The Glorious Masters of Italy PBEM

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mysterium @ Feb. 14 2004,01:11)]Woah, let's not be hasty now. Take your time. Junior wants as much land as he can get . . . I'll occupy myself http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif

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Just remember the rules, Wars of agression are under tight restrictions...

Still a Crusade or two won't hurt.

Oh and a reminder, in the first decade of 1200 I want you to sack Constantinople with a Crusade... Think of it as a GA Goal they missed http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../ht_knight.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg..._surrender.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/ht_duel.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../ht_charge.gif

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ Feb. 14 2004,15:53)]

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mysterium @ Feb. 14 2004,01:11)]Woah, let's not be hasty now. Take your time. Junior wants as much land as he can get . . . I'll occupy myself http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif

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Just remember the rules, Wars of agression are under tight restrictions...

Still a Crusade or two won't hurt.

Oh and a reminder, in the first decade of 1200 I want you to sack Constantinople with a Crusade... Think of it as a GA Goal they missed http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../ht_knight.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg..._surrender.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/ht_duel.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../ht_charge.gif

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As i said, it became personal. When i came to the throne the French and sicilians thought it was ok to launch a double fronted attack upon us, and The French Nearly Sacked Venice I managed to fight back and reclaim our lost provinces, i drove the Sicilians from the Italian penesilar and put the french back in their place, but constant raiding on our outposts had to be put to an end.

After 5 years of trying to get peace ( and beleive me these guys were stuborn) plus a few tmes trying to reload to see if i could get them to sign a treaty, i decided enough was enough and attacked the sicilian homeland, the pope didn't seem to mind.

Few years later the French ride across the border with two thousand men, i manage to repulse their attack but i took thousands of casualties. Thats when i had had enough. i launched three crusades against the French and claimed Burgundy, Aquatine, and Anjour. Then the French had a civil war so i thought might as well mop up the heretic rebels and so i did. The French have been banished to the Northern side of the continent and to the British Isle. I'm sorry if i broke the rules in any way, but any factions who try to destroy our capitol has to pay.

btw: i've uploaded the game, my doge ruled for thirty years. died in 1189, it is now 1190.

The French have not signed a peace treaty or cease-fire (i tried often as my monarch was about to die). But they have refound their faith and have an active crusade in progress so i don't think there will be any other hostilities.

To much to add...

And i didn't limit my conquests against rebels as the byzantines have taken all of the steppes and will pull ahead of us in GA points if care is not taken. We only lead by 5

So I see...

Ok guys here's a breakdown of the Political situation.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/italy/1190map.jpg

Our GA goals are quite interesting, we now have to work on getting more Trade income than anyone else... Should be interesting going on that one (war means no trade with a faction, so Peace is good for business I guess)

Crete is now a homeland province, so by rights we should be able to take that from Byzantium (maybe to coincide with that raid on Constantinople).

Anyway here they are...

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/italy/1190ga.jpg

And finally here is a picture of the new Doge who is to lead us into the next century...

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/italy/1190doge.jpg

Goodluck Mysterium

Got it. File downloaded, and I just took a stroll through my new kingdom. Oh, my apologies, Monk, I didn't want to seem like I was rushing you to finish up or anything. Fathers and monarchs die in their own good time, after all.

I was worried that I'd be the one to take us to Constantinople. It should be interesting trying to build the greatest trade income while having to go to war with the other great naval power in the Mediterranean. Am I worried? No, why would I be worried? Maybe I'm a little . . . http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-stunned.gif . . . or something . . .

Here goes something.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/gc-help.gif

Can someone tell me how to get screenshot captures? I am a noob, yes, but I'd like to get some photographic evidence of the fall of Constantinople.

Thanks. The trap is set, and I think it might work. Italy will not be popular, however, when I'm through.

I think you press F2 and it saves a TGA format file ina folder...

However I use a third party program from my old Shogun days called GrabClipSave, it creates a .JPG file in a folder whenever the Print Screen button is hit.

Yep, F2 works fine.

You'll need some sort of image editing tool to open the tga files though so if you don't have anything like paintshop pro or whatever you'll probably be best off using alt+print screen and pasting the screenshots into paint instead.

=================

I've been playing an Italian GA game myself, and was wondering if anyone knows what the requirement for the noble mercantilism GA goal is? I had the highest income and since it was almost entirely trade-based I assume the highest trade income as well, but I still didn't get the points for it.

It is all about highest Trade income compared to the other factions.

We may have the highest income globally, but it doesn't count for much if a large part of it is farmland-based. Basically hike up the taxes, send your fleet everywhere on the map, and make sure no enemy shipping is around.

Making peace with a lot of factions is also probably a good idea, because you cannot trade with hostiles.

Oh Glorious Line of Ancestors and Progeny of the Doge,

Good news: Constantinople fell just in time for the High Period. I don't think I'll be setting up a Latin Empire there or anything, but I plan on looting the place to the ground, then pulling out and leaving the Byzantines to themselves. Unless holding onto it would force them to make peace with me? Any guidance from the grave?

Also good, the French FINAALLLLYYYY accepted a peace. You were right, Monk, stubborn little punks. I think gutting the Byzantines scared them. They hold all the coast around the North Sea and English Channel, so trade with them should be lucrative once I can get it going. But I still don't trust them, so I won't be demilitarizing the border with them anytime soon.

Oh, and the Egyptian king got himself stuck in a seige, so they're off the map. I wanted to just lock them in Arabia, but he was stupid. And Crete rebelled the year before I invaded. That'll make for some good stuff in the write-up, I hope.

Bad news: Well, the Pope invaded the Papal states, right when I was about to ask for a crusade, and I figured that to be in-character as a good catholic, I shouldn't go onto the field of battle when the pope himself was leading the army. So I let the pope have it, then got an alliance with him again within two years.

Also bad: the navy, while still dominant, is a bit thrashed. Sea lanes and trade routes are toast. We're most assuredly not the leading trade power this time. So we're gonna miss out on those three GA points. But we've got Crete. So, Emperor, how many 'unofficial' GA points are we going to give ourselves for Constantinople? I chose glory over long-term stability (what king doesn't?) by going after the Biz.

So, pillaging is fun, but the economy's tanked. I'm living off of Monk's bank account (Thanks) and losing 3,000 florins a turn. As long as I get peace - or win the naval arms race before I go broke - everything's fine.

Byzantium was our number 1 trade partner, guess there's only room for one all consuming trade empire http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif. anyhow good luck Mysterium, and good to know the French finally realized that they only survived by the grace of the pope and the Italians. (no longer excomed) When i passed the game to you there was a treasury of 30,000+(IIRC) so it should last a good while.

Good to see you took out the Mamlukes, I trust the reinforcements to the Holy Land i sent help? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif

Anyhow good luck, my write up will be done in a few days.

Edit: and don't worry about trying to hurry me along, i stopped fighting the French so my heir would have some place to sharpen his sword http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/joker.gif . Had i given it thought i would have gotten a picture of Treebeard off net and put in caption Now now don't be hasty master Mysterium http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif

Good luck http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif

I'll consider the Treebeard posted and appreciate the humour anyway http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif (I just saw Return of the King for the fourth time yesterday. I think I'm an addict)

I spent the first few years building up the economy for the trade empire, so I got up to around 50,000 by 1200. Four years later, we're back down to 30,000. Musta been those Citadels. I'd say I'm gonna go find a loan shark, but we ARE the loan sharks, so I guess I'm stuck.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the year before the French signed a ceasefire with us, they decided to send a crusade to Serbia. It seems that between us, the Byzantines, and the French, someone's always gotta be beating up on someone else

Oh, and the reinforcements were great. Although, much to my shame, I must admit that I was beaten back out of Sinai my first attempt. I thought I'll just bring in a bunch of Turcopoles to soften 'em up, then my Hospitaller's shouldn't have TOO much trouble with the camel warriors. That fight was UG-LEE

But then I smote them like the wrath of God and all was well . . .

Good job on the Byzantines Mysterium glad to know that Constantinople is now burning... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif

With regards to 'unofficial' GA Points for that action, I say its worth at least as much as the other Crusade GAs.

Did you manage to secure Crete as well while you were at it? (I know it was a homeland province when you took power)

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] I don't think I'll be setting up a Latin Empire there or anything, but I plan on looting the place to the ground, then pulling out and leaving the Byzantines to themselves. Unless holding onto it would force them to make peace with me? Any guidance from the grave?

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It may be worthwhile keeping hold of the City if possible because of the revenue it can produce, also there's the Conquest GA points we get from having it (and denying the Byzantines one of their Homeland provinces).

However if it looks like your going to lose it, burn everything (except the Port) and withdraw your troops.

Your going to have to make a judgement call on whether its worth keeping it or burning it.

I guess you should try to make peace with everyone possible from now on to improve our economy... Sinking the Byzantine fleet beforehand might be a good idea, helping to reduce their trade income so we don't have to get as much to beat them.

Yup, Crete is held. Although if I don't clear a sea lane and get some support troops in there, it might fall.

I'd love to keep Constantinople, but I'm wary of 3,500 in Bulgaria and another 2,000 in Serbia. If I can hold on 'til the French Crusade hits Serbia, that will take some pressure off. I've got a contingency plan to pull out through Greece, though. A lesser prince is holding it, and the seas around Venice are my own little personal lake with plenty of ships there. I just fought off a decent-sized force coming from Trebizond. I'm just lucky they didn't all come at once.

Ugh French tried to invade Lorraine, so we're at war again. Still in Constantinople, still losing money, and Byz. navy just moved in off of Crete, so a rebellion's imminent.

No rest for the wicked . . .

ANd i thought i had broken the back of the French Army, Looks like they used the recourses of the British isle to rebuild. It appears they havn't forgotten the royal spanking I gave them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif

Have faith Mysterium THe Italian armies are not easily defeated. Just be sure to avoid the Trees...

http://www.akinonyx.com/eowyn/treebeard.jpg

Tree? I am no Tree I am an Ent

Oops sorry Treebeard...

So long as our Doge's Health Holds, the fight will continue i fear. We have taken Constantinople, the jewel of Byzantium; they will not soon forget it. But i think our troops can hold fast. Have faith master Mysterium, and good luck.

Sounds like things are getting pretty rough in Europe.

Still no-one said being in the centre of Europe was easy

Good luck Mysterium Cut those heathen heads off http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif

So ends the reign of Doge Pietro X, The Friendless

I died at war with four countries, and no allies. Crete is held, and Greece, Bulgaria, and Constantinople were taken from the Byz. The Egyptians king was killed with no heirs, and Arabia and Sinai have consolidated our hold on the Holy Land.

My only advice is to look to the economy. I might've made that navy a bit too big, and because the Aragonese tried to take Aquitaine, I had to fortify the Tolouse-Aquitaine border into Iberia, so we have a four-front empire going on. Maybe five, depending on how you count it. So, that's a LOT of defensive forces.

My only other advice (last one I swear) is that the Byzantines are outta money, so don't worry about their navy. They still won't make peace. And the French might make peace now, it's just that their King went to Ireland and never built a port, so he's been out of the office for the last 15 years. The French King died the same year as me, so maybe peace can be made with the new King.

Oh, and we've got Pav. Arbs. in Genoa, Arbs. in Arabia, Chiv. MAA in Tuscany, but no real heavy cav. production anywhere except for royal knights. And I haven't seen mercenaries for years. I think nobody likes me . . . http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...c-thinking.gif . . . was it something I said? Maybe I smell bad . . .

Best of luck

Edit: The Italians 1220 PBM

My turn eh?

I'll download the save game and start playing tomorrow...looking forward too it.

Great Stuff Mysterium,

Too bad your Doge was all alone in a hostile world (well except for his numerous armies of course) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif

I am Glad the steamroller that is the Byz has been halted in their headlong expansion. And yet again I must congratulate you on taking Constantinople, the jewel of Byzantium itself.

I look forward to reading your write-up http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif

Thank you, Emperor. Proud to expand the glory of Italy.

I ran into something interesting that I haven't seen before. While I was already at war with France, Byzantium, and Aragon, Spain declared war on me. But I share no borders with Spain, didn't have any ships in the same seas, I think, and in general just had very little to do with Spain. Is it possible to declare war some other way than attacking someone?

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mysterium @ Feb. 23 2004,17:28)]Is it possible to declare war some other way than attacking someone?

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To my knowledge it isn't. Are you sure they didn't try to attack some of your shipping only to get sunk themselves? You may have accidentally skipped the parchment for it.

It matters not, should they take any lands it is our duty to take them back (as long as his holiness permits of course).

It's quite possible, sea battles were coming hot and heavy toward the end there.

No matter, Mr. Nevsky will show them wot's wot. Oh, and sorry you're a prevert. But there wasn't another of my sons who was much better. While my seed was plentiful, none was very strong. But you do have 5 sisters to marry off at will

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Oh, and sorry you're a prevert.

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LOL, no worries, at least it is secret still

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Aleksandr Nevsky @ Feb. 23 2004,18:48)]

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Oh, and sorry you're a prevert.

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LOL, no worries, at least it is secret still

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LOL, well at least it makes for an interesting write-up http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif

I just wanted to update you all...well actually not much of an update, I haven't got the chance to play a turn yet. I have a midterm on Wednesday, no fun, and I have a lot of rehearsal and practice to do on my trombone...anyway that doesn't really matter. Just wanted to say that I will probably be getting to playing tomorrow night, or maybe during a study break.

Once I get going though...I'll be an unstoppable force of Italian empire consolodation, I think that is what my goal is going to be, I like building~http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-wacko.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-builder.gif ...I don't usually play GA, are there any interesting goals for me to look forward too?

Phew, I finished with the first decade of my reign, and although I haven't really accomplished anything it certainly has been tiring.

My Doge had to marry the daughter of an aristocrat...however even though he is perverted he is making a few heirs (I have two right now, both underage, not to mention his brothers).

My first goal was to try and stabilize the economy, I reorginized the entire army and weeded out some obsolete units while still maintaining the largest army in the world. I set out immeadiately bombarding every faction with my agents, requests for ceasfires and alliances, and marriages...all have been denied. It is getting quite annoying, my Doge is getting frustrated with his fellow rulers. Needless to say I'm not getting anything through trade as no one will trade with me, and the byzantines keep pumping out galleys that always get away from my fleets. So the economy is in bad shape, despite the fact that there is plenty of farming and mining infastructure...the army is just too large, but I can't see making it any smaller we are at war with the Spanish, Aragon, France and Byzantium, with no Allies. I was allied with the English, for like a turn but then the French eliminated them (punks).

The Mongols have just arrived and are expanding towards the North. I am hoping this occupies the Byzantines enough so that they accept peace with me, this will get me some trade income at least. The Spanish and French Navies are non existant, however they have alot of ports that I could be trading with...hopefully things will turn around.

Not much has been happening militarily...except a few revolts. Crete has revolted twice... because the Byzantines cut the Island off from my king...the second revlot succeeded, so Crete is lost, I am about to send an army to retake it though...Sardinia also revolted but it was put down...

Despite the difficulty faced it is alot of fun...I can't wait to proceed with my reign...and I can't wait to do the write up. There has been some great scandals in the Court of Doge Enrico II, the assasins and inquisitors have been busy. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ons/gc-yes.gif

Wish me luck

Nevsky

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]There has been some great scandals in the Court of Doge Enrico II, the assasins and inquisitors have been busy.

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Sounds like fun, just be sure to keep the Inquisitors away from your Perverted Doge (Unless you want to go out in a blaze of flame)

Well, I see my lack of popularity during my reign is still well-remembered in the courts of Euorpe. Italy is just not a popular country this century. Maybe you're right, the Horde will give them all someone to REALLY be mad at.

Ah, and speaking of the write-ups, what's the usually M.O. for those things? When/where/how long/how soon, that sort of thing?