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So, started a Lithuania Campaign two weeks ago. Stainless Steel 6.3 VH/VH, RR, Longer Assimilation and Permanent Watchtowers.
Started by crushing the Teutons in a 10 turn war that ended when I offered them Vassalage. They haven't bothered me since and are sitting quietly in Riga with their half-stack.
Crushed Denmark when they tried to fight and made them a vassal. Novgorod I attacked after they picked a war with another ally (Poland I think). Grabbed enough territory and prepared for the Mongols. Soon after, I attacked Kiev and crushed them until the Hungarians (my allies) made them a vassal when I was a turn short of eliminating them.
It delayed me for all of 3 turns, as Hungary went to war with Byzantium, who was allied to Kiev breaking their little tryst and allowing me to finish the job without the reputation blow. The Mongols arrived at this time to finish off Novgorod for me. Immediately fortified all the river crossings near Azaq in the South, and filled Novgorod/Smolensk with spearmen and archers.
They proved quite useless. For some reason, the Mongols wanted peace with me and have shifted most of their troops to the south against Turkey and Egypt. Got trade rights with them and map info, then waved them away before turning my sight to the West. It might have something to do with being the only other Pagan nation....
Poland was dominating Europe about 40 turn ago and were making headway into France until the Pope called a Crusade on them. That meant my Christian Allies were going to war and as much as it pained me too (not really), I chose to take the Pope's side. The fact that I rushed into the unprotected rear of Poland and snatched several territories I had been eyeing a few years later had nothing to do with my decision of course.
Repeated the process with Hungary when I blitzed through their heartlands, taking 6 settlements in 3 turns before they sued for peace, which the Great Pagan King was kind enough to accept.
Now, the Kingdom of Lithuania stands as Europe's most powerful nation, and whose strength could only be rivaled by the Mongols and the Fatimids (if they weren't to busy killing each other, that is). Half of Europe fears for their lives. The other half has already been sucked into an alliance with Lithuania through marriage and bribery.
Will probably spend the next 5-10 turns consolidating the Magyar Annex and retraining my armies in preparation for the final push against Hungary and secure the Balkans for myself. After which I'll buy off Constantinople from the Byzantines. If they refused, I'll wait for the Mongols to take it and buy it from them, then proceed to build a wall of forts to defend against any crossings into Europe. With luck, the Mongols and Fatimid will tire each other out, then I can wipe them both out.
Kiev 1158 SSHIP M/M
Things learned in campaign:Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Being selective with generals and their wives helps them not plot and usurp you. (Chivalry vs dread)
Distance to capital and permanent unrest is difficult, but hordes of peasant-policemen fix many problems.
So many goddamn rebels in Russia, built extra watchtowers so they can alternate and I can still see things= Less devastation / trade interruption.
Kiev & Novgorod can make armies out of thin air.
Things learned in battle:
Chude Militia work as bait for a cavalry charge with Bardiche Militia waiting. Cav breaks through the Chude line as Bardiche charge cavalry.
Bekh Druzhinas hurt. Really, they have like 7 missile attack or something. Ow.
Few extra formations to use here and there.
Battles in forests are difficult. Could use some tips on this actually, it is difficult to see and leads to unnecessary losses.
Never leave home without your javelin men. Form two parallel lines, or a V, near the gate and watch them drop enemy cavalry (and anything else really, but especially cavalry). Works well with Crossbowmen too.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Current goals are to finish Novgorod by taking Estonia and then vassalizing them in Finland, then moving down through Lithuania until I hit Twangtse(rebel province north of Poland). Might take Halych(the rebel province north of Hungary) while positioning myself to attack Poland. Nothing could possibly go wrong by me going deeper into Europe...
Not much of an empire yet but i has been a fun campaign so far, I started it to test some stuff in the RKOfA (Regional Knight Orders for All) submod, but had so much fun I kept playing xD.
Faction: Crusader States
Submods: Vanilla SS + Bugfix Compilation and RKOfA
Difficulty: H/M
Spoiler for story:
Spoiler for map and family tree:
Currently doing my own Crusader States playthrough, VH/VH.
I've been allied with Egypt since the start and they've proven to be worthy allies - I was sure they'd eventually turn on me but they're honourable buggers, hence I have adopted a live and let live policy even though their lands are mighty juicy. I am also allied to the Khwarezmians in the east, a direction in which I have no intention of expanding since the Mongols will show up in not too long.
This is the turn where I declare war on the Byzantines, by far the biggest power in the east. I overinvested in quality troops since it is the first time playing around with some of them so my three-pronged attack westward will have to feature some non-stop sacking action.
Also pictured: three crusades moving for Egypt. There's already an Aragonian one down there laying battling it out, and a decade earlier two HRE crusader stacks were moving through Anatolia when they got banished, so everyone deserted - I like to think that Anatolia is full of these Germanic people now, chilling in the sun.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
and that is why i hate the byzantine empire, look at that, YOU LOOK AT THAT!
Thank god i am managing to deal so really freaking amazing damage on them.
i took macedon, thrace and constantinople by turn 23 now. I have 2 armies besieging Athens and Corinth.
Soon they will have only asia, caffa and crete/cyprus/rhodes. then its up to them to deal with the turks. soon i'll take their islands too heheheh > i want that healthy trade.
Not sure how much I'll remember, it's probably my longest running campaign, but here's the rundown;
Opening moves, the usual diplomats out of Bologna, take Metz for the early council quest. A few modifications from my usual strategy would be not trying to hold Bologna, not overdoing agents early, and pushing forward to Antwerp with Emperor Heinrich instead of trying to army build at Metz until he dies, along with NOT allying with England early. First alliances were with Venice, Hungary, Poland, Norway, then after my fronts were secured by diplomacy I went for the Spanish states(who allied with each other this game, rather than 2 of them ganging up on the 3rd).
Venice didn't want to offer anything for Bologna because of lack of trust, which I was hoping would change when I hit trustworthy, but by the time it did Genoa took it. Only cost me 2 spear militia this time, instead of my usual full stack and a faction heir. They sued for peace pretty quickly after that, Innsbruck being fully garrisoned and all, then turned their attention on Venice, while I did a border dance up north with Denmark. Under siege, broken by papal order, gonna send an army, here comes an army, bring reinforcement, nope, they're turning back again. My original faction heir went rebel around that time, while leading a near full stack of mercs. Luckily all he did was move from watchtower to watchtower looking pathetic for the rest of his life. Lucky thing about the war with Denmark, they took Stettin, which usually ends up in Polish hands and a diplomatic nightmare to take.
Interesting developments from AI weirdness, managed to get crusades to tear apart both France and Genoa. Genoa was left with Venice and Bern, neither one of which I felt like throwing a stack at while France controlled Metz so I gave them a ceasefire. They vassaled to the Pope, betrayed him next turn, I made them vassal and it lasted awhile. I don't know how many turns I wasted on Metz, trying to crack their half garrison, half army, and full army. Assassins were taking too long, then I thought I'd try battlefield assassination, entering a fight just to kill their generals but could only ever kill 1 per battle. Then I did a little scouting eastward and Hungary was in worse shape than I thought. Was going to help them fight the Byzantines after I cracked Metz, but it didn't look like they'd survive that long. Master theologian guild trained priest spam on Ragusa for a campaign staging area while my Emperor takes Zagreb(rebel city, Venice was eliminated somehow), chases their siege force away from the Hungarian capitol, and wouldn't you know it, a crusade gets called. Lucky me, my current army was only about a half a stack, so I grab some crusaders, take Ragusa, then sack and sell the next 2 fortresses down having no intention of trying to hold them yet(probably convert a bunch of those Greek fortresses to cities in the end), and decide to abandon the crusade since Cairo is already surrounded and I need a garrison in Ragusa.
Meanwhile fighting the Byzantines made Genoa break relations and attack Innsbruck, which they won. But I took it back with my faction heir's army which was already en route followed by 2 other generals to join the Byzantine campaign(1 rebelled but luckily he was only leading easily replaced garrison troops. Alot of them, but nothing too bad). Actually won it in a field battle against a siege breaking force, which pulled the solo general out of the castle as reinforcements. Heroic but costly victory there, gotta send my first wave of cavalry back to Hamburg to retrain and keep their exp. Luckily my backup army had feudal knights, but my Ritterbrudders are all going back. Byzantine co-emperor and a second general threaten Zagreb and Ragusa with a full stack, manage to assassinate the lieutenant general, Faction leader(heir? What is a co-emperor anyway) dies at 81, stack sieges Zagreb.
So that's my current turn, 150 or 151 I forget. 20 settlements, 5 castles, Hamburg with everything but ballista towers and public gallows built, sitting at 0% growth around 21,500 pop(ugh, why didn't my high chivalry active builder get urban planner for upgrading Cologne's walls), leader 67 years old raising an army in Ragusa, heir recently wed to Novgorodian princess, no children yet, early 30s at the oldest, retraining at Insbruck which will be upgraded to fortress soon. Couple of family members including a high chivalry one heading north to act as couriers between Hamburg and the war front. Fighting rebels with captains for man of the hour candidates since I'm in a crunch for generals. Genoa on the ropes stuck with Venice and Bern, I hold Milan and Genoa, Pisa and Bolonga are in the hands of the Pope who's fighting alot but not really trying to take over the world yet. Denmark very quiet, France holding Metz preventing me from getting the crown.
Moors, Scotland, Leon, Crusader States eliminated, England holds western France, I hold the Antwerp/Paris square plus Dijon, Sicily has the southern settlements. Planning to gift Hungary their rightful territories and keep Greece once I'm satisfied with my Byzantine war. Reputation's been between very reliable and trustworthy depending on how many wars I have running. Prague, Pisa and Bologna may be able to be bought around the endgame, really don't want to betray Poland or the Pope.
Fell into debt the next turn, and the Byzantines were sending a bunch of stacks towards Ragusa, also had a failed assassination attempt on my emperor, so I sold every building and pushed my way through the northernmost stack, regrouping in friendly territory for a real push against the unholy alliance of Genoa and Byzantines.
Also at some point I'd like to start collecting more relics. Got the Crown Of Thorns from taking Paris, that plus master archer makes my Prince one tough commander. Only thing missing is the holy lance.
Wow, the Zagreb siege force saw my general bringing his battered army home so they broke off to attack him. 1717 of mine, mostly spearmen and spearmen seargants with some damaged light and heavy infantry units, archer support(levies and balkans), bodyguard and a merchant cavalry militia, versus 2089 of theirs, mostly Armenian infantry, 2 of those high number light cavalry, and standard Byzantine spear and sword infantry. I end up with 990 remaining and took 1212 prisoners, ransom of 7k+ rejected. Glad I didn't fight that army with their generals intact, not sure my rear charges would have worked as well. Now to go retrain my shiny new 2 gold chevron merchant cavalry unit. Also saw a Byzantine army do the crawl back animation out of the fog of war that same turn, so Hungary scored a win too. Ragusa is stripped bare except for the church and has no garrison, still 2 more fortresses I could make my defense center in Greece, both close to citadel but losing population currently.
Last edited by Saibot42; August 30, 2014 at 03:09 AM.
poland has some great units BUT you need an armoury and kings stables for them ;(... but then at least you get the Polish guard and polish hussars
THE MIGHT MAGYARS H/H (I think) its been the funniest campaign i've played ever since i got medieval II, thanks to the awesome mod and fixes from Meeelo and the buddies~
Spoiler for Magyarosk:
Spoiler for Empire:
Last edited by LusitanPlayer; August 30, 2014 at 10:24 PM.
Think my campaign is lost again. My dread emperor passed away, so I sent his son with 6 stars to fight a big Byzantine army near Zagreb, but there was another army half that size in reinforcement range I didn't see. Lost hard, he died, next emperor and heir are both garbage, Denmark kept sending plague spies into Hamburg, also assassinated my chivalrous recruiter there. France inexplicably decided to move on Antwerp, and even more inexplicably split their siege force in 2, one stack being the army and the other being their king by himself. Sallied out and lured him into the gate and his death, cost me several hundred militia but it broke the siege. Then the game crashes during the siege of Metz, not sure if I want to keep playing since I ended up spreading the plague to other cities out of impatience.
You should form aliances and keep your reputation good and relations good, Saibot42. Its working for me. the worst relation i have in my borders are the cumans and probably poland and turks, who are not really looking to fight me.
Actually this game, excluding the first few turns, I've had no lower than very reliable, and it generally drops to that on joining a crusade or someone attacking me. Was fighting the Byzantines to save Hungary from extinction, France was down to their last settlement which just happened to be part of my win conditions and crown requirements, and Denmark(never an ally but a longterm trading partner for quite some time) I think was down to just Arhus because my ally Norway had the next 2 settlements in.
ye i dont understand sometimes how norway just gets down with scandinavia and denmark doesnt, maybe because denmark has no castles
This was around turn 165 or so, early on Denmark had actually beaten Norway back and held most of Scandinavia.
Replayed the siege, took Metz and eliminated France(not exactly sure what happened because on the previous turn they had 2 family members next to Antwerp that vanished and a returning crusade army in Hungarian/Byzantine territory that turned rebel), now I get the crown for my emperors and have no current enemies. I think I can rebuild and retool, maybe turn Antwerp into a city to help income. Have to join this crusade on Jerusalem so I don't end up with bankrupt nobles, and eliminating Genoa is still a to do.