Orders and reports thread

[Cecil XIX]

My Duke, while I could engage the Polish force with a good chance of success I would like to wait until the next season. That would give me some time to receive reinforcements and conduct retraining, and the longer this army is in Bohemia the more time until another takes it's place.

I hope the there is room in the budget now to augment my forces, it would require less than one thousand florins at the most. Please review my situation and make whatever decision you see fit.

[TinCow]

Bavaria has a surplus of commanders and a deficit of armies. Count Erlach and myself are more than capable of handling the current situation, given that there is really only one army to command. It is worth noting that Prinz Dieter is also nominally in the Bavarian theatre of operations, though he is currently without the ability to advance north. I believe it would be entirely appropriate for both the Kaiser and my son, Herrmann, to depart for other fronts at this time if they are needed there.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

Lothar, thank you for the approval of my request. Swabia has a great need for active commanders and given the current forces in Bavaria and Prinz Dieter availabilty to assist in the near future I think it is best.

I will move your son and the Kaiser along the same line of march as Sir Hugo.

[gibsonsg91921]

Then I shall depart Italy for France. Good luck, Duke of Bavaria.

[AussieGiant]

Offensive season and orders are over my Lords.

Taking the save 1356-1

[AussieGiant]

Chancellor Report 1356 continued

The Office of the Exchequer

Another merchant is being recruited in Antioch.
The church I accidentally bombed in Daruzzo is being repaired.
Garrison quarters in Staufen have been started.

Our standing with the Pope is steadily falling. With my final push on the Venetian's complete, it is hoped this does not fall any further. We simply do not have enough money to use the normal means of “acquiring” favour with his Holiness at the moment.

As mentioned previously the Black Death seems to be receding. Most importantly the Citadel's of Ragusa, Acre and Adana are now free of the pestilence. This is significant news as our economy is also recovering at the same time.

The War Office

The offensive season saw just two engagements.

Von Luxemburg has relieved the siege of Bern and is now outside its walls for protection with the 1st SHA in close proximity.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=242

I successfully attack the last remaining field army on the beaches below Daruzzo.

It was a heroic victory, although I can't say why the royal scribes have decided it shall be remembered that way. This hopefully brings to a close the war with the Venetian's for the next few years. I will be heading north now to assist in the defence of Zagreb.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=243

Recruiting:

Daruzzo: 1 x Spear Militia
Arhus: 1 x Xbow Militia
Innsbruck: 1 x DFK; 1 x Pavise Xbow
Adana: 2 x Pavise Xbow
Prague: 1 x Xbow Militia; 1 x Speak Militia
Bern: 1 x Spear Militia regiment was retrained.

Regional Report

Swabia

von Luxemburg went south and organised a multi command action against the French forces besieging Bern. In conjunction with the plagued 1st SHA, the Bern garrison and his own escort he managed to gain a decisive victory against the French.

Count Ruppel remains in Dijon with still no sign of any pending relief...still.

von Bohmen as he is no no longer under siege and in a reserve duty status he has been relcoated to Antwerp. This has affected the city of Bruge to some degree as he is an excellent administrator. As he has now left the governs report to me shows clear signs of corruption and mismanagement. This is causing our income to fall.

Duke von Salza has retired to the east and is heading to Nuremberg due to his reserve duty status.

Sir Hugo is nearly now with the 1st SHA, however it is still plagued so he will not be able to join with it immediately.

Franconia

Count Fritz is now perfectly placed to ambush the approaching Danes. I hope they fall for it this season and our most accomplished general can make them pay.

With one of the three Franconian nobles now dead, Magdeburg has become a charnel pit of death, disease and general waste. It is of great concern to me that this Duchy is slowly degrading before our eyes. If Magdeburg falls the heartland of our Reich will be exposed to the Polish.

Austria

Johann Zirn has maintained his defensive position on the bridge west of Vienna. The two Hungarian armies are now hesitating it seems, thus buying time for Vienna to throw of the plague and allow our health commanders to take command of the militia and gunpowder forces. Both Jan Zirn and Max von Hapsburg are with him.

Lord Becker is recruiting further forces in light of another impending Polish siege. One army is in position with a second more powerful looking ready to support the first.

I personally will now determine if the Venetian's have finally had enough of me. If they have I will head north to relieve Zagreb which I hope can hold out until I arrive.

Bavaria

Prinz Dieter's has left Rome and taken up position on the bridge just north of the city. Cavalry reinforcements from Palermo are now just behind him and I have sent the small mediterranean fleet back to the Citadel to pick up some plague free troops and bring them north.

Duke Lothar and Count Erlach are now stationed in the woods outside Milan with the newly formed “Otto/Gerhard Memorial Corp”. They are ready to surprise the French should they attack. Another three regiments from Innsbruck stand close at hand to assist. Unfortunately they are plagued and will have to be monitored to determine their health in the coming years.

Hermann Steffen and the Kaiser are now in the Alps heading towards Swabia.

Outremer

The Viceroy has maintained his position while the Greeks continue to prance around like complete fools.

von Salzgitter has also remained on the Iron Bridge.

We are still waiting to see what happens next.

Chancellor's Notes:

We experienced a lull in our engagements as the general level of momentum we had is slowly grinding to a halt. With the plague abating and the economy recovering it is hoped that the final years of this period begin a new era for us all.

Ironically my moniker has been a omen for the decades that have just past. The feeling of foreboding and dread has touched us all. This has been clearly seen in the very high number of deaths amongst the Reich's nobility.

Having said that my lords there does seem to be light shinning ever so slightly on us. With a last push from us all I believe we can see through this “dreadful” period in our history and be in a strong position for the future.

OOC: Situation before pressing end turn.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1356-4.zip

Defensive season to follow:

Please save directly after you have completed your defense. In the case of Magdeburg who/if anyone defends the Citadel then please save after the fight so I can do the start of 1358.

We have the following avatar lead battles this defensive season:

A) Milan is being assaulted. Duke Lothar and Count Erlach are able to defend the city if they are lucky. (TC, this is a city rush and you are on a 90 degree angle of attack to the French.)

B) Genoa is being assaulted. Sir Hans von Bavaria...it is grim. My the lord protect you.[B]

C) Sir Fritz. The Danes have fallen for the trap. It is a perfect ambush against the first Danish army. Destroy it. (OOC: at least it was when I went through the AI turn twice).

D) Duke Bresch, the future of Franconia is in the balance. The Poles are assaulting. Someone in the Citadel must rouse themselves to conduct the defense.

My Lords...prepare yourselves for a monumental end of the season!!!

Results

The first engagement saw Duke Lothar and Count Erlach conduct a perfect city defense from outside the walls. The managed to rush for the city square, hold off the French cavalry, then steady the fighting line and then let the crossbowman do their work. A truly excellent result give the circumstances.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=244

The second engagement saw yet another fatality amongst the nobility of the Holy Roman Empire. Facing overwhelming odds and with only militia troops available, Hans von Bavaria fell in battle defending Genoa.

The third engagement involved our empires greatest commander doing what he does best. I wont go into the details but it was a Heroic victory. Read the field report for the full details.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=245

Finally the Magdeburg story continues...however I am happy to report that Duke Bresch held of the Polish forces with aplomb and is now in a position to potentially move out of Magdeburg and enter the field.

This concludes the Chancellors report on 1356

[TinCow]

I'll fight as soon as I am able to today. That could be this morning, but it could also be later this afternoon. Will post ASAP when I'm done.

[AussieGiant]

I'll fight as soon as I am able to today. That could be this morning, but it could also be later this afternoon. Will post ASAP when I'm done.

Hi TC, you got my PM about ending the turn and then being first up? just wanted to check in case you look at the save and raise an eyebrow.

[TinCow]

Yeah, I took a quick look at it. I appreciate giving it to me like that since I can still shuffle the forces a tiny bit. I can make another slot by combining two spear units, thus giving me control over another of those depleted militia units in the other army. I've got to run out to the optometrist now, but will fight battle when I get back this afternoon.

[AussieGiant]

Yeah, I took a quick look at it. I appreciate giving it to me like that since I can still shuffle the forces a tiny bit. I can make another slot by combining two spear units, thus giving me control over another of those depleted militia units in the other army. I've got to run out to the optometrist now, but will fight battle when I get back this afternoon.

Great TC. That's what I thought after setting you up terribly for the last city engagement.

Good to hear you could tweak it a little more to your liking.

Cheers
AG

[TinCow]

Battle fought. Beforehand I shuffled the units around a bit and also moved the 'extras' in the small army nearby so that they would join the battle too, since every man was needed. I left them on AI control, though, so that they will all come in at the same time. Battle summary:

Immediately rushed all units to the town square when they appeared, except the mounted crossbowmen who rode around the walls to shoot at the French as they entered the city. They did a decent amount of damage from here throughout the battle and distracted about 3 units of infantry, which was very useful. Lothar, Fredericus, and the small number of Imperial knights arrived first because they were mounted and blocked the French cavalry in the street until the foot could arrive and form up in the square. Surprisingly, the bodyguards of Lothar and Fredericus did massive damage the Gendarmes and Lancers, despite being outnumbered at least 4:1. When the foot were finally setup, Lothar and Fredericus retreated back behind the lines with their few (3-4) surviving bodyguards. The huge numbers of crossbowmen lined up in a thin L formation on the sides of the square farthest from the street that the French were using, and the infantry was assembled off to the side in a large block. This allowed most of the crossbowmen a direct shot into the densely packed French coming down the street, inflicting massive casualties. The French still inflicted huge casualties on the blocking infantry, but the infantry did their job (thanks to no-breaking in the town square) and held them while the crossbows continued to fire unobstructed into the French flanks. Eventually missile fire exterminated them all and the mounted crossbowmen mopped up the few who fled back through the main gate. End result, heroic victory at the cost of most of the infantry in the army. The army is still capable of defending the city, but it will need significant infantry and cavalry reinforcements before it can face another full stack in the field.

I will definitely write up a battle report for this one.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1356-5.zip

I feel bad for vpmd, the Genoa battle looks unwinnable to me.

[AussieGiant]

Taking the save.

It's done.

Ramses you're up and you can also take a night battle when you want.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1356-7.zip

After you're done go right up until the Magdeburg screen and then load it up for Elite Ferret.

[Ramses II CP]

I'm on it. Wish me luck. As tempting as your 'rush them' strategy is, I think I'll try to preserve as much of my army as possible.

[Ramses II CP]

The Danes have been defeated.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1356-8.zip

Under a cool, concealing mist they didn't even know we were there until the first cannon shot landed among them and then my cavalry burst upon them. It was glorious! They fought like devils and killed many of my men, but my army is mostly intact. (Battle story a bit later maybe).

Fritz von Kastilien

[Ferret]

taking the save

edit done and won: (save won't upload?)



despite me pressing escape straight after the battle the menu only came up at the same time as the pop-ups, much to my frustration. I took screens of all of them and will PM them to you AG, sorry for my incompetence.

[AussieGiant]

taking the save

edit done and won: (save won't upload?)



despite me pressing escape straight after the battle the menu only came up at the same time as the pop-ups, much to my frustration. I took screens of all of them and will PM them to you AG, sorry for my incompetence.

EF there is no need to apologies. I know you knew what to do...it just didn't work. The problem is mate, if you can't get that save upload then we are in a spot of bother...you might have to refight...then at least you can give it another shot at saving.

[_Tristan_]

There is a problem with the Org uploader but you can successfully upload on the Mizus one here :

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

PMed TosaInu about the problem...

[AussieGiant]

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT 1358

The Office of the Exchequer

World Events:

I took the offer to build a Merchant Guild in Bologna. In a turn of fortunes our economy is clearly recovering.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The plague is continuing to recede. The Imperial Surgeon's Office is doing a remarkable job making sure it does not spread or resurface. The Exchequers Office has confirmed 6900 soul's died last season, this represents approximately a 60% drop in mortality. Likewise only 1300 soldiers have perished, this is over a 70% percent fall from the last period of assessment.

There were no reported deaths amongst the nobility this year and neither were there any other significant servants throughout the empire.

Most notably I have fully recovered as well as Duke Lothar, Viceroy Matthias, von Salzgitter. Please look at the final reports for the full situation. There are critical issues all over the Reich with regards to the plague. An example is that Duke Lothar is current cured while Count Erlach and the rest of the army are in fact infected. I will be requesting he leaves his post for the time being. This will be addressed in detail at the end of the report.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In some astounding news Duke Bresch has sired a new baby boy named Sifridus. Honestly Duke Bresch, I think you need to get out of that Citadel because that is just a shocking name to inflict upon your only son!!!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

On the other hand the Egyptian are holding us in a dim view still...I still have no idea why and I'm starting to get upset that the Exchequers office seems to have no clue about it.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Meanwhile the English think where the proverbial "dogs bollocks". I personally think its because I take the English ambassador out to reputable establishments an indulge him to the point of it being criminal in some parts of the world.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Our economy is rebounding nicely. We are running into a solid position with the black death now on the wain.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The important thing to take note, is that we now have a series of quarantine issues to deal with. You will notice that settlements my now be clean from disease but one of our nobles still has the black death. I need all of you to assess you specific areas and make sure that those "mixed" armies or settlements are identified and that we separate the infected from the uninfected.

Here is the situation untouched at the beginning of 1358 my Lords. Begin your planning and make your suggestions known to me. I will come back to you all with my recommendations in due course.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1358-1.zip

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT 1358 to be continued:

[Ramses II CP]

Chancellor Arnold I believe I shall reset my ambush precisely as it was before. Leave Captain Euse(whatever) exactly where he is, but back my army up into the forest directly north of him.

One change, however; it will be critically important this time to combine my spearmen into whole companies. Small companies of militia spearmen are worse than useless, they'll break instantly when charged. I should have three whole companies and one fragment at seven men when you're done. I would also appreciate it if you topped off the more experienced crossbowmen from the less experienced companies, but that's less important.

I can imagine only one reason for the Dane's Prince Stenkil failing to attack me last season. It is because he is terrified that I will execute him and hang his corpse from the walls of Arhus like I did his mad cousin. He is right to be afraid, and I must bank on that fear holding him where he is. (I think the AI is having a pathing issue with trying to move two armies onto the island in the same turn. I don't think it's gamey because they can actually get to me to fight, just not both at once. Call it intelligent use of limited terrain. )

If he does cross I may be forced to withdraw, but for now I will reset my ambush exactly as it was and wait to see.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

Your request is understoond Sir Fritz. I will adjust your regiments and reset the positioning of your forces as you have outlined.

[_Tristan_]

Hugo de Cervole

Chancellier, I would request to give me command of the 1st SHA so that I could lead it to Dijon and help in the relief of Comte Ruppel.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

Sir Hugo, please have Duke von Salza confirm this and I will have you assume command immediately.

The 1st SHA is still diseased I believe...keep that in mind. Plus the approach of French towards Staufen may make the relief of Dijon a more pressing need.

I need a Duchy level overview my Lord.

[_Tristan_]

OOC : I tried taking command without any plague showing on my avatar... So ?

IC : Of course, I will bow to my Duke's will concerning the command of the SHA

[FactionHeir]

As I am co-commander of the SHA, I grant permission to Cervole to leading it for the purpose of relieving Dijon.

[econ21]

OOC : I tried taking command without any plague showing on my avatar... So ?

OOC: Press end turn and see if that is still true. I think infections from joining a poxed stack only show up after you end the turn.

[FactionHeir]

They show up immediately

[econ21]

Taking the save.

[econ21]

Welf von Luxemburg:



My Lord Chancellor,

The French are not advancing on Staufen - Staufen is advancing on the French:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Your humble servant


Welf von Luxemburg

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1358-2.zip

[gibsonsg91921]

OOC: Holy crap. I don't know how you people win battles like that so easily.

[Northnovas]

OOC: Holy crap. I don't know how you people win battles like that so easily.

I concur! Mine would have been drag down mud sling not a Heroic Victory with so few casualties. I am glad they are on our side!