Your Song of Ice and Fire

[Meshakhad]

Post your experiences in Westeros: Total War!

My favorite moment so far was how I killed Joffrey. After years of buildup, I had my "perfect army". It was composed of Robb and the Greatjon's own bodyguards, eight units of Archers of the North, and ten Winterfell Guards.

Admittedly, I didn't actually get to engage Joffrey in King's Landing. The battle in question took place south of Harrenhall. Joffrey met me with an army of roughly equal size (both over 900 troops). But as I anticipated, his spearmen and crossbowmen didn't last in melee with the Winterfell Guards. Joffrey was killed, and what hope remained for his line died with him.

I imagined Cersei watching Joffrey ride off to battle for the last time, knowing the odds.

"Cersei knew what was at stake. The Tyrells and Riverlords had kept the Lannisters trapped in the mountains. The Greyjoys and Arryns were gone, consumed by the seemingly unstoppable Northern armies. And the Martells, while not hostile, had refused to support Joffrey.

In fact, the only army left to the Iron Throne was Joffrey's own host. A formidable army, to be sure. But if Robb Stark, Roose Bolton, and Jon Umber were to march their combined forces on King's Landing, it would be a massacre. The Stark armies had them outnumbered two-to-one, and the Lord of the Dreadfort was said to be a master of siege warfare.

The only hope was to ensure that Robb never marched on King's Landing in the first place. Right now, Robb and Umber were at Harrenhall, while Bolton was busy digesting Duskendale. If Joffrey could kill Robb, he could stop the Northmen in their tracks. Without the Young Wolf running around obliterating armies, Bolton might be persuaded to change sides. The Vale or the ironborn might rebel. Robb might be a brilliant tactician, but the same could not be said for Brandon.

And so Cersei sat on the walls as her eldest son, Joffrey Baratheon, First of his Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, marched north to Harrenhall. The coming battle would decide the fate of the realm. Victory would potentially splinter the alliance between Dragonstone and Winterfell, give the Iron Throne a much needed victory, and make some of her enemies rethink their allegiance. Defeat would be the end - the meager force remaining in King's Landing would never survive. Cersei herself could not expect to live, for Robb Stark was a vindictive man."

[MachoKing]

Very nice. Great idea too. Loved your GRRM POV.

Can you imagin Joffery actually leading an army? Scary thought. Honestly I am shocked he came after you. Normally I find him held up in one of the Crownland towns with a big army. Half the time I put him underseige and he never tries to break it.

Ive had several awsome moments myself, but id love to hear others.

[StannisBaratheon]

Can't recall any stand-out moments for me, but whenever something happens purely by chance almost exactly as it occurred in the book I usually get a little chuckle. e.g As Stannis my siege of King's Landing was broken due to a sally from the defenders led by Tyrion and the timely arrival of Uncle Tywin.

I then retreated to Storm's End where I found Stannis under siege from Mace Tyrell in an oddly familiar set-up to their actions during Robert's Rebellion.

[Meshakhad]

This isn't specific to W:TW, but it happened in Westeros anyway.

In my current playthrough, I'm in a war with the all-conquering Arryns (led by Robert the Tyrant). One of their captains has besieged the Banefort. Robb Stark, King in the North, was just assembling an army at the Crag to attack Casterly Rock, so he decided to have a practice run on the Arryns. As the option was given to attack at night, I chose it.

I had a numeric advantage, but the Arryns were uphill from me. So rather than charge uphill, I chose to hold the line, hoping that their inferior troops would be smashed against a line of Winterfell Guards. Robb and a contingent of local Hedge Knights moved around to flank. The Arryns, as expected, charged downhill. I watched them come closer and closer.

Then the Archers of the North - nearly half of my force - opened up. With flaming arrows. At night.

It was utterly beautiful - and, I imagine, terrifying to the Arryns. One moment they're eager for battle, charging downhill against the waiting Stark troops. The next, the Starks are raining flaming arrows on them.

Given their newfound propensity for night-fighting, I think the Starks' new motto should be "The Night Is Dark And Full Of Terrors"

Or maybe "The Night Is Dark And Full Of Arrows"

[TNTNate]

Given their newfound propensity for night-fighting, I think the Starks' new motto should be "The Night Is Dark And Full Of Terrors"

Or maybe "The Night Is Dark And Full Of Arrows"

^That's awesome.

So, playing as Starks, I sent one of Robb's more worthless sons (he would have had negative command and authority, as well as giving bad tax penalties) to go die somewhere near King's Landing. I saw that Joffrey was holed up in Duskendale with some militia spears and thought "what the hell, maybe I'll kill Joffrey." So off Robb Jr. goes (his actual name escapes me) to besiege Duskendale. Joffrey sallies immediately, and rushes his troops out the gate. Robb Jr.'s bodyguards are somewhat experienced from his campaign's with his father, and his Valyrian blade doesn't hurt either, so I was hoping to bypass the foot-sloggers and attack and kill Joff before they caught up when I saw something:

The gates, which had no troops near them, were still open.

I thought "Hey, I'll go through the gate, capture and close it, and cap the town center before they catch up." Rushed by everyone and started up on that. Joffrey followed about 20 seconds behind. The gates shut, and I legitimately fist-pumped the air. As I start a casual trot to the town square, Joff got to the gate, which was now owned by me, AND IT FRAKKING OPENED FOR HIM. I said some bad words, then saw that his militia was still a good ways behind. I waited on the far side of the town center, and charged him when he got there. I repeated the process, so here's the Robb Jr.:Joffrey bodyguard count after breaking contact each time:
(Initial)17:39
12:30
10:28
10:25
8:17
5:12
2:5
Robb Jr.:4

At this point, Robb Jr. redeemed himself in my eyes by finishing off the three guards and Joffrey himself. After that, I allowed him to peacefully run around the battlefield until the time ran down, ending with a draw and the militia still besieged. I then gave him actual troops to besiege properly, and took the town.

Granted, he died two turns later attacking King's Landing to a lucky spear-thrust, but he still left a lasting impact. For that, I will always remember his accomplishment (just not his name


Also, on a more Baratheon note, Stannis, King of Dragonstone, has a most humourous trait: "Likes The Dark - The dark is not something to be feared, but rather, something to be taken advantage of in battle."

Melisandre does not approve

[achudnow]

Well, I once saw Loras, Lord of Highgarden. and I also saw Lancel, Lord of Casterly Rock

Tywin had died in Raventree, I think Jaime was killed in Hornvale or the Tooth, I was playing the Starks and had saved House Tully right before Edmure would have face planted and lost Riverrun. Kevan died in Silver Hill to a Tyrell attack, (astonishing, usually House Tyrell epically fails to take that castle) And somehow all of his sons ended up dead as well. So we came in a round-a-bout way to Lancel, who officially became Lord of Casterly Rock.

I also saw a three-way war comprised of the Reach, Dorne and the Stormlands. Pretty cool seeing as it gave me the opportunity to take the Westerlands, the Vale of Arryn and the Crownlands with little to no opposition. House Arryn was weak and so was Joffrey, plus it was Tommen the Mad on the throne at that point. Hello Aerys 2.0.

[Meshakhad]

I just started playing the 0.53 enhanced version, and I got to fulfill my ASoIaF OTP:

Robb Stark has married Asha Greyjoy, forging an alliance between Pyke and Winterfell.

Also, how scary would it be to see Robb Stark, Asha Greyjoy, and Grey Wind coming at you on the battlefield?

Addendum to the whole "flaming arrows at night" thing.

When I attacked Dragonstone, I was able to engage Stannis' army outside his castle. The first half of his army pretty much broke from just the flaming arrows.

[Heart of Madness]

Ironic isn't it. Our Azor Ahai Reborn broken by flaming arrows.

[achudnow]

That claim kinda died when Stannis got his shiny sword handed to him by Tywin Lannister, right before he kicked Stannis so hard he landed in Dragonstone.

[Meshakhad]

Ironic isn't it. Our Azor Ahai Reborn broken by flaming arrows.

Indeed. I can imagine warriors who converted to R'hllor having their faith broken by seeing their friends catching fire.

Though what I really want for the Starks is arrows loaded with liquid nitrogen, so they freeze enemy soldiers.

[Karazor]

Indeed. I can imagine warriors who converted to R'hllor having their faith broken by seeing their friends catching fire.

Though what I really want for the Starks is arrows loaded with liquid nitrogen, so they freeze enemy soldiers.

Incorrect starks should have bog devils archers and should have poisoned arrows and should belong to the starks since they are form the north.

[Heart of Madness]

The "bog devils" are the Crannongmen, and they inhabit the Neck, but yes, they should serve the Starks.