Orders and reports thread

[Ramses II CP]

For the convenience of the next up:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1346-5.rar

edit: By the way, would it be possible for Fritz to build a fort and watchtower on the islands southeast of Arhus? The money is there, I just don't know if he's allowed to or if he should just ask for it to be done. If nothing else, please move him around a little since he already has a negative movement trait and I'd prefer it not get worse.

[Zim]

I'm kind of curious about Ramses' question, too. We might need to put up watch towers in Outremer soon. Who do we get permission for it from? If we get it, can we put them up or does the Chancellor take control and do it?

[econ21]

Anything involving spending money needs the Chancellor's authorisation - if he agrees, he may ask you to place the towers/forts. I won't do it this turn - a 20k balance is too small to spend on towers/forts - but you can raise it with AG for next turn.

BTW, I've been waiting for Stuperman to pick up the save for the Innsbruck battle, but will start work on it tomorrow.

[Stuperman]

taking the save.

[Stuperman]

The save:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1346-6.zip

[econ21]

Taking the save.

[Ferret]

I would like Tancred to move North to Arhus to join with Fritz and muster enough forces to make the final assault against the Danes. In the meantime Myself and Godwinson will raise an army in Magdeburg to launch a counter attack against the Poles. I am also naming Tancred the heir for the time being for his help in the many battles we have seen together.

OOC: sorry if this is in the wrong place I don't know where to post anymore

[econ21]

OOC: sorry if this is in the wrong place I don't know where to post anymore

No, it's the right place. Welcome back, Elite Ferret. :wave:

I've made the moves for 1346 (yours came a little too late for me to react to, EF). There is a defensive battle for Lothar (TinCow):

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1346-7.zip

I don't think there will be more defensive battles this turn. Let's stay in 1346 in character for a while longer (we should get the succession issue sorted).

I've added some troops to enemy AI factions' settlements to try to keep them competitive. I am trying to limit doing this to every 5 turns or so, so that armies don't keep magically materialising in front of players unexpectedly. Sadly, the AI seems completely hopeless at the strategic level, so people don't need to sweat too much.

[Ramses II CP]

Unfortunately we can't go after Oslo or Stockholm without an edict, so Arhus is strictly a defensive front until the next Diet. I'm okay with Fritz hanging around in the area even if he doesn't catch any battles because I think it's a very logical IC move for him.

As far as whether or not we want Oslo and Stockholm, I have a proposal there too, but I'll hold onto it for now.

I think we should move some priests and spies into the Stettin region. I noticed the Russians were having trouble with rioting in the city. If we can keep the people Catholic and maybe slip a spy into the city it may rebel, which would allow us to take it without further damaging our reputation (Which may already be so low as to 'wrap around' if we do anything further despicable).

[Ferret]

Yes I think by the time they have enough troops to march against the Danes it will be time to issue edicts anyway, Franconia seems very short on soldiers right now.

[econ21]

Imperial Secretariat Report on 1346

With Duke Arnold still incapacitated by plague and unable to even choose a new Steward, this report has been compiled by the Imperial Secretariat.

CENTRAL REPORTS

World Events

The spreading of the Black Death has been the most alarming development of this year. The plague now afflicts the following Imperial cities: Dijon, Bern, Genoa, Venice, Milan, Naples and Zagreb. Worse still, several of our key troop building Citadels have been infected - specifically, Ragusa, Adana, Acre and Palermo. Most of our generals have escaped the foul pestilence, but those that have been affected are particularly crucial to the Reich. As well as our unfortunate Chancellor, Viceroy Matthias Steffen is sick. Dieter von Essen, the general recommended as Prinz by the late Kaiser Elberhard, is poxed as is the enterprising Swabian general, Ehrhart Ruppel, and the youngster in charge of Milan, Hans von Bavaria. The only favourable health news this year was that the lesser plague at Staufen - thought now to be unrelated to the Black Death - has abated.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Our enemies have been shaken from the torpor they exhibited last turn. A mighty army of French lancers is besieging Ehrhart Ruppel’s small cavalry force in Dijon. In Outremer, the Byzantines have both Adana and Antioch under siege. The Poles are besieging Magdeburg again, whilst the Hungarians are at the walls of Vienna. Prague is also threatened.

The year witnessed the sad passing of Steward Karl Zirn, named Karl the Honorable for his incomparable chivalry and piety. However, his eldest son Johann Zirn (Northnovas) is well groomed to seamlessly take over his father’s illustrious role in the affairs of the Reich.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Diet has seen a new addition, with the marriage of Eue, daughter of our late Kaiser, to Welf von Luxemburg (econ21). The couple were married in Nuremburg, the temporary capital of the Reich.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Yuck, don’t expect me to roleplay THAT one!

The Exchequer

With our starting balance topped up by various loot and ransom, money was available to train all desired troops and construct all priority buildings. However, our fiscal position was still judged too tight to authorise sizable investments in projects that would only pay off in the longer term (like merchant banks and other related trade infrastructure).

The starting balance of the Reich rose from 21000 florins in 1246 to 25000 in 1248.

The War Office

As requested, many new professional regiments were recruited this year:
- Teutonic knights for Swabia from Frankfurt.
- Regiments of armoured sergeants, DFK and mounted crossbowmen in Innsbruck for BH Otto.
- In Acre, low grade infantry were requested by the Count but the Imperial Secretariat judged this a false economy, so better troops were raised, possibly to form the nucleus of a second Army of Outremer
- Palermo, Magdeburg and Ragusa were also training fresh regiments at full capacity

In terms of our standing armies, the Kaiser authorised his army moved north from Bologna. His earlier Prinz’s army was shattered in a close victory against the Poles and the remnants moved westward. This leaves Franconia with no substantial army, aside from the regiments under siege in Magdeburg. The status of the Armies of the other Houses remains similar to that outlined in our last report, although Bavaria now has a second functional, if small, household army near Innsbruck.

Dieter von Kassel recruited some mercenaries to help his small force take Naples - or more precisely, maintain order after taking it. It was hoped to train reinforcements at Palermo to create a Prinz’s army in south Italy but the spread of the Black Death among the training camps raises questions over the wisdom of this.


REGIONAL REPORTS

Swabia

Count Ruppel occupied Dijon with only one supporting cavalry regiment in a bold manoeuvre. However, he was promptly besieged by a large French army composed entirely of lancers.

The First Swabian Household Army under Duke von Salza moved to screen Staufen.

Count Ludwig von Bohmen’s force at Bruges, now christened the Second Swabian Household Army, is menaced by French forces but not yet under siege. It still lacks troops trained by our castles - notably cavalry.

Bavaria

The Byzantines have rallied in Italy, training two substantial armies - one in Rome and one in Florence.

Duke Lothar’s Bavarian Household Army Gerhard drove off two forces of rebels around Genoa, then began the march on Florence. However, since both its generals then went on reserve duty, the army had to retreat before a Byzantine army. That enemy army is now advancing on Milan.

The Kaiser’s army is withdrawing north as requested by its commander, ultimately to be sent to Swabia. To avoid the risk of this key formation deserting, Hugo de Cervole was requested to accompany it until its rendezvous with the Kaiser. The Imperial Secretariat recommends that Hugo de Cervole be permanently assigned to the army for a while, to deputise for the Kaiser should his other duties make him unable to lead on the battlefield.

The withdrawal of the Kaiser’s army north has opened a large gap in central north Italy with Milan, Bologna and Venice held by very small garrisons. However, with skill, Count Erlach’s Bavarian Household Army Otto should be able to plug that gap. This year, BHA Otto defeated the Hungarian ex-crusade outside Innsbruck and in the coming year should be able to reach Milan before the advaGreeks, however.

Dieter von Kassel used his small sea-borne force from Palermo, supplemented by local mercenaries, to take Naples. He captured the Byzantine Prince Panagiotes and ransomed him for the modest sum of 5994 florins. Lack of order in Naples and the spread of plague may limit Dieter’s ability to drive north on to Rome.

Franconia

Our Kaiser Peter von Kastilien used the reconstituted Prinz’s army to defeat a marauding army of Poles near Magdeburg. However, the army was badly mauled in the process.

Magdeburg has been besieged yet again by Poles, although the threat seems limited.

Austria

Johann Zirn continued to Ragusa.

Edmund Becker fought another battle against the Poles to protect Prague.

The troops in the Vienna Region gathered near the city. The city is now undersiege, but - as at Magdeburg - the balance of forces in the area mean that the threat is not severe.

Outremer

Outremer ends the year under siege, both at Adana and Antioch.

Finally, it should be noted that our physicians believe Duke Arnold, although still struck down low with the plague, will be able to resume the office of Chancellor. Orders can be submitted at this stage. However, all generals are requested not to act until Duke Arnold has familiarised himself with the current situation and can provide guidance.[1]


Diet Speaker



Start of 1348 save:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-1.zip

[1] AussieGiant gets back on 2 January. Players can download the save and provide instructions for AG now. But no one should fight any battles or upload a new save until he says so. The situation is tricky in some places and he may want to coordinate with you first.

[Ramses II CP]

Fritz requests the town militia at Arhus either be sent south into safe territory or disbanded and replaced with anything else. I have the same misgivings about them as I do about merchant cavalry, they're more of an impediment to battle than their lack most of the time. Militia crossbowmen would be much more useful.

Other than that, he's happy sitting where he is collecting a paycheck, so to speak, but he's available to aid elsewhere if needed.

Also, FYI, there's a little stack of rebels north of Frankfurt which I believe is messing up trade for the whole region, but there doesn't seem to be anyone in range to deal with them since Peter is heading south. If Fritz rode south alone he could be in range to command in a battle to destroy them next year.

[gibsonsg91921]

Péter von Kastilien will comply with the Secretariat's recommendation to have the Swabian Hugo de Cervole as his deputy in the Kronen Sie Legion. Péter shall continue to command the force indefinitely until other duties demand his presence.

[_Tristan_]

Hugo de Cervole would request the recruitment of a mercenary ribault to be added to the Legion der Krone in the ultmate goal of sending it to Count Ruppel near Dijon.

[AussieGiant]

OOC:

Ok fellas 1348 is ready for the offensive season. A gentle reminder. Please only conduct your offensive actions with the troops under your command and of course no other actions are to be taken apart from moving your avatar where you want to.

Below are only the obvious attacks I'm listing.

IC:

Right then you murdering bastards. It's killing season and some of you are in prime locations to inflict some damage for the greater cause.

Lothar, Friedrich Karolinger!! Long time no speak. You've got the initiative. There is a French army coming in from the North West behind you plus multiple Byzantine targets to your front. If you want to attack please do.

von Salza You might want to assist Ruppel in Dijon. If you do, take out the Hungarian scouting unit on the way there.

Becker, Lorenz, I'm sure between the two of you, you can kill that Polish force hanging around Prague. Get your asses into action!!

The rest of you sit tight and we will see what happens..that is of course unless you are feeling brave. If you are please let me know what your plan is.

And of course as usual you can start bombarding me with all your requests and usual detailed issues...please keep in mind I seem to have become cruel in my older years.

Here is the save:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-1.zip

[Ramses II CP]

Good to have you back in the saddle Chancellor Arnold! One small matter, there are a few rebels blocking the trade lanes north of Frankfurt. I could ride south from Arhus and be in position to deal with them in the next campaigning season. I don't believe I could reach them this year.

God has granted you succor from your hideous illness. I pray he does the same for all of us.

Fritz von Kastilien

[AussieGiant]

It good to be back Fritz!!

We do seem a little disjointed at the moment. The Kaiser is within striking distance of that rebel force and I was thinking of asking him to take care of it. However I assume he is going to want to mak all haste towards his Army commanded by Hugo de Cervole. BUT, it would be far better if Hugo de Cervole headed back down and across the face of the Alps through Milan towards Swabia. This way he would block an approaching French force, destroy it and then continue on.

If they chose to do this Fritz then I would then ask you to do as you have suggest. I will wait for word from Hugo de Cervole and the Kaiser before taking any action though.

[_Tristan_]

Exactly what I had in mind if you will allow it, Chancellor,

I intended to go west from Innsbruck and then south of Bern in the Alpine valley there. this would allow me to go north towards Bern and Dijon or South towards Genoa and Milan depending on where that French army is heading...

Furthermore, once I have cleared Innsbruck, I require authorization to recruit the merc ribault asked for by Count Ruppel and send it towards Bern on the most direct route.

[TinCow]

OOC: I am still unable to fight battles until the evening of Jan 5th. If Warmaster Horus is also unavailable, our army should be relocated to a nearby city for safety. Being besieged is not a problem, as I will be able to fight battles soon enough to break the siege. If Warmaster Horus is available to fight battles before me, follow his orders.

[econ21]

Welf von Luxemburg:

Chancellor,

I humbly request permission to take some elements from the force travelling with the Kaiser and together with local militia, confront the Poles marching on Nuremburg.

The Kaiser has privately communicated his assent:

Congratulations! Good luck on continuing the line of Kaiser Heinrich.

You have my blessing. Take as many of my army as you need as I pass by.

Your servant

Welf von Luxemburg


OOC: I will abide by the rule governing non-knightly characters fighting battles, using the tried and tested Lothar work around.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor:

Hugo de Cervole and Welf von Luxemburg please go ahead and make your moves as you have explained.

von Luxemburg, exactly which house do you belong to?

Lothar, if I haven't heard from Karolinger by the time the orders are due I will move you to Bolongna. That should make things interesting.

[FactionHeir]

OOC: Welf von Luxemburg as his name suggests is part of Swabia

[_Tristan_]

Took the save and moved Hugo and the Legion der Krone

New save :

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-2.rar

OOC : Posted in OOC thread also...

[OverKnight]

Warluster was talking of taking the save, but I haven't seen an official post that he actually took it.

I'd like to stake my claim, if there's no activity inside an hour, I'll be claiming the save.

Edit: I'm taking the save.

[OverKnight]

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-3.zip

Sally fought, as expected it was a draw. The besiegers are weakened but I fought a sloppy battle, my cannon and bodyguard took losses.

On the bright side, over two thirds of their foot archers and a third of their horse archers were killed, along with losses among their cavalry and infantry.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Zim]

Nice work, OK!

I'm taking the save myself now for a sally. Gotta see if I can thin out the army sieging Antioch.

[Zim]

Finished own sally.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-4.zip

I didn't do as well as OK, about twice the losses a on 278 enemies killed. I console myself in the fact that my losses occurred almost exclusively among my religious fanatics and an ill-advised charge at enemy archers by my bodyguards (I stupidly thought the other nearby archers would fall back from skirmish mode, rather than let loose full volleys at Andreas).

Andreas is "Eager" now. +10% movement points and Matthias has it as well, so it seems fitting.

[Zim]

Oh, and orders for Acre: After the Armourer is done, I'm thinking a Jousting List, mostly because it's the cheapest building possible to queue that has some effect.

Request for professional troops as always, cavalry and crossbowmen if possible.

[econ21]

Taking the save.

[econ21]

[Welf von Luxemburg:]



Esteemed Chancellor,

With the aid of men from what was formerly the Prinz's army and the local militia, I have driven off the Poles advancing on our capital.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The men acclaim it as a heroic victory, although I fear they are an excitable lot.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My retinue performed admirably - by my reckoning, they accounted for more than half of the enemy's losses. They are as young and inexperienced as I, but have learnt much from their first taste of war.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I humbly petition the Chancellor to knight me for this victory, so that I may serve Swabia as one of her loyal generals.

We captured 216 prisoners, but they were nearly all commoners. The Polish Guard and Strzelcy died almost to a man. Out of pity for the poorly led common soldiers, and respect for the few surviving Polish Guard, I released the prisoners. They have left for Breslau.

I have returned to Nuremburg and given provisional orders for the local militia to be retrained, although you are free to countermand that. Their losses were modest, so the retraining is more to equip them with the leather armour now available from the tanner that the late Kaiser ordered to be built.

My Lord, you inquired as to my House - by marrying Eue, late daughter of Kaiser Elberhard, I was fortunate enough to be admitted into the noble House of Swabia. My reporting to duty in Nuremburg was merely fortuitous - as the Kaiser was passing through the province, Eue's mother, the Empress Dowager Linyeve, thought the capital the most fitting location for our wedding. The Poles were unwanted guests.

Your loyal servant,

Welf von Luxemburg


http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-5.zip