The genius of this mod

[Sator Mortis]

The biggest draws of this mod for me were without a doubt the role playing elements. The way it allows you to connect to your characters is unparalleled by any other M2TW mod I've played; I even have a sheet detailing current and past titles for my nobles next to my laptop, and a family tree detailing the very complicated lines of succession, just to make sure I can keep up with all the plots and sub-plots going on. Though I always try to go with the story rather than with the game when playing Total War, most mods (like SS and Third Age) focus on gameplay with some role playing elements thrown in on the side - whereas DLV is almost built around character development - and that can make it somewhat hard to keep the story engaging as you move on and become more powerful, which is why I never tend to finish a campaign and just quit when I feel the game has nothing interesting to add to the story any more.

That in mind, DLV just made me very happy by completely screwing up my campaign. I was getting to that point where I hadn't conquered much yet, but where I felt that soon I would become so powerful as to be unstoppable - able to beat any faction I wanted to without much trouble - and that is often the point where I quit because a war is uninteresting if you already know the outcome.
But then my kingdom erupted into civil war, and almost simultaniously a massive plague hit, the Holy Roman Emperor forsook his vows of allegiance to me, Spanish armies crossed the Pyrenees and my economy, that was perhaps a little stretched but still holding its own despite several prestigious project (several fortresses, huge walls around Paris, six units of Swiss Pikemen guarding Bern since it was the Prince of Switzerland who became the new King of France and four units of German Knights upholding the Imperial vows to the French Crown), went completely to the dogs, pulling a staggering deficit of 10.000 florins/turn. Cities that brought in 8500 florins/turn at their high point barely make 2500 now, and only half of that when its govenor dies of the plague. I already owe 20.000 florins to the money lenders, and am another 20.000 in debt. I had to withdraw my support to the Knights Templar (disbanding their units in cities where they have a Chapter House). The bloody war I fought to capture Angers turned out pointless as the Comte d'Anjou turned rebel. The rebels have also taken Toulouse and Marseille. All the garrisons I had in the HRE were wiped out, and the only thing that's preventing the Germans from sending more than four armies against me is the fact that they have their own civil war to deal with. I have NO idea how I to handle this situation, if it is even possible to turn this around again, and I love it. I was close to declaring the game 'won', and the mod slapped me around, bend me over and rammed its fist into what should be an exit only, and it is awesome. I never experienced anything like this in a Total War game, so all I can say is Thank You for making this mod, it's the best out there.

[Leonnidas]

Welcome to DLV.

All of us who play DLV had one time that feelling

[Tokus*Maximus]

Yeah, great post Sator, Deus lo Vult has a habit of waiting until you think it's routine and them tears the rug from under you! We need MORE funky civil wars stuff, single region break-aways and even scripted re-emerging factions; to keep the big loooong games fun. It is great when fighting a huge enemy to see it suffer civil war. Need to make a set of CIVIL WAR event pics for each faction to anounce the outbreak of each perhaps...

Keep taking the DLV - you'll be an addict in no time.

[Mac-Picsou]

Yeah what i really like in DLV is that generals are not just toys, they are more useful

[Xtiaan72]

The biggest draws of this mod for me were without a doubt the role playing elements. The way it allows you to connect to your characters is unparalleled by any other M2TW mod I've played; I even have a sheet detailing current and past titles for my nobles next to my laptop, and a family tree detailing the very complicated lines of succession, just to make sure I can keep up with all the plots and sub-plots going on. Though I always try to go with the story rather than with the game when playing Total War, most mods (like SS and Third Age) focus on gameplay with some role playing elements thrown in on the side - whereas DLV is almost built around character development - and that can make it somewhat hard to keep the story engaging as you move on and become more powerful, which is why I never tend to finish a campaign and just quit when I feel the game has nothing interesting to add to the story any more.

That in mind, DLV just made me very happy by completely screwing up my campaign. I was getting to that point where I hadn't conquered much yet, but where I felt that soon I would become so powerful as to be unstoppable - able to beat any faction I wanted to without much trouble - and that is often the point where I quit because a war is uninteresting if you already know the outcome.
But then my kingdom erupted into civil war, and almost simultaniously a massive plague hit, the Holy Roman Emperor forsook his vows of allegiance to me, Spanish armies crossed the Pyrenees and my economy, that was perhaps a little stretched but still holding its own despite several prestigious project (several fortresses, huge walls around Paris, six units of Swiss Pikemen guarding Bern since it was the Prince of Switzerland who became the new King of France and four units of German Knights upholding the Imperial vows to the French Crown), went completely to the dogs, pulling a staggering deficit of 10.000 florins/turn. Cities that brought in 8500 florins/turn at their high point barely make 2500 now, and only half of that when its govenor dies of the plague. I already owe 20.000 florins to the money lenders, and am another 20.000 in debt. I had to withdraw my support to the Knights Templar (disbanding their units in cities where they have a Chapter House). The bloody war I fought to capture Angers turned out pointless as the Comte d'Anjou turned rebel. The rebels have also taken Toulouse and Marseille. All the garrisons I had in the HRE were wiped out, and the only thing that's preventing the Germans from sending more than four armies against me is the fact that they have their own civil war to deal with. I have NO idea how I to handle this situation, if it is even possible to turn this around again, and I love it. I was close to declaring the game 'won', and the mod slapped me around, bend me over and rammed its fist into what should be an exit only, and it is awesome. I never experienced anything like this in a Total War game, so all I can say is Thank You for making this mod, it's the best out there.

Man, I love when people write a post like this! You are definitely one of us. Welcome aboard mate!

[Sator Mortis]

Seems that DLV players are quite a breed apart. And yes, this mod is highly addictive.

I am still hanging in there, but it's getting quite difficult. The current crisis broke out in the final stages of my campaign to push the Normans off the mainland and onto their damned island, and despite some very hard-fought battles the campaign was a great succes; I took Angers and aside of what they may call up to defend against a siege there are virtually no more Norman soldiers on the mainland left to defend the last two remaining settlements of Rennes and Caen. But then the Rebellion hit and I lost Angers again. And then the Plague hit. And then the Germans and Spaniards. And then as a result, my economy went bye bye, and I can't afford the soldiers needed to finish off the Normans any more. My 'Grande Armée Royale' took a massive beating during the war in Anjou, to the point where it couldn't possibly take on more than a thousand low quality enemy troops and still come out on top, making it useless as a combat unit in the current climate. My economy was in the drains before I could retrain and reinforce, so my once proud army is rotting as a garrison, getting ever smaller as soldiers die of the plague. Roi Thierry, King of France and Prince of Switzerland, took up the only other combat worthy troops left in the realm, his own complement of Swiss Pikemen and all the German Knights that stayed loyal to him, and combining them with the few remaining Crossbowmen and a small number of Foot Knights from the Royal Army he's taking the field against the Holy Roman Empire. These mercenaries are costing a fortune, nearly 4000 florins/turn, but disbanding them isn't an option since I have no money to recruit cheaper replacements with. And with a Holy Roman Emperor that's no longer fielding armies made up almost exclusively of infantry, but with hundreds of mounted Knights, they do very much come in handy.
Meanwhile, Laurent, Comte de Provance, Marshall of France, Knight Grand Cross, greatest general of the Realm and disgraced after his steward led Marseille into rebellion, is leading what is left of the Knights Templar in a remarkably futile campaign against the Spanish armies in Southern France. Though he was able to relieve Narbonne, favoured city of late Roi Thomas, he is lacking in missile troops and cavalry, and his heavy Foot Knights and Sergeants are next to useless against the light Spanish horse and javelinmen.
The only one with a French army that is still reasonably intact is the Duc d'Aquitaine, but he only ever had a supporting army and is therefore forced to rely on Flemish and Welsh mercenaries and militia to keep the Northern borders safe. He is doing a fine job so far, though.

The Comte de Champagne, Lord of Rheims, has meanwhile joined the rebellion and although the city is still in French hands so far, the few pennies the city was still throwing me have now disappeared completely, meaning that the economy is no longer terminal but just dead. I have 0 trade income and 0 mining income, which means that aside from what harvest I can still steal from the dying peasants my only real source of income are some silver trading merchants in hostile Germany, who will probably die of old age or at the hands of the Germans any time soon.

But, despite all that, banners bearing the fleur-de-lis still adorn the cities of France, and her armies still march under the Oriflamme. France may be hurt, but she is far from beaten and I have no intention of giving up.

In short: I love this mod.

[Xtiaan72]

I love our little close-knit community... DLV, the thinking man's TW!

[Jonni_g_n]

Update, is France defeated or have you got money again now?

I find when you are low on money things spiral down and you cannot get out of the rut.

[Sator Mortis]

Update, is France defeated or have you got money again now?

I find when you are low on money things spiral down and you cannot get out of the rut.

France is still standing, but debts have risen to nearly 40.000 florins. Whether I can get out of this spiral is entirely dependent on how long this crisis will last, if I can get the rebellion under control, get some positive economic events and get a ceasefire with either Spain or the HRE I should be able to get to the point where I'm able to make some profit again. It would still take many years to get out of debt, but I'd have a shot.

If you like I'll keep giving updates.

Ha! I do this too. I thought I was the only one. I must say I wish there was an option on the game to see the succession of Kings in your faction - e.g. King Henry the Chivalrous 1180-1204 (Battles won, settlements taken etc...), King Richard the Stupid 1204-1210 etc....

Yeah, that would be great. At the very least it would've been nice if the game would allow you to view the character sheets of deceased characters.

[The Longbowman]

I even have a sheet detailing current and past titles for my nobles next to my laptop, and a family tree detailing the very complicated lines of succession, just to make sure I can keep up with all the plots and sub-plots going on. .

Ha! I do this too. I thought I was the only one. I must say I wish there was an option on the game to see the succession of Kings in your faction - e.g. King Henry the Chivalrous 1180-1204 (Battles won, settlements taken etc...), King Richard the Stupid 1204-1210 etc....

I love DLV with a passion. Everytime I think I've got over the addiction I think something like 'Ooo I haven't tried playing with Georgia yet, let's give that a go'.

You really get a feel for the characters in the mod, and one of them dying can cause me geniune upset. The battles in DLV are also top class - everynow and then the computer really will do something unexpected (Like hiding a load of sharpened stakes in a deep forest and crippling my elite cavalry charge - DAMN YOU DENMARK!).

Hats off to all those who put so much hardwork into this mod. I'd love to help, but I have the computer skills of a hedgehog.

[miniwally]

Keep taking the DLV - you'll be an addict in no time.

You are definitely one of us.

I love DLV with a passion. Everytime I think I've got over the addiction

You make it sound like a groups brainwashed you/been hypnotized

[Valantine]

Have to say, it's been a while since I was last here!
Xtiaan - good to see you mate!

Anyhow, after playing about with Darthmod for Empires and also going back for a some Rome mods I have once again decided to tackle DLV and MTW2. Empires had a lot of potential but sadly nothing lives up to the DLV experience! So, once I have dug my discs out and installed Il be getting onboard with the new version of DLV! There go my evenings again


Good to be home
V

[Xtiaan72]

Have to say, it's been a while since I was last here!
Xtiaan - good to see you mate!

Anyhow, after playing about with Darthmod for Empires and also going back for a some Rome mods I have once again decided to tackle DLV and MTW2. Empires had a lot of potential but sadly nothing lives up to the DLV experience! So, once I have dug my discs out and installed Il be getting onboard with the new version of DLV! There go my evenings again


Good to be home
V

Glad you are back mate!

Sator,

That was definitely the dark ages and you are really doing quite well for someone new to the mod.

Miniwally,

Yea...Sadly DLV has ruined other TW mods for some of us!

[Pnutmaster]

Yeah, that would be great. At the very least it would've been nice if the game would allow you to view the character sheets of deceased characters.

Unfortunately, people like us did not develop this game Keep us posted, Sator!

[Agis Tournas]

Unfortunately, people like us did not develop this game Keep us posted, Sator!

The good thing is that people like you are good modders and make the game more interesting.
You should be proud of your mod

Cheers
Agis

[Sator Mortis]

Le Roi est mort,
Performing a charge like he had done so many times before, to finish off some units of Swabian Swordsmen, both King Thierry and his lieutenant Fulkes des Baux, Viscount of Narbonne, met freak accidents where their horses stumbled over the rocks and fell over, throwing the Swiss Prince and the Viscount onto the ground where their bodies were cleaved in half by the great two-handed swords of the German soldiers. The King of France, while alive one of the greatest generals in the Christian world, was slain by a lucky Swabian whom he had intended to ride down with ease. With the Viscount dying a similar pointless death, the mostly Swiss army they commanded is effectively leaderless - the heir to the French and Swiss throne is young, has no combat experience and has the succession to arrange, and no French noble other than Marshall Laurent, who is far off battling the Spaniards, has the political clout to command the personal forces of the Prince of Switzerland.

Vive le Roi.
But from tragedy new hope may arise. King Thierry was a powerful man, and that is what made him have so many enemies amongst the French nobility, even more than the fact that he was of German decent. The nobles may just find a far more agreeable king in young and inexperienced Gibaud, Thierry's son and heir. Although it is clear that certain elements amongst the nobility would love nothing more than to see a Capet restored to the throne, if Gibaud plays his cards right - and thanks to the plague there are a lot of free lands and titles to use as jokers - he may gain the support of the nobility and end the rebellion. Although it will mean certain trouble in the future, for the Capetians having already declared Raynald Capet, heir to counties of Paris and Flanders, to be the next Dauphin, passing Gibaud's 3 year old son, it may be a way out of the current crisis.

Positive news comes from most of cities. The plague that has been wreaking havoc amongst commoners, nobles and soldiers alike seems to be retreating and that means trade can resume, bringing in badly needed cash. The Counsel of Nobles also contributes 5000 florins for rebuilding, and the Pope himself sends a much needed 10.000 florins to France, originally meant to aid the clergy deal with plague victims, but quickly rerouted to help rebuild the French economy. Total debt is now 31.000 florins, with another 20.000 owed to the money lenders.
Bad news is that Paris is one of the cities that is still getting hit hard by the plague, meaning that any coronation will carry significant risks for new King Gibaud - but if the rebellion is to halted, it is imperative that a legitimate ruler will be crowned quickly.

In Southern and Northern France there are no real changes, Spanish and German armies are still trying to use the situation to their advantage, but the Duc d'Aquitaine in the North and the Comte de Provance, the Duc de Lorraine and the Knights Templar in the South manage to keep the worst at bay for now, despite being ill equipped for the task and having to deal with a chronic lack of reinforcements. A big enemy offensive will still finish them off, but for now they are holding their own.



I threw a pen through the room and almost yelled at my screen when Thierry died so stupidly.. must be the sign of a great mod


EDIT:

Unfortunately, people like us did not develop this game Keep us posted, Sator!

What I do when an important character dies is reload an earlier save and rename it after that character, so if needs be I can atleast always look them up again.

[Jonni_g_n]

Nice post, Rep+. You have encouraged me to start another Sicily game. After about 50 years of civil war i have sent my good heir to antioch. Pretty foolish i feel.

[Kjertesvein]

Good read indeed! Throw in a couple of campaign screens to organise, and I bet you will win the next AAR competition

[Sator Mortis]

Good read indeed! Throw in a couple of campaign screens to organise, and I bet you will win the next AAR competition

Only if we'd ban all the non DLV'ers from voting



The Capetian faction within the Royal Court sees much of their hope of restoring the Capet line and regaining their influence go up in flames as newly proclaimed Dauphin Raynald dies of the plague, before King Gibaud can even be crowned. No suitable young Capet heir with a direct claim to the county of Paris still lives, and although the old Royal Line is not broken, it is clear that the power of the Capetians will only decline from this point, and that of their opponents will grow. Meeting in their stronghold of Flanders, the Capetian nobles decide on their only option. Without consent of the new king, a new Dauphin is once again proclaimed by them. Evrart, Duc de Lorraine, is elevated by them to the position of Crown Prince of France - although it is worth noting that at this point it is unknown to them if the Duc is even still alive, let alone if he would agree to take up on the title.

Although Evrart is a pure blood Capet, he is the son of the youngest and least favoured son of late King Philip Capet, and has therefore never considered kingship to be something that would ever cross his path. He was granted the title of Duc de Lorraine by late King Thierry at the request of Marshal Laurent, Comte de Provance, at a very young age, and he has served under Comte Laurent as a squire and an aid in several great battles. He is currently fighting the Spaniards with the aid of the Knights Templar. With Laurent under the curse of the dreaded plague and recovering near Toulouse, Evrart is even in temporary command of the Order's few remaining forces. Although this makes him without a doubt the most powerful Capet alive, it also means that his loyalties lie with the Comte de Provance and by extension that means that he is firmly in the camp of the Swiss Royal dynasty of late King Thierry and King Gibaud, and rabbitly opposed to the unbridled ambition of the Capatians. The Capatians hope, however, that by declaring him Dauphin they will feed his lust for power, and that that will make him fall out with King Gibaud, which is certain to happen if Evrart actually accepts a future claim to the throne. If Evrart can then bring Laurent, or any of the other of the de Craons family, to his cause, or even work his influence with the Knights Templar, he might just the be the one to restore the Capets to power.

Young King Gibaud, however, is not as ignorant as some of the Capetians think or hope he is. From nobles loyal to his late father he quickly learns of the plans to declare Evrart Dauphin - even before he hears of the death of the previous Capet claimant, in fact - and although he feels that he is no position yet to directly oppose his opponents in the Noble Counsel - not without providing a suitable heir that is not a toddler - he does know that Evrart owes loyalty to his family, and he that needs to make sure he remembers that. Bribing Evrart directly would be to obvious an act, so he sends messengers carrying the keys to the fortress of Toulouse to Marshal Laurent, proclaiming him the new Comte de Toulouse, and offers him the lands in Southern France that he, as the new King of France, could have claimed for himself. If Laurent pledges allegiance to him, Gibaud knows that Evrart, as well as the Templar Order, are unlikely to side against him.

However all of this political infighting is pointless background information if the French economy doesn't start recovering any time soon. Although the debt is stabilising at around 28.000 florins, all attempts to lower it further have stranded miserably. Not only is the plague still ravaging through the mainlands, closing off most roads and making the most important trade lines impossible to traverse, it is also impossible to still find labour to work in the mines, not to mention that most French merchants abroad have driven out of business by rivals from countries less stricken by God's Wrath.

The troops situation is close to getting critical. The Duc d'Aquitaine already had to call up every able soldier in Lorraine to the defence against the Holy Roman Empire, and those soldiers are running out. There are still some reserves in Flanders, but with a new Norman army landing near Caen, it is doubtful if those troops can be deployed against the Germans. The one hopeful thing is, though, that the Germans seem to be having their hands full with their own civil war. Frankfurt has fallen to the Kaiser's opponents, and that should significantly weaken the German ability to invade French territory.

In the South things are even worse, though. Marshal Laurent is stricken with the Plague and is trying to recover in his new mansion near Toulouse, meaning that the Duc de Lorraine, Dauphin Evrart, is in overal command of what remains of Templar army. With more and more Spanish nobles trying their luck at invading France, and with just over 900 soldiers left and relying on the last reserves Toulouse and Bordeaux have to offer, a single mistake could cost me the entire Southern France.

The only hope lies with King Gibaud. If he can put down the rebellion and take command of the Royal Army of Switzerland I should have enough troops to keep France save for enough years to let the economy recover. If he cannot win over the nobles, I will simply run out of troops, since I will not be able to recruit any new soldiers for the foreseeable future.

Nice post, Rep+. You have encouraged me to start another Sicily game. After about 50 years of civil war i have sent my good heir to antioch. Pretty foolish i feel.

Ah, Sicily. Damn Italian bastards, taking over my trade.



Apologies that my posts are getting a bit long. The political story isn't really needed to keep you up to date with my economical situation.

[Xtiaan72]

What year are you in? Are you using the BB mod?

Are you past 1220's..Just wondering if that plague you survived was the dark ages.