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Thread: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt: Going East, XI-4

  1. #81
    Socrates1984's Avatar Decanus
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt: Expansion Pack, IIII-8

    Quote Originally Posted by Alavaria View Post
    (More mechanics talk)
    SSHIP works differently. For one, building is slower, so delevelling hurts much more. Also, "larger" settlements are generally supported by a high base growth factor (you can't get around it) so population grows back quickly. So much so that when you lose buildings that give public order, the population grows back faster than you can rebuild, leaving you with a problem down the road. So it's best to not lose any building levels. Also, settlements get an increased unrest depending on things (eg: Frankfurt is HRE "capital" so it gets a high unrest) which doesn't go down at all. It's always going to be an issue.

    In general my attacking is based on being able to sit on any problem areas, usually Large/Huge Cities are the major problems, some small Cities are no issue, but a City level with a higher population can be trouble. My actual attacking army tends to move forward, with it's "tail" of reinforcement guys doubting as a garrison. Like many players, I also have a garrison unit I spam (Peasants, which will be removed in future version so shrug) which tends to sit in place if needed...

    You can also use governor-generals, I don't like relying on them though.
    Thanks for the clarifications Alavaria! I have never played SSHIP although I have downloaded it and always plan to install it and never manage to. All this you describe seems very interesting from a gameplay perspective, so this gives me another incentive to do it sooner than later.

    Now, I feel a bit guilty for asking all these questions, because we all prefer seeing things from the protagonists' POV rather than from a mechanical one. So please do continue with your AAR and lead Pisans back to the path of glory (and us readers to enjoyable reads)!

  2. #82
    Alwyn's Avatar Frothy Goodness
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt: Expansion Pack, IIII-8

    I agree with Socrates1984, thank you Alavaria for your helpful explanation, both 'in character' and 'out of character'.

  3. #83

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt: Expansion Pack, IIII-9

    Dreadbolt: Expansion Pack
    Ch IIII-9: Roundup DLC



    The eastern lines against the Dane-Pole cooperation must hold! Remember that there is nothing to the west of here unless one goes all the way to the armies in France. The growing Pisan Empire is not able to directly patrol its now vast borders, instead relying on deterrence and punishment as a way to protect the newly annexed ex-Roman heartlands.

    It seems to work well enough.

    ===============================================================




    It turns out when your princesses are too old, they just disappear from the family tree. Not too useful (as their parents will be really old by then). More useful is the fact that if they marry someone already in the family tree (like a nice adopted general) they will move over to him, opening up a slot where they once were.

    Knowing this could allow you to maximize the number of sons that your family members can have. There's a few uses, but one is to get your +10 Chivalry general to have 4 sons who will gain +chivalry traits** from their father (chivalry being more annoying to get than dread).


    **Note: The top "from father" trait gives +2 chivalry. For comparison, the growth bonus from chivalry (critical!) tops out at 7 chivalry. Add in the possibility of some cheap points (ie: just use them to autoresolve a foregone settlement assault, then Occupy) and you can easily be well on your way to a capable growth general.

    ===============================================================






    Rhiems surrendered. As the closest City to Roman borders, a large number of Roman refugees (heh) had tried to seek protection within its walls. However, the French who surrendered to us handed them over and the Romans met predictable ends.

    ===============================================================



    However, the English were looking at us askance as we prepared for a siege of Paris. What do you want, huh?




    The French have swiftly followed the Romans downwards, to become another "exceptional" note in history. Theirs would be: "How the armies of chivalry were liquidated so thoroughly yet quickly will perhaps never be known."

    (Except by you readers here.)


    They may have shot the first arrow, but their bolt-ridden corpses would be the last thing left of our battles.




    Our Lady was talking about taxes or trade income was sufficient to replace any number of worries. "Even if we were at war with the entire world, we would never run out of iron or manpower."

    Though nurturing a soaring military, surpluses abounded even more greatly, as did the proliferation of "standardized" constructions. Especially walls, we built many great walls around new Cities. Since a City must have a stone wall instead of a wooden one, building these to size was critical. We also built many roads and bridges.


    ===============================================================


    Sometimes the enemies hoped that the force of religious authority would save them where force of arms had been broken.

    Well, to that one can only say, the coin is mightier than the pen, even the pen of the pope.




    That aside, sometimes the pope might win your faction a few years reprieve.




    Ironically, as the second-richest faction around, the Papal States have nothing at all to spend it on.

    However, if your business is in need of investors, you just might be able to get a loan from the Pope Development Bank, located in the financial district of Roma (branches in Pisa, Venezia, Milan and all good Italian cities)

    ===============================================================


    In such a "target-rich" environment, the rather disorganized (if perhaps partially deliberately, for operational security) long arms of the Pisan empire needed a bit of a shake up.

    Establishing a central control point would be of some value, even if most of the real training and of course operations were carried out far away from there.




    The Centralized Intelligence-Assassinations division was formed. It was only later that the "Thieves Guild" would be split off to carry out non-offensive spying actions.

    Of course, it was located in Venezia, close to a well-known crossbow manufacturer.






    The Plantagenet brothers were hosting a number of minor nobles for a dinner at the Plantagenet ancestral mansion in Rouen. We suspect the aim was to look for support in the event of a war against who else but the Pisan Empire.

    Unfortunately, all those in attendance died within a few days of the dinner. Poison.
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:32 AM.

  4. #84

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies V-1

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-1: Shape of Armies to Come



    As Ugolino looked over his Fourth Army, he thought about the odd mix of transitional-Italian and mercenary units that made up the force. The current Italian soldiers made up a 100% volunteer force, with conscription having been phased out from about halfway though the Italian Unification Campaign, finishing by the time the Roman invasion campaign began.

    This stood in odd contrast to the bordering kingdoms which had been desperately filling their ranks with untrained and badly equipped levies in resistance to the "Pisan Aggression". The Romans in particular had responded badly to news of purges. Not that it had helped them much.




    Officer: Polish archers are approaching the crossbow effective range.
    Ugolino: I can see that. Have the men engage at will.


    During the Italian Unification, the sight of crossbowmen wearing mail armor while some infantry only had padded armors was common, since the crossbowmen were volunteers of some means, while many of the infantry were equipped with as much as Pisan manufacturers could produce. Earlier, only the front few ranks could be assured of armor, with metal armors being almost exclusively found on the very front rank.

    However, now even the lightest spearmen had some form of mail, which even if old was still far more effective than layers of cloth. The first few ranks even had some type of experimental "plated coats", meaning that enemy archers could hardly find a weakness anywhere in the formation to exploit.




    Burning arrows came soaring up to the Italian position from the Polish archer line. Ugolino looked about with some confusion.

    Officer: This isn't a siege, what are they up to?
    Ugolino: Keep an eye on the flanks and have the men shoot back.
    Officer: They were already shooting "back" first.




    The newer generation of crossbows promised greater range and lethality, and oddly enough was contributing to a certain dread in the "knightly" classes, not all of whom had the best armor, though even that would struggle to protect the wearer against a sufficient volume of close-in bolts.

    As heavy crossbow production continued, it would eventually supplant the older wooden crossbows. Eventually, these older models would be relegated to garrison forces. Even then, these wealthy volunteers of means would doubtless compete for the most modern crossbow, flashy armor and artistic pavises. Which should be encouraged.




    Officer: The main force is advancing. Polish knights spotted!
    Ugolino: All heavy crossbows are to shoot them down!
    Officer: Indeed.

    Ugolino smiled sharply as the mounted Poles began to topple and fall over. It was not possible to tell if their mount had been struck or the rider, and if the latter then if they were wounded or not. But the crossbowmen couldn't really aim for individuals at that range and simply continued pouring steel-tipped bolts into the enemy.

    No negotiation, no ransoms, actually just no prisoners. The number of nobles who had perished to an Italian "Genoese" Crossbow was shocking enough to be overturn the otherwise amost casual way these elite men-at-arms thought about going to war.




    Some kingdoms had petitioned the Pope to outlaw these newer crossbows as crossing a line, however they were told that as a weapon it was as usable by them as anyone else, and was merely part of a "fair fight under heaven". Actually, many of them had also overestimated the capability of the older wooden crossbows, which Ugolino knew had difficulty penetrating most armors.

    This is because many Roman knights were captured and then executed, their deaths being reported as being due to crossbow shot. Surprisingly some of them believed the cover story (actually for domestic consumption) and thought themselves fortunate enough to survive, which of course they didn't for long after the battle ended.




    Officer: And here comes the main charge.
    Ugolino: Signal the line infantry to hold firm!


    Although none of the four armies was fully modernized, even his had enough to cover the first two ranks, which was about all the unfortunate attacking Polish could really see. After closing through a hail of missiles, they were greeted by the heavy infantry of the Fourth Army.

    Retrained veterans from the end of the Italian Unification, these picked spearmen were encased in the most modern armor available when they were equipped in Pisa, and dripping in richly colored cloths, ornaments and paints. It would be easy to imagine that some knights had decided to dismount and stand in the front line.




    Without any real numbers, the Polish knights were completely wiped out from range, and the infantry did not last long after making contact with their Italian counterparts. Even if they had tried to charge in, doing so without their infantry support would have been as suicidal as advancing with them under heavy crossbow attack.

    This was the ideal sort of situation for the Pisan Empire to fight in.




    The polish archers were also all cut to parts, almost to the man, under the continuing attentions of the lighter crossbowmen (these archers at best had some light armor, if anything at all).






    Ugolino watched in satisfaction as his cavalry went out to cut down the last survivors. The infantry would hold firm until scouts confirmed the enemy had indeed been beaten before "clearing the field". The Pisan army did not have any real knights at this point (other than perhaps bodyguard units) so the whole tradition of taking ransoms wasn't there. Anyone sill alive in the mass of fallen wouldn't be before the sun set.

    It was more efficient and faster to kill all the enemies and then take over their lands. After all, what gold they had in their manors could be taken once it was taken.



    Pisan aggression, huh?
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:34 AM.

  5. #85
    Alwyn's Avatar Frothy Goodness
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-1

    Wow, it sounds like the new heavy crossbows are even more deadly than the weapons they are replacing, I like the detail about kingdoms petitioning the Pope to outlaw them (and the useful tip in the previous chapter about how to maximise the size of your faction's ruling family). It sounds like the challenge for Pisa now is not winning battles, but that Pisa's armies are defending the very long borders of a huge empire. The mysterious deaths of the Plantagenet brothers seem to have happened soon after the creation of the Assassins' Guild, which is a remarkable coincidence.

  6. #86

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-2

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-2: The Greatest General









    After our strike against the Danes, the pope decided to demand we cease hostilities for about 3 years. With that, Marco no longer really needed all the reinforcements that had been slated to replace losses.

    So what could our military-industrial complex do? Why prepare for yet another war of course. Ships were prepared for an "unknown target".






    As it turned out, there were some pilgrims who had been denied their right to visit the "Holy places" and it was necessary for an intervention to take place. Of course the Pisans were ready to take part in this critical fight.

    So we prepared to set sail for the famous locale of Mursiyah. Where is that exactly?




    We began sailing for this promised land, westwards that is, all the way up the west side of the Iberian coast until we reached Moorish lands.

    Anticipation was high, a clash of civilizations was surely about to commence, now wait a second....




    This is just a Large Town at the very edge of Moorish claims? Why are we all rushing here? Oh, so it seems there's some small shrine with someone's hair or something.

    Sure, let's summon two massive armies to fight the Moors over this...






    The Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller even sent some Masters to lead their contingents of the war parties. It's really quite humbling... to be attacking a Large Town with all this.






    Pisa sent two of its newest generals, who had never seen combat before, and were actually slated to be full-time governors, to lead our two armies. They were known to be very chivalrous, so the odds of them actually killing a lot of Moors was fairly minimal.

    However, they encouraged people in settlements they govern to have children, so yeah. That's what going on wars of religious conquest does for you!




    It also makes you a greater general than anyone else in the Pisan empire. I'm going to say that the real generals are actually those Masters and not the governor who is probably just serving as their liason and quartermaster.

    (The Quartermaster is the second most important person in a Pisan army, or perhaps the first depending on when you ask the question!)





    As we reach, it seems Aragon has decided to make a rush for this critical shrine. However, our fleets are faster and thus we reach first.






    This is ours by right of arms! We're claiming this land, and more importantly the shrine which is right about... where is the shrine?




    It seems the relics we looked for are not here. This fact is kept secret, but apparently the relic was evacuated before the Moors took over. Anyway, we dug up an old Spartan Empire spearhead, the famous Long Lance of Agesipolis (though he actually used a Dory, more like the spears used by our infantryman than a heavy lancer's weapon).

    Mission accomplished!






    This great and glorious victory meant that Alberico and his follow governor are now fully equipped to encourage population growth in the towns and cities of the Pisan Empire, yay!


    (By the way, Murcia was given to the Byzantines who aren't even followers of the Pope. The spearhead was carried in triumph to Pisa, where it remains to this day.)



    The great Crusade of the Spear was one of the most publicized and well-known wars of the Pisan Empire, despite its total insignificance on many levels. It marked the first attack on non-Pope followers the Empire had undertaken, and would not be surpassed for a very long time to come.

    Alberico maintained his rank as the Empire's "top general" for the rest of his life, and never fought another battle in it, devoting himself to the population growth agenda given to him by Our Lady. He was also said to be quite a lady's man and definitely did his part to increase the Empire's population. Though important in their own right as governors and administrators, his children do not feature in this story.

    The Long Lance of Agesipolis sits in the Museum of Spartan Military History, and attracts the attention of pilgrims and new recruits alike. Many are awestruck with the clean and functional reinforced point of the spearhead, clearly intended for a warrior who would fight the most heavily armored enemy of the time - the Roman legionary.

    As heavy spearmen, the many Crusader Sergeants who joined were able to easily find a place in the Pisan Empire's army. They were soon massacring their way though more followers of the Pope (primarily in Hungary/Poland).
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:39 AM.

  7. #87

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-2

    haha nice narration! begin the pisan "reconquista" of moors enemies, support spanish troops!

    some day, would you like begin other narrative story about other sship faction? maybe when the new release come, you could make other story with completely different factions as castille and the reconquista and form spanish empire in middle ages, rus and north expansion, mongol horde and the Destruction of the world or recover the ancient abbasied caliphate
    Last edited by j.a.luna; March 23, 2017 at 07:04 AM.
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    THE LESS YOU BLEED IN BATTLE!!!



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  8. #88

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-3

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-3: Ceasefire Too Far





    Since there was minimal risk on Marco's side, the order was given to advance on the Polish front. Ugolino followed up his earlier victory with a quick siege and seizure of the Polish castle Stetin.

    However, someone disapproved of this.




    This makes the pope's third concurrent intervention in a Pisan war. This is just too much. How are we supposed to defend ourselves if we can't invade people that attack us?

    Fine, we'll have to make more through "preparations".




    In order to fully embrace the potential of targeted killings, all options should be left on the table. As the spies and assassins of a secret sect are known to say "nothing is true, everything is permitted" or something like that. They're slippery folk.

    Rumor has it that these arms of the Pisan Empire are actually personally overseen by Our Lady but it's always hard to know anything except that they exist and are rather effective.




    The funding for such an expansive effort is actually very modest in comparison to their substantial contributions (and this number includes all the priests and generals as well).




    Rather than reaching all the way out, instead we will be looking close to home to remove the threat within. Such religious peacemaking must end. Indeed, perhaps it is time for a change of the guard.




    There's a number of statistics that allow generals to avoid assassins. However, Piety is not one of them.




    And now our growing roster of cardinals will have to show their true power.




    Giovanni de Medici might be the Guildmaster of Assassins, or maybe he's just a normal assassin who has the Guildmaster of Assaassins in his Retinue.




    Ulrich von Hamburg was amazed and gratified when all the cardinal votes went unanimously to him, and traveled to Roma with great fanfare. Already he was planning a series of reforms to what he saw as an a Circle overly tolerant of Pisan aggression, and with such a mandate from the cardinals, what could possibly go wrong?






    Meanwhile, finely crafted crossbows began to appear, specialized for "various applications requiring high accuracy and precision rather than power" but oddly enough, these were not popular along the military population...
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:42 AM.

  9. #89

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-3

    Great chapter, I enjoyed it. The reference to AC is well made and I really like the sentence "There's a number of statistics that allow generals to avoid assassins. However, Piety is not one of them.", you really had me lauch there! Looking forward to reading the next chapter.

  10. #90

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-3

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-4: Peace of the Pope



    As the first two of the previous pope's three ceasefires ended, the newly crowned Innocentius XXI intended to create a new, and more peaceful, world order in a multilateral League of Kingdoms.

    He would of course start with the very small remnants of the Romans (now reduced to two towns or thereabout). However, shocking developments would overtake him.




    His Roman host, Konig Wolfram, who had hoped to recieve his blessings to become Emperor (of two towns) died a day before the scheduled crowning, along with a number of various noble guests who had come together for the occasion. It was almost certainly Pisan in origin, due to their predilection for mass poisoning and disregard for the collateral damage (though, it was noted that it was all Romans so perhaps that was viewed as a bonus?).

    It seems that the pope only survived because he was fasting the day before the coronation.




    With a growing sense of horror, he realized that leaving Roma had made it much easier for the Pisans to assassinate him away from the public eye. Following many other Romans, he fled west to the French, who welcomed him warmly in their capital of Paris. However loud they proclaimed him though, it didn't matter.

    Not long afterwards, Simone Visconti appeared with a massive and fully modernized Pisan banner army. There was no time for the pope to attempt to create another ceasefire once he had the city surrounded under siege.




    Simone viewed his overbearing Third Army with satisfaction. With the retirement of his father Soderino, the Podesta's First Army had been disbanded, with many elements being added to the Third Army in preparation for this day.

    A sea of various Pisan tents behind him swayed gently in the wind as the army prepared for battle with all their arms and armor.

    Simone: This is quite something.
    Officer: The French reinforcements are arriving on schedule.




    The plan was simple, the various reinforcements would be intercepted and destroyed separately from the main host, unless of course, the latter left their walls. The Pisans had of course prepared their ground well, despite moving swiftly into position.

    Simone: Excellent, well then enemy knights are in range, commence the attack.
    Simone: To "encourage" them, let's test the performance of our own "knights" against something weak.




    Some of the enemy knights foolishly took the bait, charging in on our "flank" without support. Did they think they had spotted an opportunity?

    An opportunity to get skewered on a heavy Pisan infantry spear, perhaps.






    The main French force, who had exited Paris as hoped, joined the battle immediately as it became apparent that their fellows would never be able to withdraw without being totally wiped out.

    However, it was too late for the foolish Amaury the Just, who didn't think to try a route besides just "march straight to the main force, getting shot by crossbows along the way".




    The French had begun experimenting with crossbow technology, bringing several units of crossbowmen to this battle. However, these ones were not really armored and using the equivalent of old Pisan crossbows (increasingly relegated to garrisons unlikely to actually need them). They were outclassed by the Pisans in every way.

    The only thing in their favor was that the land was such that the Pisans could not easily shoot back. However, the French could only shoot at the Pisan infantry themselves which meant little to the heavy spearmen.




    Michel de Milly managed to find a gap in the Pisan lines and immediately charged in, expecting a decisive breakthrough. Seeing French knights coming at them, the Pisan crossbowmen quickly ducked behind their large shields. Unlike many missile units, these ones were actually quite well defended.




    Simone and the many Pisan knights in reserve immediately rushed to defend the crossbowmen. Meanwhile, Michel's other knights found themselves unable to exploit the same gap, as the Pisan flank had readjusted itself to close up.

    The French general was now trapped behind enemy lines, with no clear way back out.




    A crossbowman, looking around his large shield, spotted the general looking about in confusion as his bodyguard scattered around, running over people but not doing much damage. He took the shot.

    It hit, but didn't do much to the armored general, who turned to make his own attack.




    As Michel drew his sword and charged at one of the crossbowmen pavise formations, an officer pointed at him and yelled for everyone to shoot. About a hundred bolts came over or around the various shields and slammed into the French knight and his mount.



    Very few people would have enough luck to be able to withstand that.




    There were many French (and Roman) dismounted knights who had to walk to the frontlines, but once there, they engaged the spear line with a fury that pushed back the Pisans and caused lines to stretch and bulge dangerously.




    For a moment, it seemed like there might be victory, if close. The crossbowmen valiantly shot through any infantry trying to slip through gaps in the spear line, but also made sure their swords were close to hand.




    But it was all over once Simone and all the Pisan knights issued out from the right flank. The enemy knights only had swords, which meant they had no chance against the long lances and spearpoints charging into them.






    Somewhere in this, a number of the Pope's guards were found on the battlefield. The Pisans didn't really recognize them as such (these were probably volunteer Roman remnants) and they were killed without anyone really noticing.

    There were a lot of people killed there, and as usual, most of the enemy dead simply disappeared into various mass graves without any note or record of who they were.






    You don't honestly think couched lances and heavy crossbows take prisoners do you?

    ===============================================================


    As to what happened to Innocentius, that's the subject of some debate. Some say he was present at the battle to bless the French forces, and was killed there by a massive Pisan elite knight who cut him in two with a large sword (rather unlikely anyone would do that from horseback though).



    What is more likely, even if he had been there, was he fled to Paris, which fell soon after. Since so many Romans had fled there after what was effectively the fall of their Roman empire, Our Lady decided to have the city destroyed. In a very orderly fashion though, which is to say no one escaped.

    Whichever of the scenarios it was, all it really means is he probably ended up as a naked corpse in a pit west of Paris or just outside of Paris. You see, the common soldier's tunic was not necessarily worth taking off them, but nobles who wore well-made arming jackets were worth stripping.



    Pisan armies were quite adept at cleaning up a messy battlefield. It should be noted that burying Pisan casualties on the battlefield was also standard practice, it usually being considered the land was not "foreign" since after all, the territory was incorporated into the Pisan Empire. If you were wondering, equipment either returned to the Pisan armories, or (if owned by the soldier in question) was returned to their next of kin.

    Pisan war dead were interred in neat rows, usually a small distance from the nearest road. Due to the lack of ability to raise tombstones, careful records were taken of the location of each person in the burial "formation" for future generations (tombstones would be added later on usually).


    It was an odd rumor that the reason for this was to allow the spirits of dead to continue patrolling the area, though this makes little sense since they were probably only traveling there on a campaign. In any case, most of those who believed such nonsense were not Pisans and really, passing along such a location only to be ambushed by Pisans was probably enough of a deterrent on its own!
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:47 AM.

  11. #91
    Alwyn's Avatar Frothy Goodness
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-4

    I like the line about the 'finely crafted crossbows' at the end of your previous chapter. I guess that it is not a coincidence that this appears underneath the picture of the upgraded Assassins' Guild Headquarters. Considering what happened to Konig Wolfram and most of his guests, it sounds like Pisa's assassins are as reliably effective as her armies.

    In your latest chapter, Michel de Milly's encounter with the crossbowmen on the battlefield is nicely done! The references to 'mass graves' and the 'extermination' of the population of Paris show how accustomed Pisa's armies are to indiscriminate brutality. I'm intrigued by the 'odd rumour' at the end.

  12. #92

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-5

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-5: Wages of Death



    Soderino had left his mark on the "Holy" "Roman" Empire, the new Pisan Empire, and thus the world, before entering retirement in good health and spirits. New Paris was left to his charge, and promptly filled with many members of his (now disbanded, remember) First Army. Needless to say, it supported a healthy self-defense garrison force.

    Let us now take a larger view of his legendary legacy.




    Most obviously, territory. From its beginnings as an impressive unified Italy, the Pisan Empire had swallowed whole all the cities and castles of the Roman Empire, leaving only a couple of towns and many refugees in France to the west and Hungary to the east.

    All the neighbouring powers would have their work cut out for them, if they were not able to prevent the Pisans from fully integrating all of this into their north Italian powerhouse region.




    There was a great deal already integrated of the southern areas, though understandably transport through the Alps was troublesome at time. However, serious works were underway to make this as safe and easy as possible.

    A great deal of ingenuity and hard word would be involved.




    In time other routes would also become available.




    With its neighbours suffering from failed wars and doubtless hoping to rebuild and get revenge, vigilance is necessary to protect our new borders.




    One of Marco's younger sisters became "past childbearing age" or something and so disppeared from the family tree. She's the Grand Quartermaster-General of the Pisan Empire though... Her task is to ensure supplies, reinforcements and so on reach the frontlines in due time.

    And since there was a slot empty under Soderino, someone got adopted and is sitting there (he's not important).








    Sometimes an assassin ends up being killed instead of his target. It's always a pity when this happens because all assassins are fully trained up on killing rebel scum captains before sent out on "real" missions (obviously some are killed by the rebels while "training" though).

    At least, no one has died to a building - yet.




    Some say that Catelano the Clever is the Guildmaster of Thieves, some think it's the Dancer who seems to follow him about. But actually it's someone else entirely. It's probably the person behind you.

    That said though, the Pisan spies are less interested in intercepting your mail than learning how the gates of your city open...




    Soon we will be considered the Holy Pisan Empire? Nah, too pretentious.




    With a little help, the development of our cities is continuing at a good pace.

    You have to overcome about 16% squalor to pass from City -> Large City.




    Our population continues to swell, which is great since without expanding our walls, Pisa will not be able to host a heavy crossbow industry.
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:49 AM.

  13. #93
    Alwyn's Avatar Frothy Goodness
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-5

    Good update! Soderino has a legendary legacy, indeed! I like your line about the identity of the Guildmaster of Thieves. A heavy crossbow industry in Pisa sounds ominous for Pisa's enemies.

  14. #94

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-6

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-6: Stop Right There



    An army mostly consisting of light infantry may struggle mightily, but will not make much impact upon our armored ranks. The Danes who survived various encounters with Marco's Second Army can attest to that.

    If they're not just staring off to the south muttering about incoming crossbow bolts.




    It was an "even fight" in terms of numbers, and this time the enemy had split up to try and stretch our lines. However, they numbered many skirmishers who of course would not fight in the infantry melee. So there would be no problems there.

    We set up on a small rise and waited for them to approach. The range of javelins is short enough without trying to throw up uphill.




    As the infantry met and the Dane skirmishers milled about unable to do much due to the height differences, rather than our earlier steadfast line, instead Pisan horse burst out from the side and were upon their missile troops before they could shoot or throw a single missile at us!

    There was a brief crush, mixed with the slice of cavalrymen swords, mincing the Danes into bits.






    The enemy general, while having planned well, could not turn around the battle despite his best personal efforts. Which is to say he was shot to death from a long range where his sword was as useless in his hand as it would have been if left at home.

    Just another heroic death by crossbow bolt on the battlefield.








    The rest of the Danes were cleaned up, and the castle of Roskilde taken without further issue.

    ===============================================================



    This pope, like the last couple of them, tried again to revive the Pisan Peace Process. We were having none of it while the fighting never seemed to fully die down.

    Any army sitting inactive during this or that ceasefire immediately continued their campaign, reinforced, rested and resupplied at the end of it.




    Simone, who has only been killing the Pope's people, somehow knows a lot about fighting armies of other religions. And of commanding mounted soldiers. Interesting.




    Marco on the other hand, is known for truly fearlessly ordering crossbow volleys at long range, and personally killed many routing enemies with a spearthrust to the back as they ran.

    He is an inspiration.




    This wife is quite an inspiration as well.

    ===============================================================



    The Hungarians had nominally joined the wars against us. We asked them to reconsider.

    "Over my dead body."






    There was also a dangerous Wicked Witch of the North Italy. We removed her.

    This is the safest way to do it. While Priests can end up turning into heretics or something, assassins at worst die. So you'll never end up with a pile of heretics if you just use a crossbow.
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:53 AM.

  15. #95
    Alwyn's Avatar Frothy Goodness
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-6

    The image when you zoomed out to show both armies, with the enemy units stretched wide and highlighted in red, looks ominous. Your comments on the abilities of Simone and Marco are nicely done. It sounds like Hungary had made a dangerous decision.

  16. #96

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-6

    I'll briefly point out that the red-green unit highlighting is a feature of M2TW, if you click the shield or something in the center of one of the bottom panels it flashes these colors for a few seconds.

    Quite handy, makes it very obvious where, in a mixed up melee of similar-looking troops, the enemy are all blobbed up for you to destroy (alternatively: are strong)

  17. #97

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-7

    Dreadbolt: Colorful Armies
    Ch V-7: Many Endings



    Quit




    Trying




    Ceasefires




    What is wrong with all of these people?




    Whenever there's a brief ceasefire between the Pisans and one of their enemies, the others who are still at war know all too well...




    The Pisans will now switch targets and are coming for them.




    As a side note, Simone decided to make a wonderful new administrative center in Paris which would become an important center on the west side of our Empire for various reasons to be seen.

    ===============================================================





    In the west, Evio's Fifth stomped out a small group of Romans who had foolishly stuck to their flags rather than trying to hide with the French or so on.

    ===============================================================






    Meanwhile in the east, a new First Army (of sorts) had been put together including many crusaders who had joined in the Crusade of the Long Lance and decided to continue using their spears in the Pisan battle lines.

    Despite the attempts of the latest pope (a Roman himself) these holy warriors had quite thoroughly dedicated themselves towards the destruction of the Pisan Empire's many enemies.




    A great procession of battering rams approached the gate unchallenged. After the rams battered their way though, they entered confidently, still unresisted.




    Part of the reason was that that the crossbowmen were on a raised central hill. Being unable to arc their shots or anything, all the Romans did was basically shoot the ground in front of them.

    No one knows why they did this, but apparently they continued while we formed up, until the Romans were left with no more ammunition.








    Somewhat incredulous, Roman general Thomas Folz charged the mass of crusaders and met a predictable end.






    Dietrich Feuchtwangen tried a somewhat smarter approach, charging the crossbowmen instead. He made it to them, but accomplished little else.






    Seeing this disaster, his twin brother of the exact same name turned to flee and was shot by the crossbowmen in the back.












    The rest was basically just a mass execution rather than a battle.




    This was the last official Roman holding. What would happen to them now?
    Last edited by Alavaria; June 30, 2017 at 02:58 AM.

  18. #98
    Alwyn's Avatar Frothy Goodness
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-7

    It sounds like a series of Popes kept trying to make peace, only to be mysteriously assassinated! I'm intrigued by the Preferati, are they candidates to become Pope or voting to choose the next Pope? (I am just guessing, I do not know how the system involving the Pope works in Medieval II.) Marco is living up to his name and reputation, his army seems to be unstoppable. I wonder if you would like to enter the MAARC.
    Last edited by Alwyn; May 13, 2017 at 01:33 AM.

  19. #99
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    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-7

    This AAR reminds me of days passed. Will have to read from the beginning. Keep up the good work and keep writing
    The White Horse: Hanover AAR (On going ETW AAR)
    Tales of Acamar: Legends WS Yearly Award Best Plot Winner (On-going CW Piece)
    The Song of Asnurn: An Epic Poem MCWC VI Winner (On-hold CW Piece)
    Tales of Acamar: Outbreak (Finished)
    To Conquer the World for Islam A Moor AAR (Finished)

  20. #100

    Default Re: (SSHIP-Pisa) Dreadbolt:Colorful Armies, V-7

    Quote Originally Posted by Alwyn View Post
    It sounds like a series of Popes kept trying to make peace, only to be mysteriously assassinated! I'm intrigued by the Preferati, are they candidates to become Pope or voting to choose the next Pope? (I am just guessing, I do not know how the system involving the Pope works in Medieval II.)
    Preferati are chosen in a specific manner, but basically if there's no pope, an election will take place from the three (or two) Preferati. Everyone in the College of Cardinals gets a vote (including the Preferati).

    In case I forget, if there's no pope, the election takes place at the start of the next turn OR when you save&reload the game. So technically you could have a huge number of popes in a single turn (6 months)

    Quote Originally Posted by Scottish King View Post
    This AAR reminds me of days passed. Will have to read from the beginning. Keep up the good work and keep writing
    Hope you enjoy it
    Last edited by Alavaria; May 20, 2017 at 02:38 AM.

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