The Ultimate Test: The First AAR of E:TW on the .org

[pevergreen]

The world moves on...

Sweden, one of my most powerful neighbours, offers me a trade agreement, demanding 1100 coins for it.

Seeing as though they are unfriendly towards me, and more importantly, they are more powerful, I accept. My treasury is down to less than 300 coins.

The Crimean Khanate attacks me. My first test of strength.

The first Crimean Khanate Skirmish
I am outmatched in terms of numbers and guns. I do have the advantage of nearly 100 horse. The Crimeans run for the cover of the wall, while flanking with their horse and sending a diversionary attack. I sense the division of forces and rush all my infantry into melee with the diversionary force.

In response to this, the horse attempts to flank me and charge Ivan, my General. My horse intercepts them and sees them off. As the melee continues on my left flank, the horse on my right are ordered to charge into the defensive line of the Swedes. Horses jump the wall and charge through the Cossack Infantry, causing them to rout before their close allies can help. it is a small matter of wiping up the remaining enemies. My two forces combine in the centre and charge the General and the last unit of Cossack Infantry.

200 Militia, 100 Cossack infantry and 60 horse against 18 of the Generals bodyguard and 100 Cossack Infantry.

But these Crimeans must be born from hell, as they are not only holding out, but defeating my force.
Ivan senses defeat, and charges into the fray, risking his life to embolden his troops. The enemy flee and are destroyed.

Winter, 1700:

My north army begins to recruit additional forces. As of now it is only a peacekeeping army, but who knows what may happen with the Swedes.

The South army besieges Bakhchisaray, the Capital of the Crimean Khanate. They sally out and are put down, but their numbers cause heavy losses. I have 70 militia, 25 horse and 7 Cossack infantry.

The Swedes declare war on Denmark. I side with the Danes and am now at war with Sweden. They shall regret this.

Summer, 1701:

The swedes attack undefended Petrovskaya Sloboda, laying waste to nearby towns. The North army counters this by taking over the Swedish port. The south army retreats and awaits reinforcements, but is still in enemy territory.

Winter, 1701: An uneventful season, upgrades progress throughout Russia.

Summer, 1702: The Crimean Khanate sidesteps my Southern army and intercepts my reinforcements. Being outclassed, the return to the Ukraine region. The same army then attacks my depleted Southern army, which flees back outside Bakhchisaray, their Capital. Wedged between two forces, out of movement, the Southern Army is attacked. I can't bear to watch it, so I let a Captain command (I auto-resolved. I was outnumbered like 4 to 1) Somehow, the man won! The 1st Regiment and 1st Horse of the Southern army were lost.

On the northern front, the North army besieges St. Petersburg.

A few months after the siege begins, Adam Ludwig sallies out against Prince Anikita Ivanovich, leader of the North Army. The forces are evenly matched.

The Prince takes up a defensive position, having a wall as cover for all 4 of his infantry units. The Prince has deployed out of range of their cannon. I realise I am up against a stronger foe, as Adam has entrenched his cannons, I must concentrate more on technology research!

The Swedes advance on my position, getting hit by a few lucky cannon balls.

A fire-fight ensures, with a unit flanking my left, and my right. I am force into melee by Pikemen, and my horse has to charge the flanking units on the right to keep my cannon safe.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The pikes are eventually routed, the rest of the Swedes fall under massive fire from multiple units. Tactics won the day, in an open fight, my higher quality units may have prevailed, but it would have been a lot closer. St. Petersburg falls under Russian Control.

Winter, 1702:

Road upgrades are ordered in major provinces, and repairs begin throughout Russia. New research is begun, to allow construction of Colleges. The Tsar knows the value of technology.

Thats it so far!