Yale Rectorate



In its formation, Yale was able to focus on providing education to the booming new Griffonian Empire. Since then, its institutions have taken over the duchy and established a ruling council of their own - the "Yale Rectorate".

But the limits of the rule of the universities are being approached. The Empire is crumbling, and only the allegiance to the Emperor and the perceived competence of the government is keeping the growing, impoverished lower class in check. If the Rectorate wants to stay in power and continue its scientific vision, should the empire disintegrate, it will have to win the hearts of the people, otherwise who knows what the future may hold for this land of universities.

The Duchy of Yaledom
The Duchy of Yaledom was vassalized under the rule of Grover I in the 8th Century ALB. Safe in the heartlands of the Empire, the Dukes maintained close contact with the Emperor. Under these circumstances, Yale was able to provide higher education to the Empire's growing nobility. Yale University itself was founded in the ducal seat in 765 ALB, and it was not long before the other cities of the duchy followed with their own institutions.

With time, they grew in prestige and wealth, and students from all over the continent came to learn. With time, however, the local nobility grew ever poorer. Griffonia was changing, and the Industrial Revolution had begun. While factories sprang up and manufactories spurred on in the cities, the nobles continued to rely upon their comparatively undeveloped lands to provide for them, and Yale was losing its place to other cities within the duchy which had taken a greater initiative to industrialize.

It was in 878 ALB that the ducal rulers finally sold their title and rule to the University of Yale itself to save themselves from poverty. Grover III, who was attempting to unify the realm, likely wouldn't have taken kindly to such a large shift in politics, especially one so close to Griffenheim. So as to not provoke action from the Empire, it was decided that the title would be kept alive, if in name only, by the first Rector and father of modern Yale, Borean Wiedergreiff.

Rectors and Revolutionaries
Borean Wiedergreiff was a young and charismatic Polymath. As first Rector, he implemented many reforms making Yale what it has become. Among his earlier actions was to move the capital of the duchy from Yale to the industrial heart of Greenback. He lived by Rationalist philosophy, and ultimately believed ignorance and malice would lead to war and the subsequent loss of knowledge.

It is generally agreed upon that Wiedergreiff was a true visionary, a genius. Many of his creations would prove to be far ahead of their time. Among other things, he laid out the plans for what he regarded as his magnum opus- "The Great Archives", a towering repository of the world's knowledge, for the benefit of all. He believed it would stand as a beacon against ignorance, to achieve peace through the pursuit of science. So revolutionary was this idea, so far ahead of its own time it was, however, that he was never able to even begin. His plans now lie in archives and private collections around the realm, waiting for the day the Griffons will have advanced enough to be able to put them to use.

100 years after Wiedergreiff had come to power, the Republican Revolution swept through the Heartlands.The universities themselves were uncertain of whether to pledge their support to the Empire or the revolutionaries during this time. With the different specializations and beliefs of each university, while many students gave their lives for the Republican cause, just as many found themselves by the young Emperor's side. In this period, the majority of the remaining nobility fled, leaving the universities open to finally finish the move away from the rule of the aristocracy and formalize their power, in the form of the Yale Rectorate. With the transfer of power complete, they set themselves upon the goal of more autonomy from the Empire. As the revolution progressed, it became clear that the Emperor's forces would ultimately win. It was only then, near to the end of the conflict, that the Rectors decided to give him their support. Luckily, their lack of decisiveness ultimately left the lands of Yale largely untouched by the war.

Not all is well though. Yale's industry has lagged behind academia for a while, due to a lack of dedicated R&D investments made by its companies. Most of the education budget has gone to universities, leaving public schools chronically underfunded. The north and Yale remain underdeveloped, with most of the Rectorate's infrastructure efforts going towards southern trade routes along the rivers near Greenback. And still, there is relentless agitation from citizens who are unhappy being dictated to by "out of touch intellectuals". In spite of this, Yale is economically mostly healthy and has a well-functioning government, but one could still say it lacks a soul.

The Klaumar Military Academy
Yale is famed for its prestigious educational institutions, but among the lesser known are the military academies of Klaumar and Löwburg.

Klaumar's staff were given special permission to study the Empire's first armored division, and received much insight into the effectiveness of such a unit and how it works. Klaumar had also sent several attaches to work with advanced Changeling tanks. These experiences taught them the importance of rapidly moving combat formations. Though there are several schools within the academy, it is dominated by the School of Experimental Warfare, though the senior School of Artillery and Engineering still holds sway. They are currently using their observations to develop the strange and new theory of mechanized tactics, armored formations and combined arms warfare.

The Academy of Löwburg
Löwburg is nearly the opposite to Klaumar. The academy specializes in infantry-heavy warfare and the use of meticulously crafted battleplans and fortifications to achieve victory. Based around the Griffenheim School of Thought, it has large traditional roots, supported further by the Old Guard, who hold the majority of the Löwburg council. The council, made up of the eight most senior and experienced faculty, develop strategies for dealing with almost any scenario imaginable. The academy has also been designing the Gerhard Line, a fortification which has been theorized to be nearly impenetrable if implemented fully. Löwburg has been known to produce very disciplined officers. A significant number of students are impressionable and young, and many are even below the age of enlistment. A large portion of the academies' attendants are also aligned with the "Red Guard", students who believe in leftist ideals, that more must be done by everyone. Though they hold little power, some say they are seeking to gain influence over the academy's curriculum.

Yale University
Yale University itself is the oldest and most prestigious university in the country, but much like the city in which it resides, the institute has been overshadowed by modernity. It was never developed as well as Greenback, and has been superseded as the capital of the realm, though the current head of the rectors, Magnificus Mikusian, is also rector of Yale, and has been the youngest to hold such a position. It has produced many bright minds, including Borean Wiedergreiff himself. Its libraries are unparalleled, though, and it holds a strong tradition of academic excellence. There are many facilities available for its students to use for their own purposes. Yale's academics specialize in Science and Philosophy, but in recent years, some feel that the curriculum is outdated, out of touch with reality and the common griffon, or even contradictory or stagnant. Regardless, Yale continues onwards with its grand scientific vision.

Greenback, Greengate, and Middenheim
The Universities of Greenback, Greengate, and Middenheim are known as Yale's central universities, and each has its own specialties. Greenback is an academy of medicine. Its curriculum sees support from a nearby hospital, where many griffons train and put their education to practice. The academy seeks to advance medicine, to enhance the body, to perform miracles. Greengate, meanwhile, has favored griffons seeking to improve society in other ways for many years. Though founded by alchemists experimenting with transmutation, it has since been known for its programs in engineering. With close proximity to Yale's center of industry, students here innovate designs in machinery to revolutionize life, to build a better tomorrow. These programs come at a cost, however, something which griffons at the Middenheim School of Economics study closely. Economists here develop theories in capitalist economic policy for the betterment of the realm. Though each institution cover different areas of study, they share the philosophy of using science to serve and improve society.

Bruma and Gamia
The Universities of Bruma and Gamia lie in the West. Bruma's faculty believe in the strength of tradition, and specialize in the Social Sciences. They teach to preserve societal values, that one must go forth into the streets to learn and bring change. They reject harmony and socialism as nothing but Equestrian attempts to export their way of life. Bruma advocates a future guided by the past, by the heartland griffon culture. Such a return to religion would restore the social bonds between the griffons and their rulers. Gamia however, has a differing outlook. Its biological studies are second to none, perhaps because researchers here believe in the pure, unhindered acquisition of knowledge. Already, they push the boundaries of ethics, to put aside morality in the name of progress. Still, they yearn to stretch the line further, to even eliminate it, to achieve their full potential, and soar to new heights. Neither is quite satisfied with the more liberal aspects of society, and have close ties with the local Prelate of Arcturius. Each also receives additional funding from nearby Romau, seat of the Archonate of Eyr, and hold strong ties to the clergy.

Cyrusval
Cyrusval, in the Southeasternmost corner of Yale, also teaches Social Sciences, but has taken it in a different direction. Students learn about the struggles caused by the system of Capitalist oppression, and work to spread awareness. They support the establishment of a classless utopia, to bring radical change to the land. Cyrusval's ideals are the most fundamentally different from the rest of the universities. Griffons here believe it is the bonds between authority and the proletariat which causes suffering, and the region sees the lowest enlistment rate in all of Yale.

The Future of the Rectorate
As the Griffonian Empire declined over recent years, friction has emerged in the Yale Rectorate. Yale lacks a strong national identity and societal divides are deepening. With the Emperor sicklier than ever, the common griffons are looking for new answers and more and more of them seek to reinvent Yale in one way or another. The technocratic government, led by the universities has not managed to speak to the imagination of its citizenry, which is leading more and more griffons to search for other answers. Something has to take the place the Empire held in the identity of the Yalish, and the Rectorate might have to reinvent itself if it wants to continue like this. Although Rector Mikusian himself believes science should be used to aid the government in helping griffons of society, he may soon be forced to compromise with more radical factions, as revolutionary and reactionary universities try to mobilise the discontent in Yalish society for their own purposes. Will the light of Yale shine bright in the darkness, or will it be snuffed out like so many places of learning before it?

Geography
In 1007, Yale starts with 4 states. Bordering the Griffonian Empire to the north, the Empire is tre greatest threat to Yale, especially if it goes non-supremacist. A river cuts through Greenback, Yale's most defensive province, which is a good defensive spot should the empire not stage their coup.

Yale's other neighbors, Greifenmarschen, the  Barony of Angriver, the  Katerin Principality, and the  Free City of Romau, can be allied with, if they select certain foci to ideologically align with Yale. The same can be done with other vassals of the empire.

The Lands of Yale remain relatively underdeveloped, and the two most valuable provinces at the start lie in the South, with more population, infrastructure, and factories. The resources extracted will be more than enough for early game production of basic matériel. Poverty and other factors slow Yale's research and construction speeds greatly, but there is high potential, should the situation improve. Griffonpower also suffers, but will be dealt with in time.

Starting Situation
Yale's Military is comprised entirely of its Army. There is no air force or navy to speak of, but the academies have yielded generals with some fairly desirable starting traits. There are 35k griffons deployed in seven divisions of varying experience, with 6k in reserve. Of these seven, three are cadet divisions, generally only useful for covering ground and little else, three more are standard infantry divisions which can serve as a decent backbone for the military, and the last is made up of Yale's finest, seasoned knights.

Generally, they begin with fewer numbers than most of their neighbors within the Empire

Threats and Opportunities

 * Griffonian Empire - Yale sits directly within the Heartlands of the Empire, and it should be of no surprise that its politics will revolve around their overlords. Should Yale find itself in opposition to Griffenheim, the fight will likely be tough- the Imperial forces are more numerous and make use of new tank and air technology Yale has yet to procure. They also have twice as many factories, in addition to their greater population base. Most of Yale's paths will result in a war with the Empire, and if Yale does not initiate, the Empire typically will. To secure the Imperial Estates though, would be a major boon and unlock many more opportunities, though its controller will also become a target for others factions...
 * The other vassals of the Empire, especially those neighboring Yale, Greifenmarschen, the  Barony of Angriver, the  Katerin Principality, and the  Free City of Romau, will have the opportunity for a variety of interactions, depending on what focuses they select. These may range from mutually beneficial agreements and alliances to outright war, though war will typically take some time. Although Yale isn't the strongest of the vassals, it can hold its ground relatively well.
 * Kingdom of Aquileia - By the time Aquileia begins marching on the Empire, they will likely have re-integrated the surrounding territories. If the Empire is still divided, it will be a very tough fight, especially if they have allied with the Griffonian Republic or  Skyfall Trade Federation. The lands of Yale itself may border Aquileia when the invasion comes.
 * House Avian to the Southwest begins very weak, but should they attempt to reunite the Duchy of Verenia with the other houses, they won't be as insignificant. This will take quite some time though, and any competent player should have no trouble dealing with them if they must, united or not. War should not be expected.

The Research Focus Program
Upon completion of The Research Focus Program in Yale's focus tree, Yale unlocks a set of decisions giving bonuses on, primarily, military-related technologies. There is no cost to choosing any. Only one can be taken at a time, giving a 1x research bonus for the chosen technology, and locking and hiding all decisions associated with the program. After a period of 200 days, the decisions are unlocked once more. Each decision can be repeated, and taken as many times as desired.

The Black International
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Revolutionary Support
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Wiedergreiff's Dream
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National Focus
Yale has a massive focus tree that can be divided into five individual trees: an Industrial tree, an Army tree, a Naval tree, an Air tree, and a political tree. At the start, the political tree and the naval trees are locked, while the other trees are unlocked; the political tree is unlocked after Grover V's death and a regent is chosen, while the naval tree is unlocked if Yale owns a coastal province.

Industrial Tree
This tree, beginning with the focus Subsidise Industry, focuses on improving the industry, literacy, and research capacity of Yale. The tree can be split into two branches:
 * The left-most branch (starting with the exclusive focuses Revitalise Yale and Invest in the Capital) grants the player factories, infrastructure, and an increase in resources (specifically [[File:Steel.png]] steel, [[File:Tungsten.png]] tungsten, and [[File:Aluminum.png]] aluminium).
 * The right-most branch (opening with the focus Modernise the Curriculum) boosts Yale's literacy and societal development, alongside decreasing Yale's poverty. Of note are the final two focuses on this branch (Expand Yale University and The Research Focus Programme); the former grants an additional resarch slot, while the latter gives a boost to research speed and unlocks decisions allowing the player to gain specific research bonuses (see above).

Army Tree
Yale's army tree, starting with the focus Establish the Yale Defense Council, provides a variety of research bonueses into research of weapons and land doctrines. The tree can be split into two main branches (each of which also has two sub-branches), and a smaller branch in the centre:


 * Klaumar Academy - This branch focuses on the Mobile Warfare (represented by the School of Experimental Warfare sub-branch) and Superior Firepower (represented by the Schoool of Artillery and Engineering sub-branch) doctrines. Both exclusive sub-branches provide research bonuses in their respective areas (the Mobile Warfare branch, for example, offers research bonuses for Armor). There is also a third sub-branch (The Grifftruck), available no matter which other sub-branch was taken, which offers research bonuses for tanks and motorized.
 * Löwburg Academy - This branch focuses on the Grand Battleplan (represented by the The Old Guard sub-branch) and Mass Assult (represented by the The Red Guard sub-branch) doctrines. The sub-branches are exclusive, but the Mass Assult sub-branch can only be gone down if the player has already aligned Yale with the in Cyrusval (see below). The Grand Battleplan sub-branch focuses on increasing Yale's defensive capabilities, while the Mass Assult sub-branch increases Yale's recruitable population. There is also a third sub-branch (The Löwburg Battalions) which offer general buffs to division and infantry equipment.
 * The Cadet Charter - This third, smaller branch focuses on areas untouched by the other branches, such as race-specific tech and support equipment, proving research bonuses to both.

There is also a final focus (Yale Chiefs of Staff), available when the player has completed any of the doctrine sub-branches, which provides bonuses based on which university Yale has aligned itself with.

Calculations INCLUDE Klaumar Academy and Löwburg Academy focuses respectively. The Cadet Charter subtree is NOT included.

Naval Tree
The Naval tree (opening with the focus Establish the Yale Coastal Defence Force) can only be started when Yale owns a coastal province. The set of exclusive focuses at the start of the tree offer the player research bonuses in one of the three naval doctrines. The rest of the tree mostly gives reserarch bonuses for naval technology, with two focuses granting naval dockyards in random owned coastal states.

Air Tree
The airforce tree (beginning with the focus GreenBack Air) grants the player research bonuses for air technology, air bases, and paratroopers, alongside certain focuses giving air experience to the player.

Political Tree


Until Grover V dies and a regent is chosen, Yale's political trees will be locked. When a regent has been chosen (be it Eros or Gabriella), the first focus Gather the Council will become available. After 14 days, an event will fire, giving the player a choice over which universities will guide Yale into this uncertain future.

Supremacy.png Bruma and Gamia
The western universities of Bruma and Gamia may be chosen to advise the Rectorate in the coming years. The tree is split into two seperate sections, each focusing on one of the two universities.

Bruma's branch aligns heavily with the university's goal of creating a strong, holy society. This section (starting with the focuses The Archons' Patronage and Bruma's Social Sciences) grants a variety of different buffs, ranging from increasing political power gain to granting an additional civilian factory.

Gamia, on the other hand, focus much more on biological science, and as such their tree grants additional research speed, research buffs, and an additional research slot.

While, to begin with, the universities can work seperately and rule together, a choice must be made on which path to take Yale. Is the future a holy one, dominated by the social scientists of Bruma, or is it a scientific one, pushed forth by the biologists of Gamia?

Bruma - An Arcturian Regency
Should Bruma be chosen (by taking the focus A New Council Member), with the in power and  leading, Yale with have two further choices immediately ahead of them. First, the player must choose whether to silence opposition to Bruma's rule (resulting in a decrease in opposition popularity, but also a decrease in stability) or to simply comprimise, flatter and bribe  their way to popularity (resulting in an increase in both party popularity and stability).

The next choice will be a decion about Yale's relation to the Empire. If Archon Eros was chosen as regent, Yale has the option of further integrating into the Empire, while keeping some autonomy, through the focus Yale's New Position (a choice which the Empire can ultimately refuse) or simply being annexed outright through the focus Into the Fold,. Otherwise, Yale will only have the option to declare war on the Empire, gaining a wargoal through the focus Challenge Griffenheim.

Should Yale subsequently take Griffenheim, and take the decision to form Herzland, Yale shall change to the Herzland National Republic, and the rest of the political focus tree opens up. The tree can be split into two sections: The first focusing on the unification of the Herzlands (under the new regent ) and the implementation of strong, religious values into society (granting general military, research and construction buffs), while the second section focuses on unifying Griffonia in a similar vein to the Griffonian Empire (granting resources, factories, divisions and the ability to core certain compliant states).

Of note is the final focus, Crown the Knight-Emperor, which will crown Grover VI in Griffonstone, who, having been trained by the Prelates and Archons in the ways of Arcturius, will lead the Empire into a Holy future that truly honours the Gods.

God bless Emperor Grover!

Gamia - Delve Deeper - Project Weihe
Project Weihe, if selected, will be completed early, in 58 days if events are processed in the same hour they appear.

Upon completion of the final event, there will be a new expansion to Yale's focus tree. This path details the arrival of a griffon who appears to be the divine agent of Boreas and their journey to cleanse the Empire's lands, beginning from taking rulership in Yale. Wargoals and cores are eventually provided for all of the Empire's starting vassals, with the exception of Sunstriker's Clan.



After the herald takes power with Convince the Council, the next set of focuses are intended to prepare Yale for offensive action. Several powerful benefits are provided, and it is best to time these to precede the Empire's inevitable declaration of war on Yale, for the Empire will be the first target, and must be defeated to progress further. The unstated effects of the focus Send the Disciples are that it will give Griffonstone, Romau, and the Empire a national spirit causing a minor debuff to stability and war support.

Once the Empire itself is conquered or divided among its other former vassals, those vassals will be the next target of the Herald's ambitions. Finally, after they have been dealt with, all of the conquered land will be cored, and although there are no further focuses unlocked, the newly-established Kingdom of Boreas will find itself in a very strong spot to fight against any invaders or manually-justified conquests.

Democracy.png The Central Universities Neutrality.png


Going down the middle path of the tree, the player will get several bonuses to certain things, depending on what foci they choose. the Greengate sub-tree grants bonuses to electronics, and starts a project which eventually forms a research group. Greenback mainly gives bonuses to army-related modifiers, among other things, while Middenheim has two possible advisors to choose. One of them, Meynard Clawnes, is a socialist, granting 2 offmap civilian factories, 10% production efficiency cap, 30% production efficiency growth, +5% consumer goods factories, +10% factory and dockyard output, and sets the trade law to limited exports.

The other one, August von Hawk, is a capitalist and sets the trade law to free trade, as well as giving +10% civilian factory construction speed, +5% military factory construction speed, -5% consumer goods facctories, +25% free repair and +10% max factories in a state.

Getting to the end of the tree, or owning Griffenheim, a new focus tree will be loaded. A choice is given to the player: Yale can go down the harmonic path, or remain a technocracy. Both will give wargoals on the remaining states of the Empire, and the technocracy path eventually grants a massive bonus to technology, in the form of an ahead of time penalty reduction for all techs.

Communism.png Cyrusval University


To enter the Communist side of the political tree, the player has to calm down the protest choosing the Cyrusval solution to speak to the masses, it will now unlock the Communist side of the tree, where, unlike the other two side, only one path is available, but at the beginning of the communist path a "support system" is activated where Cyrusval need to get support from the intellectuals, the workers and the military to achieve a communist revolution, the two first focus unlock decision to rally support from all of those faction to overtrow the governement, if there support aren't high a counter-revolution will be launch when the third focus will be completed, they are 4 state of support "Very low", "low", "medium" and "high", when the third focus is taken "to the barricade" a series of event will trigger and decision will be proposed to the player, if the player has at least medium support for any of the 3 faction he should have special decision which would be available only because you have the backing of said faction.

If you do not have enought support and only could choose the default option for the events, the revolution end in a failure and the player will get annexed by the griffon empire. But if the revolution is a success you will proceed with your game as the "Yalish communes" and carry on with the focus tree. During the revolution the player will have suffered a lot of debuffed but after finishing the revolution most of Yales general will leave the player except for one and when the player finish the focus "the commune of Yale" all the debug will be gone and a event will trigger that add support to communism.

The main thing that the player might want to be aware of before taking that path is that after the revolution the debug aren't done, the first 3 focus after "The commune of Yale" will give you debug too:

- Your army: your conscription law will be changed to "The People's Militia" gain 15% recrutable population, but lose -5% speed, -20% mobilisation speed, -10% organisation, -5% division attack & defense, +40% training time and -15 appeal to Refugees.

- Industry: gain 5% consumer goods, -10 Military & civilian construction speed for 365 days.

- Trade: your trade law will be changed to "closed Economy" 0% resource to the market and -75% trade deal opinion factor. (It isn't locked to closed economy, but the player will have to spend 150 PP to put it back to the policy the player desire to have).

But after completing the other focus the debugger will be offset by bonuses and lose the debuff "societal Divide". At some point after the revolution the player will get an even which unlock the decision to investigate on Erich Mühschnabel (the player's leader) To discover if he was truly supporting the revolution, beware that the player will be able to finish the decision line once the focus "Outward Coordination" is completed, when the decision is completed a coup against Müschnabel will be prepared and will trigger later. At the end of the focus tree the player will gain a war goal against the griffon empire, once defeated, the player will be able to core the empire.

Once the war with the empire done the player will unlock the rest of his focus tree and will have the decision to kill Grover the VI or let him live, the rest of the focus tree consist in annexing the rest of the empire, coring it and become the "Herzland Commune"

After annexing the rest of the griffon empire, the coup event against Mühschanable will trigger and the player will have the choice to either get rid of him for a new leader "Karl Legreif" who provide 8% stability and 5% factory output but add another 5% to consumer goods. This coup will determine which path the focus tree. You can either decide not to launch the coup and stay with Erich Mühschabel and the focus tree will focus on annexing and coring all of the griffon nation of Griffonia or become a trade union and focus on pacifying the pony of Griffonia and become a heaven of equality.

Staff and Designers
Political Advisors Tank Designer Ship Designer Aircraft Designer Materiel Designer Industrial Concern Theorist Chief of Army Chief of Navy Chief of Airforce Military High Command

Military Leaders
Army Commanders