Step 4 Align minor countries with larger countries

As minor countries don't have their unit images or turns they will be aligned with medium and major countries. Medium countries will also sometimes be aligned with major countries.

When countries are aligned, their territories and units become part of the larger country, like Canada with Britain in the original game.

Each minor and medium country will be entered into a table giving their chances of being aligned. In addition, countries may be aligned into the dummy countries of "Victim" and "Impassable".

Note that this may in effect undo step 3. For example India may gain independence in step 3 and become a close ally of Britain in step 4. The effect will be the same, but the notes will be different.

This is also when protectorates are handled. Egypt will be probably be aligned with Britain, but it may escape British control and be aligned with some other country.

If China has become aligned with another country, then the special Chinese rules don't apply.

Step 3 Resolve Interwar Period

There were a number of conflicts in the interwar period which could change what country controls a specific territory. Most only involved a single territory such as the Rif War or the Indian Independence movement. Territories controlled by the "Split" country must be assigned to a specific country.

There are three conflicts that deserve special consideration, Russian Civil War, Russo-Polish War and the Reunification of China.

Russian Civil War In the context of this scenario generator, it does not matter which side wins as somebody will end up controlling the core Russian areas of Russia, Archangel and Karelia. However there was a possibility of creating a stable country in Siberia controlling multiple areas. Peripheral areas of Russia may gain independence.

Russo-Polish War as closely related to the Russian Civil War. Plausible outcomes range from Russian reconquering Poland to a powerful Polish state controlling Poland, East Poland, Baltic States, Ukraine, East Ukraine and Belorussia. However the outcomes must all involve a contiguous Polish state. Note that even a maximum Polish state remains a minor country.

The order of resolution needs to be

War of Chinese Reunification By the end of WW1, warlords have already taken control of China. In effect each territory was an independent state. If the Northern Expedition had failed, China would have remained divided.

An additional complication was the Japanese invasion. The Japanese may decide not to invade, to only take Manchuria or to take Kiangsu as well. Note that if the Japan and China end up on the same side, Kiangsu will be returned to China.

Even if China is reunified, there still be independent states formed, representing undefeated warlords or Communist territory. There is also a chance that Kwangtung ends up under effective Chinese control.

In any case the usual China build rules and territory restrictions apply, as the KMT would not even under the best of circumstances had enough time to build a modern industrial economy. If China is allied with Japan, than the movement restrictions are China are lifted.

Step 2 Assign each territory to a country

There are three levels of countries

Major Countries
Russia, Germany, Britain, Japan, United States
The world's leading powers. If active they are always separate players. At least one of these powers must be trying to change the current world order.

Medium Countries
France, Italy, China
Powers of regional importance. If active they are usually separate players, but sometimes they are combined with a major country.

Minor Countries
Everyone else
They are never their own player. They may be combined with a major or medium country. If not they will be part of the "Victim" or "Impassable" country

There are three dummy countries, "Victim", "Impassable" and "Split"

The "Victim" country has units but no moves or production. It can invaded by aggressor nations and is passively aligned with their opponents. This reflects countries with only defensive capabilities. This includes minor countries which have not been combined with a player country and major & medium countries that have fallen into disorder. Yugoslavia was a historical example.

The "Impassable" country is impassable of course. This reflects countries which can't be invaded because of some combination of difficult terrain, military strength, good relations with both sides or the lack of anything worth attacking. Switzerland and Afghanistan were historical examples.

The "Split" country reflects territories occupied by two distinct countries such as "Northwest Europe" and "Spain". They will be assigned randomly in step 3.

Some countries are conditional in that depending on step 3, they may come into existence or not such as Poland or an independent India.

Composite countries are combinations of different real countries which were in the same territory can be treated together such as the Baltic States and Central America.

Some countries, especially British colonies in the Middle East are protectorates. They are technically independent countries but they are likely to be combined with their colonial overlords in step 4. Egypt is a good example. Iraq is an example of a wayward protectorate attempting to ally with another country.

@RogerCooper love this