Imperator de Basileia Ton Romaion-A "The long road" M2TW AAR

**Darkarbiter** · 09-01-2007, 04:48

Imperator de Basileia Ton Romaion-A "The long road" M2TW AAR
First of all a few comments. I did a Spanish AAR quite a few months ago on anno domini 0.92 and then my computer crashed. After trying out the latest
version of anno domini I was disappointed with the number of bugs, lag of continued developement and the incredibly frustrating turn time. I've found a mod that is epic and doesn't have a frustratingly long turn time and I'm still pretty impressed by everything so I was inspired to write an AAR.
I will be playing the Medieval Eastern Roman Empire of Byzantium on medium/medium.
Rules and general guidelines
-Roleplay lots
-No cheating or reloading
-If your winning too much do something stupid (although from the looks of it I don't think I'm gonna have to be doing that too much with this mod)
-In general fight out battles... don't look at things too tacticly. If they're islamic there can only be war (and temporary peace)...
if they're Orthodox or Catholic then weigh out the situation but favour Orthodox.
-Most important of all... don't stick to the game if you don't feel like it... just because someone has died doesn't mean some photo editing can't fix it
-The Byzantines are patriotic... do not let the enemy take one of your cities... do not allow any nearby orthodox towns to become Catholic or Islamic!
-Picture before text ALLWAYS. It looks much better. *Picture of fight*
"Our men attack the castle"
I prefer people to evaluate things for themselves then see what I have to say about it. This is mainly refering to battles.
-No Adoptions
-Prefer not using mercs. ESPECIALLY ones of another religion.
-No warning 56k thumbnail crap... I really hate having to open a new tab just to look at stuff

Introduction:

Imperator Alexius is a man of effeciancy and battle. He is neither particuly bloodlusty or agressive nor peaceful and empathic. Usually weighing things out. That being said... although he is intelligent on the field of battle he is neither a very good trader or governer. Battle however is his expertise.
He is allways talking to the men and his officers about tactics and what the current state of the army is. If there is a chance where he can strike the enemy whene they are weak he will take it. He does not concider such situations as cowardly.

That being said the empires borders are not exactly expanding at the moment. However Imperator Alexius has sworn that he will retake Asia Minor before he
dies... it is rather unlikely but every man has his dreams. He hates the turks most out of anything in this world. Claiming they have corrupted the good
people who used to be part of the empire.

Prince Adronicus is very much like his father, who he greatly respects. He however prefers governing to the field of battle much to his fathers dissapointment. Because of this and also because he sometimes has a few too many to drink the feeling of respect is not allways mutual. Still things recently
have been rather good although I cannot say it has allways been that way. Andronicus is just as religous as his father. He wishes that the empire were larger but he fails to do anything about it. Sometimes when Alexius is in need of another general he will ask Adronicus but Andronicus will reject his offer and go back to governing a town or province. I think his father may be slightly unsure of whether he is the best option for the crown.

Isaac Comnenus is a noteable brother of Alexius who Alexius usually gets to command his armies if he does not. He is quite talented in politics, commanding and everything in between. Isaac is a very loyal general and rarely expresses his true views on anyone. Although I do think we can trust him and that his motives are similar to ours. If it were another situation however I wouldn't want him to be on the other side. Alexius recently sometimes feels that Adronicus should be more like Isaac. Although I don't really think many members of the caught and especially not Adronicus have caught on. Adronicus can be sometimes a bit naieve.

Nikeforos Comnenus is the youngest brother. He is usually ignored by the others but he doesn't really mind. He's the most astute of them all and would have made a great trader. Although he is shaping to be a great goverener even though he has only started recently. I'm sure after he gets accustomed to the job he will make many governing innovations.

Gavriel Branas is perhaps Alexius's most trusted advisor. He gives advice on all things from where we should expand our borders to who to trust and who not to. He is disliked by Nikeforos mainly due to a rather unfortunate event that happened a while ago but very few people know about that and not even Alexius. Gavriel Branas is usually brought along with the army to "englighten" those towns which we take or just to brighten up the army. He is a key person for the army and he most defenitly hates catholics. Fortunately Alexius does not share this view with him. Gavriel is of Kieven descent and has recently been ushering Alexius to make an Alliance with the Kieven Rus'. Alexius will bring this issue up with us soon. Gavriel most of all hates the Sicilians. They have recently taken Naples from us and that will not be forgotten... Alexius thinks this is a lost issue though. He believes we cannot afford a war against both the turks and the Sicilians at the same time. Gavriel however usually does not think of things praticly which Alexius is well aware of.

**Ramses II CP** · 09-01-2007, 06:12

Very interesting. I'd thought about doing a Long Road AAR after my current Danish one finished, but with Kingdoms out and looking buyable I doubt I'll ever get to it. You're going to run into trouble with the ages of your family members. ;)

Looking forward to some good battle reports.

**Darkarbiter** · 09-01-2007, 06:32

Originally Posted by Ramses II CP

Very interesting. I'd thought about doing a Long Road AAR after my current Danish one finished, but with Kingdoms out and looking buyable I doubt I'll ever get to it. You're going to run into trouble with the ages of your family members. ;)

Looking forward to some good battle reports.

Well played through to about 1130 and didn't have any major troubles.

**Darkarbiter** · 09-02-2007, 05:48

Chapter 1:
1080:
"Now is the perfect time to strike!".
Emporer Alexius agree's to his officers comment.
"Officers send out word to gather more men... we will attack Nicea as soon as enough men are ready. Let us take back Asia Minor and show the Muslums the power of Byzantium. In order to pay for this I will be scrapping the fleet. Since we own no overseas provinces apart from Cyprus it is hardly necassary anymore. Should the need arise for a fleet again we can allways rebuild"
"Here here"
"It is done then. Soon we will have a sizeable army in Constatineople to attack the evil turks. I will lead our army personally"
Later that year:
A rather impatiant looking messenger burst in through the door of the house we were communing our meeting in.
"My Emperor... we have not heard from our spy in Nicea for quite some time. It would appear he has been captured or killed"
"This is most troubling... we will need to starve them out or attack them directly then. Still the plan to attack will go as planned."
1081:
A turk just entered our commune. "My master wishes to talk peace". "Peace... there can be no peace tell your master about your arm"
"I am sorry I am not very good at speaking Greek what did you mean by arm"
"Guards show this man what having one arm feels like"
I doubt that the Turkish will send another emissary for peace talks again. Certainly Alexius has shown to them that he means business.
Later in 1081:
Alexius and the council are passing their time while Alexius waits for the last of the troops to arrive for the assault.
1082:

Clearly the turks had not learned the lesson from last time. Alexius was quite enraged by this proposal. "You are threatening the might of Byzantium?
We have god on our side and the biggest army on earth. Tell your master to see that he does not send another diplomat and guards... let this man walk
home blind". Most people in the court tried not to look disgusted as to get on Alexius's good side. Alexius was not really watching anyone else however.
Later 1082: Alexius and the council are still waiting for the last men to arrive. Reports say they should be here in a week.

Emperor Alexius marches towards Nicea with his men.
"Emporer Alexius our scouts report that the enemy outnumbers us 3 to 2."
"I do not care... we shall besiege their castle anyway. If dare rally we shall fight them. If the siege continues we can allways use extra reinforcements.
Do not forget that god is on our side."
1083: I don my armour as I hear the call for arms. We march the last mile to Nicea and begin setting up trench and fort networks. So far the enemy
has not made any signs of responding apart from manning the walls. A group of Armenians approach the council and Alexius. "Emperor Alexius we are mercanaries
from Orthodox Armenia and we wish to join your fight against the Turks. We hate the Turks nearly as much as you do. For a small sum we will fight by your side and join your army".
"Yes alright that seems fair. We can use any extra man we can get... if only to reduce losses. We will capture this City I assure you."
After 6 hours pass Alexius orders the stand down and only keeps a third of the army ready at any one time. It would appear the Turks are either waiting for reinforcements or for us to break off the siege. I don't think Alexius will give up until the city is taken however.
Later 1083: More men from Constantineople arrive to back us up. If we were outnumbered before the odds are very close now. Either way Alexius's commanding
will get us through.
1084: The siege continues... Gavriel has arrived to convert the populace when we break through to the city.
Later 1084: The siege is still on... with no sign of Turkish reinforcements the Turkish inside are getting anxious.
1085: A messege bearer comes in and tells us that mail armour is now relatively common throughout the technologically backward Europe. We will need to be more vigilant when fighting our foes now.
Later 1085: The turks are running quite low on food and water now. A few of them have died or given their lives away allready. We've seen a few soldiers jump off the walls due to disease and madness. We suspect that they won't last another year of this before surrender.
1086: The turks are now on half rations and have little water left. Alexius claims their surrender is just around the corner.
I awoke at 6am to the sound of shouting. The officer from our council on duty had awoken Alexius and he said that there is much sound coming from the city.
The front gates just opened and there are now men pouring out. I quickly don my armour and get into my cavlry battalion amongst the chaos.

Only time will tell the outcome of this one. Until then I shall wait.

**gibsonsg91921** · 09-02-2007, 05:51

cool AAR keep em comin

**uruk-hai** · 09-03-2007, 08:13

this is a great AAR keep up the good work!can't wait for teh next part.

**Darkarbiter** · 09-03-2007, 11:51

Thanks. Chapter 2 being posted here on Friday (it's allready up on my forums in sig)

**Darkarbiter** · 09-07-2007, 03:31

Chapter 2: The siege of Nicea

Our men are nearly formed up now. We will be ready in time for the enemy.

Alexius has ordered the men to take up a more defencible position further up the hill.

The archers are at the front ready to retreat should the enemy get close and Alexius the
other officers and me are located behind the main line ready to flank the enemy. The enemy are forming a line
just outside the gate as well now.

The enemy heavy cavlry attack one of the Armenian battalions of spearmen who didn't form up with the main line
quickly enough.

Alexius is angry with the Armenians letting him down. He does however want their losses minimized and orders a
counter attack seeing a chance to attack the enemy heavy cavlry when they are weak.

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The startled enemy take many losses and I take my chance to kill a couple of Turks myself.

Our main line being of superior quality and significantly larger holds steady. A lot of the Turk army is made up
of archers and other Auxillaries. They have not had their chance to shine in this battle and will probably end
up being wasted.

The enemy general obviously believes his life is in danger. He is running away! "Clearly the enemy general
had far too much Hash if he believed he could beat any army of mine!" Alexius is in a rather good mood at the
moment partly due to drawing turkish blood and the fact that the enemy general is running.

Alexius orders us after them!

Although Alexius has lost many of the novice members of the guard in doing so the enemy General is down to his
last few guards.

I have just killed the enemy general. Alexius will be pleased!

With the death of the enemy General most of the Turk army is routing... the battle is pretty much won! Just a bit of
a mop up job now.

We now own Nicea! This is the first step in taking back Asia minor! The turks will not recover from this loss easily!

**Magraev** · 09-07-2007, 09:27

Great start on the AAR. Good luck.

A small plea: Could you keep the picture-sizes slightly smaller? The widest pictures are too big to be seen without scrolling, and that pulls the text out too making it annoying to read.

**Darkarbiter** · 09-08-2007, 07:25

Hmm I guess it's a matter of quality vs convenience. I run my game at 1280x1024 so they certainly won't get any bigger soon. I think I'll keep pictures small for non battle scenes.
What resolution are you running your comp at?