HRE in high

[Gilrandir]

Finally I have something to report. I'm down to 1220. My carefully laid plans (read above in this thread) turned out useless. On the very first year of the campaign my Lorraine was attacked by the French so my propulsion down south was postponed indefinitely. The said province changed hands at least thrice before I managed to put on a sideshow in both Flanders and Ile de France. The first one I lost, the second was successful triggering a civil war among the French. A couple more moves and the French are no more and I'm culling the leftovers of their lands. (It is interesting to note that the Pope was blind and dumb to all I did with the French). Being surrounded by allies (except the Italians) I feel more secure strategically (but keep my eyes open - I don't trust them too much), although my financial state is still precarious. I hope to start some trade from Flanders (I have one ship already) and maybe Saxony. My major plans (and doubts, and fears) concern the Italians. They expanded into Toulouse and Greece and have a considerable navy (not an uncommon thing with them), so I'm not sure I want any trouble with them. Yet.

[drone]

Looks like a good start, it's always fun when the French self-destruct!

[ferdi]

you need a good navy against England and Italy and protect your land.
lokking for new images.

[LordK9]

Easy against Italy and those crappy gallies but rather hard against the English. they'll have cogs in no time. I don't mind the French so much - really like it when the English self destruct.

[Gilrandir]

The Italians started the war - but only naval. Most of my allies fell away. Still after supressing rebels in Champaign I'm mustering my armies to get at Italians hammer and tongs.

[Gilrandir]

It is 1235. I attacked Italians and captured Milan and Genoa. In fact I fought not a single battle against them - they always withdrew the reason being too slim garrisons in all their core provinces. Apparently the Doge got carried away by the image of a ramified empire he might have ruled. But you gotta have some troops along my borders if you start a war against me! Of course, I got excommed but it lasted only a couple of years. Then the Holy See was vacated through the death of the presiding genius and now I'm as faithful as I may be. In the war I received unexpected help from my allies - the Aragonese attacked Italians in Toulouse and the Pope - in Venice and Tuscany. Italians repulsed the Aragonese (lost a battle,were beseiged and then pop goes the loyalist revolt). But the Pope keeps the abovementioned provinces which does not make me happy at all. I had thought of capturing affluent Venice myself (and iron-rich Tuscany as well) and shortening the border. Well, that must wait for some lucky chance.
Drone, if you are interested: the Danish "did something"! They captured Sweden, but completely disregarding Denmark lost it to rebels and the Italians jumped at the opportunity and now their Doge has it as a permanent residence. So for the Danish "doing something" does not seem a good option. I'm not really satisfied with this development as my enemies have one more province to attack me from, but they stay there quiet in the castle after some rebellions and if they advance on Saxony it is going to be across a bridge anyway.
Meanwhile I'm still impecunious and grudge every florin I have to spend on other things then recruiting troops. All my ships (2 of them) were sunk by the Italians and I dare not produce more until I (hopefully) stop the war with them (I'm working on it).
The Pope wants me to and I'm willing to listen to him while I deal with the English. I advanced into Anjou and Brittany and the result of it will be known only in my next post.

[drone]

Drone, if you are interested: the Danish "did something"! They captured Sweden, but completely disregarding Denmark lost it to rebels and the Italians jumped at the opportunity and now their Doge has it as a permanent residence. So for the Danish "doing something" does not seem a good option. I'm not really satisfied with this development as my enemies have one more province to attack me from, but they stay there quiet in the castle after some rebellions and if they advance on Saxony it is going to be across a bridge anyway.

That could work to your advantage. It allows you to take Denmark without alienating your allies, and if the port was destroyed when the Italians came through, you can now capture the Doge for a good cash ransom if you are quick about it.

[LordK9]

Why that hypocritical Pope! Excommunicates you for defending yourself while he attacks them :) (but, that's a different thread). Those naval attacks only hurt, though - often destroys an economy. Sometimes, I just don't know. In my current game, I was at war with the Hungarians for years and didn't even know it. In that same game, the Danes conquered all of Scandinavia, England, Ireland, Spain, and much of western continental Europe (so it can, albeit rarely, happen :)) ). How are the English behaving? No navy left and your troops committed south might make for a tempting event.