Ericssons' toil: A Danes story

[Zain]

(This is a very play by play diary of my current Danish campaign. People Can post here if they would like, I would love getting some readers! )

The starting of an Empire, and the Battle of Tryggvasson

1088 AD:
Thorgils Thorsteinsson of Denmark, a good honest man and second highest ranking man in my empire behind the family members was named the Earl of Denmark.




1089 AD:
We hear from the Papacy officials that all of our armies have been counted up, and our giant neighbors from the South, the Holy Roman Empire, have the strongest army.



With hearing this information, and foreshadowing by the King's councelors, a string of Watchtowers were built in Denmark. Now we can see what kind of technology our German friends in Saxony and our Swedish friends have!




1090 AD:
Realizing the Germans have very advanced technology, we build a Border Fort along the South and Easy borders of Denmark. Now no one will be able sneak up on us!




1091 AD:
Pring Olaf, King Olaf's first heir, comes of age. He has a command point of 4, and is sure to lead the next few battles.




1093 AD:
We hear from the Papacy that the Spanish have the highest level of technological advances. King Olaf I is glad that they are far from us.




1094 AD:
A letter from the Novgorod rebels lets us know that the nation has been destroyed. What amazing power those citizens have up there!




1095 AD:
Pring Erik, King Olaf's second heir, comes of age. Although he is less of a commander then his brother, Prince Olaf, he is more of a strict general, and so therefore, he promotes more of a disciplined army.




1097 AD:
War between the two superpowers of Europe, the French and the Germans, erupt. We have a strong alliance with both groups, but we have to remove one of them. We decide to eliminate our alliance with the French simply because the Germans border us, and could attack us if they wanted to.




1098 AD:
After many months of counceling, King Olaf I decides to attack our wealthy neighbors to the Northeast, the Swedish. King Olaf assigns his eldest son, Prince Olaf, to be the main genera, travel the distance, and attack them. This is Prince Olaf's first battle.

Prince Olaf is sent with 180 of Denmark's finest trained Vikings, and 19 Royal Knights to ride with him. They are met up with Burislev Tryggvasson, the Swedish Rebel leader, who has 120 men total, and all of them Vikings.





Prince Olaf finds his courage, and with his booming and powerful voice he issued the order to begin ascending toward their foes.



Prince Olaf and his Royal Knights hang back and wait for their enemies to retreat. While they do this, the 180 Vikings attack Tryggvasson, and his 120 men. The battle begins!!!



Tryggvasson and his men fight bravely, and take out many of Prince Olaf's men.



Thorkel Sturlasson, a sub general of a Danish Viking group, manages to cut out Tryggvasson's legs from under him. Tryggvasson lets out a startling cry, and his men hear. With knowing that their beloved general is lost, they begin to retreat.



A great pursuit is created between the two armies. Tryggvasson's able bodied men try to flee, with Prince Olaf and his men tailing being, cutting them down as they catch up.



The battle ends, and 26 of Tryggvasson's men are able to flee to Norway. They are lucky we could not continue our chase!



Many deaths result from this battle...



Prince Olaf and his men return to the battle site, where they count up their dead, and their opponents carcases. Then, they burn the Swedish corpses, and bury their beloved soldiers on the battlefield, with every name written and recorded.

65 men are lost, including 64 Vikings, and one of Prince Olaf's best friends, a Royal Knight. Also, we killed off 73 of Tryggvasson's men, and captured and injured 21, as well as Tryggvasson himself.



Sweden has been captured!!! Letters of apraisal are received from King Olaf and Prince Erik to Prince Olaf.



21 injured and hurting Swedish soldiers are all stored into a cell, until the decision to execute them was issued by King Olaf. Burislev Tryggvasson, now legless and crippled, was also ordered to be executed. In secret, all 21 were hanged in trees beside the Swedish capital, and Burislev Tryggvasson was beheaded by Prince Olaf himself, in front of a huge crowd in the Swedish Capital.

All of Denmark celebrate with the victory of Sweden becoming part of the Danish Empire!



(I hope you enjoyed this issue of Ericssons' toil: A Danes story!!! Stay tuned for the next issue!!!)

-ZainDustin

[Galagros]

Yay! I love these things, keep playing and post again soon.

[NodachiSam]

Nice, I like these stories too. I also know how much work they are! I wouldn't blame you if you didn't chronical every message you got.

[Zain]

Thanks guys. It did take a long time to play 10 years of MTW. Also took a long time to take all the pictures, save them, upload them, and type all this up.

-ZainDustin

[Martok]

Awesome, ZainDustin. I don't think we've really had one of these stories since Haruchai's gave us the Rise of the Cumans, and now we get to hear about your Danes and Joshwa's Germans. Yay!

[Banquo's Ghost]

Excellent story, and I like the comprehensive screenshots! Lots of work for sure, but very appreciated.

I look forward to more!

[Roark]

Love it, Zain. Thanks for putting in the hard yards with the visuals.

More?

[Peasant Phill]

Great story with those screenshots.

One remark though on the battle. Why didn't you flank? You had more men plus you had the mobility of your royal knights. let your center collide with the enemy and send your flanks to attack them in the flank (the Swedes were right behind each other) and if that wasn't possible than attack with both center and a flank and flank with the other not engaged unit. When all of the units of the enemy were engaged you can send your horses behind the enemy and charge them in the back. I bet they wouldn't hold for five seconds.

It's not my intention to criticize your command ability but proper flanking can mean the difference between victory and defeat against a better opponent, not to mention the men you save by killing and routing enemy units faster. I'm not at all a master in flanking and certainly not in timing the cav charge but these small battles are ideal for learning the small finesses of these manoeuvres.

Hope to hear more from Olaf and the Danish empire.

[Zain]

Haha, I'm so glad you guys like the story. Of course there's gonna be more!

During this battle I actually started to manuever my Royal Knights for a flank, but they moved in a straight line and so I couldn't get them to circle the battle without touching the men and surely getting into battle themselves. That's what happened to Prince Olaf's friend, the Royal Knight.

Is there a way to change their marching patterns? Because a straight horizontal line won't cut it in my strategy of battle.

Trust me, I tried to flank, but I'm not good at it.

Stay tuned for my next issue I think I can bust out this afternoon, and at the latest tomorrow!

-ZainDustin

[Divine Wind]

Great stuff Zain.

On your diplomatic strategy, i would suggest staying allied with the french would be a better option than the HRE. If you are to expand your empire early on, then you will have to attack the HRE at some time and im sure most of the HRE forces will be in the west attacking the french, leaving light garrison forces to repel your army.

Remember, even though the HRE have a huge army, its strung out across their large empire, surrounded by multiple enemies. They find it hard to consolidate and are often the first catholics to be excommunited due to being surrounded by other catholics.

Good luck and keep posting!

[Marquis de Said]

During this battle I actually started to manuever my Royal Knights for a flank, but they moved in a straight line and so I couldn't get them to circle the battle without touching the men and surely getting into battle themselves. That's what happened to Prince Olaf's friend, the Royal Knight.

Is there a way to change their marching patterns? Because a straight horizontal line won't cut it in my strategy of battle.

Trust me, I tried to flank, but I'm not good at it.
-ZainDustin

If you need to get through a tight opening, change the knights' formation to wedge, go through, position them behind the enemy formation, change back to normal formation and charge. You can change them back to normal formation while charging the enemy in the back even. I know it sounds like a lot of micro-management, but with a bit of practice it'll work and it'll really help in battles where you need to keep as many of your troops alive as possible.

Thanks for the story. I really like the amount of detail you've put into it.

[Zain]

Thanks, I guess I didn't look hard enough to see the Wedge thing.

I'll start it today, but I doubt I'll be able to post.

-ZainDustin

[John86]

Hey,
Nice Campaign, keep em coming!

[Taurus]

Nice campaign and story ZainDustin, keep 'em coming

[Zain]

Pre-battle preperations

1099 AD:
After a large nominations council, King Olaf decided to name Burislev Bluetooth, a scholar of Denmark and church member, Earl of Sweden. The loyalty of Sweden jumps by the site of a good and pious leader.




1100 AD:
The Earl of Denmark, Lord Thorsteinsson, requested to marry Princess Ingrid, the King's eldest daughter. They wed, and had the largest wedding since King Olaf's himself.



An announcement from an old Prince of Novgorod, sent into exile, was sent to King Olaf saying they were coming back, and stronger then ever. They attacked the rebels of their homeland, Novgorod.



The King of Aragon, King Sancho II, requested a marriage between his daughter, Princess Beatriz, and Prince Olaf. King Olaf graciously accepted the generous gift, and the two got married.




1102 AD:

Sweden has become more powerful with the finished product of a fort! Now they are ready to start preparing for the attack on Norway!




1103 AD:

Prince Knud, an incredibly mathematical genius, comes of age. Now we have 3 heirs, to use as amazing generals!



Watchtowers built in Sweden, and spying begins on the Norwegian rebel army.



Prince Knud sent to Sweden to govern Sweden while Prince Olaf is away. More Vikings are trained.


1104 AD:

Princess Astrid marries Lord Bluetooth, Earl of Sweden.




1107 AD:

A famine has cursed Sweden! Hundreds, and even thousands, have starved from the lack of food.




1110 AD:

In a distressing letter from the Khalif of the Almohads, we were informed that the entire faction of the Spanish have been eliminated by a combination of a Civil War and the power of the Almohads. King Olaf, although saddened by the loss of a great ally, was also happy that a huge technological rival was gone. It was a relief to know that the King simply died of a sickness, instead of suffering on the battlefield, although that is very dishonorable.




1112 AD:

The first set of two groups of archers were sent to Sweden from Denmark to confront the Norwegians. This group was lead by the Christoffer Flosason.




1113 AD:

The Byzantines have been named the land with the strongest army, and have passed up the Germans.




1114 AD:

The Novgorods have sent for a princess to marry their prince, to solidate our alliance. King Olaf gratefully accepted his offer.




1115 AD:

The French have been named the richest faction.




1116 AD:

Prince Valdemar, the fourth heir, has come of age. He is considered a great warrior, but is quite irritable, and holds grudges for a very long time.




1117 AD:

The Byzantines have been named the most technological faction. Apparently they took the title from the eliminated Spanish.



The Aragonese have been killed off by a Civil War.




1119 AD:

The army is ready, and the battle shall begin! Prince Olaf has 499 men, 120 archers, 19 royal knights, and 360 vikings.



The Norwegians, lead by Harald Loftsson, has 266 men, all vikings.



(I'll leave the battle for the next issue. )

[NodachiSam]

Here comes the battle :D Nice update Zain

[Csargo]

Good job Zain, I really like the story.

[Zain]

I'm happy you all like it. I figured you would be frustrated with making you wait for the battle til the next issue.

I was on time, I should get some kind of praise for that.

-ZainDustin

[Peasant Phill]

A slow moving campaign, I really like that. But what a violent world you King Olaf lives in. Novgorod eliminated and reemerged, Both the Spanish and Aragonese houses destroyed. The Almohads must be very powerful by now.

So what's the battle plan?
Personally I would form a two-men-deep line with my vikings with your royal knights behind it. Your archers up front can lure the Norwegian vikings to your line (which is placed on favorable terrain) and in the mean time make some kills. When they chare, you countercharge. Your line will be so long it that flanking from both sides will be possible (vikings are in the first place flankers) and with some careful manoeuvering your knights can charge the Norwegians (preferably the general) in the back when they are engaged. A clean and cheap victory.

Don't forget that Norway is very likely to rebel so keep that in mind.

I apologize if I appear a wiseguy but the screenshots make the story really immersive and I wish only the best for King Olaf and his sons.

[Vladimir]

Why didn't you bribe Harard? It looks like you had enough money and you could have made more in the long run if you put him in charge of Sweeden.

[Zain]

I've never been a briber. I perfer war over it anyway due to the money problem I usually have.

No problem Peasant Phill, I like the battle plan, and the ideas you give. I'm always open to opinions from the council.

-ZainDustin

[Odin]

Nice job with the story, I like a nice Danish campaign, brings back loads of fond memories of my early MTW playing days. I will say that I am in the camp of Vladimir with the bribe. Although I understand your desire for war, and the expirence it brings, he is a decent general with solid accumen. Bribing is certainly another means to an end, when you measure the cost of invasion (in troop losses and replacement) it might work out better in the long run.

I have no doubt you will win the battle with Norway, bring an archer or two to soften the blow, but if you havent already committed to the invasion, think about a bribe, not all wars are won by force of arms. Unifying Scandanavia will give you a solid economic base, it just take some development time but sweden is one of the richest provinces in the baltic.

[King Kurt]

The other good thing about a bribe is that there is no damage to the province so it works out quite good from a finance point of view, especially as rebels are dirt cheap to bribe So for say 1800 florins you get the troops, no losses to your army and an undamaged province - cheap at twice the price!!

[Vladimir]

So true! If you have a situation where there is a large rebel army in the field but a small garrison in the castle, bribe the troops in the castle. When you invade (and win!) there will be no damage to the infrastructure.

[Zain]

Hmm... I will think twice before attacking these guys, possibly the bribing cost will be low, and my army size will go way up!

-ZainDustin

[NodachiSam]

I bribe a lot for the reasons stated above. No damage to province as well as a ready made garrison. Also I'm a bit of a passifist... you know relatively... when I take over Europe through violent conquest. When I start a campaign I'll often bribe a nearby good provine if I can. Anyways, I'm looking forward to the next update.

[p_nutter]

Nice job Zain, please continue. But I have one question:

In secret, all 21 were hanged in trees beside the Swedish capital, and Burislev Tryggvasson was beheaded by Prince Olaf himself, in front of a huge crowd in the Swedish Capital.

How do you *secretly* behead a guy in front of a huge crowd?

[Csargo]

I think he means the 21 were hanged in secret and the other guy was killed in public.

[Zain]

Csar's got it.

[Sirron]

Good story, thank you for it.

Acumen 6 is worth a bribe, always.

In my last Italian campaign I have sent middle size army against huge Turkish force in Georgia just to get the acumen 8 Georgia governor out of the besieged castle. Battle was won with huge losses but in 2 turns I had to retreat from both Georgia and Trebizond (pushed by huge stacks).

The person mentioned (lord Piccolomini,btw) was saved and shipped from Constantinople to safety. In his present job as the governor of Flanders he brings me about 900 - 1000 fl. a year.

I wish you and your empire success in this campaign and look forward to read more.