Most Badasas Countries : Awesome Meter Game; Preliminary Rounds

[TheIronRuler]

Hello Escapists, lets play a game : The Awesome Meter Game!

In here we will look at the world's countries and count them by their Awesome Rating in a few rounds divided into time periods - Who is the best country? Which country did the greatest things in history, pulled off amazing stunts and changed the course of civilization? There are many contestants in the first round, the 21st century (more than two hundred!), so lets place the rules:
1. Each user has one vote for one country.
2. Each user has to write a few lines why they chose their country.
3. Players can't change their votes
4. A country that gets 25 votes passes the round, and will compete against other winners in the future.

Spoiler: Chart of Greatness

Here are the lists:
Round 1: 21st century (2000-Today)
Round 2: Victoria Era ( 1830-1910)
Round 3: Cold War (1945-1991)
Round 4: The Crusades (1100-1300)
Round 5: Viking Era (800-1000)
Round 6: World War 2 (1939-1945)
Round 7: Renaissance (1350-1650)
Round 8: Antiquity (600 BC - 600 AD)

Who will win? Who will be the most Bad-ass country in all of history? Will it be Rome the conqueror? Could the Mongol Horde be the most awesome country ever? YOU DECIDE!

Any additional time period (and fantasy!) suggestions are welcomed and will be considered for future bonus rounds.

Let the Games begin... May the most kick-ass nation win!

Spoiler: Personal choices

Round 1 : My vote goes to... *drums* Russia!
Russia, the country that doesn't give a f*ck, is my pick for the 21st century. Why? Because they don't give a f*ck. They do what they want, invade Chechnya, invade Georgia, invade Ukraine - next they'll try to annex Alaska! (...Palin was right after all) Russia, lead by the manliest man on the planet, Doctor Professor Vladimir Putin Esquire, is the largest country in the planet... and they can't get enough territory!

Round 2 : Belgium.
A miracle it still exists, Belgium was a little bit of torn-away territory from the Netherlands when Britain gave the two a little nudge and all was forgiven. This little country managed to obtain a massive colonial enterprise in the Congo, all thanks to its King's diplomacy. Feeling guilty because of what you do you the natives? Well, don't fear! We will make a reservation in Africa, where everything will be as it is... *cough* except for slavery, cash crops and cutting off people's hands for lolz *cough*.

Round 3 : Israel.
Hold on a minute - you want to invade Israel and correct history? Well, just hop on to your tank and - oh damn it, they already invaded you, tripling their territory and turning into the most badass Cinderella story in this era. Suez War, Six Day war, '73 and Lebanon war make Israel into the era's most active nation... and lets not forget their elusive secret services.

Round 4 : Mongols.
You can't argue with conquering all that territory - Genghis is ever crazier than Putin!
...Joking aside, he was the greatest warlord of history, and created a game-changing empire that although didn't last that long, its successors changed history.

Round 5 : Kievan Rus'
The great founder of the mighty Russian Nation, it had united the people of Russia, gave it vodka and endowed it with the religion of christianity. Had it not been for this, the region would have been entirely different, fragmented and pagan, so either Muslim of Catholic nations would have taken over, rendering all future awesome incarnations of Russia non-existant.
Plus, the reason why Vladimir the Great chose Christianity over Islam was because he loved Vodka. Now THAT's a real Russian!

Round 6 : Nazi Germany.
I have to give it to Nazi Germany. Had it not done what it did (and so bloody well, I might add, though not good enough - thank goodness), the world would have been much more different than it is now. Their war-machine is an example for the history books, and they leave us with important human lessons for the future of mankind.

Round 7 : Ottoman Empire.
They were at the Gates of Vienna. They conquered more than half of Hungary. They *****-slapped every Christian King that stood up to them. They took over Egypt and created a new Caliphate. The Ottoman Empire is the greatest Muslim Empire... EVER. During this period it reached its peak.

Round 8 : Rome.
God Damn it I should have picked another Era, nothing beats Rome here. There's Alexander, the Persians and the successors states, but most don't know about them.

Spoiler: Round One Votes

21st Century.
Round One Votes:
USA ('Merica...fuck yeah!): 10 (ClockworkPenguin,Dimitriov,Phrozenflame500,SerBrittanicus,LifeCharacter,Shiftygiant,tuliphead,Tuxedoman,MasterOfHisOwnDomain,Shock and Awe)
Germany : 9 (Amaror,SecretNegative,Rofl Harris,Frankster,The Plunk,Steve Waltz,Steve Waltz,Allar,JoJo)
Russia : 4 (TheIronRuler,Casual Shinji,Vegosiux)
Britain : 2 (shootthebandit,beavweav)
Swizerland : 1 (stroopwafel)
Afghanistan : 1 (CaptainMidlands)
New Zealand : 1 (snowpuppy)
PRC - People's Republic of China : 2 (Jasper van Heycop,maxben)
Venezuela : 1 (AnarchistFish)
Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Two Votes

Victorian Era.
Round Two Votes:
UK : 20 (ClockworkPenguin,Phrozenflame500,SerBrittanicus,Shiftygiant,Rofl Harris,shootthebandit,Frankster,tuliphead,LifeCharacter,The Plunk,snowpuppy,Jasper van Heycop,Vegosiux,Steve Waltz,Steve Waltz,Allar,Halyah,MasterOfHisOwnDomain,JoJo,maxben)
Prussia : 3 (Keystone,DarkRawen,Shock and Awe)
France : 2 (Tuxedoman,AnarchistFish)
Belgium : 1 (TheIronRuler)
Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Three Votes

Cold War.
Round Three Votes:
USA : 10 (ClockworkPenguin,Phrozenflame500,Rofl Harris,tuliphead,LifeCharacter,The Plunk,Steve Waltz,Halyah,MasterOfHisOwnDomain,JoJo)
Yugoslavia : 3 (Vegosiux,Allar,DarkRawen)
Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) : 3 (Frankster,Keystone,AnarchistFish)
Britain : 2 (SerBrittanicus,Tuxedoman)
Switzerland : 1 (Shiftygiant)
Israel : 2 (TheIronRuler,maxben)
Cuba : 1 (shootthebandit)
Australia : 1 (snowpuppy)
PRC - People's Republic of China : 1 (Jasper van Heycop)
Soviet Union : 1 (Shock and Awe)

Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Four Votes

The Crusades.
Round Four Votes:
Mongols : 12 (Phrozenflame500,SerBrittanicus,TheIronRuler,ClockworkPenguin,LifeCharacter,The Plunk,Vegosiux,Tuxedoman,Keystone,DarkRawen,JoJo,Shock and Awe)
Holy Roman Empire : 2 (ClockworkPenguin,Frankster)
Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) : 2 (snowpuppy,Halyah)
Abbasid Caliphate : 1 (Rofl Harris)
Most Serene Republic of Venice : 1 (Jasper van Heycop)
Hashish Smoking Hashashins : 1 (Allar)
Ayyubid Caliphate : 1 (MasterOfHisOwnDomain)
Papal States : 1 (maxben)

Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Five Votes

Viking Era.
Round Five Votes:
Abbasid Caliphate : 5 (Phrozenflame500,Rofl Harris,Vegosiux,Allar,Shock and Awe)
Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) : 3 (snowpuppy,Tuxedoman,Keystone)
The Danes : 4 (tuliphead,The Plunk,Jasper van Heycop,maxben)
Norway : 2 (Halyah,DarkRawen)
China (Tang Dynasty) : 1 (ClockworkPenguin)
Frankish Empire : 1 (SerBrittanicus)
Kievan Rus' : 1 (TheIronRuler)
Holy Roman Empire : 1 (MasterOfHisOwnDomain)
Wessex : 1 (JoJo)
Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Six Votes

World War 2.
Round Six Votes:
USSR : 6 (ClockworkPenguin,SerBrittanicus,Shiftygiant,Jasper van Heycop,KeystonemMasterOfHisOwnDomain)
Nazi Germany : 4 (TheIronRuler,LifeCharacter,Tuxedoman,Shock and Awe)
USA : 3 (Rofl Harris,tuliphead,Steve Waltz)
Great Britain : 3 (Phrozenflame500,The Plunk,JoJo)
Finland : 2 (Frankster,snowpuppy)
Switzerland : 2 (shootthebandit,DarkRawen)
Yugoslavia : 1 (Vegosiux)
Poland (Government in Exile) : 1 (Allar)
Japan : 1 (maxben)
Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Seven Votes

Renaissance.
Round Seven Votes:
The Ottoman Empire : 6 (SerBrittanicus,Rofl Harris,TheIronRuler,Allar,MasterOfHisOwnDomain)
Italy (The Region) : 5 (ClockworkPenguin,Phrozenflame500,tuliphead,The Plunk,JoJo)
Spanish Empire : 3 (Frankster,Vegosiux,Keystone)
Most Serene Republic of Venice : 2 (snowpuppy,Tuxedoman)
Papal States : 1 (Shiftygiant)
Japanese Shogunate : 1 (LifeCharacter)
Dutch Republic : 1 (Jasper van Heycop)
Poland (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) : 1 (Shock and Awe)
France : 1 (AnarchistFish)
Kalmar Union (Scandinavia) : 1 (Halyah)
Mali Empire : 1 (maxben)
Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

Spoiler: Round Eight Votes

Antiquity.
Round Eight Votes:
Rome : 14 (ClockworkPenguin,Phrozenflame500,SerBrittanicus,Shiftygiant,Rofl Harris,TheIronRuler,Frankster,tuliphead,LifeCharacter,The Plunk,snowpuppy,Shock and Awe)
Alexander's Empire : 3 (Jasper van Heycop,Vegosiux,Keystone,Halyah,JoJo)
Carthage : 2 (Steve Waltz,MasterOfHisOwnDomain)
Chinese Empire : 1 (Tuxedoman)
The First Persian Empire : 2 (Allar,maxben)
Who will compete against the greatest nations on earth? YOU DECIDE.

 

[shootthebandit]

Im going with Britain. The sun never used to set on the British empire. The british empire put rome to shame

Considering it is a tiny island nation its batting way above its weight and even today in the 21st century we came 3rd in the olympics (to america and china) we have a great economy for our size and our living standards (even for the very poor) are higher than most countries

 

[ClockworkPenguin]

It seems a bit early to do the 21st century, 14 years isn't a lot to go on. I'll have to give it to America. I know it's not as clear cut as it would have been in the 20th when it rose to dominance, but if we're looking at who has shaped the world the most in the last 14 years. And that is silicon valley, in the USA.

Getting my other votes in early. Victorian era; well it has to go to the society that named it. Brittania ruled the waves, and more besides. They where the first industrialized nation and developed social and economic models which where copied around the world, for better and for worse. Not to mention the plethora of inventions they produced in that time period. They weren't uncontested, but even when we lost, we lost playing games we invented.

Cold War. USA again, more easily this time. It was always going to be USA or USSR, and only one of those still exists.

The Crusades: don't know much, didn't they last for ages? I think the Holy Roman Empire was pretty dominant at the time? But I know that was also when Ghengis Khan was doing his thing, so I'm giving it to him, despite his failure to make his empire stable enough to withstand his death.

Viking era: I have literally no idea even what countries existed at this point. So, probably China? Sure, why not.

World War 2. Tough. All the belligerents where pretty powerful and influential, according to any of Civ Vs win conditions. I'll give it to Russia.

Renaissance. Easy one again: Italy. They caused it, it'd be hard to say anyone else was more influential.

Antiquity: I'll give it to the Romans. The greeks had a bunch of ideas that shaped history, but they shaped history because the Romans liked them and spread them.


Honorable mentions:

Holy Roman Empire
France
Egypt
Babylonians
Persia
Ottoman empire
The Dutch
Japan

 

[Casual Shinji]

The Dutch

...

Are you serious!?

If there's anything as clear as day during these times, it's that no one from Europe is even remotely bad ass. Not while they're depended on energy from Russia.

And with that... Russia. They're being assholes and they don't give a shit. Because they know no one will oppose them at the risk of starting World War 3. They're holding all the cards and they know it.

 

[TheIronRuler]

The Dutch

...

Are you serious!?

If there's anything as clear as day during these times, it's that no one from Europe is even remotely bad ass. Not while they're depended on energy from Russia.

And with that... Russia. They're being assholes and they don't give a shit. Because they know no one will oppose them at the risk of starting World War 3. They're holding all the cards and they know it.

.
Another Putin Fan! Here's a little video for you:
I think he'll shape the world to come... using some atomic bombs... which will bring in the era of the Fallout Universe.

If you wish hard enough, you could be a ghoul and live it all yourself!
.

.

.
Viking Era might be pushing it too hard in the obscure department... You've raised an important issue here.

 

[shootthebandit]

The Dutch

...

Are you serious!?

The dutch have weed and hookers. They are too busy enjoying themselves to get involved with any conflict. That is pretty badass to me

 

[Casual Shinji]

The dutch have weed and hookers. They are too busy enjoying themselves to get involved with any conflict. That is pretty badass to me

The Dutch are too busy feeling guilty, and criticising America, to enjoy anything. Actually, I think that is what they enjoy. More so than weed and hookers.

 

[Dimitriov]

Gonna have to go with the United States of America.

My southern neighbours may not be as overwhelmingly powerful as they once were, but I don't see anyone else as even remotely close to stepping up yet.

Putin? please. If Russia was actually a bad ass they might try invading a country that could actually fight back, or an actual NATO member. But then shit would hit the fan, and Russia (despite doing their best to appear otherwise) does give a fuck.

Why do you think they are up to their current shenanigans? Because all their neighbours and former satellite states are increasingly aligning themselves with the west and Russia's getting nervous.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Round 1: Has to go to 'Murica. Probably the objectively most powerful nation on earth at the moment, despite it's issues.

Round 2: I have no fucking clue. But I'll give it to Britain as we apparently named the whole era after them.

Round 3: 'Murica wins again. Those dirty commies won't out-imperialist us! Runner up goes to China for finally getting their shit together in the late 19th century.

Round 4: EDIT: Actually I'm giving this to those Mongols, conquering most of Asia and all.

Round 5: Giving this to the Arabian caliphates for the whole Islamic golden age. These aren't really countries as we know it though.

Round 6: Tough one. I'd probably hand another point to Britain but Russia and France comes as runners up. Later in line would probably be Germany, they probably would have won if it weren't for the whole genocide thing.

Round 7: Italy...? I can't think of much else during this time.

Round 8: Probably the Romans, being the closest to the whole "conquering all of Europe" dream.

 

[SerBrittanicus]

21st Century: The United States gets my vote, they are still by far the strongest militarily and still have a massive cultural, technological and economical influence over the rest of the world at this moment in time.

Victorian Era: Isn't even a contest. British Empire is the winner here - industrial revolution, abolition of slavery and piracy over much of the globe and the large cultural, economic and social impact they had over many nations puts them head and shoulders above the rest here.

Cold War: UK again. Two big superpowers squaring up with each other and somehow even with its empire crumbling around it, its home economy in ruins and a succession of weak leaders the UK still manages to maintain its relevance and its great power status (by its fingertips), helps to bring down the Soviet Union and gives the Argentines a damn good thrashing in the Falklands.

Crusades: Mongol Empire - created the second largest empire the world has ever known and helped bring many Chinese inventions and ideas to Europe.

Viking Era: Frankish Kingdom - Charlemagne just about fits into this era and he united modern day France with much of Germany and northern Italy and was crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor.

World War 2: Soviet Union I think. WW2 would have been lost without them.

Renaissance: I don't really think this one is close either. Just look at where the Ottoman Empire was in 1350 AD - holding just a small portion of land in north western Anatolia. By 1650 their empire stretched over the entirety of Anatolia, almost all of north Africa, much of the Arabian peninsula, Syria, Palestine, large parts of Persia and Mesopotamia and deep into Eastern Europe.

Antiquity: Roman Empire I would say.

Are you serious!?

If there's anything as clear as day during these times, it's that no one from Europe is even remotely bad ass. Not while they're depended on energy from Russia.

And with that... Russia. They're being assholes and they don't give a shit. Because they know no one will oppose them at the risk of starting World War 3. They're holding all the cards and they know it.

Anyone who isn't part of the NATO over there is fair game for the Russians, so I expect Belarus will be next in line for a family reunion.

 

[ClockworkPenguin]

The Dutch

...

Are you serious!?

If there's anything as clear as day during these times, it's that no one from Europe is even remotely bad ass. Not while they're depended on energy from Russia.

And with that... Russia. They're being assholes and they don't give a shit. Because they know no one will oppose them at the risk of starting World War 3. They're holding all the cards and they know it.

Back in the day they where a pretty hefty economic and naval power, going toe to toe with Britain and France a few times. I'd say Britain eventually pulled ahead, but for awhile they where contenders, which is why they get a mention.

Persia's not doing that great these days either.

 

[Amaror]

My vote goes to Germany.
Germany is basically paying the bills of all of Europe.
Germany is one of the most enviromentalist country in the world, putting constraints on companies, getting rid of Nuclear power and so on.
Germany loved peace so much that they got rid of a big chunk of their military.

 

[GundamSentinel]

The Dutch

...

Are you serious!?

If there's anything as clear as day during these times, it's that no one from Europe is even remotely bad ass. Not while they're depended on energy from Russia.

And with that... Russia. They're being assholes and they don't give a shit. Because they know no one will oppose them at the risk of starting World War 3. They're holding all the cards and they know it.

Well, we did steal half our country from the sea gods. Who else can say that? ^^

 

[Shiftygiant]

Round 1: USA, the worlds only remaining superpower at time of writing.
Round 2: Britain, because we owned a quarter of the world
Round 3: Switzerland, because reasons.
Round 4: Fuck I don't know enough
Round 5: Polish-Lithuania
Round 6: USSR, because they crushed Germany like a wasp under a boot
Round 7: Papal states? I guess.
Round 8: Rome. Because Rome.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Well, we did steal half our country from the sea gods. Who else can say that? ^^

Okay yeah, that is pretty freaking awesome.

Let's hope that achievement lasts.

 

[shootthebandit]

Im going with Britain. The sun never used to set on the British empire. The british empire put rome to shame

Considering it is a tiny island nation its batting way above its weight and even today in the 21st century we came 3rd in the olympics (to america and china) we have a great economy for our size and our living standards (even for the very poor) are higher than most countries

ditto

Im glad you agree with me but remember to try and put some more content in rather than just "ditto" im not criticising its just the rules (i dont enforce them so dont shoot the messenger)

To further my point. Britain took over the entire world in the 60s with just 4 men (john, paul, george and ringo) british music has always taken the world by storm and our "cool britannia" culture is famous worldwide. You can have all the money and all the military hardware but we have the music and we have the style. Not many cultures (especially as small as us) have the same cultural resonance around the world

 

[Rofl Harris]

Round 1: 21st century (2000-Today)
USA; still the most important place on Earth over the last 14 years.

Round 2: Victoria Era ( 1830-1910)
Britain; they made the modern world.

Round 3: Cold War (1945-1991)
USA; they won. Obvious.

Round 4: The Crusades (1100-1300)
Abbasid Caliphate; Finished off by the Mongols who weren't picked because their legacy is somewhat lacking.

Round 5: Viking Era (800-1000)
Abbasid Caliphate; Europe was languishing in the dark ages. Culture was flourishing in the Islamic world.

Round 6: World War 2 (1939-1945)
USA; could have left Europe to it. Didn't, and won the war making sure democracy came out on top.

Round 7: Renaissance (1350-1650)
Ottomans; the Renaissance was the re-birth of European science and culture after the loss during the fall of the Romans. The Middle East never needed a re-birth.

Round 8: Antiquity (600 BC - 600 AD)
Rome; they were better than the Greeks and we still aspire to classical ideals.

 

[CaptainMidlands]

Does Afghanistan count? If your talking country with the biggest impact then all though it may not have been sanctioned by the country's leaders Afghanistan has had one of the biggest world impacts in the past 14 years, they have shaped the modern world as we know it with the 9/11 attack and the follow up invasion (which is still going on) and even now have an impact over the entire of the middle east and beyond via support in places such as Syria and further in Egypt/Libya and the wider African continent

Then again most of that is Al-Qaeda and its affiliates and not Afghanistan per se but as they did (and do in some ways still do) defacto run Afghanistan then I think it should count

Please note this is not condoning what has happened but no country in the past 14 years has had more of an impact on the world stage than Afghanistan