The Ashes of Rome- Lands to Conquer

[Askthepizzaguy]

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Misc/byzantineflag2.png

CLICK FOR MUSIC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzddVXaCCw)



1080 Anno Domini. Great Palace of Constantinople.

The Emperor stood over a map of Europe, tracing the old borders of the once-mighty Roman Empire. He took note of what little territory remained under his control, and was not pleased. The Seljuq Sultan Alp Arslan's victory over Greek forces at Manzikert left the Empire in tatters. Even now, a state of war existed between Alexios I Komnenos and the Seljuk Sultan, and the war was not going well. More grave news in the west; the Norman Catholics of Palermo threatened the Empire's holdings in southern Italy. Unless bold action was taken, Emperor Alexios would see the last of the Roman Empire defeated under his watch, and go down in history as the last, and worst, Emperor of Rome.

Alexios needed a grand strategy to reconquer lands which rightfully belonged to the true heirs of the Roman Empire, the Greeks. Would the war unfold as the Emperor predicted, or would this strategy lead to the very defeat the Emperor wished to avoid? Alexios held the quill of history in his hands. Once written, it could never be undone; any mistake could ruin the Roman Empire for all time. Would the history Alexios wrote leave his Empire in ashes, or would Rome be restored to its former glory? He began to write.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Welcome to my After Action Report, or should I say, Before Action Report! :beam: I have decided to plan my strategy for this session of Lands to Conquer in advance, to see how well my ideas hold up in practice. As always, the difficulty will be on Very Hard/Very Hard, and with a bit of a handicap since I'm attempting not to deviate from my planned moves once the campaign is underway. Unexpected wars and surprises of that nature I will take as strikes against me. Should I be forced to deviate completely from my chosen strategy, I will have to consider this campaign a defeat. If Emperor Comnenus or his successors cannot predict the moves of the enemy, then the enemies of Rome will take the Empire by surprise. If this happens, then the war-weary Greeks and subjects of the Emperor will grow tired of his incompetent rule, and support for the war will fall away, starting with the lower classes who always bear the brunt of the war, and ending with the professional soldiery, and possibly even open rebellion from the generals against the Emperor's rule.

There is another planned aspect to this AAR which I will share: Should the Empire be reconquered as rapidly as I wish, then there will be an added layer of difficulty: The Emperor will grow complacent and corrupt, and celebrate too often with wine and foreign women... and madness will inflict his mind. At that point, the Emperor will become a tyrant both brutal and incompetent: raising taxes solely for the purpose of building little forts out of his massive piles of gold, ignoring the needs of his subjects, and even granting lands to the Empire's enemies after the Emperor romances those fine young female emissaries they so kindly keep sending.

Rome will fall, it is unavoidable.... it is destiny. And should the Empire fall due to its ruler's corruption, incompetence, sexual deviancy, drinking, and madness, rather than honest defeat on the battlefield, then the generals will rebel and assassinate the Emperor. They will then forge a new empire from the Ashes of Rome. A new empire will be forged not from the idealism of bringing superior Roman culture to those who have none, but from the brutal edge of a sword, through piracy, barbarism, pillaging and destroying Europe itself. An Empire rising out of the ashes, not to restore Rome to its former glory.... but to unleash bloody vengeance upon Europe, leaving nothing but charred bodies and ruined cities in its wake.




The Ashes of Rome: A "Before and After" action report by Askthepizzaguy. (Lands to Conquer, Byzantine Empire)





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[Askthepizzaguy]

The war strategy of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)




Overview:

Foreign Policy:

I- Diplomacy
II- Conquest goals
III- Troop movements
IV- Naval forces
V- Armed forces
VI- Religion
VII- Merchants
VIII- Spies

Domestic Policy:


I- Governors
II- Core Provinces
III- Armourer
IV- Artillery ranges
V- Archery ranges
VI- Barracks
VII- Stables
VIII- Ports
IX- Inns
X- Mines
XI- Trade
XII- Farms
XIII- Churches
XIV- Miscellaneous



Foreign Policy:

I- Diplomacy





Turks- No trade, no peace. Conquer quickly.
Egypt- No trade, no peace. Conquer quickly.
Sicily- Attempt temporary cease-fire, then Conquer.
Hungary- Alliance, trade rights. Conquer after Venice.
Papal States- Attempt peace, conquer after Sicily.
Moors- Conquer.
Russia- Alliance, trade rights.
Venice- Attempt peace, conquer after Rome.
Holy Roman Empire- Attempt peace/alliance. Conquer after Poland.
Poland- Attempt peace, conquer after Hungary.
France- Attempt peace, conquer after HRE.
England- Attempt peace, conquer after Portugal/Spain.
Scotland- Attempt peace, conquer after England.
Denmark- Attempt peace, conquer after HRE.
Spain- Attempt peace, conquer after Moors/HRE.
Portugal- Attempt peace, conquer after Moors/HRE.

II- Conquest goals





https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start.png

This is my starting territory.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-1.png

Phase I: Alliance Hungary/Russia. May have to give up Trebizonid or Rhodes to forge alliance with Hungary. Take Iconium, Antioch, Sofia.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-2.png

Phase II: Turks conquered. Hold off Sicily with Navy.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-3.png

Phase III: Egypt conquered.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-4.png

Phase IV: Rome, Palermo, Corsica, Sardinia, Tunis conquered.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-5.png

Phase V: Moors, Venice, Milan conquered.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-6.png

Phase VI: Hungary conquered.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-7.png

Phase VII: Poland conquered.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-8.png

Phase VIII: Holy Roman Empire falls.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-9.png

Phase XI: Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark falls.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-X.png

Phase XII: England, Scotland falls.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Start-XI.png

Phase XIII: Russia is conquered, deal with Mongols/Timurids.

III- Troop movements





(to be determined)

IV- Naval forces





(to be determined)

V- Armed forces





Will be divided into mostly-infantry divisions and mostly-cavalry divisions.


Starting Army: Legion I

General: Faction Leader
Spear Infantry: 4+ Byzantine Spearmen
Archers: 5+ Trebizonid Archers

Comment: This army is lean, cheap, and pretty much all you need to begin conquering the less defended settlements, especially rebel settlements. The faction leader provides heavy cavalry support, and helps these troops retain their morale in a close battle. (Usually because the faction leader has high command and lots of battle experience. Seeing as the bodyguard is one of the toughest cavalry units in the game, and it automatically replenishes its numbers, there is no reason not to use him extensively in battle, and more experience in battle usually leads to higher command and resistance to damage, possibly higher chivalry or dread as well.)

The spearmen are there to help take out any generals that might be in the settlement, or any other kinds of cavalry. They can also pin enemy troops down, while your archers get free kills on the pinned units, especially any heavily armored foes, because they will be most effective against such units. Killing heavy infantry with archers and losing a few spearmen in the process is an excellent trade. Any time you can trade one damaged spear unit for an expensive heavy infantry unit, you've won the exchange. The more experience with killing your archers have, the better they will fare in battle. Armor them up and replenish their numbers so they survive and gain experience.

If you end up getting outmaneuvered and you must take refuge in a castle or town, having spears, heavy cavalry, and lots of good archers will help you defeat superior forces.

This army is not a world-beating force, but for its cost, it is extremely potent and effective. Because of this, you could spam similar armies and combine them on the battlefield, using pincer maneuvers, attacking the enemy from two sides effectively. This force can also be expanded upon when you get the money, making it a legitimate force to use in more difficult situations.



Starting Cavalry: Equites I

General: Faction Heir
Horse Archers: 6+ Skythikon
Reserves/mercenaries. (Turkomans, for example. Alan Light Cavalry. Armenian cavalry when necessary.)

Comment: This division is very mobile, very cheap, and very deadly against everything except full armies or heavy cavalry divisions. Because it is so maneuverable on the campaign map, you will be able to outrun slower forces and avoid battles you can't win, assuming your spy network informs you of where the enemy is. This force is excellent when combined with the Legion, especially as a reserve force. The horse archers work well under AI control, because they fire and retreat automatically, and usually can react faster automatically than the general can issue retreat orders. Less micro-management needed works to your advantage.

Skythikon are pretty worthless in melee, so it is important that they cause damage and then flee. They are only useful as horse archers or mopping up routing units; they have low morale and fighting ability. Fortunately we aren't expecting to engage in melee with these units; they're for harassment only, then they will seek to withdraw or allow reinforcements to defeat the enemy. But, this is just a starter division, designed to provide the most sting with the least amount of venom. This force won't break a budget, and can provide a very large amount of headache in various tactical situations. It can also move ahead of the main infantry force, and lay seige to less defended settlements, and break sallying forces by damaging and wearing them out.

When you have the funds, adding better horse archers and heavy cavalry will turn this division into a galloping nightmare for your enemies. In a pinch, especially in the beginning of the campaign, there are lots of excellent mercenary cavalry that can be hired for a single difficult battle, then sent on their merry way. Except for the [/URL], those are excellent light cavalry which you might consider keeping on in spite of their cost, because you can recruit more, gain experience, and improve their armor.


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Expansion Army: Legion I- This force combines with Legion I when I can afford it.

Heavy Infantry: 4+ Byzantine infantry or above. Dismounted Lancers, Dismounted Latinkon, Varangian guard.
Artillery: 1-2+ Catapult, Trebuchet
Heavy Cavalry: 1 (General's bodyguard, mercenary cavalry, Byz Lancers, or Latinkon)
Reserves/mercenaries. (Militia infantry, militia archers, extra spears, extra archers, or extra cavalry)

Comments: Adding heavy infantry, especially the Latinkon or Varangian guard, makes a big difference in situations where you're facing a large number of enemy infantry or higher quality infantry, or taking well-defended settlements. [URL="http://m2tw.warlore.org/units/Byzantine_Infantry"]Byzantine Infantry (http://m2tw.warlore.org/units/Alan_Light_Cavalry) has high defense and very low cost, and will chew through archers and militia and spearmen easily. Their attack level is high enough to be formidable. They also perform seemingly just as well as Dismounted Lancers, so why pay extra? Add extra infantry to the battle instead of spending more on fewer, only marginally better troops. However, it seems that Dismounted Lancers can be upgraded with an armorer to much better armor than the usual Byzantine infantry, so if you need truly elite forces, but cheaper than Dismounted Latinkon, you can go with fully upgraded Dismounted Lancers, to give you the defensive power you want.

If you want devastating attack power, you want Varangian guard. (http://m2tw.warlore.org/units/Varangian_Guard) Even without upgrades, this unit is terrifying in battle.



Expansion Cavalry: Equites I- This force combines with Equites I when I can afford it.

Second general: Any poor governor who is better used as cannon fodder
Heavy Cavalry: 6+ (Byz Lancers, Latinkon, or Vardariotai)
Reserves/mercenaries (Byz Cavalry, mercs, replacements for other cavalry)

Comments: Adding heavy cavalry to my first all-cavalry division makes this a true fighting force, one that is extremely difficult to beat. What this force doesn't do is capture enemy settlements that are well-garrisoned, not without starving them out. Unless you automate some of these units, you'll find that micromanagement on the battlefield is often too much for a cavalry group this size to fight as effectively as it could.

The strength of this cavalry division is that if you divide it up, and send smaller, more maneuverable groups into battle from different sides of the field, you can end up harassing the enemy from all sides with horse archer fire, and flanking the enemy easily with your heavy cavalry. The downside is that any AI-controlled units tend to send their general directly into melee, often killing your family member in the process, so I don't recommend automating any of your general's bodyguard units unless it is a last resort.

This force also combines well with the Legion I army, providing horse archer and heavy cavalry support on the flanks and rear of the enemy, rendering almost any battle ridiculously easy to win. This force can move ahead of the main Legion, and lay siege to well-defended settlements and render sallying forces almost completely useless. The Legion I army can fight other armies and take other settlements while the Equites I army builds seige equipment like rams and ladders and siege towers and so forth, waiting for the Legion I army to show up to take the settlement. Often times the artillery in Legion I will slow them down, but when they do show up, they already have ladders and siege equipment waiting, and the garrison has already lost men to desertion/hunger, so you can begin the battle immediately as if you had been laying siege for however long your Equites force has been surrounding it.



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Legion II- This force is created when I become rich enough to afford another expensive stack of troops.

General: Highest command general (non-Faction Leader/heir)
Heavy Infantry: 6+ Varangian Guard
Spearmen: 5+ Byzantine Spearmen
Artillery: 4+ Catapults, Trebuchhets
Archers: 4+ Byzantine Guard Archers

Comments: I designed this Legion to be quite self-sufficient and extremely dangerous in siege battles, forest battles, bridge battles, hill battles, and even dangerous in the open field, as dangerous as an army without much cavalry support can be.

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Equites II- This force is created when I become rich enough to afford yet another expensive stack of troops.

General: Second highest general (non-Faction Leader/heir)
Heavy Cavalry: 6+ Latinkon
Horse Archers: 6+ Byzantine Cavalry
Light Cavalry: 4+ Alan Light Cavalry (mercenaries)
Reserves: 3+ Vardariotai

Comments: I designed this Equites division to be powerful enough to take on just about any force, indeed powerful enough to hire some mercenary infantry to deal with the whole smashing of gates and so forth, with enough horse archer ammo to greatly reduce the size of a garrison force and enough melee power to be threatening even in some siege situations.

This force is also excellent for sallying, and could be quite impressive as a defensive force for any settlement, because they can sally forth and destroy artillery, harass those people with rams, and pepper the infantry to death and charge into the archer formations with near-impunity, because any siege force will likely have far fewer cavalry than you're fielding.

Like Equites I, this force isn't as effective or useful in certain situations, like forest battles, or battles where you're facing two or more large enemy forces coming at you at once, which the AI loves to throw at you. This force is also extremely expensive, and may be more firepower than you realistically need. The lack of artillery support or heavy infantry/spearmen makes it less effective in many situations than a more balanced force.

The idea behind this division is to be deployed where they are needed the most; on the front lines of a war between a huge, powerful enemy, taking them on in battle after battle, in situations specifically beneficial to horse archers and heavy cavalry.

This division can also be used as a deep cutting blade; rather than taking the enemy on by attacking his settlements closest to your borders, this highly mobile and self-sufficient group can outrun and outmaneuver enemy front-line defenses, and move deep into enemy territory, and attack your foe's main cities and recruiting centers, or pick off less-defended outlying settlements with near-impunity. When the enemy has to send a force to retake those lands or engage you, you can probably take them head-on and when you can't, you can easily withdraw, hide, split up, retreat, and otherwise elude the enemy and regroup elsewhere... while your main Legion attacks the enemy from the other side.

Your foe will have to divide his forces to deal with both armies, and the amount of damage this cavalry division can do by itself is pretty devastating, and the army needed to take it down would be very expensive. Meanwhile, an even more devastating force of heavy infantry will be able to march directly from settlement to settlement, with artillery, taking each city and castle with minimal resistance. If the enemy goes after this army, it can wall itself off easily in any castle or city and be very difficult to dislodge, while your cavalry force continues ripping apart his countryside.

These two swords have strengths and weaknesses, but when wielded together, they can become quite balanced. If necessary, you can divide both the Legion and the Equites in half and combine them with one another, giving yourself two huge and well-balanced individual armies, rendering these two forces more versatile than they would be by themselves, while retaining their specialization in siege/bridge/forest dominance or campaign map and open-field superiority.

These forces are quite expensive, and the only reason why I am going with forces such as these, which are often overkill, is because I intend to fully upgrade these forces, and keep them alive for as long as possible so they can gain experience, and then retrain them back to full strength. I want to win battles, but also survive them to a great extent, improving my kills-to-casualties ratio. Eventually, Equites I and Legion I will be relegated to defensive duty or disbanded altogether due to being obsolete, but Legion II and Equites II will become my main offensive force, with the power and intent to by themselves conquer entire factions in swift, efficient, and devastating manner.






VI- Religion





Conversion goals:

For the Turks, my objective is to cover the conversion of any larger city-settlements as soon as possible. Castles and smaller cities are easier to control and thus take less precedence. The main trading hubs will be large cities anyway, and if I want to turn a profit I will need those cities to have less expensive garrisons. That means I need to convert, and convert quickly. I'll use a team of priests and begin conversion as soon as possible, even before I take these settlements if possible. I won't move on to a new settlement until the level of Orthodox religion in the region is above 50% minimum, and as high as possible. Once a church is built, that should cover the rest over time.

I will then move to Jerusalem, Cairo, Alexandria, etc, to gain control of those rich lands, which covers most of Egypt.

After that, taking Palermo and Rome would warrant some conversion, but Naples will need to be well on its way to being fully converted before I worry about that.

Moorish lands are mostly castles, but I find that the public order is still low due to the high levels of Islamic religion and the distance from capital factor. They also don't generate much income so stationing a large garrison there is a drain on my resources. I'd also want to conquer them quickly, taking them by surprise, moving along the sea since basically all of their settlements are directly on the ocean. Conquest will be quick, and I want to be able to pick up and move on without stopping. As such, converting Moorish lands will take precedence over converting Northern Italy. Militia infantry and a few priests can do the job there, due to low/no upkeep for militia forces as garrison and the ability to lower taxes and still afford garrisons due to trade and proximity to my capital, which will probably be in Thessalonica.

By this time I will have a large enough church base to afford mass conversions of entire nations via priests, and I will do that before I invade, or quickly convert the cities ASAP during invasion. The rest is a snap. Italy will probably be my main priest recruitment center when Islamic lands are mine/mostly converted.

VII- Merchants





I will have to check to see which resources are the most profitable from Thessalonica as the capital, which reduces the value of gold since there's gold in a neighboring province in Hungary. However, spices and cotton (Middle east) should still be pretty potent, and I believe Silver, slaves, amber, and even glass/textiles should be valuable from Thessalonica as capital.

There's a lot of amber in Russia/Denmark, lots of cotton and spices in the middle east, little veins of Silver in central europe and in scattered areas, and textiles and glass in Italy.

I will explore western europe and see if Wine and other resources aren't a better investment. I honestly don't recall which resources are the best, but generally speaking the further away the closest example of that resource is, the higher the multiplier over its base value.

More research is necessary!




VIII- Spies





What I'll be doing with spies is scouting all the lands of places I am about to conquer, and keeping an eye on my less defended borders. I will find out where their largest standing armies are, and avoid confronting them. I may even use my forces to draw their defenders away from where they need to be.

While I can generally roll any AI faction without much difficulty, I'm aiming for speed, while using a leaner and more specific force than I am used to, with the goal of having the least amount of casualties as possible among troops I plan to have in my army for a long time. That requires a more precise strategy, rather than just a big mass of troops sent hurtling at the enemy, followed by another one when they all get destroyed.

I will be micro-managing my generals and my units for this campaign, and as such, I don't want to fight any unexpected battles. Thus, I need spies.

Assassins will be used to kill crusader generals, unwanted diplomats, merchants I cannot outswindle, and most especially enemy priests.






Domestic Policy:

I- Governors





Highest chivalry/Growth-friendly governor: Naples (Turn Naples into a Citadel)
Next highest chivalry: Thessalonica (Turn Thessalonica into capital/huge city, a companion for Constantinople)
Best manager: Constantinople (Until Thessalonica becomes larger and more profitable)
Other chivalrous generals: Sofia, Nicaea, Iconium, Iraklion, Corinth, Rhodes...


Egypt is generally large enough to not require growth boosts. Turkish lands are generally poor and landlocked, so I'm not concerned about growing them. They're also prime targets for the Mongol and timurid invasions, so I am not investing heavily there.
Italy is also large enough not to require growth boosts.
I plan on boosting northern African lands, population-wise, after they've been converted and all have ports. That will help with my mediterranean trade.
Polish/Hungarian/HRE lands will take a while to convert, and are mostly landlocked, so boosting their growth isn't a huge priority.


Anything else will be pretty big by the time I get around to conquering it anyway.

I will attempt to promote "Man of the Hour" generals and turn them into governors. I won't allow them to marry and have children unless I plan on keeping them as part of my royal dynasty.

Only if my royal dynasty gets extremely corrupt/stupid/drunk/insane/cuckold will I remove them from power and replace them with the military and make my royal family a meritocracy, not an aristocracy. I am hoping to do that as part of the story/revolt against the Emperor and his family, after he gives away Roman lands to the enemy.

II- Core Provinces





In order of priority:

Naples- Expand as rapidly as possible, convert into a Citadel as rapidly as possible, turn into main recruitment/retraining center.
Thessalonica- Expand as rapidly as possible, build mines, turn into capital and trading hub. Focus on trading with all neighbor provinces.
Constantinople- Expand trade potential, it's already a big city. Improve, manage well, then move on.
Corinth- Will be used as my first recruitment center/armory/stables/barracks. Will drop in priority once Naples is up and running.
Nicaea- Location is everything, and this is located close enough to other major trade centers, and has a high potential trade value, and is relatively safe from danger. It will become a major trade partner for Thessalonica.
Iconium- Is already a city, and has the potential to be worth some coin. Will trade with Nicaea and Adana and Antioch and Rhodes, etc....
Iraklion- has the potential to be a good sea trading partner with many of my core provinces.
Sofia- Will become a big trade partner with Constantinople, Thessalonica, and future Hungarian provinces. less priority as it requires more investment.
Durazzo- Doesn't have a strong trade potential, but since it is located adjacent to so many excellent trading partners, including my capital, I will invest here when necessary.
Rhodes- this ancient trading hub should become great once again. Why not?
Nicosia- This has great potential, but it's way down my list of priorities.
Smyrna- Growth/base population is too low, and it requires too much investment for me to focus here often.
Trebizonid- This settlement is in a poor location and is nearly worthless at the start. I will likely trade it away for an alliance with Hungary.

Expanded core provinces:

Antioch, Jerusalem, Cairo, Alexandria, Rome, Palermo, Venice, northern Italy, Hungarian lands.

When conquered, these areas will become major trade and recruitment centers. Fortunately I don't have to invest much here, because my enemies will do it for me. :laugh4:

III- Armourer






Corinth (at the start)
Naples (later on) (Maximum investment here- Citadel)
Palermo (later on)
Rome (later on) (Maximum investment here- Huge City)


IV- Artillery ranges






Constantinople (at the start)
Rome (later on)
Any settlement which already contains a catapult maker (late game)


V- Archery ranges






Corinth (at the start)
Palermo (until Naples is up and running)
Naples (main recruitment center)


VI- Barracks






Corinth (at the start)
Constantinople (at the start)
Naples (main recruitment center)


VII- Stables






Corinth (at the start)
Naples (main recruitment center)


VIII- Ports






Constantinople (Max out ASAP)
Thessalonica (Max out ASAP)
Nicaea (Max out)
Iraklion
Corinth
Iconium
Sofia
Antioch
Italy
Africa
Middle East
Any mediterranean port.


IX- Inns






Nicaea
Iraklion
Iconium
Sofia
Rome
Antioch
Any ungoverned settlement with high growth potential


X- Mines






Thessalonica (ASAP)
By order of greatest increase in income per turn, lower priority.


XI- Trade





(Grain exchanges, shipyards, warehouses, better roads, etc...)


Constantinople
Thessalonica
Nicaea
Iconium
Iraklion
Antioch
Sofia
In general, closer to Thessalonica, greater population, and better trade resources, increases priority for these buildings.


XII- Farms






Naples
Thessalonica
Constantinople
Nicaea
Iraklion
Sofia
Corinth
Iconium
Antioch
Rome
In general, closer to Thessalonica, and higher starting population and trade potential, increases priority.


XIII- Churches






Iconium
Sofia
Naples
Rome (max out)
Nicaea
Constantinople (max out)
Middle East
Africa
Italy


XIV- Miscellaneous

[Askthepizzaguy]

Further OOC Comments:

I checked my lands at the start, and the largest settlement with the greatest capacity for growth, that can potentially be turned into a castle, is Naples. I will raise its population through lower taxes, a chivalrous governor, farms, and other growth-boosting investments. Naples will become my maxed-out Citadel, where I invest the most amount of my money.

Thessalonica has the potential to become superior to Constantinople, growth-wise, and trade-wise. It is also located slightly closer to the center of the map, and slightly further away from the middle east. It is the perfect place to put my capital. Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean Sea will become the center of my sea trade, and where I invest most of my money. Other areas will have other factions investing in those lands, and I'll simply take what they have. Improving those lands will not be a priority unless there's room for better roads, ports, or mines. I'll also install churches to maintain order and convert, but other than that, my investments will be centralized in a certain area, focusing on turning Naples into a Citadel as early as possible, and improving the trade potential of my core provinces.

Later, when I give my lands back to whatever factions remain, I will rely only on my core provinces and go on a brutal sacking and pillaging and razing campaign to destroy Europe. I will do this whenever it is clear that I have the power to easily and rapidly conquer whatever territories remain, and the campaign becomes uninteresting, or I have failed in my quest to closely follow my planned pre-game strategy. When those conditions are met, I will turn over control of as many provinces as possible to enemy forces, and then turn my army into heavily armored, axe-wielding, fearsome forces which have precisely one goal: ruin all of Europe in as bloody and devastating a way as possible, amassing huge amounts of wealth due to sacking and pillaging and razing.

The end result will be a small Roman Empire surrounded by poor barbarian rebels. Only what remains of Rome will count as civilization. Bottom line: Maximum destruction.

I am just about ready to begin the campaign. Let's see how I do!

[johnhughthom]

Ah, a PizzaAR, didn't know you did these. I'll be following.

[Askthepizzaguy]

In case anyone is wondering, yes I am working on this. Presently the campaign is going smashingly well, and not for lack of danger and near-defeat either. Boy I got myself into a mess of trouble.

I haven't had the time to post my screenshots and do a proper writeup, but I will after the next leg of the campaign. Stay tuned.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Will subscribe right about... now.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Chapter One- A King's Ransom



1081 Anno Domini. Great Palace of Constantinople.

The Emperor's son John lacked a wife and had no children. Because they were about to do battle with the Turks, the Emperor commanded his son to choose one of his finest men to be the heir to the throne, should they both be slain in battle.

Tobromeros Beriotes was chosen. A brave soldier and veteran of wars past, handsome, loyal, and skilled in both matters of war and politics, he had precisely the right mindset to lead a nation. He also had it within him to commit unkind deeds, something every ruler must be able to do, or else the enemy will simply fight without honor and defeat the Greeks on the battlefield. Honor has a place within governance, but the greatest leaders take note of which promises to keep and which to break, for the good of the Empire.

The young man would stand ready to take the throne if necessary. Emperor Alexius hoped it would not be, but admired his son's choice. Next, he commanded his son to find himself a wife. The family line must go on, after all.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A001.png


Anna Comnenus met with Prince Kalman of the Hungarian Empire. While Emperor Alexius was not sure if he could trust the Catholic Hungarians, who seemed bent on expanding into his territory, he came up with a plan that would either make peace for all time, or prove that they were untrustworthy traitors. Anna was commanded to offer free trade, and the castle of Trebizonid in Asia Minor, in exchange for a permanent peace treaty and alliance, and an exchange of maps.

Anna was delighted to see the Hungarians accept this offer. From the tone of the Prince's response, it was clear to Anna that the Catholics would have accepted nothing less than a gift of territory to establish this alliance, which was otherwise seen as too "demanding" of the Hungarians.

Anna laughed and thought to herself how ironic it is that the Hungarians demanded land that had never belonged to them in exchange for peace. Which ruler was more demanding?


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The years passed, and Prince John found another worthy candidate to be an heir to the empire. Valsamon Limas, an honorable soldier and commander, was quickly adopted. He seemed to make a better peacetime governor than a general, however.


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1084 Anno Domini. Iconium.


Emperor Alexius finally gathered his forces from across his mighty empire, and arranged them into standard spear infantry and archer units. New stables were being constructed in Corinth which would allow training of the new Skythikon units, which Alexius was eager to command in battle. But for now, his own royal bodyguard would serve as the cavalry he needed.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A004.png



The daughter of the Kaiser approaches the governor of Naples and offers her hand in marriage to Alexius' son John, in exchange for an alliance. Prince John is eager to meet his bride-to-be... will she be as beautiful in person as the rumors make her out to be?



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1086 Anno Domini. Iconium.



Emperor Alexius prepares to remove the Turkish rebels. His son joins him on the field of battle, and soon, Prince John will have an army of his own.


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The walls of Iconium.

Alexius decides to draw the enemy fire towards his seige tower, while his Byzantine Spearmen take the walls under cover of darkness with ladders. While the enemy focuses on the towers, they might not fire as much toward the ram, either.


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The ruse succeeds! The enemy gates have fallen, and the pathetic troops on the walls never saw it coming. Within seconds after the gates opening, spearmen flooded into the settlement and attacked the enemy, who fled in a panic!

"Run down those worthless peasants! We don't need spineless cowards like that in our Empire!" shouted Alexius to his men. They gladly complied.

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The spear infantry advanced slowly, so as not to tire. The enemy was already weak, and turned and ran at the sight of the approaching ocean of spear points.

The enemy leader would do well to fight dismounted from here, but it seems he only has the brain of a chicken. He remains on his horse, and awaits the inevitable.


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The spearmen pile into the center of town. The enemy are overwhelmed and surrounded.... soon they will join the ranks of the dead.

Good news reaches Alexius: The rebel commander has been slain! Surely now his men will lose heart.


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Captain Suleyman and his men met their end today, and Iconium is back where it belongs, under the protection of the Empire!

Alexius gives wine to his men and holds a feast to celebrate the victory! The fallen soldiers will be given a proper memorial in the morning. The people of Iconium are roused from their sleep and ordered to collect the bodies of the fallen heroes. Alexius' men have done enough for one day, and are too busy getting drunk and eating a feast of lamb.


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To Antioch? Alexius' spy reports that there would be minimal resistance if he chose to take the city. But Alexius has a better idea.

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Word reaches Alexius that his son has fathered a daughter. While it is disappointing that his wife bore no sons, a new member of the Comnenus dynasty was surely welcome.

He questioned the unusual name given to his granddaughter, it doesn't exactly roll off of the tongue.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A013.png


Prince John, perhaps frustrated at his lack of a son, decides to adopt yet another heir. Some of his other adopted heirs get jealous and start to feel unappreciated.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A014.png


Emperor Alexius spots an opening with his spy. The Sultan Jalal has left himself vulnerable. Antioch can wait.... strike whilst the iron is hot!!!

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The Turkish dog holds the great roman settlement of Caesarea in his filthy grasp. Alexius orders his men to get soap and mop buckets, because it will take years to clean the stink from the halls of the governor's residence.

"Do the Turks EVER bathe?" remarked Alexius.

It was time to take what was rightfully Roman lands.

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The enemy lack the forces necessary to cover the walls properly. While they are distracted by the seige tower, twelve ladders will be placed on the western wall, and many good Greek spearmen will take the wall by force.

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My lord, the walls are ours! Time to open the gate, and turn the enemy into kebab. The Sultan of filth cowers at the center of town, too frozen by fear to help his men.

Alexius decides to mow down some unwashed peasants himself. It's the only way they will learn just how awesome he is.

"Respect my authoritah!" jeered Alexius, as he impaled yet another bearded buffoon with his sword.


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With nothing else standing in the way, Alexius orders his spearmen to hold their noses, and surround the enemy Sultan.

"Be careful men. Those horses have had Jalal's unwashed buttocks all over them. The stench alone might kill you!"

The spearmen do their job well, and Jalal runs away like a frightened little girl, but there is nowhere to run. Soon he is captured alive, and forced to watch as Alexius turns the rest of his soldiers into a big red stain on the steps of the keep.

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Jalal's stench was so overpowering, that it killed over 500 good Greek soldiers. He would pay for that!

Alexius pointed his sword at Jalal and said "your money or your life". The translator quickly relayed the message to Jalal, who pointed toward the keep and said "take it all...."

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There was enough gold in the Sultan's castle to feed Alexius' men for a decade, and train new soldiers. Ah, it is a good day to be a Greek.

"Now that you have my entire treasury, will you leave me in peace?" the Sultan Jalal asked.

"I'd much rather leave you in pieces" remarked Alexius, as he separated Jalal's head from his body.

"Somebody clean this place up. I might want to visit here again someday, and it smells like the inside of an ass in here. No, I take it back... the royal donkey does not smell half this bad."

The guards laughed at Alexius' comment, until they noticed he wasn't laughing. He pointed to the royal mop buckets and told them to get scrubbing.


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Emperor Alexius: "Oh, they wanted the safe return of their troops? I guess they didn't read the fine print. I never said I'd return them alive, just 'safe'."


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A022.png





"The only safe Turk is a dead Turk." -Alexius Comnenus, 1090 AD





End of Chapter One.

[johnhughthom]

Nice start, I haven't played LtC since the very early days, just after M2TW's release, giving up a province for an alliance seems very generous, will it hold? Perhaps I'm too used to RTW diplomacy, so I assume any alliance worthless...

[Askthepizzaguy]

Nice start, I haven't played LtC since the very early days, just after M2TW's release, giving up a province for an alliance seems very generous, will it hold? Perhaps I'm too used to RTW diplomacy, so I assume any alliance worthless...

It generally does hold, especially if your reputation is very reliable, and nothing interferes with your alliance (such as Hungary attacking other allies of yours and you choose to side against them... or perhaps a crusade compels them to move through your lands uninvited) but leaving your border with them undefended is an open invitation. What will generally keep an alliance solid is your reputation, providing them tribute (even a small amount for a long time works) and being on excellent terms with them (poor relations doesn't help them not think of you as an enemy).

Will this alliance hold? Only time will tell. I consider an alliance to be a delaying tactic when it comes to the AI, and even then, who knows, if you don't work at it.


EDIT

Also, in case you're wondering, the Catholics that are your neighbors all start off pretty much hating you in this version. Alliance with basically any nation is virtually impossible for the first several turns, unless you offer them big bribes. Trebizonid is so out of the way, so vulnerable to the Turks, and makes such small amounts of money, that trading it to the Hungarians actually increases my positional advantages. If the Turks attack the Hungarians or vice-versa, it would improve my relations with the Hungarians. And, it still denies the province to the Turks, something I don't want to waste money accomplishing with troops.

I'm only missing out on a couple hundred gold per turn by giving up this province, and I gain a stranglehold over the Turks because they can't expand in that direction without worsening their diplomatic position, and I don't have to worry about defending that flank. Let the Hungarians waste their money doing that.

You'll see the troops and general from that province joining my main army, putting them to good use smashing the Turkish scum rather than languishing in some god forsaken puny castle in the middle of nowhere.

Once you gain alliances with a couple nations, your reputation improves to the point you can actually get the Pope and the Sicilians and the Venetians, even the Egyptians, to agree to ally with you. I trade Trebizonid for turning the AI into a big friendly pussycat.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Chapter Two- Pigs for the slaughter



1090 Anno Domini. Palace at Caesarea.


Our spies report that the Turks have only minimal reinforcements and the surrounding regions are poorly defended. If we press onward, we will smash the enemy.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A023.png

Our Skythikon horsemen are ready for battle. Send them to meet us by ship. We will starve the fools in Adana until then.

Those Egyptian fools think they will take Antioch. Fine, let them waste good men in the attempt. Even if they win, they will be too weak to defend against our attack.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A024.png


Excellent news my lord. Anna Comnenus has found a worthy suitor, a son of the Polish King; only the best for the daughter of the Empire. He has pledged allegiance to you, and will serve us well. Now he must travel back through Polish and Hungarian lands to report for duty.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A025.png


This Boleslaw Herman is a Genius, unmatched when commanding forces at night, and a conqueror in the making! He seeks nothing less than to crush the enemies of our Lord!

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A026.png


1095 Anno Domini. Adana.


We are done waiting. While these fools would be easily crushed in a few seasons, when they have exhausted their food supplies, the enemy still has not defended his lands, and so we must press onward! There's no time to waste, take the settlement.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A027.png


There's a small enemy force up ahead, but the great city of Antioch is weakened by the foolish Egyptian attack. They failed to take the city, and so the plunder is still ours to be had!

We shall take the settlement quickly, and move east.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A028.png


The enemy still pose no threat. Soon they will pay a heavy price for allowing us to plunge our sword this deep into the heart of their territory.

We could use a few more men. Let's hire some Armenian archer mercenaries to replace some of our fallen archers.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A029.png


Captain Khalil of the independent city-state of Antioch? Never heard of him. No one else will hear of him either, once the dog's head has been placed atop a pike.

"Take the city, men! Leave none of these mongrels behind us."

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A030.png

We shall again use our seige towers to draw enemy fire away from the ladder men. There are many turkish archers on the walls, so we must move quickly.


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We no longer need worry about those archers, my lord. They are a worthy foe at a distance, but pose little threat to our Byzantine Spearmen. Our men have captured the walls!

This is a good thing, since the enemy have set fire to our battering ram.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A032.png

Captain whats-his-name has been slain! And so ends the glorious dynasty of.... of.... what's your name again?

This idiot attacked Emperor Alexius himself, without the support of his men. He is a fool, and deserves a fool's death. He is slain by our Emperor, as if he were that worthy. He should consider himself honored.


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More fools wish to fight? I grow tired of this. We shall not waste more lives here, we have work to do.

"Soldiers of the Empire, execute Hellfire Formation!" bellowed Alexius.

Quickly, a unit of Byzantine Spears moved midway between the enemy and the center of the city, and held their ground. They raised shield and spear, and stood on the defensive, ready to protect the rest of the army from counterattack. Then, archers lined up behind them as far as the eye could see. They all lit their arrows on fire and raised their bows simultaneously....

"Unleash hell." ordered the Emperor. And so death rained from the sky.

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Flaming arrows rained from the heavens, but the storm was of such intensity that you couldn't even see the sky. In an instant, hundreds of men fell to the earth, bursting into flames, and screaming for their god. In the confusion, the enemy ran back and forth, trying to counterattack, then flee, then counterattack again. They lost the will to fight, and there was much gnashing of teeth and weeping for the fallen. In a minute, none of them were left alive.

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We lost only a handful of spearmen in the engagement. Alexius ordered them to cease fire. Nothing remained in Antioch that opposed Alexius' mighty rule.

Word of this incredible victory spread throughout the holy lands. It grows hot in the desert, but it is cold at night. An icy shiver was sent down the spine of all who heard the name Alexius.

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With the money we were "granted" by the people of Antioch, we decided to hire some mercenaries wandering the desert. Apparently not all of these people have cooked their brains yet, for they see the profit of being under the rule of Alexius.

Our cavalry division is growing; this is good. Now to fight some Turkish dogs in the field, and see how they stack up.

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"Here is the battle plan" Alexius shouted to his men.

"We will have our spears at the ready, for our archers to fall back and retreat behind. They will target whatever is foolish enough to march near. In the meantime, our cavalry will harass, massacre, and tire the enemy, beginning with any cavalry they might have. By the time they reach our infantry, there will be nothing left of them!"



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That was too easy. If this is the best the "Sultan" has to offer, it is a wonder he hasn't been conquered already by three farmers holding pitchforks. We press onward, leaving their rotting corpses behind to bake in the sun.

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1101 Anno Domini. Aleppo.


After spending a season laying siege to the tiny fort of Aleppo, the enemy have quickly run out of food and must face us in battle. This will be glorious.


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As soon as the enemy opened his gates, all of our archers opened fire, with arrows ablaze.

Our cavalry rushed to close the flanks, leaving nowhere for the enemy to go but into a crowded cluster right in front of the gate... where they were being shot down by the hundreds, tripping over the burning bodies of their screaming brethren. We hadn't even swung our swords yet.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A041.png

Suddenly, Alexius ordered a charge into the cowering mass of the enemy, from all sides. They did not know what was happening to them, except that fire from the sky was slaughtering them, and everyone left, right, and forward had been massacred within seconds. Was there still time to retreat back into the settlement? They turned to try to escape, but there were too many of them, and a bottleneck formed at the gate.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A042.png

Our spearmen killed what was left of them. Another overwhelming victory.


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1101 Anno Domini. Edessa.

The enemy gathers what remains of his men, to try to halt Alexius' march.

In the meanwhile, a ship carrying fresh troops and hired mercenaries from Sofia arrives, and now Prince John has an army of his own. The Emperor and his son now wield two mighty forces. The carnage has only just begun!


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A044.png



End of Chapter Two.

[johnhughthom]

Nice, I love it when somebody weakens a garrison and leaves it ripe for the taking. Borders with two Muslim factions, should get tasty now, is your second army going to go south?

I assume your Princess seduced the Prince away from the Poles? Do you lose relations with the Poles for that, or suffer a reputation hit?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Nice, I love it when somebody weakens a garrison and leaves it ripe for the taking. Borders with two Muslim factions, should get tasty now, is your second army going to go south?

I assume your Princess seduced the Prince away from the Poles? Do you lose relations with the Poles for that, or suffer a reputation hit?

I have to stick to my predetermined strategy as much as possible, I'll be smashing the Turks utterly before I turn south to Egypt.

I honestly don't recall if that was the Prince, if it was then boo-yahhh. Ultimately I hadn't noticed/don't care about my relations with the Poles as they are buffered by the Hungarians and I am the least of their concerns.

I won't deal with the Poles for at least a century, methinks. Probably longer. So as for our relations I don't know about the rep. hit.

I do know that trapsing through Hungarian lands with "Coleslaw" to get back to my lands really ticked my allies off. That's a mistake I'd like to take back, but I can't.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Chapter Three- The end of the line



1105 Anno Domini. Edessa.


Our spies report that the Turks are massing at Mosul. We will be ready for them. But once again they have made the foolish mistake of giving up too much land. How will they sustain their empire when it belongs to us?

Our religious men make short work of their heresy. Soon these lesser ones will learn the value of Greek virtue as well as valor.

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A few spears to hold the line. But there will be more archers than have ever gathered under one general! No matter what the enemy has in store, he will become trapped by his own walls, and they will do nothing to hold back the rain of death. They need ceilings, not walls.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A046.png

We make short work of them. Our archers have unleashed hell. There was nothing here to write home about, though more spearmen died than I would care to admit.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A047.png


The enemy has finally massed a true and worthy army! But the fools acted too late. Now they will experience the full power of Greek arms, and taste the wrath of her arrows.

This Turkumani brings to battle only half of our number.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A048.png


Our archers stand back several hundred paces, to give our horse archers room to flee, while raining death upon the enemy. they will then take refuge behind our archers, should it come to that, and our archers will unleash three times the firepower that our horsemen can muster.

Worse still for our enemy, we have deployed in such a way that our reinforcements will be arriving just as the battle has already swung in our favor, and many Turks are already dead.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A049.png

Now is the final hour for many desert men. They should hide their heads in sand, and be cut off at the neck. It is a far better fate than the slaughter they are about to witness.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A050.png


You can see our main archer forces off in the distance here, which the enemy foolishly marches toward. Our cavalry have moved to take out their Turkomans and other horse archers, who have been nearly depleted and flee in horror. We turned back around and now we engage the enemy's scattered infantry forces. Those men will feel Greek arrows from above and to the front, and feel arrows to the back followed by a cavalry charge. What manner of men could survive this? Not these desert rats.

My lord, we have killed half of their men, and now the idiots throw themselves upon Greek spears and swords, who are newly arrived and fresh for a fight. We mow them down like grass.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A051.png


They killed over 350 men today, in their arrogance. But they have been drawn and quartered. There is no mistaking the crushing nature of this victory, as we've rid the enemy of over half of their total forces.

Now to cut off the head of the serpent!

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Our spies report that the enemy has only pitiful presence around their capital and main recruitment facility. The Sultan is old and weak, and now he will die as nature intended.

Well, perhaps in a more gruesome fashion than nature intended! But he will die regardless, and that is what matters.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A053.png

More pigs to be slaughtered? That is fine, we could use a good feast. Our men are hungry for Turkish blood.

Prince John takes command of our main forces, as a test of his ability to lead men into battle on his own. Now we will see if the genius of Alexius has passed on to his son.


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We wait at the top of the hill. John sees his Emperor has arrived with reinforcements, but John does not intend to use them! He will show his father how he can destroy Turks alone.

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This needs no comment. Surely you can see for yourself that the Turks are just walking to their own demise, uphill, with the wind, sand, and arrows at their face! Our Prince rides into battle, to drive off those worthless Turkomans.

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Their captain dies quickly, and killing these leaderless cowards by charging downhill while firing arrows was too easy. They fled before our archers could even get warmed up, and were slaughtered before John had a chance to break a sweat.

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With no more real resistance we march on to their final sanctuary. Alexius is hungry, and goes hunting for what meager prey still exists.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A058.png


The silly Catholics have called a crusade on Cairo. Is this a good omen, or a bad omen?

Let the pointy-headed ones march into the desert and take on the Egyptians. It does not matter who wins, only that both sides end up dead shortly thereafter.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A059.png

The dead bird only has a bit of meat left on her bones. They keep paying the ransom, so I will keep hunting them down. They seek to flee to their capital, but I have that place surrounded. There's nowhere to run.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A060.png

Wake the Emperor from his nap, and inform him he's won another battle.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A061.png

What's this? The enemy has more men that we did not spot.

They outnumber the Emperor's forces!

Oh good God! What shall we do now, mighty Emperor?

Why are you smiling? This is a disaster, is it not?

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A062.png

Give grace to God, and his chosen commander on the field of battle in the mortal realm, the mighty Alexius.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A063.png

These many minor skirmishes have been training battles, meant to teach our soldiers how to command themselves in battle. One such man rose to the rank of captain after slaughtering fifty men personally, and now we will make him a general under the command of the Emperor!

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A064.png

The time has come. No more foolishness! The enemy have barely scratched us, and now 3,000 men march into the enemy stronghold with menacing eyes, and victorious shouts!

Our glorious Prince will make short work of these filthy scum. What's this? The enemy has decided to sally forth? The Sultan is bolder than a rooster, and just as dangerous! One swing of the sword ought to do it.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A065.png

After Prince John sent the enemy fleeing, they turned to face Emperor Alexius as well, only to be turned back once more.

We defeated them before even entering their gates! This is a day which will be long remembered, for we have SLAIN the enemy and now his lands are OURS!!!


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A066.png

1119 Anno Domini. Mosul.

'E's passed on! This Sultan is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't starved him out he might have committed sepuku! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-SULTAN!!

We never took Yerevan from the enemy, and it wasn't necessary. For while we were off destroying one desert rat, another one has gone and made a nest in our very home.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A067.png

1120 Anno Domini. Aleppo.

A sneak attack!

Our fort is surrounded by a vast army under the command of a bearded wretch named al-Mustanjid. They raise the banner of the Ayyubid Caliphate... it seems we have been slaughtering Muslims for so long that they've gone and gotten their tunics in a twist, and now they want revenge.

The enemy have won this battle, there is no stopping that, but WE ARE ROMANS! We will not die without killing well more of them than they could possibly hope to defeat today!

Fire until your arms fall off or are sliced off, and don't stop firing! Slaughter them all.... FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A068.png

The enemy have captured our fort, defended only by two units of peasant archers. But these men fought like lions... we did not defeat our foe, but we killed over one-fifth of their army with mere PEASANTS.

These men may have been from the lowest caste of Greek society, recruited from the farthest reaches of our empire, but they showed the Egyptians that if you wish to kill a Roman, you'd better be prepared to bleed.

We will not forget the 141 men who fell in battle, and the rest who were captured. They would do well to hand our brave soldiers back to us, because if they do not, we will forget for a moment that we are civilized Roman men, and our reprisal will go beyond mere brutality.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/Decorated%20images/Ashes-A069.png


End of Chapter Three.

[johnhughthom]

Just got around to reading this update, poor Turks, my favourite faction from the original Medieval. How does a crusade effect you as Byzantium? Will you have to allow thousands of unwashed Catholic barbarians to march through your country?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Just got around to reading this update, poor Turks, my favourite faction from the original Medieval. How does a crusade effect you as Byzantium? Will you have to allow thousands of unwashed Catholic barbarians to march through your country?

Ordinarily it wouldn't affect me unless I was the target, but as mentioned previously, my relations with my allies were already at "poor" due to Boleslaw riding through their lands without military access. This led to my current headaches.

[A Nerd]

Not to derail anything or provide spam, but, do you think the campaign will last long enough for you to have to deal with the Mongols and Timurids? Also, great AAR thus far, enjoying reading it greatly!

[Askthepizzaguy]

Not to derail anything or provide spam, but, do you think the campaign will last long enough for you to have to deal with the Mongols and Timurids? Also, great AAR thus far, enjoying reading it greatly!

As a matter of fact, it absolutely will.

That's rare for me because I usually play in such a blitzy way that I defeat everyone before the Mongols show up. However, this game is slowly paced, and the other thing about it is, I've determined that at some point my empire will lose a ton of its provinces due to the story/challenge I've designed for myself, and I'll shrink to a small empire again. To "win" I'll need to wipe out all the factions, and that includes the dreaded Mongols and Timurids, and I might have to do it with a small, compact, yet advanced empire.

I'm already far ahead of where my description of the game is so far, so I know what happens next for the next like 10 chapters. It does get interesting! :grin:

[A Nerd]

Hooray! I look forward to reading it!

[Askthepizzaguy]

give me some time. This one is on hold for a bit.

[A Nerd]

I'll try to be patient! ;)