Author: Heynow
Topic: Polish woes...
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Heynow
New Patron

Posts: 2
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
posted 08-29-2002 11:50 PM

Ok this is my first post, I've been playing the hell out of this game and here are my thoughts.
My first harddcore game (the first few aborted attempts were just learning) I chose the Poles, expert setting. They looked to have the hardest start and I wanted a challenge. I grabbed the Baltic sea states asap so I could set up my navy. The AI doesn't seem very aggressive, and it is woeful about exploiting the seas. Why does it build so many ports and not build ships?

Anyway, I decided to lay low and build like crazy. You can play a LONG time doing nothing but grabbing neutrals and building your economy. Finally I thought I had a big enough lead tech-wise to start fighting the real armies. I went to war with the Danes.

Despite having a two generation lead in technology, I was SPANKED for one reason. POLISH LEADERS ARE HORRIBLE. Not once did I get a 4 star general in all those hours of gameplay. And my navy was worse. Out of over a dozen ships maybe 2 had a single star admiral, the rest were completely incompetent. It didn't really matter though, because about the time I had finally gotten my 4 star general (through battle), my empire disintegrated into civil war. Split into 2 pieces. I saved and quit and haven't decided if I'll play it through.

It may sound like I'm griping, but I'm not. It actually seems realistic that Poland has so many dunderheaded leaders, I mean they've never been a great power. The only problem I have is with the AI's treatment of the seas. It's way too easy to set up a huge chain of ships all over the world and never have to worry about anyone messing with it.

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Lord Aeon
Patron

Posts: 216
From:Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Registered: May 2001
posted 08-29-2002 11:56 PM

Uh huh. That's the price you pay when you're unwilling to get into the thick of things. Your generals will never improve fighting 200 non-faction peasants with a 600 man army. As a result, your generals weren't up to snuff when it was ime ot engage in some serious combat wih a rival faction.
Also, with respect to your navy, it looks as though, because you didn't spend time improving your military through hard-fought battles (whch is quite expensive), you had plenty of money to cultivate your navy. Sure, you dominated the seas, but only because you weren't really spending money on anything else.

But that's juts my opinion; i could be wrong.

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"You have offended my family, and you have offended a Shaolin temple."

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dancho
Patron

Posts: 43
From:
Registered: Jul 2002
posted 08-29-2002 11:57 PM

Yeah, I got pretty frustrated playing Poland. Kraellin seems to have the right idea (see his posts in the 'Preliminaries' thread). He went north to fight the Rus. Seemed to work for him.
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malkuth
New Patron

Posts: 17
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
posted 08-30-2002 12:35 AM

I think you picked the wrong faction to pick on first. The Danes have some great generals throught the game.
Sounds like you lost though. Tough luck. But you wanted a challenge and you got it. You should be happy that a faction AI actually gave you a good fight.

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Papewaio
MTW forum moderator

Posts: 1764
From:Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Sep 2001
posted 08-30-2002 12:52 AM

Cool!
You wanted a challenge and you got it! I would say save the game. Play a few other campaigns and come back to this one in a month and see if you can win it from this setback.

Nothing like a challenge to bring out a grin.

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Boleslaw Wrymouth
Patron

Posts: 33
From:NY, USA
Registered: Jul 2002
posted 08-30-2002 05:42 AM

Quote
It may sound like I'm griping, but I'm not. It actually seems realistic that Poland has so many dunderheaded leaders, I mean they've never been a great power. [/QUOTE]

Acually about a hundred years after the game ends they WERE a graet power. But that doesn't help you too much.

I had the same problem with Poland and have two comments and a question. First, go east young man and don't stop until its all red. This is what I did and and its easier then getting involved in the west early on. Its also nice to own some well developed provinces in the east when the Horde shows up. Also, once you have enough troops to quell disorder (you don't need a lot) bribe Pomerania and Prussia. Save your money for this if you have to, it can really help at the start.

Second, although its tempting to command the troops yourself when faced with an easy battle in order to minimize losses your better off letting the computer handle it. Your generals almost always get a star. (A bug?)

Finally, what is your tax rate like. Someone else on the board was having the same problem that you and I did and it was suggested that he lower the tax rate. I had most of my provinces on high and very high so I tried it and put most of them back to normal. Its about thirty years later and I'm getting much better generals. This may be a coincidence but try it if you can afford it.

It may be coded that Poland gets poor generals early then starts to get better ones later on. Its the mid 1200's and I have gotten many 4 and 5 star commanders and royalty recently. If thats the case, hang in there.

I know nothing about navies. I only use ships for trade and transport and by the time I put my first ship to sea, Denmark and England were history, and my very good friend the HRE took care of the military ships for me. They're gone now so I guess I'm about to find out about crappy admirals.

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