Pics & History of your Empire

[gollum]

Originally posted by Asai Nagamasa
I've been playing an Aragonese campaign the last few nights and had a disasterous defeat in Murcia against the Almohads. My crusade there was utterly trounced by The Almohad Militia Sergeants and Muwahid Foot. My Jinetes didn't get off even a single volley! This is not the superior AI though, but me being a crap player. I wasn't concentrating and let my armies get into a mess. What is so great about MTW is that it punishes you for this unlike later games where you'd get away with it. My kingdom has been on the brink of civil war also and this latest defeat hasn't helped much.

Nothing better than such campaigns. Such deteats can make the whole campaign memorable and worthwhile and i certainly had plenty!

[Garnier]

I had the king and his heirs in Wales, that's the only province they got. They had their knights and a few militia, so it was easy to wipe them out.

However, I have no idea what to do now... Loefwine was 37 when the civil war occured and he became king, and there were no heirs of course, and he died before any came of age. How to people last after civil wars when this happens?

[caravel]

Bad luck, so that's it?

If you're backing the rebels you need a younger general and it's a good idea to marry him off to one of your princesses before hand (in fact marrying off some of your princesses, if you have any, to all of the best disloyal generals is a good move in case the general you expect to does not take over). This might boost his loyalty a bit so a few failed treason plots should wear him down again. I try to time it to when the disloyal general dies of old age (and is replaced by one of identical stats) then I flip the final switch and hope for the best. It's always a lottery though.

You can also try the .unfreeze. cheat to generate an heir. But you need at least 16 years of life left in the king.

[Garnier]

Here's a screenshot I took of a battle in my new Aragon Campaign. Spain invaded Portugal on the same turn that I did, so we had a big battle. It was a complete massacre of the Moors, we killed 500 and captured 1500, but they didn't pay ransom, so there was a lot of blood on the field that day...

[caravel]

Very nice.

Somewhat coincidentally this is my current Aragonese campaign:


This one has been almost constant war. I had managed to wipe out the Spanish, but they reappeared a few years later. I am sandwiched between my hated enemies the French and my one time ally (neutral for now) the Spanish. To top it all, the Almohads have also reappeared. At one point I held Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica and have already wiped out the Italians, but had to abandon these provinces as the troops were needed urgently at home.

[PershsNhpios]

Ach! What grandeur and epic rewards are to be had in an early Iberian campaign!

It is the most bloody section of Europe, the most heavily contested peninsula!
You two have me pining for XL Tyberius!

Garnier, I had a similar experience, read my testimony to Aragon on the forums.
In one, 'Winner Takes All' battle I saw Castile, Portugal, Almohads and my Aragonese on the same field in Cordoba - it was magnificent.
Portugal is often a horrible challenge, but rewarding.
In fact, Portugal is usually one of the more challenging factions in all mods I have played - XL, Tyberius, Pike & Musket, and NTW.

I wish you both good luck, Aragon makes for a wonderful campaign.

---

Now, I have a question - it seems in that screenshot that the camera is much lower to the ground than is normal - is that correct, Garnier?
Is there a way to lower the camera - to heighten the zoom?

[caravel]

Now, I have a question - it seems in that screenshot that the camera is much lower to the ground than is normal - is that correct, Garnier?
Is there a way to lower the camera - to heighten the zoom?

Add the "-ian" command line argument to the target line of your MTW shortcut(s). The zoom should then be totally unrestricted.

e.g.

"C:\Medieval - Total War\Medieval_TW.exe" -ian

[gollum]

You can turn the tooltip off from the drawer panel behind the mini map, so we can admire your screenshots better Asai Nagamasa.

[caravel]

After yet more provocation from the Spanish and French there was only one course of action.


So far I've had about 5 excommunications and 3 civil wars. I'm now starting to get some income flowing and have begun training Arbalests, CMAA and Handgunners.


Thank you gollum, I have only "auto manage taxes" and tooltips enabled, the rest are turned off.

[gollum]

Originally posted by Asai Nagamasa
After yet more provocation from the Spanish and French there was only one course of action.

That oldie but goldie one

Seems quite an adventurous campaign Asai Nagamasa - it reminds me a particularly fun one i ve had in vanilla/GA/high/hard/large/Aragonese. You get to capture Naples and Sicily to complete the Homelands GA that really matter - and in the process you have to defunct the Spanish, defeat the Almohads and then tread with the Italians, Sicilians under the supervision of the Pope. I ended up uniting the southern Italian parts of the Kingdom with the parts of origin in the Iberia by Conquering France and Northern Italy and in the process supplanting (unwillingly) the Holy Father... This provided for satisfaction guarnateed for all the rest of the campaign through persistent and frequent Papal reappearances in the middle of my expansionist campaigns in Germany.

Charging furiously Chivalric Knights in melee pockets while bugging enemy cavalry down with ones infantry, V shaping crossbows/arbalests to create envelop fire killing zones, give ambush and chase remorslesly with Jinettes (with all that speed, decent melee and morale who cares about javelins?)

MTW players end up writting war memoirs without actually having ever been in one

By the way - you should try GA - its reallly a nice way to play the game. Unfortunately that can only be done in the vanilla map but its worth it imho.

EDIT It can be done in your map too - but it will give you hell to rearrange if you have shuffled provinces like for example Finland - especially provinces associated with hold-on-such-period GA goals.

French is the best catholic, HRE/English/Spanish/Italians/Almohads/Poles are nice too. Egyptians and Turks also have unique flavors (you get say points for Jihad recapturing Crusader kingdom Provinces like Antioch etc in early) as do the Russians and Danes. Hungarians are poor, and Byzantines somewhat too; i mean that they have no *special* historical missions, like say build up your core province or build such and such building by then or have such and such provinces in that date (like say the HRE missions for the HRE).

Aragon while doesnt have specials it has an interesting and demanding homeland course, especially since you start really small and sandwitched.

[Garnier]

Aragon's glorious achievement is to hold Aragon, you get 5 points, and their conquest bonus isn't much. It would be impossible for me to win GA as Aragon without blitzing everything, which is not what I do. I am content to just hold spain and invade up into France when my troops are bored.

[gollum]

Aragons GA in high Mr Garnier is the historical course to capture the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and supplant it (the Sicilian Vespers infamous episode). Your homeland becomes Aragon, Sicily, Naples (and also Sardinia - or Corsica cant remember) in high (and you get something like 4-5 GA points for each IIRC). This however requires resources (and a navy) which in turn requires land and a defensible position that is you have taken over the Spanish Homeland and defeated the Spanish and Almohads. Then you take it to the sea and battle Italians and Sicilians while trying to avoid excommunication which is quite fun imho.

In any case as the Spanish factions/Almohads there is hardly any need to Blitz unless you want to. Spain is the most fertile area of the map together with the Levant.

[Garnier]

Ah, you're right. I am playing the Early campaign where they have nothing interesting or even worthwhile for a GA campaign.

I just had a memorable moment, one royal knight of mine who I've had for the entire game earned his 9th valor by killing the English king in single combat, it was great. That same knight killed 37 in the next battle, he's going to be a superb warrior some day. All the rest of the knights in his unit die off during battle but he's always there and the end slaying away.

[seireikhaan]

Alright then! Time to continue my reports on the Honda, at last!

This unfortunately won't be the most eventful of accounts- from where I left off, I was in an incredibly strong position, ready to steamroll; and, at last, here it is.

I began picking off small factions, one at a time, while slowly expanding my navy's reach further and further. The tiny Asai and Ukita(led by an Asakura? ) clan stood no chance in the wake of the terrible Honda storm:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

These were my victims in the west- the first to bear the brunt of my armies. However, there was more to be had- several provinces were still led by mere rebels; Inaba and Bizen chief among them. The battles here were equally short and brutal, as the only difference was more peasants to scatter, though Bizen admittingly held a semblance of a real army.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

and

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With the rebels swept under heel, I decided to turn my attention to an old pest- the Sanada faction on the island of Ajiwa. They still held a fairly formidable army insofar as being such a small faction. I planned according to deal with them:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Following a bit of viscious back and forth, the Sanada Daimyo was caught in melee by a valourous unit of warrior monks, and met the ultimate fate:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Sanada army already on the brink of destruction, it finally fled absent their leader:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With the Sanada clan vanquished finally and yet another thorn removed from my side, I sent troops via a naval invasion to seize the property of the one-province Amako clan. The battle? Reminded me of invading Denmark in vanilla MTW.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hence, not terribly competitive, but rather annoying. The lovely climb didn't help terribly either:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Despite winning the casualty rate war, the Amako could not withstand my might and were put to flight:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Now, there are but three clans left in all of Japan- Myself, control of all the east, all the central, and much of the west as well; the Mori, in control of a small strip of land on the west coast of Honshu; and the Otomo, who have a one province foothold on Honshu, in addition to controlling the entire island of Kyushu. The Mori are poor and weak- they have few armies, and no navy. The Otomo, however, are an animal unlike any I've yet fought; they are wealthy and powerful, both on land, with at least 5 full stacks of troops at their disposal, and at sea, with a strong enough presence to protect their homelands from easy incursion. It is time to set up the final showdown- I begin with a simultaneous invasion of every Mori province; the results are not terribly pretty.

In Izumo, my highly skilled archery wins the day, shattering the peasant crossbowmen with ease before my cavalry brush them by with an easy charge:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In Bingo, the cowardly Mori Daimyo, Terumoto refuses to come to terms of battle, fleeing the field before any engagement can take place; some may call it tactical retreat, others may call it running scared.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And lastly, in Bitchu, a small Mori army lay in defense behind a river, undoubtedly hoping the natural protection would save them.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

However, naught could keep their meager forces from being smashed in a frontal assault:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Though they would inflict a few casualties, the Mori peasants were ultimately ragdolled from the field:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Mori Daimyo, having retreated as mentioned earlier, found himself with no place to retreat to.
He was taken captive by Honda forces, and executed for insolence and generally being in the way. Following a few quick, uneventful sieges, the Mori cease to exist. Japan now exists in an uneasy state; the powerful, hungry Honda and the stalwart Otomo are all that remain. The time for the ultimate showdown... will have to wait until next time!

A last peek at Japan:

[bamff]

Great stuff sereikhaan! And here was me thinking that Honda don't make steamrollers!

Looks like a few naval engagements to be settled as a prelude to the final face-off.

[seireikhaan]

First, a prelude.

An uneasy peace exists between the final two sovereign clans of Japan- the Honda, controlling 96% of the wealth of all of Honshu, as well as all of Shikoku. The Otomo, controlling the island of Kyushu, with the smallest of footholds on the western corner of Honshu. And yet, despite these vast differences in wealth, with both countries tensely guarding their border, each clan has mustered equal garrisons. Both Daimyos, Otomo Shikayo and Honda Nakatsukas, were rapidly aging in their 50's, and aristocrats on both sides knew that there was a slim chance that peace could outlive both of the Daimyos, when such an opportunity for glory could be had in their golden years. Indeed, their predictions would hold true. In 1651, Shikayo took his chance, ordering his navy guarding his precious homelands to strike at the enchroaching Honda. During the spring, continuous battles across the straights dividing Honshu and Kyushu took place. Initially, the Otomo forces struck a great victory in the Suo Sea; however, as the season progressed, the tides began turning in the favor of Honda- victories off of the coasts of Bungo, Bizen, Tosa, and Iwami crippled the comparably small Otomo navy. Over half of the Otomo navy was lost in the catastrophe. Shikayo, oddly enough, decided against attempting a first strike on land, instead fortifying his position in Nagato.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Of course, Nakatsukasa could not allow this treachery to stand. Gleeful upon his general triumph at sea(though ordering, of course, further naval expansion to be sure of his position), Nakatsukasa ordered his entire garrisons from Suo and Inami to march on the Otomo stronghold of Nagato, with the goal of extirpating the Otomo presence from Honshu. Meanwhile, his navy was to reorganize and eliminate the last Otomo armada patrolling the thin waters of Suo.

In Nagato, perhaps the most epic clash of forces was to ensue in the entirety of the Sengoku Jidai, far surpassing even the great conflict between Satake and Honda. All told, over 8,000 men were to take to the field. Both the Honda and Otomo forces were led by great commanders, led by Honda Masanobu and the legendary Hattori Hanzo, who was, as is evident from his portrait, famous for the great craftsmenship of bows he created as well as phenominal personal skill. Certainly not the kind of person to fiddle with swords.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Upon the beginning of battle, the two forces immediately began to align themselves for engagement. Hanzo took a deceptively steep hill, while Masanobu slowly worked his army through a small forest to the west to avoid having to traverse the hill in a direct attack. Finally, both armies were evidnetly satisfied, and a terrific duel began between each sides's foot archers. As Hanzo slowly began wheeling his mounted archers to aid in the duel, Masanobu began withdrawing his own ranged forces inside the haven. Hanzo took the bait, advancing his ranged forces gradually from the haven of their hill. Pouncing on the opportunity, Masanobu ordered a surprise attack, as heavy cavalry burst from the forests, followed by a small cadre of monks, and the re-emergence of Honda archers. The Otomo vanguard was quickly battered back. Hanzo ordered the rest of his first army to advance and resque the vanguard. No fool, Masanobu reacted, pulling his troops back.

Then, Masanobu would be completely taken off guard. It was reputed, according to a source from the Hamatomo guard, that he had almost left his horse as he leapt in shock. The entirety of the Otomo army, following a mere skirmish, was retreating!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Stunned, yet suspicious, Masanobu held his position for many days, making sure that a trap had not been laid. Yet, amazingly, what he saw had been true- Hattori Hanzo had retreated from the field with a good 4,000 troops.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Unfortunately, due to Masanobu's steadfastness, the Otomo army had boarded its navy in the Suo waters, and retreated back to the island of Kyushu well intact, though a few devoutly loyal troops were ordered to stay in the castle, to ensure no chase could have been made.

Back in Satsuma, an aged and ill Otomo Shikayu lay in his bed, spending more than 20 hours per day asleep, attempting to recover from a devastating illness. In late fall, a messenger arrived in the court with a message for the Daimyo; Hanzo had retreated, forsaking Nagato to Honda. As the chamber bustled with the news, the emissary was guided to the bed chamber. As the door slid open, tears could be heard; the wife of the proud Damiyo was found, head bent over her still husband, droplets falling onto the elderly man's unmoving face.

News of Shikayu's passing traveled fast throughout the island of Kyushu; many were worried that it was an omen that the Daimyo would die the same time as Nagato fell under siege. The new Daimyo, Tabito, was young and inexperienced, though his tutors claimed he was quite astute while he as a student, particularly in matters pertaining to the military.

However, this news would not be enough. For soon, the Honda navy expanded further, encompassing the entire island of Kyushu while completely eliminating the last Otomo navy. Moreover, Nagato soon fell to Honda, and with an additional 1,000 troops added to the garrison, it seemed ever more likely that an invasion across the channel would soon begin. Tabito, however, would rally his people, with naught but the most impressive and glorious battle portrait ever made, one that would surely survive for all time:




Rallying his troops in Buzen, the province closest to Honshu, Tabito prepared for what he felt was an almost assured invasion across the channel. Little did he know that Nakatsukasa had a trick up his sleeve...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

to be continued...

[PershsNhpios]

Do I hear any bets on the Otomo?

Any bets on the Otomo for Tokugawa?

[seireikhaan]

In 1656, at the age of 55, Daimyo of the Honda Clan, Honda Nakatsukasa VI ordered the beginning of the final phase of what was to be his ultimate triumph. The shallow distance of the Suo Sea between Honshu and Kyushu was to serve a great purpose; with an army of over 5,000 men ready at a moments notice to cross the channel, he knew the fledlging Otomo Daimyo, Tabito, would have no choice but to guard against the direct invasion. Thus, Nakatsukasa was able to fulfill the stratagem of the legendary Sun Tzu; to raise an uproar in the north, while striking to the south. With 80% of Otomo forces bound to defend Buzen in the northeast, Nakatsukasa ordered the daring Honda Nobushige to land an army of 1,500 in Osumi, on the soutern coast of Kyushu. Nobushige encountered scant resistence; indeed, when the meager Otomo forces saw Nobushige's army approaching, they fled for their lives, abandoning the entire province to Honda control.

With his foothold in Kyushu, Nakatsukasa ordered Nobugshige to march ownards, north to Hyuga, while sending another 800 men under the command of his brother, Tadakatsu, to reinforce Osumi. Again, Nakatsukasa encountered no resistence, as yet another province surrendered to Honda rule. As Nobushige marched on Hyuga, an even more glorious event occured for the Honda dynasty; the maturation of Nakatsukasa's only son, Nakatsukasa. Nakatsukasa VII, unfortunately, was none to bright a man; indeed, many a noble whispered in secret that they wondered whether he was a proto-human, due to his dim nature and preponderance of facial hair:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As it would turn out, the maturation could not have come at a better time; for only a mere two years later, Nakatsukasa VI would lay on his death bed. As he slipped from this life to the next, it was rumored that he showed no fear, merely contentment.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nakatsukasa VII, despite his dim nature, did at the least know this; many did not respect him, and as such, he would have to earn it. Upon his ascension to the rank of Daimyo, he immediately ordered another 700 to sail to Kyushu.

Honda forces continued to roll up the western flank of Kyushu, with more provinces surrending outright. T'was not not until Higo that a conflict would ensue, between Tadakatsu and Otomo Yoshiaki.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Tadakatsu's forces scaled a small hill separating the two forces using cavalry and teppos to hold the hill while the rest of the force calmly marched up the hill:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Following a few small engagements betwen the two forces, it became clear to Yoshiaki that the battle was unwinnable; and thus, a strategic retreat was issued:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The victory for Tadakatsu was not won yet, however. For in two years, a larger force from Otomo was sallied from every nearby province, to recover Higo.

The battle to retake Higo began with Tadakatsu arranging his forces on a steep hill, hoping terrain could play for him an easy victory.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

However, it was clear that this was where the Otomo would make their stand. For nearly every Otomo soldier fought to the death, pushing Tadakatsu's Honda forces to the brink at a couple moments, with Tadakatsu himself having to take to the sword on occasion to aid in repulsing the attack. However, when Yoshiaki fell to the sound of a teppo crack, the Otomo morale finally broke, and the few remaining soldiers fled the field:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With the rescue of Higo a failure, the Otomo forces outside of Buzen were shattered totally. Honda forces took advantage, racing up the west coast of Kyushu with reckless abandon. Each province's forces withdrew to their castles, hoping for relief that could not possibly come. Meanwhile, back in Buzen, times were getting desperate for the Otomo. Tabito was forced to leave the province for Chikuzen, for fear of his own safety, as grumblings grew louder about the impossibility of their mission. As Hizen in the northwest fell under siege to Honda forces,, the final straw as drawn. Debts were piling up, as more and more tax income was lost and the army expanded. Nobles were increasingly insecure. For Otomo Tabito, the combination would prove to be his undoing, as rebellion against his increasingly weak authority took hold:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The province of Bungo was lost altogether, and over 1,500 troops rebelled in Buzen. Though Tabito would retain authority in Buzen, his forces were severely weakened by the rebellion. Seeing his opportunity for ultimate glory, Nakatsukasa VII ordered the final march to destiny:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As Bungo, Tadakatsu was joined by Tabito, who sallied with his guard and but one man, a legendary kensai, resulting in a three-way battle between the rebels, Tadakatsu, and Tabito.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Tadakatsu attempted to arrange his forces to a nearby hill, while Tabito attempted to split his forces; he himself attempted to defeat the rebels with no help, while his Kensai was to engage Tadakatsu's forces. Of course, Tadakatsu was having nothing of the sort, targeting the lone man with every teppo and bow available, slaying him before any substantial casualties could be caused. Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Tabuto would perish in an ignoble death, a desperate struggle against mere rebels:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With the Otomo forces finished, the rebel soldiers attempted to advance upon Tadaktsu's position, but were thwarted before even reaching hand to hand combat:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With the rebels and Tabito finished, the battle belonged to Tadakatsu once again:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Chikuzen, having been vacated by the now deceased Tabito, fell without resistance to Honda forces, leaving one, final battle for total domination:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Though Otomo Yakamochi put forth a noble effort to stave off the Honda assault, there was simply too much for the man to handle himself. Honda forces gradually pushed Otomo forces backwards across the battle, eventually reaching hand to hand with Yakamochi himself. Yakamochi would die a noble, honorable death on the field of battle:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With their general killed and the balance of battle increasingly against their favor, the remaining Otomo forces withdrew from battle in despair:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With Honda victories, the Otomo clan was finished, once and for all, leaving Honda as the only clan in Japan:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

All that needed resolving were the final sieges of the rebels. While the years passed and sieges continued, Nakatsukasa sent his top diplomats to Kyoto, to confront the Emperor. During negotiations, he requested formal recognition as Shogun of all Japan. The Emperor refused, stating that unless there could be evidence that Nakatsukasa VII was a descendant of the Minamoto, he could not be the legitimate Shogun. Upon hearing this, Nakatsukasa VII threw a fit, until he could be calmed by his advisers. Upon having decapitated a fourth hapless courtisan, he finally sat down, reflecting, and asked his advisers what could be done. The solution, he was told, was simple; devise an Accord, whereupon he would invent a link to Minamoto through marriage at some point 300 years ago to the Honda clan. Nakatsukasa VII agreed, and set his top scribes to the work of creating this Accord for the emperor. In 1670, as the last rebellious castles were falling to Honda forces, Nakatsukasa VII journeyed himself to Kyoto along with a caravan of diplomats, scribes, and soldiers, to persuade the Emperor to instigate himself as Shogun.

The Emperor, however, was no fool; he knew he could not deny this Accord and survive. For Honda now held military rule over all of Japan.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He merely needed the lineage, even if obviously falsified, to legitimize his own decision to instigate Nakatsukasa VII as Shogun. The meeting proved a highly productive one; the Emperor officially signed the Honda Accord into law, signaling a new Shogunal reign. The new Honda shogunate would prove to be great in peacefulness and longevity. Under the sound structure and functional design of the Honda Accord, Japan would thrive for the next 200 years.

[naut]

Well played Shinseikhaan.

Under the sound structure and functional design of the Honda Accord, Japan would thrive for the next 200 years.

Haha. Good one.

[gollum]

Nice AAR shinseikhan, may Honda rule never be endangered by the Kawasaki rebels

[Durango]

May Honda continue to triumph in battle against Ryu, Ken and the devious Chun Li

[bamff]

A fitting finale to a great campaign, Shinseikhaan!

PS Loved the "Honda Accord"!

[seireikhaan]

Thanks guys.

[Ludens]

[Knight of the Rose]

Excellent campaign Shinseikhaan, very enjoyable read. I hope we see more from you in the future!



/KotR

[Ingersoll]

My 1st attempt |

Expert MTW-VI:XL:Tyberius 3.0

The grand master (German: Hochmeister; Latin: Magister generalis) is the holder of the supreme office of the Teutonic Order.

1206
Grand Master Otto I [Otto von Kerpen]
Training up two emissaries followed by some halberdiers for defense.

1207 Everyone wants to be my friend.

1208 Sending two emissaries to Estonia to bribe the local rebels.

1209 Score! Estonia is mine. Had to send a few troops to keep the peasants subdued!

1210 Building up anything that brings in $$'s alternating with things that give better units/weapons/defense.

Money is tight, having to scale back on troops to buy things that produce more money. Too poor to attack anyone.

1218 The Novgorods are looking weak, time to expand the borders of the empire!
My "allies" the Swedes intervened with a larger army and took the Novgorod province. Drat them Swedes!

[Waiting]

1230 Grand Master Otto I has died and the crown passed to his son Otto II

1231 Prince Werner is born, followed by Prince Lothar & Prince Ludolf

1251 Grand Master Otto II has died and the crown passed to his son Ludolf I

[More Waiting]

1265 A back was turned, an army away, Lithuania is mine! Build Build Build!
Swedes to the North, East and West, Poles to the South. Waiting for someone else to make a mistake.

Marrying my Princesses to the best generals and the best income governors seems to be paying off.

[Waiting]

1271 The Swedes were off campaigning and my best general Lord Karolinger (5 stars) took Novgorod and Smolensk!

1275 Muscovy has fallen! The Golden Horde is raiding across my borders, not strong enough to beat them back everywhere.

1281 Grand Master Ludolf I has died and the crown passed to his son Lothair I
Build Build Build! Need some ships in the Baltic to keep those excommunicated Swedes off my back.

1285 Chernigov has fallen to my Teutonic Knights! The Golden Horde counter-attacked but lost 5 to 1 against my staunch

halberdiers! Silly horsemen!

1286 A double team of my emissaries bribed the rebels in Prussia! Money is the grease in the gears of progress!

1288 Ryazan and Volga-Bulgaria have fallen to my Teutonic toughness!

1290 Lesser Khazar is mine! The Seljuks have been minding their own business as my allies in Khazar.

1292 Khan Khogadi I of the Golden Horde has been eliminated, no runs, no hits and no heirs.
Now there can be peace, a time for building up army reserves and farm land.
"An army travels on it's stomach" Napoleon Bonaparte

[A good time to SAVE the game, brew some java] 10:30pm

1295 Return to Finland by chasing out those Swedes (now I'm excommunicated)!
Allied with the Sicilians to attack the Seljuks in Khazar and Georgia.
Building Farms, Merchants, Banks & Hospitals for Florins.
Ports generate some income too. Every little bit helps the coffers.

1300 Khazar has fallen, Georgia was lost to a Seljuk counter-attack. Bigger armies are needed.

1305 Return to Georgia bringing my 7 star general, Lord von Wittelsbach, Duke of Chernigov, Commander of the Teutonic

Crusaders (and my son-in-law)

1310 Invaded Trebizond, Rum and Armenia, the Ayyubids have intervened to help their fellow Muslims the Seljuks, but not

today! I routed them both out of Rum (the breadbasket of the Middle East). The Lithuanians have reappeared in Sweden and I

made them disappear just as fast as they beat the Danes.

1315 Trebizond and Armenia have fallen to my armies, the Ayyubids have turned on the Seljuks and destroyed them. One less

thing to worry about. The Ayyubids desire a ceasefire and of course I agree. Time to lick wounds and regroup and strengthen

the armies of the East. Much More Building.

From Sweden to Rum all is Teutonic Territory!
Magister Hospitalis Domus Sancte Marie Theutonicorum Jerosolimitani
("Master of the Hospital House of St. Mary of the Germans at Jerusalem")

Finally I have the right balance of buildings to start recruiting those Teutonic Knights and Teutonic Foot Knights. I can

rebuild and restock my 6 and 7 star Teutonic Knight Generals, stack them with some foot knights and kick and get some booty.

1318 The Ayyubids have declared Jihad on Rum, I attack, Anatolia has surrendered and Lesser Armenia is under siege.

1322 Unrest in Anatolia and Lesser Armenia, Seljuks have reappeared, Boo Hiss. Chasing the Ayyubids around the Middle East.

Got the Pope to OK a crusade to Mesopotamia, Going to the Holy Land!

1325 Antioch, Edessa, Syria and Mesopotamia have been liberated. Keeping large army troops there makes them so happy!

1328 Norway has been lost to the Rebels, Rebels lost to me.

1331 Palestine and Arabia have been overwhelmed and assimilated. More large armies needed to keep populace from rebellion.

1331 Grand Master Ludolf I has died and the crown passed to his son Dietrich I

11:45pm, time for R & R, Game Save and Goodnite

[bamff]

Nice work Ingersoll!

[chrisRRR]

Yes that was a nice read Ingersoll!

I really must get this XL mod... does anybody know if there is a no-cd patch for it or a way to run it without the use of a cd? My cd is very old and the computer can't seem to read it properly anymore...

[drone]

This is why the Vatican hires Swiss guards now. Any guess which button I hit next?

Money is tight, and I haven't really been able to execute prisoners, but I couldn't resist and I had to knock down the Pope's army for strategic purposes. This is also the first time I've been able to mass enough solid cavalry to capture so many troops. Mounted Sergeants just don't cut it in Late.

[Axalon]

Drone....

I would have been sooo disapointed in you if you had not slaughtered those prisoners! It is your solem and holy duty to be utterly ruthless in cases like this one. I only wish that CA would have expanded some on this fine and most honorable vice....

- Cheers