Orders and reports thread

[Northnovas]

Vienna

The result was a draw with significant enemy casaulties.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A couple new traits for Hapsburg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Note I don't know if you want to move Jan Zirn back into Johann's Army or leave him at the bridge.

Save posted again:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1368-9.zip

[AussieGiant]

Lord Chancellor,

I can't say like this new tactic of the Hungarian's using horse archers. They simply refuse to stand still long enough to be skewer or fill them full of arrows!!

Never the less, I've secured a clear victory.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1368-10.zip

This at least clears the interior of Austria and allows us to refocus on a solid front. I've headed back east to position myself better for the other on coming Hungarian force. It seems Daruzzo is confusing the Venetian's and Byzantines for the moment.

[Cecil XIX]

Taking the save.

[Ramses II CP]

Well done noblemen, I am pleased with the situation in Austria. I hope that Vienna does not fall, but I feel certain that even if their assault is successful it will cost them most of their remaining army, and the city will be easily reclaimed.

God grant you victory Lord Becker!

Count von Salzgitter it may be possible for me to secure some mercenary archers to man the citadel at Nicosia, thus freeing more of your men to travel back east with you. We shall see what the financial situation is at the close of the season.

Fritz von Kastilien

[Cecil XIX]

Damn them! Damn those Poles! Damn thier endless stream of armies and damn the absurd, irrational strength of their forces. Sankt Michael, my army was destroyed by a bum rush of archers! On top of that, after agreeing to release the survivors of the garrison in exchange for money, they slaughtered what was left of them and took the money! To add insult to injury, somehow I have gained the reputation of not paying ransom for my soldiers! I swear to the Lord in Heaven, if those damned Poles bring any harm to Prague then all those who stand in my way of reclaiming Bohemia will be struck down with a fury the likes of which they've never seen!


http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1368-11.zip

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: I paid the ransom for the garrison, not knowing which army it was for or what would happen, and as a result the Reich is short 600 florins and Edmund has the 'Grim Commander' trait. Can we fix that with the console?

[Ramses II CP]

I am sorry for your loss Lord Becker. I am curious, did you find my advice on the battle unworkable? I warned against this very outcome if you attempted to take the Poles from the rear, as it appears you did. I would have been more content to move you near the walls and let you command the defense if you were uncomfortable with my suggested sally.

I shall do all in my power to provide you with more men to reclaim Prague. Perhaps in the interim it will be best to defend the walls of Breslau? Shall I leave your son there or bring him outside the city?

Unless anyone has further outstanding issues the season will close very soon. If you have specific requests make them known with alacrity.

Fritz von Kastilien

edit: OOC I've heard of that bug re: Ransom for garrison. Seems logical to me to remove it, but I don't really know how. Does anyone want to take a last shot at teleporting Stenkil and removing that undeserved trait from Becker?

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: Disregard the question about Fritz Becker, I see where he is. Unless someone objects I'm going to take advantage of the bug fix or exploit, depending on how you see it, of moving a garrison into a sieged city which has just lost it's garrison due to a field battle. Does that seem unreasonable or gamey? Maybe I should just try to replace the men Becker payed the ransom on?

Either way, if the Poles assault anyway, the city will fall, so it might be wasted effort.

[Ramses II CP]

The offensive season is closed gentlemen. I will be posting the Recruitment report as soon as I can make it available.

I want to state again that if you have training requests you should make them known here, you should not place them in line yourself. (OOC: Training bug!) I'm looking at you Lord Becker.

Fritz von Kastilien

OOC: I'll do the troop entry into Prague last so as to give people time to post objections. Should be an interesting defensive season.

[Ramses II CP]

1368 Recruitment and Construction Report (End of Season Report)

In Crusade news it is with great pride that I announce that four mighty nobles of the Reich have answered the call to end the French Heresy. Count Ruppel struck first, and eagerly marched all the way to the walls of Anger, where he now faces very stiff resistance to his siege (My last orders were to go forward with the siege, so I stuck with that.) Welf von Luxemburg advanced into French territory, constructing a fort north of Paris along the way. Sir de Cervole marched into the region between Bruges and Caen, and took on reinforcements from Count von Bohmen's army in order to muster the men necessary to join the crusade. Further south Hermann Steffen was reinforced by the majority of Count Erlach's army as the Count moved to join Duke Steffen. This allowed Hermann Steffen to recruit a large number of pilgrims (Or fanatics? I forget) and move to hold the bridge northwest of Marsellies. God surely smiles on the Reich when such men serve her, and will undoubtedly grant you men victory, even in the face of such terrible odds.

As before I must raise a subject of some curiosity, as another Princess in the region of Bavaria has suffered a deadly accident. Paula Basile of Sicily, another simpering slip of a spy, was struck in the head and killed between Genoa and Milan. She will not be missed.

In more useful news, the general commanding the siege of Vienna has also suffered an accident. While out hunting the man became isolated and somehow managed to fall on his own sword, costing him his life. God grant that his men pull up their camp and depart the Vienna region.

Engagements this season were almost completely successful and satisfactory. Even the captains of the Reich led armies to victory, as two armies were sent of out Venice to engage the Hungarians who were blocking the road to Innsbruck. The Town militia, though outnumbering the enemy, suffered an ugly defeat, so the remaining Spear milita were called out and defeated the Hungarian captain, whose few remaining men retreated in the direction of Genoa.



The plagued force of Captain Ehrhart drove back a small French army north of Paris.



Also in Outremer the captain of the garrison at Adana, furious that his Viceroy had been so badly injured by the Byzantines, lashed out and assaulted the citadel at Caesarea with the aid of the spy in place there. The tiny garrison was taken completely by surprise, and the citadel was rapidly taken and sacked for over nine thousand florins. (The spy was there, the men were there, and we need some wiggle room while OK is away to make sure we hold Adana. Oh, and their edict allowing it repassed too, so it was legal, and I just couldn't resist rubbing the Byzantine's nose in it. )





Covering dismissals and disbandments, all mercenary companies which had grown too small to be field effective were dismissed, and fresh men will be hired on to replace them at the earliest convenience. As well the mercenaries in the plagued army in Swabia were dismissed, and more will be hired with the savings. Also the plagued company of ribault men were disbanded, it is much to be hoped that another such group can be found next season.

The outdated Siege Works at Nicosia were sold to fund the construction of a church there, a Heavy Armourer at Acre, and the recruitment of a personal ship for Count von Salzgitter, as his presence at the citadel was required at least through the defensive season to maintain order.



Outremer
Acre: trained 3 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Antioch: trained 2 Crossbow militia, 1 Spear militia
Nicosia: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen and trained 1 Cog, 1 Feudal Knights
Adana: retrained 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Pavise Crossbowmen

Austria
Ragusa: trained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Breslau (Under Austrian control until Franconia can step forward): trained 3 Spear militia, as requested
Venice: retrained 1 Spear militia
Prague: under siege
Vienna: under siege
Zagreb: no training available

Franconia
Frankfurt: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Teutonic Knights
Hamburg: trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia
Arhus: trained 1 bombard, 1 Arquebusiers, spy
Madgeburg: trained 1 cannon, 2 Sergeant Spearmen

Bavaria
Palermo: no training
Naples: no training
Rome: trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia
Florence: retrained 1 Town militia, 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, trained 1 Town militia
Bologna: trained 1 Spear militia, 2 Town militia
Innsbruck: trained 3 Sergeant Spearmen
Marsellies: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia

Swabia
Staufen: trained 1 Feudal Knights, 2 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Bern: trained 2 Spear militia
Dijon: trained 3 Forlorn Hope
Metz: trained 3 Town militia
Rheims: retrained 1 Crossbow militia, trained 2 Spear militia
Antwerp: retrained 1 Halberd militia, 1 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia

The defensive season begins with Count Ruppel facing a very difficult sally at Anger. My initial recommendation would be that Count Ruppel withdraw from this battle, but on further consideration it is quite possible that the enemy will pursue him. I will leave the matter at his discretion. (Okay, you're in a bad spot FH. Sending you a pm about it.)

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1368-12.zip

(The remaining battles that I saw moving through were IIRC de Cervole (Very winnable) next, then Hermann Steffen (Difficult bridge battle), then Johann Zirn (Might be tough to save the city, but you'll hurt the Huns) at Vienna)

Fritz von Kastilien

[Cecil XIX]

I am curious, did you find my advice on the battle unworkable? I warned against this very outcome if you attempted to take the Poles from the rear, as it appears you did. I would have been more content to move you near the walls and let you command the defense if you were uncomfortable with my suggested sally.

Unfortunately, in order to get close enough to aid in a sally or defense I would have had to force aside one of the two Polish armies, both of which were blocking my way towards the city. My choice was to either bring one of the armies to battle, or spend an entire season marching around them. Given all the danger those two armies are capable of doing, I though it best to press the assault.

[Ramses II CP]

I understand and respect your decision Lord Becker, but I believe if you had followed my advice closely you would have brushed aside the small army before you, called the Teutons and cannon to your side, and been at the walls and thus able to command a defense or a sally. I pray to God that your decision does not have unfortunate consequences for Prague.

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Battle fought....and it was pretty tough until the end, when the AI grinded to a halt....and ...well I didn't win, but I didn't lose either. Was a draw due to time running out. Was attacked then by the French near Paris who came to Angers and had to retreat from that (uhhh 1:14 odds anyone?)

Save:
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/KOTR1368-13.zip

Screens and all later tonight. Need to head out.
Used mizus because my net is acting up again.

Tristan is up next

[_Tristan_]

Battle fought and won...

Few losses (but the gold chevron teutonic is gone...)





Ransom was refused

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1368-14.rar

Battle report will be up shortly

It is now GH's battle and it should be a tough one...

[TinCow]

OOC: Disregard the question about Fritz Becker, I see where he is. Unless someone objects I'm going to take advantage of the bug fix or exploit, depending on how you see it, of moving a garrison into a sieged city which has just lost it's garrison due to a field battle. Does that seem unreasonable or gamey?

Nope, I did the exact same thing with Milan during the Cataclysm.

[Ramses II CP]

Well done Count Ruppel, I am quite impressed with your exploits at the walls of Anger!

To you also Sir de Cervole, congratulations! I had a feeling the French were acting foolishly to send so small a force after you.

I hope that the masses of the faithful will aid Hermann Steffen in holding the bridge, but if it is necessary that he fall back then the city of Marsellies and her mighty walls will surely aid him.

Fritz von Kastilien

[GeneralHankerchief]

Taking the save.

Wish me luck.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

...I'm sorry, Chancellor. Try as I might, religious fanatics just could not stand up to a professional French army.

I got out with what I could to Marseille. I couldn't get much out.

I wish Count Ruppel better success in his upcoming battle at Angers.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1368-15.zip

[Ramses II CP]

The French declined to offer your men for ransom? Some means will be discovered to repay them for that. I will draw up militia forces to aid you in holding the walls Hermann Steffen, but your time on Crusade will have to wait I suspect.

Count Ruppel it appears you are once more at risk. I hope that you can find a way out of this situation again.

Fritz von Kastilien

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Chancellor, that is correct. I have not received an offer for ransom.

Unless the French want to surprise me with an early birthday present or prove to the world that they are not heretical, I am not expecting those prisoners back. As for Marseille, time will tell whether they want it back or will continue unopposed to reinforce Genoa. I thank you for the upcoming militia.

As for the Crusade, I expect that my force will no longer be of any value save for support and bait to lure the French away from Angers.

[FactionHeir]

Battle fought and won. Barely.

save:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1368-16.zip

Details of last 3 battles:
1. Odds: 1:6

2. Odds: 1:14
Retreated
3. Odds: 1:4

[Ramses II CP]

More proof that God greatly favors our cause against the French, and, of course, of Count Ruppel's brilliant generalship!

OOC: CHecking the save to see who is next and send 'em a pm.

[Ramses II CP]

Near Arhus I have successfully baited Prince Stenkil into advancing one tiny day's march south on his island. Perhaps, God willing, I can finally draw him to attack in four or five more seasons.

My messengers to Prague have stopped returning, and there is no word out of the city, but it seems certain to have fallen to the Poles. The last word from the garrison I snuck in was that the enemy had quickly smashed the gate and they were retreating to the square. I will be contacting Lord Becker regarding the situation on the ground as soon as possible. (OOC: Prague was exterminated. I'd like to give Cecil the chance to be the first to react and report on it. Might make for a good story.)

At Vienna Johann Zirn is up. May God and those new ballista towers grant you victory! (If anybody else wants to play it, here's the save:)

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1368-17.zip

Fritz von Kastilien

[Northnovas]

Picking up the save. A little scare on the file I was trying out Internet Download Manager, very handy but when I removed it, it removed the files it downloaded. The save folder under KotR went missing. Appears to have been fixed and back in order. Now to break some Hungarians!!!

[Northnovas]

Chancellor,

The city was saved the Hungarians are no more but we also suffered some casualties. Ensure the families of the Viennese Volunteers are looked after.

Save file:
http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/M2...otr1369-18.zip

Battle:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Worthy of a battle report to follow.
I saved on the Papacy turn so you should get the screenshots for 1370.

[Ramses II CP]

Excellent Count Zirn, I am very pleased Vienna was saved. Have no fear, the volunteers will be well treated I assure you.

(OOC: Events will advance after I put the lil one to bed. I'm still going to try to give Cecil some time to see about Prague.)

[Ramses II CP]

Chancellor's Report, 1370.

In summary 1368 was a year of costly victories and close defeats as the French Crusade got underway. Count Ruppel's daring expedition to the Anger region saw a vicious response from France, and though he managed to hold his ground in the area the Count's army of crusaders is much reduced. Welf von Luxemburg and Hugo de Cervole saw off substantial numbers of Frenchmen further east, and closed the season by also joining the crusade. To the south Hermann Steffen joined the crusade as well, raising a large quantity of fanatics to aid him, but was unable to hold the bridge north of Marsellies, and had to fall back to the city.

Lothar Steffen saw off the last of the Byzantine armies in Bavaria, and is preparing for the siege of Genoa with his sons and Count Erlach, while Kaiser Peter keeps a close eye on him nearby. Prinz Dieter has reached Franconia at last, and is joined by the first company of his new army, some experienced Teutons. The siege of Madgeburg was lifted, and, as expected, has begun again, while the Dane's Prince Stenkil was baited into taking one small step towards his annihilation after years of inaction.

Duke Arnold drove off the Hungarians near Zagreb while Johann Zirn nobly defended Vienna. To the north Breslau remained free, but Prague appears to have fallen. We shall await the full report of Lord Becker on this matter.



In Outremer Nicosia and Adana were defended and Caesarea was sacked, though Viceroy Matthias appears to have been injured in the fighting.

Diplomatic Report

Relations with the Papacy are outstanding. Clearly he is pleased with our progress in the crusade, and with the number of German nobles who have answered his call. England, Spain, and Denmark also send armies on crusade against the French, and join our just war.



In darker news rumor has it that the Timurids, heirs to the eastern Mongol Empire, have invaded near Baghdad. Their true target is as yet unknown, but the armies of Outremer will likely have to be built up if this invasion is to be withstood.



A spy has managed to gain entry to the citadel at Anger. Another enemy princess, this time a Danish one, has fallen afoul of a mysterious accident in the Bavarian theatre, and another Hungarian noble has managed to lose his life while on a hunting trip.

The Office of the Excherquer

The funds available for recruitment jumped substantially this season, and many of those florins were immediately spent to purchase almost all available mercenaries within the Reich's borders. In specific Welf von Luxemburg has recruited a significant company of mercenaries, and several more were hired on to garrison Nicosia and to increase Lord Becker's much reduced army. (1 more company of mercenary spearmen is available near Prague, hire them at your discretion)



Yet another Teuton's Chapter House was accepted for the Reich, this time at Staufen. The Teutonic Knights are to be lauded for their ongoing aid in this time of crisis.



The Physician's Office

North of Paris Captain Erhart's camp remains afflicted with the plague. In the north the Albanians of my retinue, striking out on their own, appear unable to entirely shake the plague as well, though there have been no deaths among the men for many years. I am very pleased to report that the plague is on the verge of being wiped out within the Reich's borders.



The War Office

Our many enemies appear to be pulling back in order to consolidate their forces and train new armies. Do not be surprised if we see large new forces in place in the coming season.

In Outremer the Byzantines and Turks appear to be warring to a stalemate on the borders of the Reich's holdings, as neither are in striking distance of even the newest of our conquests there, Caesarea. Count von Salzgitter has returned to the mainland at Antioch, having placed a large garrison on the island of Cyprus to maintain order. Viceroy Matthias still holds the Iron Bridge. (I couldn't get Salzgitter any closer to Adana, even though I trained him his own ship, without abandoning his entire army. Since Adana isn't threatened, I thought he'd be fine at Antioch.)

Bavaria was mostly quiet again, though Hermann Steffen's defeat near Marsellies may prove costly in the long run. I expect a difficult battle at Genoa in the coming season, and after that I have ships in place to begin ferrying men to Ajaccio at the Duke's discretion.

Swabia saw countless battles against the French, and a massive reduction in the total French armies present, but as noted I suspect the French are preparing to tool up their military again.

Franconia sees Madgeburg once again under siege, Breslau potentially threatened, and Arhus sedately awaiting the return of Prince Stenkil's courage.

Austria was the scene of many battles, and many more are on the horizon. My personal preference would be for one of the nobles at Vienna to strike south and take over the defense of Ragusa, allowing Duke Arnold to possibly go on an offensive through central Hungary.

The offensive season will open as soon as a few final matters are cleared up. (Specifically I believe Econ is going to buff the AI and I'd like to hear from Cecil about Prague. Also I think Johann has an odd and unfortunate announcement to make. There's been no movement on the PvP front, so no one is losing their armies... at the start of the season. We'll see where things are by the end, but for now it looks like business as usual. Regional Recommendations will have to wait until the AI is topped off. I've already added money, but I didn't try to teleport around to check it or anything.)

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1370.zip

Fritz von Kastilien

[econ21]

Good work, Ramses.

I'll buff the AI up tonight - about 12 hours from the time of this post.

[FactionHeir]

Is the season open or we waiting for econ?

[Ramses II CP]

We're in a holding pattern so the AI can get a clue and not be completely crushed this season.

[econ21]

Here you go:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1370-1.zip