main International Airport in Lundyn as the World Coinum conference gets underway for negotiations to set up a system of democratic or politian governance for the war-devastated nation of Nubia. Representatives of the Nubian core government, the southeastern breakaway republic of Junglei and the southwestern breakaway Redistributionalist faction, as well as Lusitanian and Colchian peacekeepers are expected to attend. The Coptic nationalists in the north of the nation have already announced that they will not attend. Hindustan is noted for its solutions for seemingly intractable problems of intranational civil unrest.
Jacq Chilperic Dubois - Famous 19th century Gallian biologist and explorer, creator of the modern evolutionary theory.
Lucius Marcus Iulius Caesar - President. Descendant of Julius Caesar. At 45, Lucius Caesar is the youngest President in Massasoit's history.
Eileen Clamaggh - Prime Minister. She is Massasoit's second female Prime Minister.
Aedelred Gedrick Hnutlea - Famous Saxonwycke war correspondent, expert on the conflicts in the former Republic of Midigallia (now the BaTswana-Sotho-Xhoisan Commonwealth). He's currently working on documenting the ongoing war in Nubia.
Amahle Jongwe - First Minister of the Confederation.
Anashe Ngunzi - President of the Confederation.
Korneliyus Dindingwe - Presiding Chairman of the Shona Commonwealth.
Jabu Nyathi - Presiding Chairman of the United Ndebele Politias.
Boris Gnazavic - The Consul of Slovonia.
Dmetri Gusevic - First minister of Slovonia.
Aseem Mufajel - Dictator of Somalia.
Sergius Gaius Taurus - Roman explorer, the first European to visit Trajansulas.
Gaius Aurelius Scipio - First consul of Trajansulas.
Marius Pius Crassus - Current consul.
Claudia Petronius - Current prime minister.
H.I.M. Tertullian Musa Maghan III - The current Emperor of Equalenia.
Teofilo Mariko- Deputy head of state from 1995 to 2002 and current head of the Proletarian Party.
Chala Chakaputra - The celebrity-king of the formerly isolationist kingdom of Wakanda.
The countries are sorted alphabetically.
A local khan meets with soldiers from Balochia and Kolachi who will be performing exercises in his province. - The two neighbors have had territorial disagreements in the past but have enjoyed almost completely friendly relations for close to a century. Kolachi is an important patron to Balochia today. Balochia gets aid and technical training, while Kolachi gets an increased regional footprint and a wide area of land for its soldiers to train. Balochia's borders with the Chinese tribute states are rather lawless regions in need of regular military operations.
Delegates from the Balochi Proletarian Party celebrate the news of their success in the recent legislative election. - Local khans are extremely powerful in Balochia, but at the national level it is a healthy democracy.
People are marching and claiming more democracy on January 2011 in Alexandria
Diplomats of Druk Yul and Guangjistan signing the Guangjistani-Drukyulan Treaty of 1948. - Note the fabled dragon flag of Druk Yul at the upper right corner of the picture.
Pictoresque mountain monastery in the kingdom of Druk Yul (2012)
Traditional Drukyulan play in the National Theatre
Mountain bikes are becoming increasingly popular in Druk Yul, as the country now slowly opens itself to greater outside influence, including an influx of tourists hailing from neighbouring Asian countries, but also from more distant locales.
Semifinals of the annual Drukyulan National Archery Championship
Female finalists of this year's National Archery Championship
Shahanshah Vishwa II tower in Viratanagar - The fifth largest tower in the world. Completed in 2005, it is often seen as a symbol of Mewar's rapid economic growth.
Ducal standard, War ensign, Naval ensign, Air force roundel, Naval aviation roundel
Overview of the current Lemurian Defence Forces
Excerpt from an article about the endemic henpigeons of the island of Saint Denis & Current airlines of Lemuria - From The Official Tourist Guide to Saint Denis, (C) Chimurenga Publishing, 2008, and Lemurian Ducal Airways promotional pamphlets, 2012.
The Myth of the Daft Duchess - A popular historical misconception among some groups of the Lemurian political spectrum. Considered by many to be one of the main national myths of Lemuria, in addition to Ianus Sunog's unreliably verifiable dynastic fiction. See also: Fact and Fiction: A Critical Analysis of Lemurian History and National Identity, (C) Caleidoskop Publishing, 2002.
List of rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lemuria - All dates given represent years of reign, not dates of birth and death. Excerpt from Who's Who in Lemurian History ?, (C) Chimurenga Publishing, 2005 (1st edition).
Nouadhibou - Panorama of the federal capital, on the Atlantic coast.
White Kasbah in Adalerbie - In the Old Town of the Imazighen cultural capital Adalerbie.
Newer Adalerbie developments - Contemporary architecture of the Imazighen cultural capital Adalerbie.
Panoramas of the Ahaggar range area: Strange mountains, strange eroded hills, otherworldly valleys.
Old Town of Tadmekka - Much of the Tuareg cultural capital Tadmekka is historical in nature. Due to its solitary history, it is often called “The Loneliest Caravanserai”.
Civilian hybrid airship over the Sahara - Hybrid airship airliner traversing the vast deserts of the federative politia. A Beskid AeloTek BAT-44.2U SkyClipper, developed in Carpathia, customised for desert flight services.
A drawing of the canal in central Kolachi - Say what you will about the naval junta, but they have done much to make the city beautiful.
A map of Gautland in 1830, before the loss of its Pomeranian and Livonian counties
National flag (to be added)
The etymological and vexilological history of House Borievka - Some info on the etymology of the name and the banners, standards and other insignia of one of the ancestral families of the current House Borievka-Lekváros.
Royal banner of House Borievka-Lekváros
War ensign (to be added)
Naval jack (to be added)
Air force roundel (to be added)
Naval aviation roundel (to be added)
A brief overview of some of the vehicle inventory of the Carpatho-Beskidian Royal Army (CBRA)
2012 composition of the Federal Parliament of the United Kingdoms of Lusitania
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - A Global War Armistice Memorial.
LNS Gaius - The new flagship of the Lusitanian Navy, on trials shortly after its completion.
LNS Mauretania - The flagship predecessor to the LNS Gaius, the carrier LNS Mauretania sails into harbour for the last time. The vessel became the centrepiece of the National Naval Museum in April 2011.
The original LNS Gaius - The Lusitanian battleship was hit by torpedoes from a Pictish submarine and sank in 1921. One hundred and seven of its nine hundred and eighteen man crew were killed.
Current composition of the Lusitanian parliament (2012) (scroll down to the bottom of the post)
The Grand Council of Lyondo - Nowadays the fathers of the nation (as they are often known) mostly wear modern business dress, but the official opening and closing ceremonies call for a mix of modern and ceremonial attire. Note the rather Indian- (as opposed to African-)looking faces scattered throughout; there are considerably more people with some Indian ancestry in Lyondo than the “5% Hindi-speaking” figure would suggest. Note also that several women sit in the Grand Council. Though Lyondo is undeniably a patriarchal society, there is a long tradition of female leadership in the Council as daughters have taken control of parts of their families' business interests. The man in the red tie standing in the center of the front row is President Arun Hichilema.
Artillery of the Anatolian 4rd Armoured open fire on positions occupied by Coptic insurgents in northern Nubia. - The artillery bombardment, in cooperation with air strikes by the Royal Colchian Air Force, signaled the start of Operation Warhammer. The operation, carried out primarily by the Lusitanian 7th Legion, elements of the Baetican 2nd Infantry and forces from the Nubian National Army, would eventually succeed in securing the region around Nubia's capital and securing the heart of the politia.
Lusitanian Chief Minister Leo Serpa in Nubia alongside advisers, officers of the ISTF and members of the press (August 7th 2012) - The Chief Minister toured several Lusitanian bases in the country before arriving in Soba for talks between the Nubian government and the leadership of the South-Eastern Liberation Front, one of the nation's largest rebel groups. Hopes are high that an agreement can be negotiated between the central government and the rebels, with the government offering both autonomy for the south-east within the politia and a pledge to include freedom of religion in the new constitution
Berber rights protest street art in Cesaría. - The capital of Numidia has a growing Berber population, though most Berbers still live away from the coast. The Tifinagh script was used to write the Donatist scriptures and has been somewhat subversive for centuries. Today it is at least legal to use, but is still an expression of Berber pride.
Ture Army personnel, circa 2012
A town militia drills - Increased strain between isolationists and the reform-minded king have made clans increase training and funding for their personal militias. A return to chaos might happen soon.
Current composition of the Pictish parliament (2012)
Landmarks of the capital city Din Eidinn : Kirke na Kristu - This church, built in 1134, is the oldest church of the city.
Landmarks of the capital city Din Eidinn : Ar Hin Dinas (The Old Town) - The oldest part of the city. Most buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Landmarks of the capital city Din Eidinn : Palas Breniol (Royal Palace) - The former Royal Palace of Pictia, until the Revolution in 1813.
Landmarks of the capital city Din Eidinn : Senadd na Pikta (Senate of Pictia) - The seat of the Pictish government. Constructed in 1761, it one of the best example of Caledonian architecture.
Landmarks of the capital city Din Eidinn : Universidd na Pikta - Built in the 18th century, one of the most important universities of the country.
Landmarks of the capital city Din Eidinn : Ar Kerddelu na'r Politia (The Statue of the Republic) - Constructed in 1937, 87 metres tall and one the heighest statues in the world. It is a symbol of the Republic of Pictia and its strength.
Pictish Roman Catholic Church in Rowley, Nova Umbria - Note the synthesis of traditional Pictish and Roman architecture.
Emblem of national football team, "The Sun Birds" - In 2013, the team took part in the annual AH.com World Cup of ATL countries from around the multiverse.
Nganasan, Dolgan and Nenets reindeer herders.
Chillin' in the tent... - While older types of tents and temporary shelters have mostly given way to modern designs, Taymyrian hunters and herders still hold on to traditions passed on from father to son since times immemorial.
A contrast of the old and new: Fishermen in traditional kayaks and battered old fishing trawlers leased from Russia.
Voloshinov Vo-7 - These Russian-manufactured transport biplanes have long been (and still are) the main aerial workhorses of Taymyria. Despite the country's very underdeveloped aerospace infrastructure, these machines have time and again proven invaluable to its modern economy.
A rare outside visit - Russian biologists coming to study the current level of biodiversity in Taymyria, after receiving a rare permit from the politia's government. Gromov Gro-22 heavy helicopter in the background.
The Basilica of Our Lady in Gienne - One of the most important sites in Donatist Christianity. The photo shows the north entrance. To the left are the three east-facing apses.
WML - World Medical League (something of a combination of the WHO and the Red Cross)
IMIMR - International Monastyrsky Institute for Microbiological Research (epidemiological, immunological and vaccine research)
Aircraft and aviation companies: Beskid AeloTek (Carpathia-Beskidia), Brauer (Allemannisch Politia), Camran (New Eboracum), Gromov (Russia), MacCailín (Politia na Pikta), Moulin-Allard Aelo Fabrique (Gallia), Némes (Gallia), SONAECI (Federation of Diamanta), UANB (Kingdom of Nuva Baetica), Voloshinov (Russia), Yuen Liujing (Zhao Dynasty),
Airline companies: Lemurian Ducal Airways and its subsidiaries (Grand Duchy of Lemuria), Marabou Continental Aelonautic Investments (airliner owner/financier), Flag Carriers International (airline alliance)
Automobile companies: Lucus (Lusitania), MacCailín (Politia na Pikta)
Electronics manufacturers: Braga Electronics (Lusitania)
Colonial companies (past): Gautish Atlantic Company (17th century, Gautland), New Cornwall Company of Adventurers (17th century, Duchy of Kernow)
Military manufacturers: Nestorov-Hagymási (firearms, munitions, Carpathia-Beskidia), MaguraTech (land systems, Carpathia-Beskidia), Rautainen Sotavaunu (armoured vehicles, Finland), Beskid AeloTek (aviation, Carpathia-Beskidia), Moulin-Allard Aelo Fabrique (aviation, Gallia), Gromov (aviation, Russia)
Publishers: Chimurenga Publishing (Grand Duchy of Lemuria), Caleidoskop Publishing