Medieval II: Reviews of Scotland: An Alternative History by Balor
and Historia Rhomaike by Roman Heritage
By Alwyn
Scotland: An Alternative History by Balor
The year is 1276 and Gille Patraic mac Eógain is King of Scotland. He has ruled from Athens since he conquered the city in 1270. The other great families include the highland mac Broccin of Scotland, the ancient mac Amlaib clan who control the west of the British Isles and the dreaded mac Chormaic clan who dominate the eastern Baltic. - Chapter II
Starting an AAR when your faction has an empire might cause your tale to lose tension. The fight for survival of a small nation can be exciting; can the same tension be achieved when the player's faction has an empire? Yes, it can: Balor used the game-play before the AAR begins to create a challenging strategic situation. His Scottish empire has far-flung colonies which face the threat of invasion from Lithuania to Venice and (potentially) Mongol hordes. Starting at this stage of the campaign also provides for a good mix of defensive and offensive battles, as Scotland's armies fight to hold onto their new possessions as well as to expand.
Since Scotland starts with an empire, readers might wonder which nation (or nations) will be the chief rivals of the Scots. In early chapters, several candidates are mentioned - perhaps it will be the Mongols, or the Lithuanians, or the English. As you can see from the campaign map in Chapter V, England as acquired its own empire - and might threaten Scotland's independence - but, in this AAR as in history, sometimes events go in an unexpected direction. Even if the player knows how history will develop (because you have played ahead of the current chapter of your AAR), uncertainty about what will happen next can get your readers thinking and speculating. By showing us developments on the campaign map as well as the battle-field, Balor got me interested in the fortunes of other factions, as well as his Scotland.
Of course, AARs don't have to focus only on grand strategy. Highlighting the turning points and dilemmas which individual characters face can be a good way to engage readers and Balor does this well:-
After an ambitious yet surprisingly uncontested crusade against Mongol held settlements in eastern Anatolia, Prince Gille Eogan reached Quarisiya on the border with Baghdad. The French had captured the city a year previously and the Prince had a decision to make: move east to help defend Baghdad from the hordes now pouring through the Zagros mountains or march his army to the coast.- Chapter III
Prince Gille Eogan quite rightly believed that marching to the aid of Baghdad would be folly and instead moved west to take Damascus and Tortosa on the coast. Damascus he gave to the Seljuks whereas Tortosas he kept, intending to hold it as a base for future endeavors in the area. - Chapter III
(Chapter VI)
Balor does not only use screenshots to illustrate the story. In parts of this AAR, the images are the story. In Chapter VI, for example, two battles are reported almost entirely through screenshots. By doing this, Balor shows us that he has learned two important lessons about AAR writing. The first is that sometimes it's more effective not to tell your readers everything - by letting readers' imaginations fill in the gaps, he immerses us more deeply in his story. The second is that stories which are easy to follow keep us reading. When I think of books which kept me wanting to read 'just one more chapter', this wasn't the only method which the authors used to keep me reading on - but it was one of their methods. Of course, reporting a battle using only images is not the only way to do this, but it's a way which works.
We learn about the challenges which Scotland faces, turning points in battles and the lessons which generals learn from their experiences. In Chapter V, Matne uses improved tactics to win another victory, causing his Lithuanian enemies to fear the Baltic Scots. In Chapter IV, we discover what turned the tide when a Scottish army came close to defeat:-
The battle raged ferociously at the city gate - our pikemen and spearmen managing to hold the enemy while our catapults reigned fire from above. Unfortunately the inaccuracy of the catapults led to many fallen Scotsmen and the Lithuanian infantry proved stronger than our own. They were able to take the city walls and join the attack on our position at the gate. The day was almost lost until Matne committed himself and his cavalry militia to the fray. This timely intervention and the death of the enemy general led to the pagans routing and abandoning the attack. - Chapter IV
Once the first Norwegian assault failed, the ribault and main force moved on the city square. There Feradach held his line, his weathered galloglaich supported by the sharp and deadly javelins of his kerns and the expert aim of his noble highland archers. - Chapter VII
Balor also makes good use of the family tree feature of Medieval II, with different branches of the family ruling in different parts of Europe:-
The main ruling families are the royal mac Eogaín clan in Britain, the dreaded mac Chormaic clan in the Baltic, the loyal mac Gartnait clan of Rhodes and the martial mac Bróccín clan who have taken Antwerp, Bruges and Burgos in the space of half a decade. - Chapter IX
Our allies in England have been severely weakened and uniting Britain under the mac Eogaín dynasty is a tempting prospect. However, the mac Eogain's have ever been cautious rulers and perhaps an aggressive Papal States empire combining military and religious fervor is a bigger foreign policy concern at this time. In any case, our great project, begun under King Gille Eogan, is almost complete: a heavy pike army with powerful artillery and cavalry support. It is the greatest force we have ever fielded, perhaps even the greatest in Christendom, and a prudent King would use it wisely. - Chapter VI
Historia Rhomaike by Roman Heritage
Different AARs offer different things to their readers. Historia Rhomaike - the History of (Eastern) Rome - has much to offer. Some readers might be looking for information on the effects of mods. While many AARs for Medieval II use Stainless Steel (and sub-mods) or Third Age (and sub-mods), this AAR demonstrates another impressive mod for Medieval II, Bellum Crucis. Some readers might be interested in the history of the player's faction - the Eastern Rome Empire, also called the Byzantine Empire. As well as learning about the mod and Byzantine history, the interest of readers could be engaged by the ambitious challenge which Roman Heritage set for himself:-
In this AAR you'll read two different accounts, both fictional: one is the medieval opera, the Historia Rhomaike, and the other is a commentary to the opera written by fictional 20th Century byzantinist Alexios Kiriopoulos. Everything you see in brackets and cursive is supposed to be an excerpt from the original opera; everything else is a modern reflection on the opera. I thought this style would allow me greater freedom, since it gives both the challenge of writing in a hopefully plausible XIVth Century style, and the occasion to analyze in depth the reasons for campaigns, battles, reforms and rebellions. - from 'About this AAR', in the Introduction
As well as commenting on the general organisation of Eastern Roman armies, Roman Heritage introduces us to important units, commenting on their role and equipment. When an AAR allows factions to create units with names such as Oikeioi, Varrangoi and Vardariotai, this unit names might mean nothing to a reader who is not already familiar with the history or this mod. Roman Heritage's guide enables readers to follow the action, realising that Oikeioi are the heavy cavalry escorts of the Komnenian Emperors, the Varrangoi are the Varangian Guard with their distinctive two-handed axes and that the Vardariotai wear dark silk robes and ride ponies into battle, using composite bows and sabres. Perhaps this guide to units could have been even better with images of each unit (which would make it easier to recognise units on a screenshot of a battlefield)? However, this AAR relies much more on text than pictures, so this is not necessary.
As well as providing a guide to Eastern Roman units, Roman Heritage provides a helpful glossary so that readers can understand the significance of titles of nobility, names used for particular peoples and other technical terms which would have been familiar to the historical Eastern Romans (or, at least, to the nobility and military officers of Eastern Rome). This glossary enables Roman Heritage to use historical terms to give his chapters authenticity, without worrying about readers being distracted or frustrated by unfamiliar words.
In the prologue and the chapters which follow, Roman Heritage demonstrates his awareness of the influences on Byzantine culture and society as well as the organisation and membership of their armies. The focus of our attention widens and we learn about events involving other nations of this time, such as military engagements between Western European armies and Saracens. We see the conflicts between and within other factions through the eyes of the Eastern Roman leaders, and observe how Byzantine leaders such as Manuel Komnenos look for opportunities to deal with the enemies of Eastern Rome.
Some AAR writers prefer to focus on the tactical level of the battlefield map, putting us in the middle of the melee or observing the impact of the storm of arrows or the charging horsemen. At times, Roman Heritage shows us the action on the battlefield, for example in this dramatic scene:-
(Chapter Seven)
As well as providing the details of battles, Roman Heritage provides a more strategic perspective, focusing on events more on the level of the campaign map than the battlefield. Instead of providing a detailed account of each battle, a AAR writer can sum up a military campaign in a short paragraph and a country can be conquered in a single sentence. For example:-
In 1155-1157 AD Manuel personally campaigned in the Levant, invading Cilicia along with Alexios Briennios, Droungarios of the Kybirrhatoion theme, and successfully wrestled the country from Thoros II; he then proceeded to visit Antioch, where Raymond of Chatillon acted as a regent for the young Prince Bohemond III, and met with Baldwin III of Jerusalem, with whom he made an alliance which proved instrumental in the creation of a more or less united Christian front against the renewed vigour of the Islamic world. - Chapter One
Through Cherson, in modern-day Crimea, in fact, flowed much of the trade with Russia, Galicia-Volynia and Khazaria; furthermore, the theme of Cherson was of fundamental importance to the Basileia, as it was both the granary of the Empire - having nonetheless been described by Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos' De Administrando Imperio as the Empire's granary, with the Eparch of Constantinopolis relying mainly on Chersonite grain and crops to feed the capital - and its outpost in the steppes, from which to keep and eye on the migrations of peoples such as the Comans themselves. - Chapter Five
and then this Tzelepes bowed, and told the Emperor: "Your Grace, know that in my veins flows the blood of the Caesars, as much as it does in yours, and though I know in your eyes I made the deadly sin of turning to the enemies of your Nation and of the Christian Name, know that I did not did this out of hate for thee, but out of love for this Nation of the Persians, which is second only to Rome herself. And know that, though I am but a traitor in your eyes, that I bring you a gift that might please your heart." - Chapter Two
We've seen that Roman Heritage has enriched Historia Rhomaike with impressive historical research into both the military and political dimensions of the Eastern Roman Empire, creating an authentic-sounding tale with dramatic events - so dramatic that it could be the basis for an opera. As we saw earlier, Roman Heritage intended this AAR to represent an "opera written by fictional 20th Century byzantinist Alexios Kiriopoulos", so this is a good thing! This is particularly true when a scandalous love affair between Marie and Alexios causes a crisis:-
"...it was said amongst common folks that the Latin Empress and the protosebastos Alexios had became lovers, and had indulged in such affairs and excesses of which it is not commendable to speak of; but so disgraceful were such excesses on the Empress' behalf, that the people began to murmur against her and the protosebastos, and, believing it was due to her disgraceful influence that the Emperor neglected his duties to the people and the Empire, began invoking for a savior whom would teach him the ways of an Emperor and bring an end to this chaos the Empress had brought about to the Queen of Cities." - Chapter Seven
The prolonged political turmoil which preceded and followed Andronikos' gruesome accession to the throne did not go unnoticed by the Empire's neighbours.
While Andronikos made his way to the throne, in fact, the sultan of Konya, Kilij Arslan II, seized the opportunity to free himself of vassalage to the Empire, and capture Sozopolis in Phrygia, with the surrounding towns; he then proceeded to sack and destroy Cotyaeum, ravaging the Meander Valley - Chapter Eight
While Andronikos made his way to the throne, in fact, the sultan of Konya, Kilij Arslan II, seized the opportunity to free himself of vassalage to the Empire, and capture Sozopolis in Phrygia, with the surrounding towns; he then proceeded to sack and destroy Cotyaeum, ravaging the Meander Valley - Chapter Eight
One of the new regime's first acts was pregnant with meaning: the two Symbasilei had Andronikos' body recovered from the Hippodrome's vaults, and given Christian sepulture in the Komnenoi's burial site of the Pantokrator Monastery. A general amnesty was then proclaimed to soften the hatreds brought upon the Empire by onto those who had supported Ioannis' arch-enemy's arise, and preparations were jointly undertaken - at least in the people's eyes - for the restoration of the Empire's economic and military might, which had been wrecked by Andronikos' reign of terror and paranoia. - Chapter Nine
This does not mean that Roman Heritage ignores the battles. When battles occur, Roman Heritage presents a great combination of shows us both the action on the battlefield and the strategic movements on the campaign map. He also shows us what motivates the decisions of commanders. The generals on both sides come across as realistic characters who try to seize any advantage they can, using any understanding of their enemy's style of fighting to inform their decisions. As in real-life ancient warfare, generals face problems such as low supplies and mutinous or fissiparous armies, for instance in Chapter Ten and also in this example:-
Both commanders were experienced and commanded sizeable forces, both of which presented numerous management difficulties due to their heterogeneity. Nizam-al-Din, however, sure had an harder taks, as it was quite a burden to compose differences and quarrels between clans and ethnicities which had been rivals for decades. - Chapter Twelve
Conclusion
Both Balor and Roman Heritage created an AAR in their own distinctive styles. Balor's Scotland: An Alternative History offers an unusual starting-point, in which Scotland already has a widely spread empire - but can Scotland's armies hold the lands which they took? Balor keeps readers informed of events on both the campaign map and battlefield, with a well-chosen level of detail to keep the action accessible and enjoyable. Roman Heritage's Historika Rhomaike shows how much historical research can add to an AAR, demonstrating an impressive command of the culture, society and military of the Byzantine Empire. Roman Heritage's story is rich in historical details and characters as well as diplomacy and political intrigue.
As I see it, both Balor and Roman Heritage had a clear vision of the sort of AAR which they would like to write. Both succeeded magnificently. There is, of course, much more which these AARs have to offer than I have managed to explain here.
Perhaps you would like to report on a campaign which you're playing (or part of a campaign) in the Writers' Study? Thank you for reading - see you in the Study!
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