Orders and reports thread

[Ramses II CP]

Conditional upon Cecil posting that these changes are acceptable to him, I'm uploading the new save with solely the adjustments to the Prague sitaution present. I'm then heading out for a few hours. Please don't take the save until Cecil says he's okay with the changes.

If Cecil is okay with them this save will then be unfrozen for Hermann, Welf, or any other desired offensive action:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-5.zip

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: I apologize to anyone who wanted to take action tonight, but I think we have to wait for Cecil to take a look at the changes and make sure they're okay. I realize my first turn is probably going to be one of the slowest in history, but activity being what it is, and the dictates of strategy being what they are I cannot see any other solution.

If we don't have word in the next 12 hours or so I'll make the logical decision and we'll move forward, with apologies to Cecil.

[TinCow]

There's nothing for you to apologize for. It was my error. Any delay is my fault.

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: Well, it's been some time, the message reciepts show that Cecil read the PMs and he didn't come charging forward with objections, so I'm tentatively declaring the matter decided and the save unfrozen. I'll be heading to bed and some action may come up before I'm up. This is the current save unless I hear some strong objections from Cecil:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-5.zip

In the interests of moving ahead let me recap again:

1. Dijon. I believe Tristan will be up and about in a few hours, and may be able to take this on. Just smash that little army in front of you, try not to exhaust your men's movement points, and Ruppel will be up. At any time after Tristan acts FH is eligible to position the diseased men of Captain Gunther and Captain Matthias (The two Teutonic Knights near Bern) to his satisfaction and to then attempt to lift the siege of Dijon. Hermann Steffen can also take this on at any time, but I believe we missed his window of availability.

2. Madgeburg. This is likely to be an auto-calc'd sally. There is no way to predict the results, but IMHO the AI is less likely to proceed with the siege and kill Dieter and Tancred if a sally is used to at least weaken their army. If DG or EF wants to play the sally, they're welcome to jump on it now. Tomorrow I'm going to roll the dice here.

3. Metz. I believe Welf is content to hold the bridge and risk a defensive battle, otherwise speak soon.

That should be everything and tomorrow things will move forward to the defensive season!

[_Tristan_]

Took the save and defeated the small french force (lost 19 men in the fight for only one French survivor)

Captain Gunther is now a bit nearer Dijon and Hugo is just north of the town...

Would it be possible to recruit the mercenary available in the area (One Knight, One Pavise Xbow and one militia ?

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-6.rar

[FactionHeir]

I recommend recruiting them at the start of the next turn so we don't pay the upkeep.

[Ramses II CP]

Thank you Sir Hugo, and congratulations!

Count Ruppel, are you able to sally soon?

Fritz von Kastilien

[_Tristan_]

Be sure to use Hugo in case of a sally, FH...

I don't mind... And you might need him...

[FactionHeir]

What do you mean "be sure to use Hugo?"? You want me to send him headfirst into the lancer army alone?

[Ramses II CP]

Very well then, I believe Count Ruppel has expressed a desire to wait until next season and hope for the best due to the ribault being unable to aid in his sally.

I will now be taking the save to make the final adjustments and move us forward to the defensive season. Having no word from Ludwig von Bohmen I can only assume Bruges must be abandoned, and I will act thusly. May the French be merciful to the people there.

In the interests of full disclosure I will make it known that I am commanding a sally at Frankfurt to drive away the small Polish army there, and a sally at Madgeburg. That should be all of the (autocalc) offensive actions.

Fritz von Kastilien

[_Tristan_]

What do you mean "be sure to use Hugo?"? You want me to send him headfirst into the lancer army alone?

I meant be sure to use him to skewer Ruppel on his lance...

[AussieGiant]

Very well then, I believe Count Ruppel has expressed a desire to wait until next season and hope for the best due to the ribault being unable to aid in his sally.

I will now be taking the save to make the final adjustments and move us forward to the defensive season. Having no word from Ludwig von Bohmen I can only assume Bruges must be abandoned, and I will act thusly. May the French be merciful to the people there.

In the interests of full disclosure I will make it known that I am commanding a sally at Frankfurt to drive away the small Polish army there, and a sally at Madgeburg. That should be all of the (autocalc) offensive actions.

Fritz von Kastilien

I hope you win those auto calc's!!

[Ramses II CP]

We have only a single defensive engagement. Jan Zirn, escorting the Forlorn Hope south to meet with his brother Johann Zirn has been attacked by the Hungarian noble in the region. Johann's men will be called as reinforcements (Not ideal I know, sorry. It didn't occur to me that the enemy might march past you to get at your reinforcements, but you should be okay.).

A further tiny force of Hungarians is joining the battle to the right rear of Jan, but he will have the drop on them as they enter the field and should have no difficulty with them. The save:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-7.zip

Fritz von Kastilien

OOC: Screenies of the resolutions at Frankfurt and Madgeburg. I auto'd them in that order immediately on loading the -6 save. I was quite worried about Madgeburg, I expected it to be a bloody draw, but Dieter was either unreasonably lucky or a good AI commander.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Northnovas]

Johann Zirn and little Jan:

I am going for it and picking up the save. Will post soon.

[Northnovas]

Sorry for the double post.
Into the new turn having an issue with the uploader.

Save: Chancellor has save to be with new report.

Here are the results of the battle:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Only one victory in the battle with the artillery and then I was overrun.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Ramses II CP]

Chancellor's Report, 1362.

As a summary, it was a season of mixed news. Bologna was retaken, but Bruges fell. The French ignored the relief force at Dijon, but the Hungarians suffered an unexpected stroke of intelligence and drove us back at Vienna. Lord Becker assailed the Polish, lifting the siege of Prague, but the city is now once again infected with the plague, though Lord Becker's camp appears clean. Madgeburg sallied... and has immediately been taken under siege again. Two of our revered Cardinals passed away peacefully. On to the detailed reports:

The Office of the Exchequer

The financial situation is recovering quite nicely.



Another merchant was trained and put into the field in the Antioch region, he immediately opened a profitable business. I was able to make my own contribution to our finances by conducting a rapid night raid on Oslo, sacking the place for nine thousand florins and then selling that citadel, plague and all, to the Russians for another four thousand florins.

This brings our total available operating capital for the season to thirty four thousand florins.

The Physician's Office

I have instituted measures to maintain exact tracking on cities and armies which have yet to shake the plague. With that in mind I am opening this office by reporting that plague has returned to Prague. It appears the illness was spread by the Poles during Lord Becker's sally against them. May God have mercy on the citizens of Prague.

Further, my own army, and the armies of both Captains under my command remain infected. Captains Eusebius and Ruprecht will be kept isolated until the disease can be brought under control. Also affected is the ship on which I sailed north, but I see little further use for them and likely will dismiss them from service.

In Swabia Captains Gunther and Matthias continue to be affected, and both will likely be needed for the relief of Dijon, risking the spread to that much abused city.

In Bavaria Fredericus Erlach and his men also still appear to be affected. Additionally the French garrison of Genoa is clearly reeling under the effects of the disease, which is keeping them pinned in the city.

One last note of interest. Our spy in Krakow, Rainald von Bremen, sends word that he has somehow captured and bred rats which could be used to spread the plague within the Polish capital. I must confess even I am repelled by the thought, but there would be a certain justice in it, given their ill strike at Prague. Thoughts?



The War Office

The prior offensive season saw, in Bavaria the recapture of Bologna via a massive effort coordinated brilliantly by Duke Lothar himself, with the aid of Count Erlach and Prinz Dieter. Now the Byzantine Captain at Florence has seen fit to split his army, perhaps under pressure to produce some results, leaving Florence potentially exposed to a repeat of our treatment of Bologna. As before, every available resource will be put at the Duke's disposal should he wish to make a try for Florence. Prinz Dieter as soon as the operation in the Florence region is completed I will be asking you to march north to Franconia, which needs you desperately.

In Swabia Metz was taken under siege, and the French made no move to relieve it this year. Kaiser Peter or Welf von Luxemburg are authorized to capture that city at their discretion, using any nearby force they feel necessary.

It will be essential, I believe, to finally lift the siege of Dijon this season. Count Ruppel you have considerable resources at your disposal, though Captains Gunther and Matthias are still plagued. Hermann Steffen is also in the region, and could take on mercenaries and ride to your aid as well.

In a daring and brilliant move Huge de Cervole asked permission to coordinate an action with one of our spies in Swabia. As a result of his passionate desire to punish the French, we now have a man inside the lightly garrisoned city of Paris who can open the gates for Sir de Cervole at any time. Reportedly the city is held only by a single partial company of peasant crossbowmen, so I do not expect you will need any reinforcement or aid.

In Franconia the Poles were driven away from Frankfurt and Madgeburg, though they have returned to Madgeburg. Further north I conducted a night raid against Danish Oslo despite an incredible season of storms and wind, then sold that plague stricken citadel to the Russians, thus weakening our enemies and perhaps driving a wedge between them, as well as enriching ourselves.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In Austria Lord Becker struck a mighty blow against the Poles at Prague. I have sent two companies of Teutonic Knights and a cannon from Vienna north to aid his further offensives, and he has my permission to hire any mercenaries he may come across. I believe there are some in the Prague region and even more in the Breslau region. Spend as you need Lord Becker.

South of Vienna my poor advice on the positioning of his army saw Count Johann Zirn and his brother outmanuevered by a Hungarian army, though they slew the commander before departing the field. This army will be reconstituted as soon as possible and made ready for offensive action.

Further south Duke Arnold is marching north to retake Zagreb, and the Venetians are dithering over Durazzo with the Byzantines shadowing them.

In Outremer the Turks have made their presence felt by sieging Adana. Fortunately our enemies squabble amongst themselves, and another Turkish army was intercepted by a Byzantine one northeast of Adana. God grant that they destroy each other utterly while Viceroy Matthias crushes the fools that dared siege Adana. The Byzantines also marched an army down to face off with Count von Salzgitter, but refrained from attacking. I wonder if their nerve fails them when they approach the blood soaked ground of the Iron Bridge.

In other news, a small Byzantine fleet was defeated near Palermo.

Recruiting Report:

Recruiting continued apace at most facilities, though the hiring of mercenaries expended a considerable chunk of florins. My focus was on Mounted Crossbowmen, whose flexibility and durability are a boon to any army. All specific recruitment requests were met, though for Count von Salzgitter I trained Mounted Crossbowmen rather than hire Turkopoles. You'll find they are already positioned to reinforce the Iron Bridge Count von Salzgitter.

The save is here (Org uploader seems to be having trouble):

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-1.zip

And the season is now open! Any questions can be directed to the Chancellor personally or in open discussion. I would have it known that I expect there to be engagements on every front this season. The first year of my Chancellorship was a banner year for military excellence, and I desire that things move only ever upward from here. Fortune favor you in the fields my Lords!

Fritz von Kastilien

[_Tristan_]

Took the save for the capture of Paris...

A victory for the Reich... Paris is ours... None of our men were wounded nor killed...

All of the defenders died at our swords...

We looted 11908 florins from the town.

I have moved out with our spy and employed some of our loot money to hire a company of merc spearmen to garrison the town.

I will march on Reims next turn and try to pull the same trick if Reims is not reinforeced in the meantime..

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-2.rar

[OverKnight]

I am taking the save to sally at Adana.

[OverKnight]

Forgive the double post, but how does one upload a save to the alternate site? I can find the file listings at mizus, but where's the uploader?

[TinCow]

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbmupload.php

[FactionHeir]

I'll be taking the save once OK returns it.

[Ramses II CP]

Regional Recommendations for the offensive season:

Outremer:

Viceroy Steffen is in the process of sallying against the Turks, as I would have recommended. I imagine there will be little left by the time he is done.

At the Iron Bridge Count von Salzgitter is faced with a substantial Byzantine army. My opinion is that he should hold the bridge against them rather than attack. Mounted crossbowmen for his and the Viceroy's armies are in place to reinforce him there as required.

Austria:

The siege of Durazzo will distract the Venetians for at least another season, allowing Duke Arnold to continue his march north, trailed by his catapults.

At Vienna Johann Zirn must be on a defensive footing for the time being. No engagement appears sought there by the Hungarians at this time, so Vienna is a stalemate until I can get more soldiers to the area.

At Prague Lord Becker has a large quantity of mercenaries available to him, and he is authorized to hire on all of them if he so desires. Unfortunately the Teutons I added to his army cannot move far enough to strike against the Polish noble nearby, but Lord Becker could trail them right behind him and, hiring the mercenaries from both regions, strike out to clear away the Poles between himself and Prague.

Bavaria:

Count Erlach is still in command of an army striken with the plague, and my recommendation is to leave him at the bridge unless the Duke feels it is preferrable to attack the field army of Byzantines rather than the city of Florence.

Duke Steffen and Prinz Dieter are in position, including bringing south the men Bernhard Steffen went north to pick up, to halve the Byzantine forces in Bavaria. I would recommend a strike at Florence, including sending in our agent Helmut von Balk and bringing to bear the Prinz's cannon.

If this is the intended action, it should be carried out by first laying siege to Florence from Bologna to tie down the garrison there, and then having Prinz Dieter clean up the small remnant of an army outside the walls before moving to join the siege. After that battle the Prinz' cannon should be in range of the walls, and available to either commander for an assault.

A complex action, I know. I would like to hear from Duke Lothar his opinions on the overall strategic goals in Bavaria for this season.

Swabia:

Paris has fallen to a daring sneak attack, as Sir Hugo de Cervole brings a measure of justice to the French.

Dijon will never be better positioned to sally, Count Ruppel. May God grant you victory. I had hoped the mounted crossbowmen from Staufen would have the range to reach you, but they cannot make it to the walls. Hermann Steffen is available to aid your sally as well, including any mercenaries he can find.

At Metz either Kaiser Peter or Welf von Luxemburg is authorized and encouraged to select the infantry they feel may be needed and recapture that city. After Metz is taken a small garrison will be left, and the Kaiser will depart for the front of his choice with what cavalry forces can be spared for him.

At Antwerp I will recommend that Count von Bohmen move out of the city and down to the bridge in the hope that he can thus slow the French advance.

Franconia:

At Arhus I have instructed my captains to retreat towards the city, but not enter it. I will be returning to take command of them shortly.

At Madgeburg. Well. What is there to do but sally? Good luck Duke Dieter and Count von Tyrolia.

General notes:

I would hear some comments on the suggestion of Rainald von Bremen at Krakow, gentlemen. I would also like to say that it was my intent to use Oslo to negotiate military access with the English, but I discovered that we do not have a diplomat in range to contact them. I will be placing one in the coming season.

Fritz von Kastilien

[OverKnight]

The Turks should have stayed away from Outremer, they have been eliminated.

Battle report and stats to follow.

Here's the save, bonne chance FH.

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-3.zip

[FactionHeir]

Merci, I'll need it.

[FactionHeir]

Dijon is relieved and the rebels nearby have been put to the sword. The French also could not afford the measly ransom I demanded for 60 of their lancers.

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-4.zip

I have ordered the construction of cannon towers at Dijon to make future attempts at relief significantly smoother and am training more militiamen to hold the city. Herrmann Steffen garrisons the city with his uninfected force while I have set up camp outside Dijon, a small distance away from the SHA1.

Odds: 10:3

On a sidenote, I think I could have done better in both battles. Too used to MTW style battles currently as that's what I have been playing for the past few weeks.

[Ramses II CP]

Excellent Count Ruppel, it will be good to have you in the field again. The French foolishly appear to have marched many of their forces north, so I expect they will be in for some significant surprises in the coming seasons.

I would like to hear from Lord Becker, Duke Steffen and Prinz Dieter, and Count von Luxemburg and Kaiser Peter regarding their plans.

The season progresses very well! I look forward to shocking our enemies ever further.

Fritz von Kastilien.

OOC: Are cannon towers allowed? They're one of the largest exploits against an AI siege I can imagine, if the French can ever muster the wit to attack again.

[TinCow]

OOC: I will take a look at the save this evening after I get home. It may be a bit later than usual, as I've got to go vote this evening.

[Cecil XIX]

My chancellor, I would have your opinion on my situation.

My preference would be combine my army with your reinforcements, move as far as I am able, and wait until the next season to attack the noble-led Polish army. If you were to approve the recruitment of three additional companies of Militia Spearmen, then I would have a full twenty companies of maximum-to-moderate strength. The plague-ridden component could act as a flanking force, and attack the Polish army from behind. In this manner I would minimize casualties and be in the best position to move on Breslau immediately after, or to attack any other armies in the area.

Alternatively, I could assualt the army today. The cannon you brought me would not be able to participate, and I would leave the militia crossbowmen in Prague behind, but otherwise I could get every company in Bohemia, mercenaries included, into the battle. We would attack from three angles, and hopefully overwhelm them.

My problem with the second plan is that it will not get us to Breslau closer, it will allow the enemy to fight on more even terms, and it will give the Poles a chance to counter my advance. Nevertheless, know your preferences I would have your approval first.

[Ramses II CP]

Lord Becker I believe you underestimate the number of mercenaries available, which is understandable given the circumstances of their recruitment. My recommendation would be as follows (This is OOC as far as necessary to describe the mechanics of the situation):

1. Leave the Teutons, for the moment, behind and march one step east. Hire all available mercenaries. The Teutons do not have the 'movement' necessary to actually engage the Poles in battle directly, while the rest of your force does.

2. Follow the road without entering the Polish noble's zone of control until you are just over the border into the region of Breslau. Hire every mercenary available, filling out your force with high quality recruits.

3. Possibly position the Teutons so that they could reinforce your army during a battle with the Poles, and then move directly west to attack them.

If it's easier I can produce screenshots, or accomplish these movements myself and provide you with a pre-battle save. My concern about waiting is the sheer quantity of Polish troops in the area. That noble is almost certain to be reinforced if we don't hit him this season.

I am willing to recruit soldiers at Prague despite the plague, but I cannot predict what the consequences might be if they are used to attack Breslau or even an enemy army. I would strongly caution against moving them into any army you wish to keep reliable (My captain near Arhus has been sick for a looooong time. I suspect that shuffling forces back and forth causes a 'reinfection' to happen, and lengths the term of the plague.)

The ultimate decision is yours, of course, but I believe victory can be had this season, and momentum maintained against the Poles.

[Cecil XIX]

Indeed, I had not considered the mercenaries in Silesia. In that case I shall depart to take the field (i.e. the save) immediately.