Factions discussion...

[Riadach]

Riadach, I would venture that Ireland wasn't completly subdud even after Cromwell marched his armis all over Erin. Even then, independent pocket popped up as soon as he moved to a different region.

Well there were certainly no go badlands for the british army in Ireland after cromwell (there still are in northern ireland), but none of these seemed to focus around any individual prince lord or king. I think the last of such a rebellion could be said to be that of Eoghan Rua Ó Néill, before Cromwell's armies came to Ireland. He is the last person who could have made himself king or prince or lord of a province or even the whole island.

I've been very dissappointed with ireland's representation so far in the total war series. Even the research done on it seems basic. Like bonnacht being a separate unit, when bonnachts were just any soldiers billeted on the country. Their refusal to grant archers to the Irish faction in vi, when there is evidence to support irish archers in the earlier period. Gallowglasses in the 8th century or even in roman total war bi in the 5th century is just not on. I'm sure people have been deafened by this point already so i won't labour. The only thing probably nearly historically accurate were the ceithearn(or kern in its bastardised english form) poor armour poor morale, not peasants but cheap mercenary soldiers, although the would not have relied on skirmishing as much but used their missile weapons in the preambles to the battle.

My unfulfillable dream is to see an irish total war. You start off in the fifth century as either an independant tribe(like corco modhrua), or part of a tribal federation, (like the eoghanacht or úi fiachrach) or a tight dynastic federation like the Uí Néill. The tribe would be the hardest and the dynastic federation would be the easiest.

Dilpomacy would be simple, march into someones territory with a list of demands. If they agree to ally, yield to you, you march out. If they don't and feel they can fight you then a battle plays out, to the winner goes the diplomatic spoils. By subjecting neighbouring tribes you begin a confederation (like a protectorate under your overall control) you call others to battle, receive tribute, but no direct control. Then over time, after more battles within your confederation, further subjection and building fortifications in these territories and suffering countless rebellions, you replace their kings with your own family members forming a dynastic federation giving u more power and control, but they constantly have to be kept in check. They can refuse to send you soldiers, which u must respond to immediately before they form their own independant dynasties. Then when your loyalty in such provinces goes above say 200% and you have large military forces in such areas you can replace they're kings with an airrí or governor, giving you direct control and they're king becomes a general or an officer in your army.

Was also daydreaming about being limited with your armies. The main bulk of your army would be ordinary peasant folk. You could control the amount of land and cattle you give to peasant folk in return for their military services, to nobles (chariots and horsemen) and even to blacksmiths poets the church etc. Their equipment depends on the amount and type of blacksmiths you have invited your province. They are cheap with okay morale, but they can only fight during the summer months. During the winter months, u rely on foreign mercenaries (deordha), fianna (originally the youth of the country made up into adolescent bands, sometimes acting as the police force of the king, and every king has them), díbeargaigh( wolf-headed wild berserker like fianna, members of a pagan cult) ceithearn (poorer forms of mercenary as mentioned above but quick moving and cheaper), carbait ar imram ( noble-type mercenaries armed with chariots or horses but operable in winter). Its with your mercenary forces you can raid (taking cattle so increasing the amount of soldiers you can employ) and subdue enemy kingdoms during the winter. Your ordinary peasant and noble folk only appear on the map during summer and naturally you can't garrison enemy territory with them only with your embryonic standing army.

That has been my idle fruitless unfulfillable daydreaming for the past few weeks, i have loads more ideas about monasteries, laws/decrees and judges, one on one combat (comhraic aonair) to settle disputes, noble and federation councils, paganism vs christianity, advent of vikings/ normans, acquiring of provinicial multi-provincial and all-ireland/scotland titles, interferin in neighouring dynasties, dividing provinces, annexin parts of provinces, building urban centres and forts etc. But since this idea isn't even moddable i won't bore yis with them :-)