Cosmopoli-Taint; A Blue Within Blue World - France AAR

Our BadBoy value is high, but we retain a faint grasp of the Curia. Unfortunately, the odds of bribing cardinals are now so low, we will not hold sway there for long.

Two of our earliest advisors are still around, and their tag-team effect has ensured a remarkably stable economy for France. I've rarely played this far without building up some inflation.

As for the budget, it has passed 100 ducats a month, which - if we could only get a superb Admin monarch - means we're eligible for the 'go directly to Absolute Monarchy' decision. It would require significant luck, though. Our money is focused on Production level 9, to get Workshops.


The world's strongest economies.


And just for kicks, the top three realms in terms of inflation.


The world's largest armies...


...and then sorted by what matters at this point - Cavalry.


The world's mightiest fleets.


A general breakdown of France. Cosmopolitaine definitely the dominant culture, but we have a large number of non-core Sunni provinces now.


The situation in the Curia.


To justify future wars, we distribute some warnings. Some, to countries with our cores, like Lorraine, and some to heretic and heathen nations that control Catholic lands. If we could only get a war going, those provinces would be BadBoy-free.


However, the fairly calm of Europe is fractured as the Polish-Lithuanian Personal Union breaks apart. Unleashed, the Lithuanian beast goes on a rampage in Eastern Europe, causing a quick re-evaluation of French foreign policy. Ah, well... at least we were at peace for a couple of months.

GhostWriter said:

kebzero: ...The world's strongest economies.

aye, you are where you need to be ! !

kebzero: ...Cosmopolitaine definitely the dominant culture, but we have a large number of non-core Sunni provinces now.

don't forget to give certain court 'jesters' jobs as foreign missionaries ! !

kebzero: ...To justify future wars, we distribute some warnings.

splendid ! !

kebzero: ...Ah, well... at least we were at peace for a couple of months.

who was the lucky vict... oops, i mean, recipient of the war lottery ? ?

thanks for the stats ! ! awesome update ! !

Click to expand...

The victim will be made clear shortly.

Yesterday, I played a little bit too far, and I'm almost at the Reformation. To keep the gap between this AAR and the actual game small, I'll put up new parts as soon as I can edit and organize the screenshots. Things got messy towards the end of the fifteenth century.

It is with great sadness we receive the news of the passing of our old Master of the Mint. The treasurers will miss him tremendously. The French budget is accordingly adjusted.


Lithuania, with their newly acquired freedoms, declared war on Novgorod. This dismayed the French court, and clamors for intervention were loud. Francois I listened. Military Access treaties with Novgorod were broken, forces dispatched to the Baltic, and spies sent to justify our invasion. Unfortunately, they fail in stealth, which results in a BadBoy point.


We declare war. Aware Novgorod does not fight alone, we add their 'hidden' ally to the list.


Sadly, our intervention comes too soon to gain full benefits. Lithuania has already secured the sieges of the Catholic provinces of Samogitia and Wenden.


From Wurttemberg comes news of a Pretender uprising. Not about to chance this to local forces, Francois I dispatches a cavalry force to our union partner.


Denmark succeeds where Brittany failed. The archbishopric of Bremen is removed from the map.


To curb Lithuanian ambitions, we attempt to bribe patriots in Simogitia to rise up. Unfortunately, they fail to rally sufficient numbers, and Lithuania soon dispatches them underhoof.


Naples wishes to secure their hegemony over Italy, and declares war on their rival, Milan.


Denmark pushes deeper into the Holy Roman Empire. With the province of Brunswick besieged by rebel forces, the nation of Brunswick accepts vassalage. No doubt they will be gone within a decade or two.


From the Emperor, Denmark extorts substantial funds.


With great irritation, we receive news that Lithuania chooses to take our desired conquests in their peace with Novgorod, despite many more options of provinces. Our possible gains in the Baltic are substantially reduced.


The death of our last active general and more than fifty in army tradition inspires us to recruit another for the Russian front. He is immediately sent back to the siege of Novgorod, as the Russians are counter-attacking with all they have, resulting in the French forces being badly outnumbered.


In Africa, we secure our first colonial city. Fort construction is immediately started.


General de Rochechouart proves his prowess, holding the greater Russian forces at bay.


Unfortunately, they tag-team him - one attacks while the other rests. Once forced to retreat, the rested stack attacks. The question becomes whether the fort of Novgorod will fall before the French siege is routed.

In a surprising move, newly liberated Genoa destroys Aquileia.


Austria's rampage of Milan is less surprising. Being clever, the Milanese sacrifice some of their ally's lands instead of their own.


Government level 9 is reached, and it's time for a second National Idea. We pick Conquest of the New World; time to secure footholds towards the Americas and southern Africa.


The Galicians are again bickering over borders, this time with Portugal over the province of Porto. Soon enough, it is justified to be French lands, as it has always been. The Portuguese occupants must simply be evicted for this fact to be indisputable.


At last, the fortified city of Novgorod surrenders. Envoys are immediately dispatched to the entrenched merchants with offers of peace. With luck, they will accept, despite having superior numbers and a good chance of evicting us entirely.


It is indeed a good thing merchants have no stomach for war.

Unfortunately, thanks to Lithuania's successes and our blundering spies, the war outcome is not as favorable as it should have been. Taking the three northern Catholic provinces gives us no BadBoy points at all, but the spies caused us one, as did the Declaration of War. Also, three provinces for two points is not as good as five provinces for two points... Ah, well. Our own fault for not taking this approach before the Polish-Lithuanian Union collapsed.


In Central Germany, the archbishoprics of Trier and Mainz clash over certain interpretations of the sacraments. The situation soon deteriorates to all-out war, bringing in several allies in the region. While Trier eventually secures Mainz, they lose their stewardship of Koblenz to the Palatinate.


News from Asia Minor are not good. The Ottomans have finally successfully assaulted the island empire of the Byzantines. In a land exchange, they are permitted to keep their capitol, in return for all other lands. No doubt, the Turk will remove even this tentative holding soon.


Naples, after a prolonged fight with Milan, secures a small gain.


Evidently, their losses were greater than French spies estimated. They again offer an alliance, we again decline. While we approve of their growing stature, we do not wish to take part in the Italian wars.


Holland has evidently used the tariffs from their Center of Trade to build an army. They assault the archbishopric of Utrecht, causing major reactions against them from Utrecht's allies.


Rio de Oro is now within colonial range. Hostile natives are relocated, and adventurers dispatched to secure the province for France.


Despite objections from some members of the court, Francois I insists on pursuing a diplomatic line, rather than continued military conquest. This comes as a result of losing control of the Curia, and no amount of bribes suffices. With the Pope offering warnings, Francois I stays his hand.

Disgruntled with the king, the dissenting members of court rally around the Dauphin, hoping to influence the king's eldest son. Their meddling eventually brings results...


Francois I's new line is met with great scepticism, and all annexation offers are blankly refused by our vassals.


To our north, Holland too late understands their mistake, and is reduced to a One Province Minor.


With Production level 9 researched, a massive Workshop construction program is instituted. To speed up the process, minting is increased to max for several years. A small bit of inflation is tolerated. We could luck out on a later move towards Free Subjects, or with some other events.


Eventually, diplomacy triumphs. Armagnac accepts - however, this move decentralizes our rule considerably. The Dauphin voices his concerns, but is ignored.


High Judge de Tocqueville comes through for us. As we have no immediate ability to manipulate the need for stability (DoWs, idea swaps, etc), we opt for more Prestige to balance our perpetual loss.


In Africa, adventurers move south from Tuat, into Taodeni. Rumors of an empire in central Africa abound. For the time being, orders are made to relocate the natives and establish a French settlement.

As the Mamelukes defy our warnings, the Dauphin urges Francois I to take action, despite the king's recent pacifist inclinations. Hawk members of the court backs the Dauphin, appealing to the king's honor. We did warn these heathens, and they should learn what a French warning implies.


Deciding the Pope wouldn't mind an assault on the heathens, in particular the heathens in control of the Holy Land, the appeals of chivalry breaks through to Francois I. War is declared.


The initial force comparisons belies the fact that French forces are not trained for desert warfare, something that is proven soon enough.


After mapping Madeira and the Azores, both secured by the Portuguese, our explorers report of a chain of islands off the coast of Africa. Colonists are soon dispatched.


Our noble king, Francois I, was found dead in bed this morning. Witnesses claim to have seen one of his mistresses slipping out of the royal chambers earlier, and the cause of death is assumed to have been pleasant. Other rumors include a poison plot, perhaps even involving the Dauphin.

Nevertheless, the Dauphin ascends as Charles VII. His military inclination does not bode well for our neighbors, and his poor grasp of leadership does not bode well for France.


However, the new king does notice a grave mistake made by his father. The forces in Egypt were not sufficiently funded. This would certainly explain the many losses the campaign has suffered (AKA. D'oh! moment).


Rattling the sabers, hawks at the court delivers documents suggesting that the province of Armor rightfully belongs to France.


Morocco, humbled by the previous war, is eager for revenge. With much of our African detachments dispatched to Egypt, they seize the opportunity.

Unfortunately for them, they seem unaware France has a new, warmongering monarch.


Morocco's allies are not enough to deter us, either.


A minor squabble over seating arrangements at the royal court escalates out of control. Using underhanded methods, the matter is settled - only to cause more trouble for the king. To stabilize the situation, he removes some noble rights to serve as a warning.


Nice is much closer to French core lands than to Naples. With this argument, claims on the province are made.


Tripoli is stripped of their cores. Annexation can wait until the next war; our reputation is poor enough as it is, and we have more important targets.


The Mamelukes manage to attrition our forces close to annihilation. General de Rochechouart orders a retreat, luring the Mamelukian armies on a chase through much of northern Africa. A ruse, this buys our forces in southern Egypt time to finish sieges in the region, increasing our warscore.


Tunisia receives the same treatment as Tripoli.


Morocco is punished for their insolence.


General de Rochechouart's forces are back at Alexandria, threatened by a force ten times their size. A rout is almost inevitable. However, his retreat into Libya and back bought enough time to secure southern Egypt. The Mamelukes, tired of fighting, accepts the surrender of Alexandria, awarding France with their fourth Center of Trade.


Naples, inspired by the French crusades, declares war on the Ottomans. A spread-out conflict in the Balkans is the result.


In the north, Norway suffers greatly as their old allies attack. Sweden secures much land.


Denmark also claims some territories.


Emboldened by Charles VII's militaristic styles, low-level generals insist our policy of naval investments is incorrect. We promptly inform them otherwise, and award them garrison service in Africa.


In a remarkable turn of fortunes, the deaths and appointments of cardinals favor France. As our reputation is much too poor to successfully influence cardinals, the question is how long this tentative control will last.

Enewald said:

You better guarantee the Byzantines... too many blobs is not good.

Click to expand...

At this point, blobs can be handled - better to let them eat OPMs for us, resulting in one BadBoy point rather than six for us...

Xesttub said:

Blobs are good. Every blob that does an annexation for you saves you BB.

Click to expand...

Precisely.

Charles VII, concerned about France's bad reputation and how we might yet manage to conquer the world without making matters worse, consults with our only remaining Diplomat. Vittorio Caetani promptly presents a few alternatives.

The diplomatic approach would be to expand France's number of vassals dramatically, and attempt mass annexations once every decade. While this would result in only a single BadBoy point for every province, even OPMs, this would result in a permanently decentralized nation - not a good thing, considering how many vital Decisions depend on being Centralized. This method would also be time-consuming, and annexations are certainly not guaranteed.

The militaristic approach would be to attack whenever possible - not an option at all, since this would crash our reputation faster than anything.

The balanced approach would be to pick targets with great care. Only a few types of provinces come without a BadBoy cost - provinces of your faith, but not the faith of your target and provinces that are your core. Unfortunately, the act of declaring war would still tarnish our reputation. Guarantees might get us around this problem... if only we knew who our targets would attack.

The king grudgingly accepted the latter idea, and further cursed his father for thinking diploannexing Armagnac was a good idea. The province, already being a French core, would have been better released, and maybe eaten by others. He was not about to repeat such mistakes.


To prove this point, he immediately instructs the Curia to excommunicate the ruler of Foix. The vassalage is also soon ended, and Charles VII wishes them luck - and preferably an alliance with other target nations, if not an outright inheritance with someone. For the present, the small OPM is best left alone.


England, insisting on keeping their grand fleet, have barely a pitchfork to repel the angry Scotsmen.


In Greece, Naples' crusade reaches fruition. They secure the province of Albania, and the release of Corfu and Athens.


In Iberia, Granada summons up the guts to attack the utterly defenseless Castille. Unfortunately, they both have allies...


In the Baltic, the archbishopric of Riga ends up the victim for Lithuania's ambition to secure themselves a port.


Initially, Granadan forces have great success, assaulting and overrunning one garrison after another.


On the southern frontier, the colony of Rio de Oro grows into a city.


Algiers, after a quick occupation by Portuguese forces, settles things with Castille.


Naples once more attacks the Pope. However, despite their mission to 'conquer Rome', they do not dare take the full step, resulting in yet another ransom.


It is a hard time for the clergy, as surrounding monarchs refuse to acknowledge them. In the lowlands, Brabant makes a bid to extend their realm.


The Ottomans, still smarting from their defeat by Naples, takes it out on Hungary.

This action raises the interest of several French bishops. Dalmatia, a Catholic province, should not be forced to live under heathen rule.


The Curia slips from our grasp, and though we have funds, the odds of influencing cardinals are so atrocious that only sporadic - and futile - attempts are made.


The garrison at Rio de Oro informs French cartographers of new lands even further south.


The Granadan offensive is cut short when Portugal invades. Moreover, the Castillians rebel - and in the confusion, fight the Portuguese attempting to rescue them. Granadan forces merely watch the spectacle.


The news of the annexation of Munster is accepted with glee at the French court. This should be one OPM less to sweat BadBoy points over.


Similarly, the disappearance of Riga is considered a good thing.


Scotland, however, provokes some ire when they pick London in the peace settlement, rather than securing themselves a land corridor to Scotland proper.

Charles VII was delighted. The news that cartographers had now justified how the province of Bourbon rightly belonged to France meant that a military solution to annexing this minor nation was now cheaper, in terms of reputation loss.


In northern Italy, Mantua is again reduced to a single province. The question now, is whether Naples will finish the task at hand, or not.


A few carefully placed bribes finally brings about result, returning a shaky hold of the Curia to French hands.


However, all is not bliss. A crisis at the home front gives us an impossible choice. Abandon years of work in either reputation improvement, or spend years working on stability. In the end, stability is deemed the more dynamic choice, easier to bear.


To rectify the disastrous move on Armagnac, Charles VII orders the return of several royal powers. The country destabilizes further as a result.


In Iberia, the conflict is at last brought to a close, with no gains for either side. The display of Portuguese prowess in that war, however, alarms the French court enough to break out of their attempted isolationism.


It is deemed time to secure our core in Porto - as well as the Atlantic islands.


Portugal picked their allies with care; they all answer our aggression - and ultimately seal their doom.


The assault does ensure that the Curia again slips our grasp, and ends with Scotland. Promptly, the Scots excommunicate the ruler of Naples. The news baffles France. What machinations do the Scots have with this move? Are they planning to secure some Mediterranean property?


Brittany, rapidly overrun, is forced to give up Armor. Being a French core, it does not affect our reputation.


However, the Atlantic islands do cost us another two BadBoy points, that comes in addition to the Declaration of War. Even so, with Portugal reduced to a OPM, their fleet might push them into the same chaos as happened for Castille and England.


A mere week later, the French court receives news that Portugal has surrendered to Castille, begging for protection. Charles VII is delighted - a decade down the line, the most advanced colonial nation might well have been eaten by the most technologically backwards would-be-colonizer.


In Milan, the king dies without an heir, throwing the country into chaos, dragging with it several parts of Europe. Lorraine and Poland engage in a paper war, and ultimately, the conflict ends in a white peace.


In the north, Denmark seeks to expand their influence - before Sweden would get the same idea.

Charles VII proclaims it is time to secure our claim on Nice. The surest way to engage the Napolitans seems to be to guarantee the Pope's safety. Words of gratitude are received from Rome, but of course we have no intentions whatsoever of actually protecting his Holiness.


From the depths of Africa comes word of a large empire. These heathens still worship animals. More than one missionary appeals to the king to fund an expedition. Recalling the horrendous losses suffered in the Egyptian deserts, Charles VII denies their request, for now.


It is a grim day for the Byzantine Empire of Constantinople. The Ottomans have decreed the city now belongs to them, and meet up in droves to prove the point.

However, Byzantium does not stand alone... If they're willing to forget that whole coronation of Charlemagne thing, certainly we would come to their aid. Too bad our ships ended up sailing up the Adriatic...


Sure as clockwork, Naples seeks to torch Rome. Their mighty allies abandon them immediately, which certainly makes our decision whether to intervene or not considerably easier.


Denmark absorbs yet another German minor, with French blessings.


The Napolitans rapidly proves they have one advantage on France - naval supremacy. Though not completely domineering, their many galleys convince the French Admiralty to take a nice vacation on the Riviera, and leave the fighting to cavalry intercept groups. Unfortunately, we could not save Provence in time.


Denmark's offensive continues.


The Scots finally unite the lands of Upper and Lower Scotland.


With Naples weakened after battling French cavalry, Hungary jumps them. We do not object - having Hungarian peasants help assault the forts is a boon. An even greater boon are their allies. Bavarian and Bohemian forces soon invade northern Italy, distracting the Napolitans.


In the end, we accept a limited peace - our core province of Nice, and Croatia, so that Hungary cannot have it. Another BadBoy point is the result, keeping us well into two digits still.


With a sizable bribe, cardinal Maxwell switches his vote from backing Scotland to backing France.


In northern Africa, our missionaries point out that the Berber Pirates still hold sway over much land - land that should be French.


Our intrepid explorers return word of a small island far to the west, so far that the court is temporarily expanded with a profiles Navigator to enable colonists to find their way.


Another group of islands are mapped off the coast of Africa, and quickly colonized.


After annexing Genoa, the fresh king of Milan dares declare war on Rome. Sensing the opportunity, despite the inevitable BadBoy cost, Charles VII chooses to 'protect' the Pope.


Norway collapses from Danish onslaughts, and their eastern ally isn't faring too good, either.


This is soon made very clear.

The situation in Italy is grim - for the Italians. Bohemia, having been remarkably pacifistic ever since they lost the Emperor title some fifty years past, has gone on a rampage in Naples. In parallel, French forces have seized most of Milan.

The funny thing is that Milan and Naples, also at war with each other, battle it out while their lands are occupied.


Our prolonged crusade against the Ottomans rages on. With merely twenty cavalry regiments and limited war goals, we rarely leave the Balkans. Routing their forces and peaceing their allies has finally convinced the Turks it is time for peace.

Charles VII , campaigning in Dalmatia, disagrees.


With Milan secured, Charles VII is given a tough choice. To take merely the Center of Trade in Liguria for one BadBoy point, or to push deeper into Italy and secure some Universities.

The latter idea wins through - in part for the desire for those rich lands, but also due to the fear more One Province Minors might arise in Italy, following the current messy situation.

It does good for our coffers, but bad for our reputation.


Fate is fickle; no sooner has the peace treaty been signed, does the Milanese monarch die - and his will instructs that the rest of the country must also be French.

Protests are heard from Lorraine, claiming the will is a forgery.

Fortunately for us, the Milanese don't think so, and Lorraine becomes the challenger - if not a challenge.


From day one, both Lorraine and their faithful ally Castille calculates their war capacity to be disastrous.


At long last, the Sultan in Istanbul decrees that Dalmatia should belong to the French crown. We humbly accept, and encourages the Sultan to continue his rampage versus other Catholics in the region - notably Hungary and Poland.


Naples cuts a deal with Hungary. Tuscany returns as a monarchy. All in all, a good deal for Naples. With any luck, they'll reabsorb Tuscany some decades down the line.


Warscore and province costs match up perfectly. Not only does Lorraine grudgingly accept French mastery over Milan, they also surrender our core provinces of Barrois and Burgundy. A hundred warscore for no badboy points at all? Beautiful.


A diplomatic overview. We cannot lose our core claims on Gascogne, Foix or Bourbon, but the core on Algiers must be dealt with within five decades.


Novgorod has seen better days. Lithuania routinely assaults them, and the Horde nibbles at them also. Any hopes of Russia forming in this game should be forgotten.


This bit of news made Charles VII do a silly, little dance. Witnesses were sworn to secrecy or executed.


The Moors once more attempt to expel the Castillians from Iberia. The difference? Castille no longer has a Portuguese ally to rescue them.


Charles VII ultimately succumbs to old age, and the crown passes to his son, Jacques I. The son outshines his father, if by a tiny margin. It appears France's need of a high level monarch will not be satisfied for some time yet. As monarchs go, Jacques I is a decent one.


In preparation for the Reformation, our next slider move is the 'final' move to Narrowminded. Our hopes of getting a random event to push us there have not ben fulfilled, and we take the matter into our own hands.

The result is a loss of stability.


Despite overrunning the inland completely, Castille negotiates a meager peace offer. Even so, Granada's gain of La Mancha is a good sign.

Though the province would be 'free of charge', we cannot intervene just yet. With some luck, they'll attack again... and again.

A border skirmish in the Baltics ends in our favor. While a war with Lithuania within the next fifty years seems unlikely, you never know...


Jacques I orders the philosopher burned at the stake. His meddling comes much too late, and either choice would push the slider out of our carefully determined position. Now, it might take two whole moves to ultimately rectify the damage.


Our fledgling colony in Trarza is overrun with rebels coming up from the south. By the time our expeditionary force arrives, the colonists speak in horror of how they had to participate in horrid rituals to appease the angry invaders. More colonists, many of them members of the clergy, are sent to return the local people to the tender flock. A small detachment of cavalry is left behind to ensure their safety.

The many animal worshippers in Africa are tolerated, as they are still keeping moslems at bay. In time, perhaps a large pagan empire will form.


The people of Caux proclaim themselves proper Cosmopolitans, and none hereafter consider themselves 'Norman'.


With rebels threatening to bring Portugal back on the map, Jacques I orders an immediate intervention. Spies ensure a casus belli, and so the conflict begins.


Castille's allies fall, one by one. Connaught loses a claim on our land and some cash.


Lorraine is also forced to surrender claims on French lands - and a fair bit more coin.


French diplomats are delighted when one of our Personal Union partners chooses the positive outcome of one of the many. many, many relationship-ruining events that occur in the period.


Novgorod's collapse continues.


In the northlands, Denmark secures the last Norwegian possessions.


Naples once more assaults Rome. A new general is quickly recruited - and with six Shock, he ought to cause the Napolitans much pain.


With Naples no longer interested in allying with France, Denmark attempts the same. Many times, they offer. Each time, we refuse. With all our peaceful interests in Central Germany, warmongering does not suit us at this point.


Castille surrenders Lisboa and some of their claims.


Jacques I cannot resist the urge to seize another Italian Center of Trade, as well as one more university. Two badboy points are added to the French tally.


Our outpost in Greenland reaches maturity. In time, this foothold should simplify colonization of the Americas.


Disgruntled Italians insist that our king is to blame for pretty much anything they can think of. A few signed death warrants ensure they won't think so for very long.

Enewald said:

Have you though of becoming a republic to get as many good diplomatic rulers as possible?

Click to expand...

Yes, I have thought about it - even a Noble republic, to keep the Personal Unions until they go through. However, there are some decisions that are specifically tied to Monarchies I'd like to take first.

But, I'm certain to go Republic eventually. If I end up with a third Union, I'll gun for Noble Republic ASAP.

Enewald said:

Powermonger?
Do they think that rulers capable of expanding their Empires should just sit and wait for others to do the conquering?

Click to expand...

Well, there is diplomatic expansion... Worked for the Habsburgs.

More map magic results in yet another claim.


With Government Tech 11 comes our third National Idea. To prevent the very nasty 'Religious Turmoil' event from occuring in a couple of decades, we pick Ecumenism. As soon as we reach the year 1600, this idea is eligible for discarding, depending on our religious situation at that time.


The Ottomans kick the Napolitans out of Albania. Clergymen at the French court call for intervention for the many Catholic souls now residing there. For now, they are refused.


With the passing of the Palatinate monarch, the title of Emperor is curiously enough awarded to Jacques I of France. While the title is humbly accepted, it has a bitter aftertaste. It comes much too soon to be of use; Denmark is still very busy eating minors, and we have desire to ruin our good relations with Denmark at this stage.

Nevertheless - under Jacques I, the borders of the Holy Roman Empire are expanded remarkably fast, coincidentally pushing France from a mere 25 prestige points to a clean one hundred - and occasional HRE expansions makes certain French prestige stays high.


The news that we again hold sway over the Curia is far better received.


Naples is fast collapsing under rebels... worse still, nationalist rebels. To aid them in their recovery, we instruct the Curia to lift the excommunications the deranged Scotsmen put on their beloved ruler.


Novgorod is even further reduced, and Lithuania is rapidly becoming a major power. Fortunately, they are kept somewhat in check by their ally and neighbor, Poland. We still have a faint hope that the Golden Horde will rally, reform their government and run on a rampage worthy of Ghengis in eastern Europe.


A final slider adjustment is needed before the reformation. With so Free Subjects, the new religions are sure to spread like wildfire among the common folk.


For now, though, we are Catholic - and that must be taken advantage of. We banish the ruler of Savoy, hoping to make quick gains there, and secure the potential for a future French mission of the greatest importance. Savoy must become a OPM vassal, sooner rather than later.


The good people of Provence join the Cosmopolitaine mainstream.


Before we can move on Savoy, Naples assaults Aquileia. Being part of the HRE, Aquileia craves our intervention. As we loathe the Napolitans, we accept their plea.


Of course, we don't bother to actually save them...


One of our wealthier citizens passes on. We claim his assets for our own, and award him the cheapest tombstone we can find.


The tangled rivers and waterways of the lowlands are confusing enough that we justify French claims on Zeeland.


In Africa, the empire is nibbling at their OPM fringe neighbors, with French approval.


This AAR is now completely up-to-date with the game itself. I'll probably play a bit further tonight, but I'll halt at about the 'hundred year' mark (October 1499) for a full statistics update.