What's the closest thing to an East Germany analog in Golarion?

[Atavist]

None of the nations are really a 1:1 take on real world nations or cultures but some things in the setting are clearly inspired by real life.

I'm basically looking for a really repressive atmosphere, where it's due to the people and not any separate supernatural thing like the threat of the Worldwound or Tar-Baphon. A domineering government with a vast spy network of secret police dedicated more towards surveilling its own populace than outside threats.

Razmiran seems is a little like this but is there anything with a party-based leadership and not a god-king? If not, is there any place that seems like it could turn that way? There's been a lot of turnover since the setting popped up. Maybe Molthune or Ravounel?

[The Raven Black]

Once upon a time, Bachuan would have been perfect.

In the Inner Sea region, Cheliax and Nidal sound about right for the spying on its own people thing.

Galt might have fit before its "benefactor" was taken out.

A hardcore version of Rahadoum could be it.

Note though that, AFAICT, party-based government is not really a thing in Golarion.

[Sibelius Eos Owm]

There might be a few oligarchies though. If the primarch and grand council of Absalom suddenly took a bent toward authoritarianism, it could make for an excellent setting for a dystopian urban adventure. Even better, since it's on a giant island, there's only so many places for PCs to escape (esp. if the secret police are watching the docks), but there's still enough room for rebel sympathizers to hide out in the sparse few towns, shielded from the government by the fact that there's only so much searching you can do when the mountains are filled with minotaurs and harpies and the local centaurs are certainly no friends of the cops'.

That aside, the first names that come to mind are Cheliax (ruled over all by Abrogail, but no queen rules alone) and Nidal. Back when Mengkare ruled Hermea, you could do an interesting take on a supposed perfect utopia with a dark underbelly, though you might not get the oppressive atmosphere and nearly as many secret police as you'd like. Also come to think of it that probably runs obviously against your god-king restriction, scratch that.

Ustalav is I think still ruled by mortal counts despite TB popping a cork near there recently. It's a lot more deeply rural outside of the capital in Caliphas, but the city is more than full enough with politicking and secret societies like the Esoteric Order. If the deadly court games demanded keeping a tight lid on the activities of the common people, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to slip in some secret police and spies.

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[Atavist]

Thanks a lot.

Never thought about Nidal

[Awakened Rat]

I could see some interpretations of Molthune, that could be similar.

[HenshinFanatic]

Molthune is more Prussia-coded though.

[zimmerwald1915]

HenshinFanatic wrote:

Molthune is more Prussia-coded though.

Prussia was not not east Germany, though -- and before the German Democratic Republic was ever a thing, Prussia set the world's gold standard for police states.

[Set]

Atavist wrote:

None of the nations are really a 1:1 take on real world nations or cultures but some things in the setting are clearly inspired by real life.

I'm basically looking for a really repressive atmosphere, where it's due to the people and not any separate supernatural thing like the threat of the Worldwound or Tar-Baphon. A domineering government with a vast spy network of secret police dedicated more towards surveilling its own populace than outside threats.

Razmiran seems is a little like this but is there anything with a party-based leadership and not a god-king? If not, is there any place that seems like it could turn that way? There's been a lot of turnover since the setting popped up. Maybe Molthune or Ravounel?

In the 'repressed puppet state of a larger regime' stance, Isger, vassal of Cheliax, seems like it might have some East Germany vibes.

But yeah, Razmiran definitely feels like a place where your masked 'allies' would be likely to report you for an off-color joke and have you dragged off to Thronestep for 'attitude adjustment' / reprogramming.

[zimmerwald1915]

Set wrote:

In the 'repressed puppet state of a larger regime' stance, Isger, vassal of Cheliax, seems like it might have some East Germany vibes.

Perhaps not for much longer -- its 1953 equivalent looks set to succeed, being blessed with protagonisty and with extensive foreign support.

[logic_poet]

Depending on the exact story beats you're trying to hit, it may be worth considering nations over in the Dragon Empires:

• Bachuan, Children of the Revolution had a very strong Red Guards / Cultural Revolution vibe, though this is toned down in 2nd ed.
  
• Chu Ye, Kingdom of the Oni
  
• Kaoling, the Hobgoblin nation
  
• Po Li, where religions other than the state-sponsored worship of the emperor are suppressed.
  
• Wanshou, Post-Apocalyptic Kraken-Ruled Swampland
  

Other than Razmiran, mentioned in the original post, you might also consider Rahadoum in the inner sea, where the government is militantly atheist and various faiths intrigue in strange combinations to challenge that. (Such as Sarenites teaming up with Norgorber-worshippers.)

[wheatleymr]

logic_poet wrote:

...

Wanshou, Post-Apocalyptic Kraken-Ruled Swampland

This and Shenmen - both have a very powerful but disengaged police state, with locals having a lot of autonomy - providing they keep their heads down.

So the locals can tell that the State is bad, and yet good people might betray you to the State for the safety of their family.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Sibelius Eos Owm wrote:

Ustalav is I think still ruled by mortal counts despite TB popping a cork near there recently. It's a lot more deeply rural outside of the capital in Caliphas, but the city is more than full enough with politicking and secret societies like the Esoteric Order. If the deadly court games demanded keeping a tight lid on the activities of the common people, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to slip in some secret police and spies.

As a matter of fact, Ustalav DOES have a secret police already in the form of the Royal Accusers and Bureau of Special Affairs (though they may just be the same organization, Royal Accuser being the name of an agent for the Bureau). It wouldn't be much of a stretch for them to have become even more paranoid and fanatical with the Gravelands erupting on Ustalav's doorstep.

Plus, in private services we have the Sleepless Agency. While there may or may not have been some attempts on Paizo's part to clean them up in the new edition, it's no secret that they were originally just fantasy Pinkertons, with their name derived directly from the real-world agency's motto: "We Never Sleep."

[Dragonchess Player]

If you want a "repressive atmosphere" by a "domineering government with a vast spy network of secret police dedicated more towards surveilling its own populace than outside threats," then Irissen might work pretty well (even under Anastasia). The Cold Sisters are the winter witch secret police that spy on everyone, from the serfs to the nobles, to ensure that Whitethrone receives all the taxes due and people (including the non-humans) are following the decrees/laws.

And you also have to worry about fey, giant, troll, and winter wolf "enforcers."