Emperor of Byzantium

**Demon of Light** · 07-16-2003, 00:02

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ July 15 2003,11:20)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ July 15 2003,17:47)]hehe, hold your horses minikiller, you gotta be the first to post *after* I'm done.

All this power is going to my head muwahahahahaha

I think that system sucks,

I say create a list and even things out... and if the list gets too big and the campaing ends, you can always start another campaign.

I thought someone would eventually say that. Bear in mind that I had to deal with about a dozen people bailing on the English campaign. That experience has lead me to conclude that lists are too unreliable for use. Too many well-meaning people sign up in June but can't take the game in July. I didn't create this system capriciously. Every person who gets this game is prepared to play it right now. They already took committments into account and find that they have the time. Fact is that I don't want to go through my English experience again and I'm taking steps to assure that I don't.

I hope that explains it.

**The_Emperor** · 07-16-2003, 13:19

If someone doesn't make themselves avaliable to play it, perhpas they should be skipped and put back on the end of the list...

The basic rule should be, only put your name down if your serious.

**Demon of Light** · 07-16-2003, 15:57

The problem with lists lies in how many people have to be skipped and how they slow the process. Each game gains momentum through participation. If a game loses its momentum, it can begin to be seen as not being viable. Then you get less participation and the cycle begins anew.

The basic rule is that only people who are serious should put their name down and I'll be the first to say that the Almohad campaigns have had more people willing to do that. Fact is though that you can't ascertain who is serious and who isn't. There simply isn't a litmus test for that. THere is also the problem of people who are serious finding they just can't invest the time into when their name comes up. Everyone who drops their name on a list is ready to take a game at THAT moment but not necessarily in 3 weeks when it is their turn. FActs of life and all that.

I won't consider risking another King of England and I will not oversee a game to that extent at this time.

**Skie Mirror Silvanoshei** · 07-16-2003, 16:17

I'm in.

**Mount Suribachi** · 07-16-2003, 19:01

Alexius never did write to his wife Mary. He died aged 56. With a limited budget, he struggled to secure and expand his empires borders and develop the economy. Nevertheless, he did manage to build some of the infrastructure needed to boost the flagging Byzantine finances. In the East he had great success, destroying a Turkish rebellion before it had chance to re-establish the Turks as a thorn in the Byzantine side. He fought off a surprise attack by the Egyptians and then went on the offensive to take advantage of the Egyptian civil war caused by their unsuccessful attack. In the west, his armies, though greatly outnumbered fought bravely and skillfully to defeat the huge crusade launched by the Holy Roman Empire, the final and decisive battle being fought just a few miles from the walls of Constantinople.

As instructed, his brother Andronicus returned to the capital and was crowned in the Church of St Sophia. However, at 51 years of age, with no children and with his long affair with Theodora, the wife of Lord Diogenes of Serbia now common knowledge, he was unpopular with the people, the army and the orthodox clergy. The only alternative though was his younger brother, Manuel the crack-brained. Crazy or not, Manuel had one huge advantage that Androncus did not. A 10 year old son, and his wife pregnant with another child which all the soothsayers and astrologers were sure would be a boy. So it was that after less than a year on the throne, Andronicus was assassinated and a 39 year old who liked to paint his servants blue and suck on horshoes was crowned Gods vice-regent on Earth.

**Mount Suribachi** · 07-16-2003, 19:02

Save game emailed to DoL.

I'm done, who wants it? First to post gets it.

**The_Emperor** · 07-16-2003, 19:27

I want it ralphwolf@clara.co.uk

**Mount Suribachi** · 07-16-2003, 19:46

Laaaayyyyydddeeeeeeeeees and gentlemen we have a winner.

Kinda ironic that the person most critical of the 1st come 1st served system gets the game next

Anyways, savegame zipped and emailed to The Emperor.

**The_Emperor** · 07-16-2003, 19:55

Well i do spend wayyy too much time on these boards as it is... but saying that its lucky I came on at all, I was just about to disconnect and start a game.

Oh well its now downloading, cheers mate.

(Like a true politician, I now retract what I said about the system)

Alright I now confirm that I have the Game, I'll keep you guys posted of my reign and be sure to give you a full write up complete with Pictures.

**MiniKiller** · 07-16-2003, 21:06

damnit

**The_Emperor** · 07-16-2003, 22:01

Diary of The_Emperor of Byzantium, 1133 AD.

With the Death of my great predecessor Alexius II, Command of the Great Byzantine Empire is has now passed to me Emperor Manuel I.

By the grace of Almighty God I will uphold the honour and traditions of my Forefathers and fulfill my task as leader of the one true church of God.

I have heard the whispers about me, they say I might be unstable... ME unstable pah What my critics fail to see is that Blue goes well with Purple, i just can't stand the sight of Purple on its own... besides nothing wrong with that is there?

its also amazing how few people understand how much fun a good dance in the moonlight is... or how tasety horseshoes can be at times.

I'll show them all....

As I look over this land I can see where attention is needed... and what I must do.

- We have no govenor in Constantinople, and I will try my utmost to recruit one. My personal preference is for someone who has good military command skills, but is also adept at managing the finer aspects of finance within this great city.

- I will need to focus most of my attention on developing a strong Navy to trade with other lands. Our strong Military presence desperately needs financing and I will produce much of the revenue from trading our fine goods abroad. Farmland development is also a priority.

Militarily we are strong, but the Egyptian forces on our doorstep are untrustworthy, they have a vast army on our doorstep and I feel that we may end up being at war within a few years. They do have their own problems with rebellion.

Our Hungarian allies to the Northwest are strong, but do not have the number of troops the infidel has. I will pay them the respect they deserve, and they will always be of use later on if we decide to crush the Tartar rebels to the North.

Attacking is in my blood, it is what I am good at... I will strike hard and fast, we will prevail for Almighty God is on our side... And no-one will expect the killer combination of Purple and Blue men on the battlefield, Muhahahaha

**MiniKiller** · 07-16-2003, 22:11

I hope i get in next round lol

**jLan** · 07-17-2003, 02:30

Me too :o

**Demon of Light** · 07-17-2003, 06:56

Only someone truly crack-brained would mistake his brother for his father.

P.S: Post a map? The one that shows Mount Suribachi's progress?

**The_Emperor** · 07-17-2003, 08:04

I will post a map when I get off work later on.

And then I will try to go through my reign as quickly and effectively as I can.

**The_Emperor** · 07-17-2003, 17:57

Alright here is a map of my border with Egypt... and the Minimap.

As you can see we haven't expanded much and most of the forces on the Border with Egypt are mere mercenaries and require reinforcement.

**The_Emperor** · 07-17-2003, 22:23

Ok people, i have finished, my king has died making way for the eldest Son Michael VIII.

He is "Strange" and has no noticable Military command ability, His younger brother is just the same but not quite so odd.

The Empire's navy has grown well, and our finances are getting larger.

Thanks to my Efforts the Egyptian army has had its back broken, but the Sultan did lead a massive counterattack in Palestine which was horribly defeated. he has no heirs and will be dead in two years anyway.

We now control as far south as Arabia and Palestine... and I will give a full account of the spectacular battles against the vast Infidel armies.

Who wants it next?

SPEAK NOW

**Yoko Kono** · 07-17-2003, 22:26

ill take it please

mail to hhh2yoko_kono@hotmail.com

**Skie Mirror Silvanoshei** · 07-17-2003, 22:27

I want it.

**The_Emperor** · 07-17-2003, 22:33

We have a winner... Yoko Kono the game is en route.

Enjoy

**Yoko Kono** · 07-17-2003, 22:51

ok campaign recieved

**MiniKiller** · 07-17-2003, 23:24

i seriously hate this system. i got the most posts here yet i am never on the right time. I just god damn give up.

**The_Emperor** · 07-18-2003, 11:46

Last Recorded Letter from Emperor Manuel I, on the frontline in arabia, to his eldest son Michael. Year, Unknown.

My Son, these years have proven fruitful for our nation and now I regret that my health has been in decline, I fear that I will not survive the end of the year. These years spent campaigning against the Egyptians have taken their toll on me and I am now suffering a terrible illness.

The war began as Egyptian forces were massing on our borders for a few years, even though our treasury was low I gave the risky order to wage war and to strike them down first. I also gave orders for new trade buildings to be constructed, a navy to be built, and for farmland to be improved over the course of my rule.

The Cowardly Egyptians ran at the sight of my army when we crossed into Armenia, leaving the province to our forces. Still I decided we must press on and two years later we crossed into Syria. Most of the Egyptian forces had invaded the rebel-held Tripoli, and the remaining forces ran for the cover provided by their fort. The Rebels were defeated, but the Egyptians now had a sizable force in the province led by their greatest general Abdul Al Kamil.

The following year The Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, allied with us... With the Pope on our side I knew that Catholic actions against us would not be looked on kindly, and that Crusades would be difficult to arrange. The same year I crossed the Border into Tripoli at the head of 1100 men, battle was joined.

The Egyptians had the benefit of superior numbers and a defensive position on a double hill. I decided to approach the hill from the East and the enemy fell back to the second higher hill however he made the mistake of falling back to the downward slope on the rear of the mound.

Our Trebizond archers screened by spearmen moved into range and started to shower the enemy archers with a hail of arrows, and at that moment I decided to lead our Byzantine Infantry and Cavalry around to capture the top of the hill (route shown by black arrows).

We captured the hill and our momemtum in the fight was considerable and many of his troops fled in panic, the enemy General led his camel warriors in a foolish charge uphill. We surrounded him and after taking heavy losses he attempted to escape... He was knocked down and captured, his execution swiftly followed.

I spent a few years consolidating our lands... but soon enough the Egyptian Sultan led and attack on Rebel forces in Arabia. While the Egyptians exhausted themselves fighting rebel armies I prepared to cross the border to capture the holy city of Jerusalem.

A great militay leader had emerged within our ranks, Lord Nicephoritzes. He was perfect to take over leadership of Constantinople. As you well know he married your sister, Princess Maria. He led our forces to victory in Arabia, but his victory was to be short lived for when he moved on to garrisson Jarusalem and I moved my army into the Sinai... the Egyptian Sultan manage to sneak a large force over the border into Arabia to help its besieged garrisson.

I immediately led my forces back over the border into Arabia to finish off the Sultan, only to find a tiny force guarding the province. Our archers routed the army before a sword was drawn, with over 200 dead to the enemy and no losses for us.

We soon found out that the Sultan's army had moved from Arabia, into Palestine to try and drive us out of the Holy City, Lord Nicephoritzes organised a valiant defence against a force nearly twice his size...

Choosing the high ground he screened the archers with our infantry and shot the enemy to bits when they advanced. We charged forward and routed the enemy... The enemy Sultan, with no regard for his honour ran from the battlefield.

Our troops could not give chase, and soon wave after wave of Brave Bedouin Camel warrior reinforcements pressed down on us, even the archers inequipped as they were had to enter the fray to prop-up our exhausted troops.

As the dust settled we stood victorious... we had slaughtered close to 1500 of the enemy and had only lost around 200 men.

The enemy Sultan is now known as a coward and a fool when attcking, he is old and has no heirs I predict his faction will crumble within the next two years.

Know that I name you as my successor, you have yet to make a name for yourself on the field of battle but I know the Empire is safe in your hands... and with commanders like Lord Nicephoritzes on your side, you can only prosper.

I expect to soon join my Father and Brothers in the hereafter.
Your father Manuel I, Bane of Egypt.

**Demon of Light** · 07-18-2003, 12:17

I deleted my previous post. My e-mail has The_Emperor's completed game. I'm still awaiting his call for a successor...( Unless his post above was meant to do that.

"Know that I name you as my successor, you have yet to make a name for yourself but I know the Empire is safe in your hands... and with commanders like Lord Nicephoritzes on your side, you can only prosper." - The Emperor

Is that the call?

**The_Emperor** · 07-18-2003, 12:21

Yoko Kono is the successor I sent him the saved game.
My call for a replacement is on the end of page 2.

That letter was my write up of the reign.

MiniKiller Don't worry, you'll get there... just keep checking back as often as you can

**Demon of Light** · 07-18-2003, 12:28

Oops. Sorry.

**bhutavarna** · 07-18-2003, 17:41

pardon my intrusion, i can't help but follow this interesting thread.

although i'm not planning to joint the ranks of byzantine emperors due to lack of time, i want to offer a suggestion to make this campaign more interesting. why don't you guys set a goal, reconquering the roman empire perhaps. let's see how many emperors it takes to achieve that.