Fall of the itallian Empire

[Monk]

In the Hills of Italy, a Great Empire arose and challenged those of The Germans, the French, The English, and the Byzantines all at once. Killing off the Pope and preventing him from ever regaining power. after 50 years much had been gained. the Mighty Germans had only 4 Provinces left, The French only held the British Ilse, The English were defeated, The Byzantine Empire (wich had conqueored all of Poland, Hungary, and Novgorod by this time) had lost All of Poland and half Of Hungary's Former lands.then the King of Italy died of a sickness. his son and heir took over, and this would prove to be the end of an Empire. soon the Itallians began loseing battles. Germans French and Byzantines all attacking, and pissed off. battle after battle was lost and Millitary Forces were being Battered.the Byzantines Drove a steak into my empire driving a force right thro the middle.and cutting off many of my troops from the Homelands.the traped soldiers were Killed within a few turns by the Byzantines...it soon became clear that the french and gremans would idley sit by and watch their old foe(being weakends from about 40 some turns of Conquest and Strengthening my Positions) be torn apart slowly bit by bit. They soon after invaded my Homelands and defeated my best. i retreated to Rome with only about 3250 guys left. they didnt invade Rome, They went after the Papal States and Took south of the Penesilar.my King ened up Traped in Rome. The Byzantines invaded and a battles followed.

Me defending= 3200
Byzantine Army= 3500

traped in the castle i positioned my toops.when the Byzantines attacked the Gates the Quickly forced them open. my infantry charged,my Fuedal Man-At-Arms and Foot Knights held them at the front gate all untill they charged with their Heavy Calvery, they Rode my men down like cattle grass. it took awhile but they drove through my forces. Behind the Secound wall was my king and the rest of the forces. (only a few hundred) this was it...no escape and our backs to the wall. so when that gate droped, i charged we did very well surprisingly.but it was only a matter of time before we were crushed under the Might of the Byzantine Heavy Calvery. *sigh* we were defeatedm that day. and my fation eliminated. luckily ive learned from that expierence and im a better commander for it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif i got my reveng the next time i played, killed off the Byzantines. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Asmodeus]

Good post http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I have never yet had to defend on a castle assault but I would love to I've done plenty of attacks on castles though cause i love using the seige weapons http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Anyway, unlucky on the result but better luck next time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[SmokWawelski]

Well, keep writing, maybe something will come out of that http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

And yes, defending the castle is a nice thing, and with the enhancements from the Vikings xpack, the siegecraft will be more interesting then ever. BTW, have you played the STRONGHOLD game ???

[Cooperman]

I love fighting the Byzantines all those expensive heavily armoured units theyuse get slaughtered by cheap militia sergeants with their bonus against armoured units. Use Italian light to hold the center and get those militia sergeants round the flanks to attack from the sides. Remember to protect the militia sergeants flanks though to boost their morale but used properly they can cut through byzantine armies in no time.

[Rob The Bastard]

Monk...I think you are the first to have written about a glorious defeat, to allow the game to play through to the bitter end...I salute your bravery. Most would have altered history and abandoned the game or re-fought battles and changed tactics to let the game move on in a more favourable manner.

Honour to the Fallen

[The Great Dane]

Hey Monk

Thanx for taking time writing your story - actually with writing abilities good books could be written about our conquests.

More people should write a story of their campaigns cause it´s so damn interesting when you can relate to the sucesses and defeats of fellow fighting men http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[rasoforos]

yes this is a really great post monk , its a real pleasure to read and it is such a nice surprise from the classical : i am the greatest strategist/warlord in this planet i wiped out everyone in 20 turns just by using peasants and all the girls love me posts we see all the time by others .
i will be expecting more post like that from you ( but try to win this time) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


P.S : i like your nickname ( rasoforos= monk )

[oblivious maximus]

Good post Monk. Some of my favorite battles also were those that i lost and knew my job now was to excercise vengence.

[Exile]

They say you learn more from defeat than from victory...I think it was some Frenchman who said that :P

I also salute you for playing it out to the bitter end. I am jealous I've never had a good castle battle where I am defending - even when I am getting my butt kicked, but then I usually give up before I'm reduced to my last prov http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif - after reading your post, I'll see it through to the last battle next time

[Monk]

heh i never realized that my defeat would be so cool. lol anyway i will continue to battle and will post som of my best, Look for more Battles From Monk, soon.

P.S: ill try and win this time. (well i did go 50 turns without a defeat) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Gregoshi]

Dang it Monk. You had my heart racing...that odd excitement you get when you know the outcome but don't know exactly how it will end.

[el_slapper]

I dunno wich frenchman said that, but it is very possibe that you learn more from defeat. After all, when you win, you're in position to think you have nothing more to learn...

One of my best battles was a defeat too, defending 2 hills, one made of sand and one covered with trees. The Almos had either to rush thru the woody hill & get ambushed, or turn around & get in my crossbowmen field of fire. It was maybe in october, so I've forgotten the details(including wich faction I was playing), but that day I've learned the usefulness of crossbowmen in long battles.

Before, I was an archer fan, because they release their punch quicker. But when you have several waves striking your defenses, having them heavily damaged by a crossbow volley then flanked by a peasant charge(yeah, I was using peasants at this time) is sometimes enough to make them flee..... Surprisingly, my peasants were never attacked, and those who where turning around the wood hill were directly exposed to flanking from my peasants. thoses did kill more than 1:1; and each one of my 2 crossbowmen units had killed more than 300... My woodsmen ambushing in the woods were deadly too, I've forgotten the stats(btw, woodsmen should have a bonus in the woods - they know the terrain&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.

My general finally get killed by the last wave, and losing after such an heroic defence was rather bitter. But their losses had been huge, and for them it was the beginning of the end...