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Hmph, I had believed that the previous statement had been rather clear that Swabia does not wish for further training of missile troops other than pavise crossbowmen and all remaining funds be spent on spearmen, heavy infantry and heavy cavalry instead.
Will you please make a note of this for future reference?
Hughes de Cervole :
Count Ruppel,
I understand perfectly the sacrifices that you have made for Swabia and the Reich but I think that such priorities in recruitment should be determined by our Duke or in their respective provinces.
Nevertheless, I am forced to admit that Swabia is indeed in sore need of the type of troops you specified.
I know the Chancellor will give us what we need to finish the French.
Except for the cheap soldiers intended to garrison Paris there were no crossbowmen of any kind trained in all of Swabia. If you wish also that no crossbowmen be retrained that can be accomodated, but I suspect your desires are specific enough that simply listing them on a seasonal basis would be simpler.
Is there some reason why you are reluctant to submit training requests in writing Count Ruppel?
Fritz von Kastilien
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
:egypt:
Very well, here you have it in writing:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramses II CP
No man bearing missile weapons is to be recruited in and for Swabia until further notice with exception of pavise crossbowmen.
All funds are to be spent training heavy cavalry, heavy spearmen, and heavy infantry.
Cities shall not train missile militia, but solely of spear militia.
Retraining of mounted missiles and pavise crossbowmen are condoned, mercenary missiles may be retrained as well. Any other type of missile unit should not be retrained.
Priority in retraining must be given to non missile type units first, and pavise crossbowmen second, with mounted crossbows a distant third.
OOC: It's going to be about 6 hours before I can get to the report, so I'm going ahead and posting the save now for anyone who wants to have a look:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372.zip
Short form: Dijon was exterminated, Hungarians are massing against Vienna (Max Zirn spawned at Nuremburg), and the Sicilians declined to siege Rome.
:egypt:
and Prague and Breslau were besieged :D
OOC: We knew that was going to happen last season, in fact I think I warned that if Tancred didn't sally at Madgeburg that Breslau was going to fall. :inquisitive:
:egypt:
sorry :( I just saw them get besieged before the next battle came up.
Chancellor's Report, 1372.
In summary 1370 was a great year for the Reich, as Count Ruppel, Sir Welf von Luxemburg, and Sir Hugo de Cervole smashed aside all French resistance to claim Anger, the target of the Crusade, Caen, and Paris in a single season. The battles were on a somewhat smaller scale, and French resistance remains stiff, but most of the north of France is under control.
Unfortunately matters are not so pleasant in the south, as the French have put the city of Dijon to the sword. Thousands are feared dead, and the entire garrison has been lost. The news was equally bad in the east, as Lord Becker reclaimed Prague only to find that the Poles had exterminated his city, and killed three of every four citizens.
In Bavaria, however, Lothar Steffen took Genoa from the God cursed French and Hermann Steffen departed Marsellies, hiring a ship to carry him and some of his cavalry east towards the Sicilian invasion force near Rome. In the north Prince Stenkil has advanced again, slightly, and may be in position to come and die on my walls very soon. Madgeburg saw off yet another Polish siege army, and Duke Dieter is now in position to potentially strike back by marching east.
Austria saw Duke Arnold marching north and Count von Hapsburg marching south to meet him. A substantial Hungarian invasion force is aimed at Vienna, however, and Max Zirn held his coming of age party in Nuremburg, meaning he is in a difficult position to attempt to reach the city. In Outremer things were quiet. Viceroy Matthias holds the Iron Bridge, while Count von Salzgitter has moved into Adana.
Diplomatic Report
Relations with the Papacy are perfect, and Pope Pierus is extremely pleased with our handling of the French Crusade. I believe he is quite hopeful that our armies will go on to wipe them from the face of Europe.
Unfortunately our English allies decided that without an explicit crusade underway they did not wish to be at war with the French, and signed a ceasefire. I have lodged a protest with the English over this matter, but I have decided not to downgrade relations with our sole ally.
A fourth princess in the Bavarian region has fallen afoul of a terrible accident and lost her life. Serena the Snob of Sicily, who was suspected of sending information to aid the Sicilian invasion plans, was the wench's name. In Hungary one of our spies infiltrated the city of Budapest and aided another agent of the Reich in destroying the city hall there. The city is in a panic and the garrison may struggle to keep order there.
The Office of the Exchequer
Approximately thirty five thousand florins are available for recruitment and construction in the Reich this season. Additionally, as per orders, an offer from the Explorer's Guild was declined at Prague. Army upkeep saw an uptick with the end of the crusade, but our ongoing economic recovery also ticked upward, and on the whole the two are still well in balance. There should be ample funds for the hiring of any mercenaries in any theatre but Outremer this season.
The Physician's Office
http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R8dm.../s800/0002.jpg
Captain Erhart's few remaining peasant archers were dismissed from service, as was Captain Erhart himself, at the close of last season. This left only a single plagued formation in all the Reich, the Albanians of my levy. Those men have served me well in many campaigns, but their inability to keep a clean camp and their small remaining numbers made them a greater liability than asset, so they too have been dismissed from service after being unable to shake the plague. This means that all of the cities and armies of the Reich are officially free of the plague for the first time in many years!
The War Office
In Outremer the Byzantines are once again stirring themselves to march forth against Adana, having placed an army near enough to reach the citadel next season. Andreas von Salzgitter is in place to resist any potential attack with a mighty army. Near Antioch Viceroy Matthias stands firm on the Iron Bridge, and appears unopposed.
As expected our opponents put multiple new armies in the field last season, most especially in Bavaria where the Sicilian invasion has the horrific potential to reverse all of Prinz Dieter's gains in the theatre. May God grant Hermann Steffen arrives in time to preserve Rome and hold back the armies of Sicily. With Genoa reclaimed, and congratulations to Count Erlach on the recovery of his city, Lothar Steffen can also perhaps turn south, as the French have mysteriously retreated from Marsellies. A modest rebel army has taken up position north of that city, but I do not believe them to be a true threat, only a trade blocking nuisance.
http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R8dm.../s800/0008.jpg
Two of Swabia's great generals, Sirs de Cervole and von Luxemburg, are besieged in Anger while Count Ruppel has free action from Caen and Count von Bohmen is holding his ground at Antwerp. Soon I will be asking one of you gentlemen to clean the French out of Bruges and secure Swabia's backfield so a more general southerly advance can be made.
http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R8dm.../s800/0006.jpg
In Franconia Prince Stenkil is at long last in position to come and dash his army to pieces against the mighty walls of Arhus. I look forward to his utter destruction with great pleasure. Prinz Dieter has arrived in the north, and just in time too, as the Russians are pressing forward with a large scale invasion aimed at the Prinz' County seat, Hamburg. Duke Dieter may at last be in position to strike eastward and seek battle with the Poles.
http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R8dm.../s800/0005.jpg
Austria sees Prague under siege with Lord Becker within the walls, and his ward in Franconia's name, Breslau, also in a difficult situation. It appears unlikely that Breslau can be saved this season, though it is much to be hoped the Poles will treat citizens who were so recently their own subject more gently than they did ours at Prague. Vienna is the object of a major Hungarian push, with no less than three large armies bearing down on that city. Max Zirn is making best speed from his commencement party at Nuremburg to that city. One more army has marched south, clearly aimed at Zagreb. Duke Arnold must choose whether to turn back south and hope to save Zagreb, or to march on north and fight to hold Vienna.
The offensive season is now open!
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-1.zip
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Chancellor,
I would be more than happy to cleanse my fair county of Bruges of French scum, but fear I am unable to do so with the strong, albeit militia army of Antwerpen alone.
Ludwig von Böhmen, Graf von Brugge
Count von Bohmen there are a few professional companies in the Rheims area who will be marching north to aid you, and there may be a company or two of mercenaries available for hire. With the absence of French training facilites in the north it may be profitable for you to lay siege with the intent of baiting the French into a sally and blooding their army. Even if you lose many militia soldiers it will be far easier for us to replace our men than for the French to replace theirs.
With three well equipped training facilities now in Swabian hands I expect no Swabian shall long lack for professional soldiers. Indeed, I forsee a possible expansion of Swabia's interest in Outremer once the heretical French are cleared away.
I am working through some regional recommendations now, but if anyone is in a hurry there's no reason to wait.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Regional Recommendations
Outremer:
Viceroy Matthias given the clear confusion amongst the Byzantines at Edessa I do not believe it is necessary any longer for you to personally hold the Iron Bridge. I would recommend that you march north and prepare for a push against Iconium. The Turks make it necessary that one of the generals in Outremer hold Adana, and thus Antioch as well, but the other appears free for offensive operations in my mind.
Count von Salzgitter you are holding Adana this season, but next season, depending on the Viceroy's determination, you too could move out and make ready for an offensive in the direction of Iconium.
Bavaria:
Hermann Steffen I advise you to enter the city of Rome and prepare her defenses as best you are able. If you have specific training requests I will meet them. If you would prefer to command a defense from a safer position outside the walls I can understand that caution.
Lother Steffen I believe Hermann Steffen will soon need the aid of your professional soldiers in the south. I believe you could detail a few of them under Count Erlach to march west and help hold Marsellies, but I recommend you take the remainder towards Florence.
Kaiser Peter your army is still being constructed, but I'm certain you wish to trail Lothar south.
Austria:
Lord Becker if you believe there is profit in a sally, then strike forth, otherwise wait patiently for the Polish assault and destroy it when it comes.
Max Zirn you are marching for Vienna at best speed. I am certain you wish to avenge the loss of your brother there.
Duke Arnold you must decide whether to march north to try to aid Vienna, or back south to protect Zagreb. I would advise you to clear your backfield first as there do not seem to be further reinforcements for that Hungarian attack. I can send some soldiers north from Ragusa to aid Zagreb, but not enough to allow for victory without an active commander. (Hapsburg and Jan Zirn don't actually have players as far as I can tell, and Max spawned at Nuremburg)
Franconia:
I will annihilate Prince Stenkil next season.
Prinz Dieter I believe you should make best speed for Hamburg, which seems very likely to fall under siege next season. If you have training requests make them known and I will attempt to meet them.
Duke Dieter I believe you should strike north east from Madgeburg at the army of Kazimierz Maziwiecki taking as many men from Madgeburg as you believe will be needed. I will continue to train at the citadel as long as it is not under siege. I do not see any way to save Breslau. Tancred von Tyrolia will remain in the citadel.
Swabia:
Hugo de Cervole and Welf von Luxemburg decide between each other if you wish to sally or await the French attack. There is a bombard nearby that I will be happy to move to the walls if you wish to await an attack.
Count Ruppel if you believe you can find victory against the captain led French garrison of Rennes that has marched into position nearby then hire the local mercenaries and attack. Otherwise leave enough men to hold Caen loyal and besiege Rennes.
Count von Bohmen my recommendation is that you sweep away that tiny French force facing you and besiege Bruges immediately. I will reinforce you with men from Rheims, but I still believe the French will sally. When they sally damage their army as badly as you can while attempting to preserve your force, and withdraw. Some foot knights will be in position to join you next season. If you would prefer to wait, I am comfortable with this, and it may then be possible to starve the French out.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
I will await the foot knights. The Lord preaches caution over rash action, and the French aren't going anywhere.
Arnold:
Lord Chancellor,
The pairings are Max Zirn (Northnovas) and Hapsburg heading south, while myself (aka me) and Jan Zirn heading east.
In the mean time clearing our interior is the priority. I will look at the field reports and get back to you tonight.
Duke Arnold
I understood this to be the case Duke Arnold, the only reason the movement are yet unable to reflect this is necessity. Hapsburg has camped with you momentarily for defense, while Max Zirn cannot march south without first coming by Vienna, where he may be of use in it's defense. Jan Zirn remained at Vienna because the city was under heavy threat. After your choices this season Hapsburg will move south at best speed, while Max Zirn must help deal with the situation around Vienna before joining him.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Taking save
Perfect Lord Chancellor.
Re-mobilising is not an instantaneous process.
Have you any word from Lord Becker regarding the mercenary witness? Lord Becker I'm sure would never let anything happen to someone so important to his trial.
I have had no communication with your subject on the matter Duke Arnold. I suspect he is awaiting orders on how to handle the situation. I am content to allow this little game to play out however it has been orchestrated, because in the end I am certain it will come to blood, and blood is what I know best.
If that Bohemian is dead, however, I will be claiming whatever of his corpse can be found for my inspection.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Save: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-2.zip
Ransom was refused.
Merged several units post-battle at Caen.
As a result of this, I like following training done there in this order (to prevent training bug):
1. Train Armored Sergeant
2. Retrain Imperial Knights
3. Retrain the triple gold 16 men mounted crossbowmen unit
Construction:
1. Jousting Lists
If you could move Edmund von Nassau back into range of Rennes, that would be perfect.
Who has command on the ground in Angers ?
Welf or Hugo ?
Haven't checked the save yet
Welf does.
But either of you can fight it.
Then I'll wait to hear from Econ first
Chancellor,
My aides indicate that there is a large band of brigands on the road north of Marseilles. While I have gutted more of these beasts than I care to count, in this case they may serve us better in life than in death. They block the route of the French towards Marseilles and they will have to be disposed of before the city can be threatened. As such, I believe the city has several years to prepare its own defenses.
I am loathe to detach a single man from my army to aid that city, when all of central Italy is threatened by the Sicilians. I will leave the logistics up to you, but my orders are to immediately move south towards the Sicilians with every last man that can be mustered.
Kaiser Peter is, of course, free to ride along. Perhaps he would consider vacating Bavaria's capital once Rome is secure from siege.
Lothar
Lord Chancellor,
Complete destruction. All are dead. I've headed north towards Vienna.
I'll leave it to the Chancellor to reinforce me with troops from Zagreb.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Save:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-3.zip
I have some professional soldiers from Ragusa near Zagreb who will be marching to meet you as reinforcements, and if Vienna can be held you will have cannons from that city as well.
Congratulations Duke Arnold!
:egypt:
Can someone enlighten me on how to get a draw in a sally?
Just make sure all of your troops are back inside the walls. :yes: When you start to exit the abttle you'll get a little message asking if your sure and saying your sally was successful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecil XIX
Is it affected by the presence or lack thereof of enemy siege machines?
No, although I have noticed that sometimes if there are reinforcements from outside the city it can cause you to have to wait for the timer to run out.
There can't be any enemies inside the walls, or any of your troops outside the walls. You can't have any of the gates open either, so if you get that bug you're stuck running out the timer.
Also you want to send your general out of the gates at least once to make sure he doesn't collect points towards faltering courage. Didn't notice this until I fought the Vienna sally as a test.
:egypt:
Taking the save, then.
Battle fought. I took down about a fifth of them, losing most of my artillerists in the process. I would have done better if I had known that destroyed rams and tower magically come back to life as soon the battle is over. That caused me to not only waste ammo firing at them, but I lost quite a few cavalry men trying to charge the last ram only to find out that you can order your men to attack a ram even when they don't know how to damage it.
IC: Chancellor, please train additional units at Nuremburg. I have already requested assisstance from the men you trained last season. If the Poles do not attack this season, they will during the next.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-4.zip
You still wish spearmen trained at all available facilities? This is easily done. I am certain when the Poles attack you will smash them.
Fritz von Kastilien
OOC: Yeah, destroying the siege equipment is purposeless. I remember trying that back in my first English campaign. Sorry, thought it was one of those common knowledge things. :embarassed:
:egypt:
I would still like to hear from Duke Dieter if he intends to strike out against the Polish near Stettin and Sirs von Luxemburg and de Cervole regarding their plan at Anger.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
New save:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-5.zip
I ordered a sally from the militia at Breslau for a draw, paid ransom on the men the Poles had captured.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
OOC: Incidentally, despite exiting the city twice Becker still got another point in the Coward trait. I don't know if it's a bug or not, but if it is I'd like it removed along with 'Grim Commander' before the close of this turn.
OOC: Okay, I looked up the traits commands and it shouldn't be a problem to take off Grim Commander as we know that was a bug, but I don't know how to just reduce faltering courage. I'll make a note to definitely pull GC, assuming I can get it to work, and see what I can do about FC.
:egypt:
I haven't heard from Econ regarding Angers...
If he hasn't come up before today by the end of afternoon (GMT+1), I'll try to sally against the French
If you get a bad trait, you get a bad trait, with the exception of RansomDread and RansomChivalry which can only work to some extent. There is no reason to use the console each time you pick up a bad trait blaming it on a "bug".
That said, you get points in Coward if you do not actively fight and kill with your general in battle. That is your general (not his unit) has to kill several times, if the outcome of the battle is a defeat or a draw. He doesn't if you win the battle.
I am a little busy with other things, so go for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tristan de Castelreng
Lancelot's army is a monster though, so it might be another case of just trying for a draw and using our firepower to whittle it down.
Given what's been said about the coward trait, do get Welf stuck in. (But hopefully not into something he can't get out of!)
Good hunting!
taking the save
didn't take on the Poles, too tough for me, this is the main reason I haven't been fighting many battles, the enemy armies are too numerous and strong for someone of my skills. I've never been very good at battles in TW games, I used to Ctrl a double right click in RTW. Instead I have moved Dieter into an ambush position.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-6.rar
Taking the save
Angers is still besieged
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-7.rar
The sally was successful but I didn't manage to lift the siege completely...
We lost a bit under 700 men to the French 876..
They've lost almost all their cavalry (21 left and almost all their missile units only 46 men left)
All that remain is the Bodyguard and the foot knights...
It seems Hugo got a soothsayer out of the fight...
Herrmann Steffen:
I am going to park myself and the cavalry in Rome before it is besieged and hold the city. Chancellor, I would appreciate it greatly if you gave me the assistance of the company of Mercenary Spearmen currently in the area.
Rome is not going to fall again.
Herrmann Steffen:
Chancellor,
It seems as if the Sicilians have held nothing back in their attempt to take Italy away from us. Their final two strongholds, Ajaccio and Caligari, are very lightly garrisoned.
While they are busy focusing their attention on Rome and maintaining long sieges, we could mount a lightning-quick attack on their island territories. They are very close, easily within striking distance, and definitely not defended enough.
If we can hold the Italian cities long enough for the strikes on their island to succeed, then the four armies will turn rebel and be much less of a threat to us. What say you, Chancellor? The Sicilians will pay for taking so big of a gamble.
You can quote me on saying now that once Rome and the rest of Italy is liberated, Nuremburg shall be returned to Bavaria.
I will consider this situation Hermann Steffen, and perhaps send a spy to scout their island holdings. If they are truly empty they will be attacked as quickly as an army can be mustered. For the time being I trust you are still content to defend Rome? Do you have specific troop requests to be trained there?
I believe the season is nearly at a close. If anyone has requests or final actions make them known soon. (I'll close things out in an hour or two I think)
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Herrmann Steffen:
Chancellor, as I mentioned before:
As for specific troop requests, any infantry would be good.Quote:
I am going to park myself and the cavalry in Rome before it is besieged and hold the city. Chancellor, I would appreciate it greatly if you gave me the assistance of the company of Mercenary Spearmen currently in the area.
Rome is not going to fall again.
Hughes de Cervole :
I would request training of some artillery at Angers (a Basilisk would be fine to replace the much depleted ribault and retraining of the mounted xbowmen)
I understood Anger to still be under siege, which means there cannot be any training there until the siege is lifted. I will attempt to train those men as soon as it is possible.
The season is now closed, gentlemen, and I will be proceeding with the requests that have been made.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
1374 Recruitment Report (End of Season Report)
This season was primarily one of consolidation across the Reich, as the former crusaders in Swabia attmepted to deal with the armies France raised to oppose their ongoing offensive. Welf von Luxemburg and Hugo de Cervole were besieged at the citadel of Anger, and despite orchestrating a damaging sally against the French they were unable to drive them off. Count Ruppel struck out of Caen to clear away the former garrison of Rennes, and then retired to that citadel to retrain his men.
In Austria Duke Arnold drove off a Hungarian push against Zagreb, and is still marching north for Vienna. Hermann Steffen rallied the men of Bavaria to hold Rome, while his father and Kaiser Peter began their march south. Lord Becker and his captain at Breslau both sallied against the Poles, and though both battles were inconclusive in the main they favored the Reich, though both cities remain under siege.
I made the determination that Jan Zirn could not hold Vienna by himself, so he marched to the bridge west of that city to await Max Zirn and hope to relieve the potential Hungarian siege. I also determined that Duke Dieter's ambush was doomed to fail and placed him back inside Madgeburg so that he could fight more effectively. As Nuremburg could train only Town militia to aid Prague, I sent the garrison troops from unthreatened Frankfurt east to aid Lord Becker. The armies of Outremer were reshuffled as well, to place the more veteran companies at the disposal of the Viceroy, who does not have the walls of Adana to aid him.
While scouting the Sicilian citadel of Ajaccio, which is not directly garrisoned but is still well held, our Bavarian fleet discovered a Russian fleet nearby. Recalling their dubious role in infecting Duke Arnold with the plague, I commanded our smaller but more modern fleet to engage the enemy. I am pleased to report a very successful battle, as the older Russian ships were all sent to the bottom.
http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R8oC.../s800/0000.jpg
http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R8oC.../s800/0002.jpg
Bernhard Steffen then attacked the tiny Hungarian army near Bologna, and drove them back west again easily. The Hungarians declined to pay ransom.
http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R8oC.../s800/0004.jpg
Funds were insufficient to allow for construction this season, although the people are so pleased by our victory in the crusade that taxes were raised in many cities across the Reich. Repairs were also not completed at Paris or Caesarea, as neither is sufficiently defended to make that effort worthwhile.
Swabia
Anger saw no training as it is under siege
Caen: trained 1 Sergeant Spearmen, retrained 1 Imperial Knights, 1 Mounted Crossbowmen as requested
Paris: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Halberd militia
Rheims: trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Halberd militia, and 1 Bombard
Antwerp: trained 2 Pike militia, 1 Arquebusiers
Metz: trained 1 Town militia
Staufen: trained 2 Feudal Knights, 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Bern saw no training
Bavaria
Marsellies saw no training
Genoa: trained 3 Spear militia
Milan saw no training
Bologna: retrained 2 Town militia, 1 Spear militia
Florence: trained 1 Town militia, 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, 1 Spy
Rome: trained 1 Spear militia, 2 Halberd militia
Naples: trained 3 Forlorn Hope
Nurmeburg: trained 3 Town militia
Palermo: trained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, retrained 1 Sergeant Spearmen
Innsbruck: trained 1 Teutonic Knights, retrained 1 Teutonic Knights, 1 Zweihanders
Austria
Venice saw no training
Ragusa: trained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Zagreb: trained 1 Town militia
Vienna: trained 1 Serpentine, 1 Teutonic Knights, 1 Forlorn Hope
Prague saw no training as it is under siege
Breslau, protectorate of Austria for Franconia, saw no training as it is under siege
Franconia
Frankfurt: trained 2 Teutonic Knights, 1 Spear militia
Madgeburg: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Hamburg: trained 2 Forlorn Hope, 1 Merchant Cavalry militia
Arhus: trained 2 Pike militia, 1 Arquebusiers
Outremer
Acre: trained 1 Teutonic Knights, 1 Feudal Knights, retrained 1 Teutonic Knights
Nicosia saw no training
Antioch: trained 1 Merchant, 1 Priest
Adana: trained 2 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Pavise Crossbowmen
Caesarea saw no training
Though there are a number of new and ongoing sieges, there are no defensive engagements that can be fought. Breslau falls to the Poles despite the sally by the garrison, and the Hungarians decline to lay siege at Vienna, with two of their armies marching back east and the third driving Jan Zirn to withdraw from the bridge near the city.
http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R8oC.../s800/0075.jpg
http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R8oC.../s800/0076.jpg
One of our spies near Gaza reported that the Egyptians had taken Jerusalem under siege, but Pope Pierus personally led a sally and drove them back from the walls.
Fritz von Kastilien
OOC: The Chancellor's Report will be up as soon as I can get to it, gotta eat dinner first. :beam:
Chancellor's Report, 1374
In summary, 1374 was a year of consolidation following our mighty deeds of the past decade. Count Ruppel destroyed the French who departed Rennes, while Welf von Luxemburg and Hugo de Cervole greatly diminished the army of Lancelot de Nevers, though his men still besiege Anger. Ludwig von Bohmen is preparing his soldiers for an attack against Bruges, reinforced by men from Staufen and other nearby cities. In the south the French held at Dijon and did not press deeper, though the southern cities of Swabia still remain under threat until a commander can be found to drive south to aid them.
To the east Prague remains under siege, though reinforcements are on the way to aid Lord Becker, while Breslau has once again fallen to the Poles. The Russians decline to lay siege to Hamburg, perhaps so that they could bring up a nobleman to command the attack. Prince Stenkil at long last has come to the walls of Arhus, where I will bury his army and hang his remains from the north gate.
Further south the Hungarians dithered about their attack on Vienna, perhaps once again affrighted by the arrival of Duke Arnold, though they slipped a smaller army in behind him. I have hope that Count von Hapsburg can gather sufficient forces to turn back that attack on his own and thus allow his Duke to proceed north and eventually east into Hungary.
In Bavaria Hermann Steffen took up leadership of the garrison of Rome, and the Sicilians once again declined to lay siege anywhere. Their captains appear fearful and disorganized, and though they are making a wreck of the countryside they have yet to threaten any city. Duke Steffen and Kaiser Peter are both marching south, to be reinforced as I can manage.
In Outremer the Byzantines made some slow motions towards Adana, but the road north is still clear and the men at Edessa are still evidently deadlocked over their plans. On the whole, matters are still quiet, and the conversion of the populace of Nicosia is proceeding apace.
Diplomatic Report
There is little to report on this front, as our enemies remain our enemies, and our allies remain our allies. Negotiations with the Russians regarding a ceasefire fell through again, and the English declined to exchange military access or come back into the war against the French.
Our spy has caught his first sight of the second Mongol invasion. I have thus far ordered him to keep his distance, and I am open to any suggestions about how best to approach this fresh enemy. Near Zagreb one of our experienced agents was lost attempting an action against a Hungarian noble, while a second spy has made his way into the city of Rennes. These actions have earned our great Kaiser something of a reputation, or so rumor from less well led nations has it.
http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R8oQ.../s800/0082.jpg
http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R8oQ.../s800/0083.jpg
The Office of the Exchequer
Army upkeep jumped substantially this season, and income fell slightly due to the large number of cities under siege or with trade routes cut. As such, there are only twenty seven thousand florins available to be spent, but the armies of the Reich are well equipped and strong. A Teuonic Knight's Chapter House was accepted at the city of Prague despite the siege, per Lord Becker's request. I have extended my personal thanks to the Teutons for all their recent aid and expansion in our cities, and I would encourage all nobles of the Reich to do the same.
http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R8oQ.../s800/0081.jpg
The Physician's Office
This department is closed and funding is cut off until such time as there should be a new plague. Praise God, the Reich is free of plague! (I think I figured the mechanism out here, if the captain of a sick stack comes from a company that is too small to lose men to the plague then those men can't get well, even when the rest of the stack does. Having a general in command seems to fix this, I think.)
The War Office
I believe the armies of Outremer are positioned to prepare for an offensive. God willing those fools at Edessa will never sort out their issues, and thus one man commanding the passes at Adana could defend all of our southerly holdings. The Egyptian attack against Jerusalem is worrying, but not of great concern as the Pope has two large armies in the region and Egypt is still fighting the Turks. If Viceroy Matthias could move to hold Adana and Andreas von Salzgitter could head north to Caesarea then the Byzantines will face a difficult situation indeed.
The situation in Bavaria reveals the shocking incompetence of Sicilian leadership, as they clearly feared to send any of their precious few remaining nobles into our lands and their captains act as though they have no plan at all. When the Duke and the Kaiser arrive I expect they and Hermann Steffen will be able to go on the offensive easily. Marsellies's land trade is still blocked by rebels, but they present little threat.
Anger is still under siege in Swabia with two of her finest generals trapped within, but Count Ruppel now has free action from Caen and could aid in the lifting of the siege if necessary. A small French army has sieged the fort north of Paris, but this is of little consequence. I believe Count von Bohmen will be able to proceed with the siege of Bruges this season where the French are cut off and unable to get reinforcements. To the south it is much to be hoped that one of Swabia's generals will volunteer to strike out to defend the rest of the Duchy.
In Franconia Prince Stenkil will soon meet his doom, and I expect the Russians will quit shuffling around and lay siege to Hamburg soon, requiring Prinz Dieter to choose whether to conduct the defense from within the walls or without. I am sure Madgeburg will be held even if Duke Dieter does not wish to sally.
In Austria Duke Arnold must again decide whether to go north or south, while Max Zirn must decide if he will attempt to force the Hungarians to cross the bridge near Vienna under fire, or let them advance as they will. Hopefully Lord Becker has sufficient men now to drive off the Poles from Prague and start to take advantage of the Teutons now there.
The offensive season will open as soon as I free myself from Arhus, in the mean time here is the situation:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1374-1.zip
Fritz von Kastilien
OOC: Taking the save for Arhus!
Prince Stenkil is dead, of course, and I have purchased some mercenary ships and set sail for Stockholm. The offensive season is open, regional recommendations will be up soon.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1374-2.zip
Fritz von Kastilien
OOC: Arhus has cannon towers! :laugh4: I had no clue. Here I am buying up guns and pikes to take on that heavy cavalry, and all I really needed to do was sit at the walls. That would've been too cheap though, so I sent all my men outside and managed to keep the towers from killing all of the Danes. Still, it wasn't much of a fight. If you sell cannon towers do they drop to ballistas, or all the way to the regular towers?
:egypt:
Regional Recommendations
Outremer:
Viceroy Matthias I believe if we construct a fort to cap the pass to Antioch and place your men at Adana we can hold back the latest Byzantine push, and then make one of our own. You would still be in range of the Iron bridge if our eastern spy should report a Byzantine or Turkish advance from that direction, but it appears to me that everything is directed at Adana at the moment.
Count von Salzgitter I would like you to take your men to Caesarea and defend from there. You won't be much closer to Iconium, but you will give the Byzantines some well deserved fear of entering the passes around Adana by threatening their rear. If you decide this is workable I will repair the walls there. Your cannon will have to be left at Adana, unfortunately, but I believe the rest of your men can make the march.
Bavaria:
Lothar Steffen I believe your men can reach the nearest Sicilian force outside Rome and call on Hermann Steffen as reinforcements (Or vice versa). Decide if the time is ripe for an assault, or if you would prefer to wait until the grand bombard and fresh Sergeant Spearmen can join you.
Kaiser Peter you're following Lothar, while Count Erlach remained at Genoa so we have someone on the ground in the north.
Austria:
Lord Becker I believe you have the resources for a successful sally now, so drive off the Poles. I will train whatever soldiers you wish at Prague, but for now I don't believe offensive actions will be possible for you.
Max Zirn if I were in your position I would attack the Hungarians and use your artillery to force them to cross the bridge against you under heavy fire. Call up the men from Vienna to aid you. I cannot imagine why Vienna is not currently under siege, but expect it to be so next season, so if you'd prefer you are welcome to try to reach the walls some other way. I suspect if you don't attack them, however, that the Hungarians will come against you during the defensive season.
Duke Arnold the Hungarians to your south are a small but very experienced army. You can, at your discretion, take them on and then march a little further north, or you can leave Hapsburg to try his hand against them with what reinforcements I can bring to him while you march on north to clear the area around Vienna and prepare for your offensive.
Franconia:
Relieve the siege of Madgeburg Duke Dieter, or await the assault.
Prinz Dieter decide if you wish to be within the walls of Hamburg or in the field. I have already sent some men south from Arhus and you are welcome to draw on the garrison there further if you'd like to attempt an offensive.
I am sailing east for Stockholm to put an end to the Danes once and for all.
Swabia:
Hugo de Cervole and Welf von Luxemburg I advise you to coordinate your actions with Count Ruppel to lift the siege of Anger. Amongst the three of you then decide who will siege Rennes, who will, with the majority of the forces available, march to attack the army southwest of Paris, and who will ride hard for the Dijon region to pick up fresh men from Staufen and retake that city.
Count von Bohmen lay siege to Bruges organizing your forces however you like. All of the men at Rheims, Antwerp, and in between are at your disposal. The French there cannot be reinforced easily, so bleed them if they sally and I will find you soldiers as needed to continue your siege.
General situation:
I would like to hear input from every concerned noble regarding this latest Mongol invasion. The Viceroy is not a young man, and it may soon be necessary to send reinforcements to Outremer if these Timurids are to be resisted.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
My Lord Chancellor,
May be I am forgetting something, but I do not believe the Diet authorised the capture of Rennes. If so, I would request that Count Ruppel relieve Angers and then Swabia will move onto a more defensive footing, consulting its many recent gains.
Your humble servant
Welf von Luxemburg
Hughes de Cervole :
My Lords,
It is a shame that legislation forbids us from seizing Rennes this season.
However, it is my opinion that Welf and I are enough to deal with the remaining force of Lancelot de Bordeaux.
That should allow Count Ruppel to bring relief to either Paris or help to Von Bohmen in claiming Bruges.
The French have killed so many of our men and slaughtered countless of our cities, burning, raping and pillaging wherever they go. And yet we feel obliged to cease our attacks against them while they are excommunicated from our Mother Church because of a mere formality? We should strike now while their defenses are down rather than wait until the next diet and give them time to recover. It is time to remove this eyesore from His world!
Lord Chancellor,
I've assessed the situation. I can't be £$%^£ed chasing these bastards around.
The Zirn's have more than enough cannon to pound the crap out of the two armies near Vienna at their leisure.
Additionally even though Hapsburg is on reserve duty he can block the army of Humer just south of me. At the very least he can hold the bridge and prevent Zagreb from being besieged once more.
I request you send me directly to Budapest and I will take it next season. Then at least they will be drawn to me like moths to a flame, rather than playing hide and seek in the forests.
My only request is that soon, my aging catapult crews are replaced by some of these new Serpentine cannon. With three of those I can push on Bran and seriously damage the Hungarian's at last.
OOC: I have a number of DFK in and around the Hungarian forces that have the peasant icon. Their stats are DFK's but something is wrong. The single unit in Budapest is an example.
OOC: That should only happen if someone fighting battles during the AI turn or the chancellor had a modified unit and/or buildings file that is not from KOTRfix. It can also occur if a move_character cheat is used then (especially on sieged settlements). There are of course also very rare occurences where this happens randomly. Those affected units should be disbanded (and possibly recreated) or banished to some place where they will not engage in battle to prevent any further problems from occuring.
OOC: Ok good to know FH. There is nothing for me to do I assume.
IC:
£$^$£ it!! I just killed the bastard anyway and have moved on Budapest as far as I can go. There will be no formal battle report. It was short and brutal so nothing was out of the ordinary there.
Hapsburg can now hold and wait for Max Zirn to arrive after he and his brother clear Vienna. Jan will have to lead the actions until such time as Max is knighted. His brother must make sure he is a knight before sending south to meet up with Hapsburg.
save:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1374-3.zip
It goes down to regular towers. Still better than in MTW where you would lose the entire fort/castle structure with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramses II CP
Men of Swabia to address the situation at Rennes, I have been looking for a bargaining chip with the English anyway. I am fully comfortable with you performing a raid and me exchanging that province to the English for military access, as the men of Outremer have requested. If there is a legal objection to this matter then I can only ask that, rather than conquer it, we place it under a long term siege and leave the matter to be resolved by the next Chancellor.
Well done Duke Arnold, your plan sounds excellent and as soon as the Vienna region is clear I will send cannon to you at best speed. They truly are marvelous contrivances, as I've discovered with the simply bombards from Arhus, and I trust you will be pleased. You know I'm quite pleased to finally be back on the offensive in Austria, and if I can reach Stockholm soon, in Franconia too.
Fritz von Kastilien
OOC: I tried to use the console to remove the Grim Commander trait from Becker, but I couldn't make it work. I was reading more around and I think it's because he's in a city. However, if that caused this bug I'm sorry. I can also go through the Kotrfix reinstall again as well, but I'm starting to wonder if Broken Crescent isn't somehow incompatible with kf. Didn't try to move any characters.
I played both turns of my vanilla 1.3 hotseat campaigns and noticed no oddities. However, now when I load the KotR save now I see the generic Broken Crescent guy-with-dagger icon on DCKs and DFKs in Hungary. It's very possible that this was also true last season and I didn't notice it, but I'm sure it wasn't true of Arnold's troops.
I don't see that icon on our own or any other country's men.
:egypt:
IC:
Indeed Lord Chancellor. I am looking forward to retaking Budapest next season or the one after.
OOC: It's not any Austrian troops but the Hungarian units in the area. There are a few.
OOC: I think I might've also trained sergeant spearmen instead of armoured sergeants in a few places, and typed it wrong in the Rec report. :embarassed: I lined up the training in the middle of making dinner for my kidlet trying to get it done quickly, and clearly that was a mistake. I apologize to anyone who got the weaker units. :wall:
:egypt:
OOC: Actually I trained the right units, just called them the wrong thing. I think I've been doing that for awhile. :laugh4:
:egypt:
I would recommend you having a separate mod folder if you play KOTR that only has the fix files in it rather than a mixture of fix and BC, as anyone without the same configuration as you may well run into incompatibility issues.
[edit]
Uploaded an incomplete KOTR mod folder onto the uploader:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...x13MFVlite.zip
Two things to note before using it:
1. It does not have the imperial_campaign folder because that would inflate the size of the archive by 8.5 MB. Just copy/paste your own (vanilla) imperial_campaign folder into the campaign folder.
2. The KOTR.cfg is a copy of my own medieval2.preference.cfg. It might not work with your rig. I recommend you making a copy of your own preference file and renaming it KOTR.cfg (first deleting the existing KOTR.cfg). After doing so, add the following to the top:
You can then run M2TW with KOTRfix only using the KOTR.bat file (make sure its in your medieval2 directory. To run it via desktop, create a shortcut to the bat file and place it on your desktop, no further modification needed)Code:[features]
mod=KOTR
Before I forget: The KOTR folder goes into your medieval2 directory, not in your data folder. When you download save games for KOTR, they go into the KOTR\saves folder.
Broken Crescent does have it's own folder, unless you mean I should have two MTW2 installs. Can you be more specific? I'll set it up however recommended.
:egypt:
Same here so I have some interest in the matter
If BC has its own folder, but if you load a KOTR save and see BC style units, then the particular data folder that is being loaded for KOTR saves contains BC files.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramses II CP
Two questions:
1. When you load a KOTR save, what do you use to run M2TW? A the suggested shortcut as per KOTRfix readme or via a modfolder?
2. If the former, you have files in your data folder other than the ones from KOTRfix, those need to go. If the latter, you may have a mixture of several different mod files. Best would be if you post a screenshot of the data folder that is loaded when you run M2TW to play KOTR.
I use the shortcut per the kotrfix readme. I can post a screenshot of the data folder later today. I cleaned all that stuff out and reinstalled kotrfix when we had that previous problem with unit training, but since then I installed one of the BC 'fixes' to make siege equipment more readily available to maintain compatibility with the BC hotseat guys.
I don't know for sure that this little guy is specific to BC, so I'll post a screenshot of him too. It is not the western peasant graphic that AG described though, and I've seen it in BC as a placeholder.
:egypt:
I should be able to play the save tomorrow around noon (GMT+1) unless Econ wants to fight the sally at Angers or FH wants to fight it from outside the walls
I had this problem a while back because of Stainless Steel, the solution was to make KotR fix into its own mod and in a separate folder.
I might help in attacking from the outside.
Hmmm I just had a look at the save and the problem is not from your end Ramses, and your files are just fine.
What seems to be the problem is that econ messed up giving troops to the Hungarians. He seems to have given them "Dismounted Chivalric Knights" rather than "Dismounted E Chivalric Knights" as the eastern catholic factions have this extra letter in the unit variables.
It shouldn't be game breaking from what I can see (he made the same mistake in Outremer during the cataclysm with Turcopoles).
Angers has been relieved and Rennes is now held by Imperial troops my lords.
Our spies have done good work in opening the gates while the craven Lancelot de Bordeaux fled to the supposed safety of the city walls.
Given that the city was inhabited purely by Imperial turncoats and French heathens, the place has been ransacked to compensate for the loss of Imperial lives, to pay for the reparations of several of our cities and most importantly, to allow construction in Swabia. About 23,000 florins have entered our treasury this way and a further 6,000 from the destruction of a vile Coaching House and a Master Thieves Guild. The ransom of the French besieging Angers netted another 2,400 florins.
The city is ready to be handed to whomever the chancellor wishes, now that it has been purified.
That said, I wish that with the newly acquired funds, all ordered construction in Swabia and the Imperial province of Angers be performed and several of our city structures be repaired. Garrisons and armies are to be bolstered.
If the chancellor objects to my wishes, I would like to know before the end of the offensive season.
Save: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1374-4.zip
Congratulations gentlemen, now you are making real progress, this rapid expansion surpasses anything the Reich has done before. Swabia truly owns some of the greatest Generals of the World.
OOC: I'm glad it wasn't me. :sweatdrop: I hate not knowing what I'm doing. :laugh4:
IC: Spectacular news Count Ruppel! I am very pleased with the capture of Rennes, and as requested I will spend those captured florins in the Duchy of Swabia. I would be grateful if you could update your requests as far as construction, as I believe many of the previous requests have been met or are no longer possible, as at Dijon.
Once Bruges is under siege I believe I will be fair in declaring Swabia a success and under control, and next season I will shift my focus to another region. With Duke Arnold's impending offensive and the trouble around Vienna and Prague Austria makes a strong case for being next on the list.
I am well aware there are many difficult battles still remaining in Swabia and the great generals of the Duchy will not lack for funds, I assure you, but France has essentially been carved in twain and their economic bases have mostly been taken.
Has there been any discussion of who will take on what task among the Swabians? My instinct is to give Count Ruppel the majority of the available forces and eventually send him east, towards that army near Paris, while Hugo de Cervole rides south for Bordeaux, with the assistance of his spy ally, and Welf von Luxemburg takes some cavalry and rides hard to to collect reinforcements from Staufen and reclaim Dijon.
The turn around in Swabia has been nothing short of remarkable gentlemen, and you are all to be congratulated.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Oops, sorry about that. What I think will happen is that the knights will be annoyingly invisible on the battlefield. Hungarian ninja knights, I guess. I can create a fix for it if someone is going to do battle with them.Quote:
Originally Posted by FactionHeir
Just how invincible are you talking Econ? :inquisitive:
There are a few of them in the various stacks in the Austrian front.