Turn 1
1.
Starting positions, advantages and disadvantages. the Ghorids start with two powerful stacks to the East, and with 10,000 denars. The Ghaznis start with a few small stacks, which combined barely make one stack, and 5,000 denars. Obviously, the Ghorids are at a better position. The only advantage the Ghaznavids have is that their turn is first. They also have one more settlement and can get profitable quicker. Each faction has one spy, 2 family members, 1 general and 1 diplomat.
2.
Ghaznavid turn. Before we address the Ghorid turn, first we need to see what the Ghaznavids did, because it is going to determine the Ghorid stratetgy. Upon starting the Ghorid turn, we find the following situation:
Obviously, the Ghaznavid ruler chose to hire a maximum army possible, including mercenaries, and placed some armies in Ghorid territory, not clear why. There has been no attempt at diplomacy.
2.
Ghorid strategy. Here are the implications of the Ghaznavid turn:
- There is an immediate threat to Kabul.
- The Ghaznavids will go bankrupt and deep into the hole. Their only way out is to decrease their army and sack a rich city (Kabul being the best target).
- A war with the Ghorids seems inevitable, as the Ghaznavids have neglected the nearby rebel settlements and amassed all their forces on the border.
Since the Ghorid armies are to the East, no immediate strike is possible. The Ghorids are also losing money, as their armies outweigh their income by far. Here is the solution:
- Use part of the forces and the spy to take and sack Pindi - every denar helps.
- Move armies to the West to protect the capital and create a superiority in case of a war.
- Place forts strategically to hamper Ghaznavid progress in case of an invasion.
- Build the best units available in Pindi and Kabul to use as reenforcements.
Here is the situation at the end of the turn:
The fort south of Kabul blocks an invasion from the direction of Gardez or Ghazni, while the fort Nort-West blocks an invasion from the direction of Bamiyan. A good number of the GHorid forces is near and with the units being built, the Ghorids will have a good chance at defeating the entire Ghazni army.
At this point, the war may have been decided - the Ghaznavids have not managed to amass more troops than the Ghorids, while at the same time they have bankrupted themselves with no chance of building forts or training more troops in case of need.
Turn 2
1.
Ghaznavid Turn. Here is the situation at the beginning of the Ghorid turn:
2.
Ghorid Turn. Obviously the fort South of Kabul served its purpose, and is now besieged by pretty much every warm body the Ghaznavids could muster. We can see their spy to the North - whether he was not able to infiltrate the fort or open the gates or whether the Ghaznavids decided not to use him is unclear.
The next step is obvious - use the situation to deal a defeat to the Ghaznavid forces and take the initiative. For this purpose, pretty much all available forces were used. Here is the battle screen:
Clearly, the Ghorids have an advantage. The imperfect, deeply flawed auto-resolve system provides the following results:
Perhaps the Rajputs are smiling due to the terrible losses on both sides, but this was not a Pyrric victory. The Ghorid army is large enough to finish the war, and this is what counts. After the battle, the heir with the remnants of his stack retreats to Ghazni, while the general Meshud Ghaznavi retreats to Gardez with the remnants of his army.
Gardez is unreachable, but this is fine, as Meshud is not a family member. Both family members are trapped in Ghazni and so the Ghorids send their best general and everything that can reach the walls to siege the enemy capital and main production center (not that the Ghaznavids have any money to train troops anyway). Bamiyan is also defended by just a unit of militia level spearmen, so Mohammad of Ghor can siege it with some reenforcements from the nearby fort - the fort itself is no longer necessary.
This is the situation at the end of the Ghorid turn:
And this sums it up.
Maybe the Ghaznavid dynasty will be destroyed next by Mohammad of Ghor, as it actually happened in history, or maybe they will find a way to survive and fight on.
Everyone who read this can make his own conclusions on the Ghaznavid mistakes, but 2 big strategic decisions stand out:
1) The Ghaznavids ruined themselves financially and predetermined the course of the campaign by overspending on troops in Turn 1. Perhaps money would have been better spent on defensive forts.
2) Attacking the Ghorids when it is obvious the Ghorids will have an advantage in a war was a suicidal plan. Especially since the Ghaznavids failed to destroy a major Ghorid army or besiege a settlement.
This is not meant as boasting, but is meant as a quick rookie tutorial, as we promised to provide support and guidance (even if in this case it is offered in very rough manner). Hopefully, it will be useful.
Good luck to everyone!
BC 2.02 : Holy Lands campaign (WSR) Diplomacy and OT
, If you lose likewise, the Ghorids will have wasted time puncturing forts, and expending armies and they will be in heavy debt, so at least you will make em suffer.....
Originally Posted by CiviC
