Orders and reports thread

[Cecil XIX]

Excellent. My hope is that I can take the field next season to attack the Pole's other field army, and then once I have received extra reinforcements to begin the siege of Breslau in the season afterwards. Our spy's report the army occupying Breslau to be of the typical elite quality, so I would be reluctant to rush in and attack. I would prefer to wait and receive additional canon from Prague while whittling down their forces in the siege.

[_Tristan_]

OOC : I might be able to fight around Dijon on Monday morning GMT + 1 if noone else wants the privilege...

[econ21]

Welf von Luxemburg

Chancellor,

I await your orders and am ready to march into battle at your signal,

Welf


OOC: Ramses, feel free to move my stack where you like to set up the battle. You had some ideas about where to move my stack so I don't want to pre-empt them. However, there's no need to autoresolve as I can fight.

[TinCow]

Taking the save to fight Bologna.

[Edit:] Done. That was one of the most intense battles I have ever fought. The reinforcements trickled in slowly and in irregular intervals, leaving me at a massive disadvantage in men for most of the battle. Despite the open doors, the AI defended all four gates very well. I used Lothar's army of militia and mercs to force their way into the main gate. The mass of low quality spears bought enough time for the crossbowmen to get onto the walls. It was then a brutal slug match with the spears in the streets and the crossbowmen on the walls. Eventually the entire force was killed or routed, but they took down about twice their number before they finally gave way. This bought me enough time (and drew enough Byzantines to the gate) to allow Prinz Dieter's force to come up and enter via a second gate. With the rest of Lothar's army gone, he and his two sons rode over there and joined Dieter. With Dieter's crossbows on the walls and lots of heavy cavalry in the streets, I was able to keep a foothold there and slowly whittle away at the enemy as they came at me. The entire time this was happening, Erlach's force was blocked by a huge force of Byzantine cavalry that was waiting at his gate, preventing him from entering. Eventually, Lothar and the other generals cleared their area of the city and rode into the town square. This forced the Byzantine cavalry back from the gates, which allowed Erlach to enter in full force. Eventually he was able to line the streets with crossbows and cut down most of the cavalry in the town square, though they also charged his lines and inflicted heavy losses on the few regiments of infantry he had with him.

Bologna has been recaptured and all 5 avatars are alive, but it cost us a huge number of men. I don't think I have ever micromanaged a battle more than I did just then.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-4.zip

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Ramses II CP]

In your case Welf I was actually hoping to have your men hold the bridge and let the French dash themselves apart against it. The Kaiser has nobly committed himself to aiding us by leading the siege at Metz, so I will probably take most the cavalry from your command to aid him in this. The cavalry should be less essential for a bridge battle, though it may prevent you pursuing the enemy after your victory, and next year you can reinforce the Kasier's small force and either of you can capture Metz. It would still be possible for you to strike those men across the bridge, and then send your cavalry back to Metz, but it may be easier to hold the bridge. I will leave this matter to your discretion Sir Welf, but if you fight do so with the goal of preserving enough men to hold the bridge and a siege at Metz.

So, let me update matters with the remaining desirable actions in order of priority, given that the siege of Bologna is being undertaken right now (I hope you snagged those two companies just north of you TC. Captain Dimarus, crossbowmen and foot knights. Just noticing I forgot to move them into your army!):

1. Dijon. The small French force facing Captain Gunther does not technically need to be fought in order to relieve Dijon, as I am certain they would withdraw in the face of Gunther's superior troops, however the ideal situation would be to drive them off completely so that they are not present to threaten to reinforce the army of Lancers. Sir de Cervole has volunteered a time when he can manage this, and I greatly hope that Count Ruppel can sally soon afterward, before our season closes. If Hermann Steffen can get to it sooner it is a battle of little consequence, and he would be welcome to do so, simply do not take the Kaiser with you.

2. Madgeburg. Given the uncertainty of the situation here, things are what they are. I may request permission of Duke Dieter to (autocalc) handle a sally myself as in the worst case of a failure to drive them off the enemy will at least be damaged and unlikely to proceed with their attack.

3. Vienna. A glance at the situation makes it almost inevitable that the Hungarians are prepared to attack Johann Zirn in the coming season. There's an insignificant force directly in front of him that I'd like to see driven off, but such is not very important and if it isn't done I'll pick some good looking defensive terrain for him and place him on it. As Lord Becker has requested another cannon to the north, and Count Zirn already has one, I may send the one available at Vienna north rather than train another in Prague without knowing if Prague is plagued or not.

The rest are just minor movements and touch-ups which I will do at the end of the turn.

God grant you victory Duke Steffen!

Fritz von Kastilien

OOC: Heading out for a bit now. Looking forward to good news when I get back.

[AussieGiant]

TC

I just loaded up 1360-4. It seems to be before you took Bologna not after.

Cheers
AG

[TinCow]

You made my heart skip for moment. I checked and the 1360-4 save I have in my save folder is indeed after I took Bologna. I have not checked the one I uploaded, but just in case I re-uploaded the save.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-4a.zip