The Comnenian Restoration: A Byzantium AAR

[OverKnight]

I am quite enjoying this OK, it's very well written.

Thanks Stuperman, it's a little more book keeping than I thought going in, but I am enjoying it. It makes me slow down and think about my moves. But I'm still waiting for a satisfying field battle.

No matter what faction you are, it seems the first 20 or so turns is just running around with spear militia and peasant archers.

[OverKnight]

1104

A Jihad is called for Baghdad.

Venice is now the strongest faction.

Kaisar John, having reboarded the fleet after taking Trebizond, arrives off Caffa. As has become his style, he attacks at night.

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John again divides his forces. Archers and spearmen assault two sides of the village, while John and the Vardariotai take the other two. The garrison is isolated and destroyed in increments.

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The last surviving unit huddles in the village square while it is shot to pieces, why waste men instead of arrows?

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John is proud of the way his men handled the rebels, the Empire's superior numbers were used effectively.

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The Empire's presence in the Black Sea has been fully restored.

Basileus Alexius catches up with the small Venetian force that had briefly threatened Sofia.

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None escape, and after a ransom offer is refused, none live.


1106

Agnes Herman, a Polish Princess, arrives near Sofia to negotiate trade rights. The Basileus is taken with her noble bearing, and arranges something a bit more far reaching than a treaty. Alexius's first offer is rejected, but some florins are added to sweeten the deal.

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It's time for John to settle down.

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Alexius had planned to search for eligible Princesses in western Europe, the Milanese or the Germans were considered, but he was losing patience. The Comnenus line must be secured and Agnes had several good qualities as a wife.

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The northern flank of the Empire was now secured with alliances. Of course even a marriage alliance was not iron clad, still this would allow Alexius to focus on the Venetians and the Turks, if it came to that.

The Known World:


An Imperial spy locates the Venetian Doge on the border and Alexius pursues him. Durazzo also has reinforcements on the way.

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John, a bit surprised that he now has a wife, takes ship from Caffa after building a watchtower.

[OverKnight]

1108

The Empire is now the most advanced faction, perhaps because of this, relations with Egypt fall to very poor.

John lands east of Trebizond and builds another watchtower, he is starting to become sick of them.

Alexius continues to pursue Doge Domenico, he appears to be heading to Durazzo.


1110

Domenico turns north to face Alexius, but does not attack. The Basileus decides to take matters into his own hands.

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The two armies deploy on opposite sides of a hill.

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Perhaps intimidated by the presence of Horse Archers on his right flank, the Doge abandons the high ground. Alexius, after offering up a quick prayer of grattitude, is quite happy to take this gift.

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Perhaps realizing his error, Domenico sends his archers forward. This only compunds his mistake because many of them are trampled by the Imperial Bodyguard.

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The Doge and his Slav mercenaries rush in to save the archers, but are met by the Imperial line. The Slavs, arrow bit and reluctant to fight up hill, quickly break and the Venetian leader is left with only his retainers.

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The Basileus himself slays the man arrogant enough to believe he could take on the Roman Empire. The cavalry quickly takes many prisoners. A ransom offer is refused, and the few survivors rout.

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Alexius, joined by much of the Durazzo garrison, advances toward Ragusa.

John, envious of his father's victory, continues construction of a chain of watchtowers in the mountains of northern Anatolia.

Four merchants leave Constantinople by ship to take advantage of trade resources available in Caffa and points north.

[StoneCold]

OK, you are steamrolling the AI to hell man... ease up on the pedal... :P

[gibsonsg91921]

i think hes doing so on purpose..

[OverKnight]

I'm sure the mod to boost garrisons and army spam will brake me whether I like it or not.

As for steamrolling, well I've just taken rebel settlements. As for the Venetians, they deserve no mercy as they invaded me. Not only that, but their initial move of the war was to besiege a castle with three units.

[Stuperman]

This is really good so far, I look foreward to it, and I always defined steamrolling as >1 settlement per general per turn.

If you stick to your no adoption policy, your general situation might get tight soon.