[ETW AAR] Our Mother Russia
Hey guys. This is my first post on these forums. This thread will be dedicated to my first ever campaign in Empire: Total War. This is, in fact, the first ever time I have ever played a game like ETW. So in this thread, you will see lots of things: The very best and worst of being a newbie when it comes to a game, but also, perhaps, a creative perspective on this game that goes just beyond the raw numbers and battle reports.
I am a history major with a particular affinity for the 18th and 19th centuries, and so this game is right up my ally -- indeed why I have encountered it now and have not played the series earlier. I am going to try to present this campaign with a "historical" perspective, as if telling a story from the view of events happening in that moment, though, also -- events you would read in a history book. That said, I don't want to make it boring, and beyond just that, because I have literally only played games like this for a few hours now, I want my mistakes and the mistakes of my nation to be a part of the story too. Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and I expect plenty of constructive criticism and encouragement as well.
Without further ado...
Our Mother Russia
Our Mother Russia Campaign Quick Links
Spring 1700 - Summer 1703
Summer 1703 - Winter 1704
1700
It was 1700.
A chaotic world had swelled, its mighty powers in a race to expand their empires across a constantly evolving globe. Much of Europe has focused its energies on the growth of their naval fleets to establish influence in the New World, a New World that, due to the endless thirst for imperialism from those nations, had aged very quickly.
Meanwhile, Old Mother Russia has grown tired and weary, quietly calling out for reformation from the conservative guard of the past; from the outdated Russia that relied on its tradition of Religion and its vast lands to protect it from invaders and foreign emperors. The Russian citizens are lit with curiosity of the teachings of modern Europe and the New World -- the teachings of an integration between religion and a man's conscience: to think and choose for himself, at least internally. To question, if only in his head, the legitimacy of government, and manhood and beyond.
This is the Russian nation. A vast swath of mountainous winter lands and stretching valleys, patchworks of civilization busily about from spot to spot.
A country that, in 1700, starts with no Naval ports -- no ships, let alone fleets. Nearly entirely self-sustaining and otherwise reliant only on the shaky trade agreements of sometimes less-than-friendly neighboring nations. But this is a new time, a new Russia. One that will look outside itself and go beyond its own borders, willingly, to spread its outlook on the world. To form an Empire.
To the North is Russia's first great mission in this campaign, and, simultaneously, its first great obstacle. Russian advisers instructed their government, though it would seem common sense regardless, that a main goal of the country in widening its influence would be to establish naval trade via the Baltic Sea to the North. This waterway is the quickest and most efficient gateway to the powers of Europe and their vast resources. Sweden, however, stakes considerable claim to this territory and has every intention of using the Baltic to manifest an Empire of their own.
Further, then, comes the issue of Naval Technology. Russia is not yet ready to set sail, as it can not safely construct ships nor docks to harbor them.
Nevertheless, relations with Sweden will be paramount in finding safe passage through the Baltic. Although Russia has its own beaches and land bordering, there, Sweden could, at its own discretion, block the ability of Russia to ever reach the western side of Europe. As the depths of Winter 1700 rolled on, it became apparent that improving relations between Russia and Sweden may be paramount in helping Russia eventually establish trade there.
The St. Petersburg Trade Agreement of 1700
Involving: Sweden and Russia
Sweden and Russia accept a trade agreement, and Sweden receives $1000 in exchange for accepting the agreement.
But creating a feeling of goodwill among nations is not, as the new leadership felt, Russia's only responsibility. It must too expel the tiresome corruption of the old order -- to streamline and improve the operations of the government, and, at worst, to give its citizens a new found sense of hope that they are not merely machines at the whim of the nation.
The first casualty of this new outlook was the corrupt Treasury Minister, who, despite a deep expertise, inexplicably sank into the dark side of his own whims and cost his country both wealth and prosperity. In his stead was Adrian Rostovtzeff, a brash and daring future leader of the nation who helped write the St. Petersburg Trade agreement. At a ceremony in Moscow, Rostovtzeff, freshly instilled in office, spoke of his outlook of his Mother Russia:
Adrian Rostovtzeff:
"Colleagues, guests. Many of you know of the predicament Our Mother Russia finds herself in today, and for future days. We look forward, to this new time in history when expansion is as expedient as it is rewarding. And yet we balance this with our glorious Russian tradition -- of Orthodoxy, of unquestioning strength and resolve in our culture and creator. The true Christian nation and holy land. Yet now, when it matters most, we must ask ourselves this fundamental question. Are we willing to accept the cracks of corruption of the old that come with that pride of tradition? Are we willing to forsake our futures and the futures of our young Russians to have faith not only in God, but in the plight of man? Today, as your new Treasury Minister, I say no. Today, I say we stop with the paranoid over-fortication of our cities, we expand and develop the technology to take to the seas, and at last, at long last, we look to the people of our country. It has long been asked if history could solve this question of government and commerce: Will a nation come to give its citizens the opportunity to stand on its own accord in business and economy, and to hold us up as a country from their very shoulders...that our glory might be theirs, and in turn, our damnation."
1701
As Russia entered 1701, unsettling news reached Moscow. Sweden had become aggressors against Denmark, and worse, had declared war on them. A longstanding alliance had existed between Denmark, Poland-Lithuania, and Russia; one committed long before the new regime had come to power. And Russia now, just as it had settled the landmark trade agreement with Sweden was now to make a choice: do we forsake that to come to the aid of our friends, or do we look toward our own interests and the immediacy of the future.
What would it say of Russia if it abandoned its friends, those who had vowed to be there for each other when help was needed most? But Russia had said for an entire year that it intended to build itself as though looking toward the future, and the future was the waters, and the waters required the Baltic Sea to be available, something that would never come to pass if Russia took up arms in defense of Denmark against Sweden. Doing so could delay Russia's trade expansion in the Baltic by generations. Thus, ultimately, Russia broke their alliance with Denmark, leaving them to fend for themselves. But a cautious Russia now looked at Sweden swinging wildly at smaller nations, and fears it could someday meet a similar fate. Who would stand to defend Russia but Russia after this abandonment?
Nevertheless, in hopes of improving further relations with Sweden, and assuring them of our neutrality in their conflict, an emissary, a gentlemen was sent to St. Petersburg to discuss the matters of the day.
Meanwhile, in the middle lands, Austria has become peculiarly belligerent, even towards its friends. A once strong alliance is broken, as the United Provinces feels it can no longer trust Austria, who have become a sinister aggressor on the European continent. Shortly after, Austrian troops converge at the Southern border of Prussia, and take to war. Their first swipe at imperialism has begun.
Austro-Prussian War of 1701
The rest of 1701 moves forward for Russia without much of a story. Rumors in the southeastern quarter circle amongs rurals and village people that the Georgians are assembling on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. The Russians and Ottomans are old foes -- bitter enemies jockeying for position in the world's most inhospitable contintent. To the east of the Ottoman were the Crimeans, who Russian had always known were on the Ottomans side. But Georgia was, for the most part, a non-aggressor. A thin mountain chain separated Russia's southeastern corridor from the small Georgian nation, and its considerable lack of military threat meant that Russian did not necessarily need to pay it much mind. But, if Georgia was to move, it would almost certainly move under the aid of the Ottoman Empire, and if they did, they could sweep in on Don Voisk, a southern Russian stronghold, and using that backdoor have a clear road through the Ukraine and into Moscow.
1702
1702 begins with a diplomatic bang. A military treaty with the United Provinces falls through. Russia had great hopes that the two nations could come to terms, which would further establish future relations for the Russian naval effort, and would replace the lost Austrian ally for the Dutch.
The year also sees the beginning of the fortication of Kiev, Ukraine. This Russian city represented the absolute frontline against the Ottoman. It was a dire necessity to use it as a military stronghold. If the Ottoman were ever to invade, these men would rise to the cause first. And so the construction of an Army Encampment began.
Just as military became the focus in the Ukraine, the necessity for military to be the focus became apparent in the southeast. The rumors of the Georgians moving were true, and a small cavalry unit of 30 men assembled near a Georgia mountain town, just as the Russian-Georgia border. In response, a few regiments of Infantry with picketts in their lead were set up against the other side of the mountain to trail the Georgia calvaries movements.
Just a few months later, forward picketts returned to their infantry regiments to report that their worst fears had happened: The Georgian cavalry regiment had crossed the border along the narrow beaches at the tip of the mountain chain and into Russian land. At the same time, a courrier from Georgia arrived in Moscow to deliver the capitol imminent news: Georgia had declared war on Our Mother Russia.
The Ministry of the Government jumped to action, but leadership slammed their fists on tables, throwing things in disgust. Long had Russia labored for leadership that wished to move its country out of the dark ages. Just then as they began to make progress, they must revert on their desire for a strong economy and muster up the guns, yet again, to defend against an invader.
Good news, in any event, was to follow in the Winter. The first good news in quite some time. Russia had developed Empiricism, considered a grand achievement in the town squares of the nation. Meanwhille, the economy swelled to 9,000 -- a small surplus over two years ago, and the government saw its popularity at 42%, but with the installment of the new Treasury Minister, and the increased infrastructure, that too was on the rise.
Good news did not travel far, or last long however, as early 1703 would bring about terrible and frightening news.
1703
As 1703 began, Russia was preparing for imminent war aganist Georgia, and had hoped against hope that its weakly fortified Southeastern quarter would only have to meet a small band of Georgians, and not the entire Ottoman Empire as well. But Russia was already being outmaneuvered, as they had previously wished to cut Georgia off along the long stretching thing mountain chain and battle them near the beachsides and mountain slopes of Georgia's border. Instead, the Georgia cavalry swiftly rode past the mountain chain towards a small farming community just south of Don Voisko. It was clear that their goal was to raid, siege, and perhaps destroy the small rural farming village, and that would be where the battle was.
As the spring rolled in, there was more discouraging news. In the distance, citizens and soldiers of Ukraine could see a small band of Crimean infantry moving along the Crimean-Russian border. With the Crimeans firmly in the Ottoman's pocket, war, there too, could be imminent. Such a prospect was disastrous. If the Crimeans could move in a pre-occupy the strong Ukraine defense, that would elongate the route reinforcements would need to take from Moscow to the Southeastern theater. Fighting a war on two fronts was something Russia wanted nor sought to happen.
Nevertheless, if the fight was there, then there was nothing to be done but fight. For now, for this moment, the whole attention of our Motherland was centered on the outcome of a small skirmish in the Southeast, between an invading Georgian nation and the tired Russian infantry that had chased them feverishly along the mountainside. As the horses and cavalrymen of Georgia approached the Durnovo residence in the small farming community they intended to burn, the army that had chased them approached from just behind. It was an overcast day, and the horses threw mud from the dirt road into the village in their moving. All hell was about to rain down on them.
The Battle of Durnovo Farmhouse, 1703
Involving: Georgia and Russia
To be continued....
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