12th Century Glory's starting.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...cgtitleew3.jpg

http://z14.invisionfree.com/12th_Century_Glory

12th Century Glory is going to start this Sunday, so if you want to play from the start then you'd better hurry. You can join the game after it's started, but you'll miss out on the fun and excitement of the opening few years.

To give you a taste from Version 1.0(now finished), here is the Battle of Emden fought between Flanders(Archduke) and Emden(moderator-controlled).
MAP:

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/4677/emdenzt9.png

1) The city has no walls, it has under 6,000 people at the time (600 are enrolled in the militia) (I took the modern day and divided by 10) and is a coastal city.
2) A naval attack to take the harbours is risky but possible, the Flemish fleet will suffer severe casualties if sternly resisted, and any landing attempts could prove indecisive.
3) The three docks (pink circles) are critical to the city's income, as well as a strategic point: the side which controls these will have a substantial morale advantage.
4) The streets (grey) are relatively free, the people of Emden will attempt to avoid the struggle where possible - staying in the housing blocks (brown rectangles), but don't put it past them to throw pottery and other things at the invading troops.
5) The Flemish deploy in the Flemish area (bue hollow bit). The Emden place their men wherever it is reasonable - i.e. practically anywhere, but not too close to the Flemish and not in the Flemish zone.

Flemish Forces -

The Grand Army
General:
Count Robert II
Charles the Good
William of Ghent

Huishoudelijk Ridder x1 (100)
French Knights x1 (120)
Flemish Knights x1 (120)
Flemish Cavalry x4 (120, 120, 120, 120)
Flemish Men-at-arms x2 (150, 150)
Buhrgers x2 (250, 250)
Flemish Militiamen x2 (300, 300)
Flemish Spearmen x2 (300, 300)
Flemish Pikemen x3 (250, 250, 250)
Crossbowmen x4 (300, 300, 300, 300)
Flemish Arbalesters x1 (250)

Total: 5020

Emden Forces - total 1100 men

500 Soldiers, 600 Militia

2 x Professional Crossbowmen (200)
Type: Crossbowmen
Skill: 5
Equipment Quality: 5
Equipment: Crossbow, pavise, leather armour, shortsword
Number: 100

2 x Elite Swordsmen (100)
Type: Heavy Infantry
Skill: 7
Equipment Quality: 7
Equipment: Swords, chainmail, round shields, helmets
Number: 50

2 x German Spearmen (200)
Type: Heavy Spearmen
Skill: 6
EQ: 4
Equipment: Spears, shortswords, leather armour, large shields
Number: 100

2 x Militia Archers (200)
Type: Archers
Skill: 3
EQ: 2
Equipment: bows
Number: 100

4 x Militia Spearmen (400)
Type: Spearmen
Skill: 2
EQ: 2
Equipment: Spears
Number: 100

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Battle of Emden

Here's the plan
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/...nbattlejh0.gif

The Flemish crossbowmen begin the battle by firing on the German spearmen, their poor training limits their effect, the Emden militia bowmen fire back, but to an equally small effect. The Flemish Burghers, spearmen and men-at-arms go forwards to combat the Germans. The burghers and spearmen suffer a fair few casualties from bow-fire as they approach, though the burghers are afforded some protection by their shields.

As the combat begins, it is clear that the Germans are the most able corps there, their efficient thrusts are enough to repel the attacking spearmen and burghers; they march backwards, slowly pull back, and the men-at-arms, lacking shields are also unable to make progress. The Flemish spearmen and Burghers attack again, but are once more repelled, the Flemish Men-at-arms are ill-prepared for the job of facing these disciplined spearmen, but give a fair account of themselves anyway. They too fall back, having suffered moderate casualties.

The combat subsides and the slow retreat is stopped, the militia bowmen rain arrows on the men-at-arms and other Flemish troops. The northern pikemen and militiamen move south, and so the German spearmen and archers fall back to cover the eastern dock, forming themselves in a defensive semi-circle.

With their attempts on the eastern dock being repelled, the mixture of forces now in the central street move down under withering hails of professional crossbow fire; they press on, regardless of heavy casualties, hurled insults, dung and pottery descend from the larger houses. As the Flemish approach, the crossbowmen fall back behind their lines, and the militia archers begin firing.

Flemish cavalry move to the far right and takes the dock there with surprising little resistance, it is slow progress, because they are forced to sweep straw caltrops from the road. The battle in the central street begins in earnest, and the filthy, tired and wounded Flemish forces attack the levy spearmen. The spearmen and burghers, although they would normally be able to stand against the simple levies, are depleted by bowfire and disheartened, they flee quickly. The Flemish pikemen approach next, and they drive back the levy spearmen, who break under the pressure and flee in all directions.

The professional crossbowmen wait, with grim expressions, arranged in two ranks, the first kneeling and the second standing. They launch their bolts, causing a great number of losses to the Flemish. The Flemish pikemen push on, and the crossbowmen draw swords, ducking behind their pavises, to make it nigh impossible for the pikemen to hit them. The pikemen, in turn, simply stab at the shields, knowing that eventually they will break through. The barrage of hurled material dies down, perhaps the peasants lack any more projectiles. The militia archers holding the central dock fire over the crouching crossbowmen, their low-quality prevents the same casualties as the crossbowmen had caused. The cavalry from the eastern side charged the professional swordsmen and push them back. The swordsmen and crossbowmen find themselves in a circle of death, arrows raining down upon the Flemish in the centre, they charge desperately in all directions. The Emden guards are slaughtered.

Only the Germans and militia archers remain to guard stubbornly the eastern dock. After all Flemish attempts to break them with cavalry or the remaining infantry fail, the hundred remaining Germans send a single man out with a white flag. He is injured already, and speaks in harsh tones to the Flemish troops: ‘The militia will be unharmed and discharged. The townsfolk will be left alive and have nothing stolen from them, free to practise Paschaline faiths. We will be allowed to immediately leave for Scotland in three of our ships, with our weapons and those of our slain brethren. Those are our terms.’

William moves immediately to refute their arrogance and destroy them with the crossbow, but Robert replies ‘Wait,… (Archduke fill in, ‘that is not horrible enough, cut this man’s tongue out, chop off his ears and his nose, cut off his hands and give him back to the others’ or something else depending on whether you will accept their surrender.

Robert stays William, ordering his men to stand down from any further attacks. With a nod and a hard look to the Emden spokesmen he acknowledges what he has said.

“I have already given orders that my forces not harm the townsfolk. I had also decided should I carry the day that the militia be allowed to return home, so this they are free to do. As to their faith, I am of the opinion that this shall all be sorted out in the end but greater men then I, so they are free to worship as they will.”

Robert gives a slight smile, looking over the remainder of the German spearmen before he continues.

“As to your request to leave, I will grant it to you, but first I would make you an offer. As I have said I hold less to a mans faith than I do his deeds, though that does not mean my faith is poor. I would offer you a place in my service, asking that you not go to Scotland but remain here. I will see to the cost of outfitting your band. What is your answer?”

Whether they accept to join me or not Robert will have them watched and escorted to their ships and allow them free passage.

A number of the band go out, after their emissary returns with the reply, but do not move to respond, many of them go out into the city to check on families and friends. A small number go, including their leader, an imposing Saxon with a wound in one shoulder, hope and fear in their eyes, to see the carnage in the central dock. The Saxon leader returns to Robert and the other two Flemish nobles with tears in his eyes. He puts down a pair of longswords and a crossbow, 'My son, and my two brothers. I apologise for the delay.'

Charles began 'I'm so...' The Saxon cut him off. 'Don't be, I've robbed at least twenty men of brothers today.'

The Saxon turned to Robert, 'I am Karl Adler, sole surviving leader of this company.
'I am sorry, my lord, but we cannot join you. It is chivalrous of you to offer, and so I will tell the town of your good deeds (decreases unrest). The band is all strongly Paschaline, and they would rather serve a Paschaline King.' He lowered his voice to a whisper, 'also, being the only heavy, disciplined infantry unit in Scotland is a better job prospect, I can certainly gain prestige there.'

'That said, my lord, we must rest here for a month or so to heal our wounds and bury our friends before we set out, in that time I will do you the service of preparing an army. My proposal can reach the ears of the king of Scotland, and should he refuse, we will join you.'

The Flemish count up their dead, a horrendous number of their army has fallen:

Of the Spearmen, 300 fell, of the Burghers, 250 fell, of the Pikemen, 500 fell, of the Feudal cavalry, 120 fell, of the crossbowmen, a total of 300 fell, of the Militia, 300 fell. Of the men at arms, 150 fell.

Total loss: 1920 men

The remaining Flemish pikemen have gained valuable experience in city fighting, dealing with crossbowfire, and fighting in desperate situations, and thus are now at +1 skill. The men at arms are now used to fighting spearmen, and gain +1 skill (these bonuses are only for those who fought here, not new units or other units.)

One of the Flemish cavalry units acquires a reputation for cowardice after it directly refused to attack the German spearmen (-1 skill).

Much of the rest of the army will need 2-4 months recuperation and healing before it can be used effectively.

The German spearmen are now 100 men strong, they are treated as equipment 7 (pick of equipment), armed with excellent spears, swords and large shields. Their skill has increased by 2 to account for their new reputation.

In the coming days Count Robert holds a ceremony to proclaim himself Count of the new County of Friesland. Though not welcomed wholeheartedly, the ceremony was not spoiled in anyway.

Also Robert has begun discussions with Karl Adler about the Saxons proposal of providing an army for the Count.

Ignoramus.