Play Irish Misty for Me

[pjcrowe]

My transition from EU1... Finally got a computer that will run the game (after patching), and tried my hand at the various fifths of Ireland. Early in my first attempt, as Connaught, Scotland inherited Leister, and I thought "hmmm, let's try this again." My second attempt, as Ulster, saw some interesting stuff, such as a War of the Saxon Succession where the usurper was abandoned by its allies and then jumped on by its other neighbors.

But I decided I could afford a third try, this time as my grandfather's home province of Munster. And, as you'll see, I learned something new this game, but I'll continue with it anyhoo.

I sent an offer of a royal marriage to the King of Leister on the first day of the game, and on the second day of the game his successor accepted. My original plan was to get a CB by demanding the throne and then annex one rival while force vassalizing the other two. However, I decided to change plans when Connaught offered a marriage and Leister offered an alliance.

New plan: send the cog into St George's Channel and demand Leister be my vassal; they accept. That was in early August. About six weeks later I notice that Connaught's army no longer exists, so next month I send the cog to Donegal Bay and, on 1 November, make them my vassal, too. Ulster, however, remains obstinate, refusing our offer twice over the first couple of years.

Early in 1454 I tried something that's been commented on in the main forum, and which I had tried in an earlier game: I made my ruler a general, and within two weeks he was dead , replaced by Donnchad VIII (7/5/4). On April Fools' Day I sacked our resident artist (stability was maxed, and I didn't see it going down any time soon). Two months later we took my first loan in EU3, and went on a full Court press: a *** statesman, a ** scientist, and a * army reformer. And in August we mustered a regiment of knights, doubling our force limit.

The new year brought new Ideas, as Muster's gov't tech reached level 1. About half the countries in the game were taking Scientific Revolution as their first NI, with about half a dozen other ideas more or less tied for second. I was going to go with Grand Army so I wouldn't be over limit any longer, but then I saw that gave a +33% increase, and I wasn't sure that would make 1 into 2. So, I decided I could afford to join Castille in choosing QFTNW (my only land neighbors were my vassals).

First thing I learned new was that you can hire generals and admirals even without any tradition. Well, I hired an explorer and gave him Viking orders: sail due west until you hit something. After a few trips he discovered an actual province (Penn-something : New Hampshire in modern naming), so I hired a conquistador and sent my infantry regiment over. After subduing the natives, I made my biggest discovery in the game: gone are the days of everyone having a limit of five loans at a time! I tried going for a second loan so I could afford to send a colonist, and the game told me (complete with imagined Scots accent) 'there can only be one!'

So, in the meantime, I guarenteed Scotland's independence. And on April Fools' Day 1456, Munster went bankrupt.

To be continued...

-Pat

[Rensslaer]

This may be a "The Mouse That Roared" strategy! Take out loans to finance your world conquest from an island fortress!

I'm already VERY interested in where this is headed.

Rensslaer

[J. Passepartout]

Nothing wrong with bankruptcy. Just shows your nation's strong tax base which you will gain in the future.

[coz1]

Oh good. I was waiting to see who would rally the Irish. Fight the good fight, sir! Good luck.

[pjcrowe]

This may be a "The Mouse That Roared" strategy! Take out loans to finance your world conquest from an island fortress!

Well, it hadn't been the plan, but now that you've mentioned it...

I took out a new loan to colonize Massachussetts and Pennacook in early 1458. Our king Donnchad VIII lived just long enough to see St Patrick's Day 1459 before dying the next day, replaced by D IX (3/8/3). He began his reign by sending gifts to his vassals (bringing relations back to +200) and accepting Ulster's offer of a marriage.

A week later I saw my first PU (not involving me, though), as England's King Alfred II took the throne of Portugal. In early June I finally brought the Red Branch to bay, vassalizing Ulster. It's only a matter of time, now, and then I'll just need to kick the English off my continent.

And, on May Day 1460, we went bankrupt again. 12% inflation! Maybe I'll need to switch national ideas, and get a bank. Will I lose leaders currently in my employ?

-Pat

[Rensslaer]

Our king Donnchad VIII lived just long enough to see St Patrick's Day 1459 before dying the next day,

Yeah... "He had a strong spirit... Then another... Then another..." Way to do St. Patrick's Day!

Rensslaer

[stnylan]

Will I lose leaders currently in my employ?

No, you'll keep any conquistadors and explorers currently employed.

Bankruptcy isn't fun tough. Alas diploannexation takes so long now.

[Lord E]

Interesting start Pat, it seems you are having some money problems though, but if you are able to annex some more vassals and force the English out maybe you can increase your income and try to lower your inflation… We can always hope I guess.

[J. Passepartout]

Get the bank. Bank of Ireland, here we come!

[pjcrowe]

Just a quick update: early November 1463 I annexed Connaught (no army to my regiment of cav), and then on New Year's Day 1464 I hired a new explorer, changed my NI to National Bank (-4Stability!), and annexed Leinster (one province to my two).

New discovery: when you annex someone, their armies and navies go away. No more free builds.

-Pat

[Varam]

Nope. No more free stuff. But at least you are growing.

[J. Passepartout]

Hey, a new province is worth something.

[Lord E]

You got yet another province that is great. No free armies in EUIII and I guess that is actually good with the new army system and all, that you actually don’t inherit the forces of the nations you annex. Now I hope you will get the inflation under control soon…

[pjcrowe]

OK, lots of new stuff to report, but no bankrupcies (yet). In May 1464 I gained military access from Scotland. That December our Nobles Demand Increased Pensions (my only event as yet), and I declared 'to Hell or to Connaught with them!'

On 2 December '66 England's personal union with Portugal turned into an annexation, so we issued a warning to them. Can't have a neighbor getting too big, now, can we? Oh, I looked up in the savegame file, and the lucky countries in this campaign are Austria, Burgundy, Castille, France, Ottomans, Persia, Teutonic Order, and ... England.

On 3 September 1467, England declared war against Scotland (which was joined by France and Norway), giving us a double CB. Two days later our delaration of war against England was supported by Ulster, at which point I realized I needed to increase spending on my army by the other 50%. England had a cav regiment in Meath; we had an infantry regiment in Connaught and two cav regiments in Leinster; Ulster had nothing. I also had an infantry regiment and a cog in Massachussetts.

The First Battle of Leinster went poorly, as our cav broke immediately. However, our infantry beseiged Dublin unopposed, cutting their regiment off from resupply. The Second BoL in the first half of November was a resounding success, as we lost only 130 out of 2000 to their 400 out of 960. The Battle of Dublin at the end of the month cost us 15 to their 3, but they were too small to go anywhere and disintegrated. Christmas mass saw sermons on the need for higher taxes.

January saw the castle's defenders suffer a water shortage; in March and April there were food shortages; some of the defenders deserted in May; there were more water shortages in June. Finally, on 21 July the city surrendered, giving us an 11% warscore. Meanwhile, our colonial forces sailed to Hispaniola and captured Barahonas on 3 March, spending two weeks subduing a native uprising before seizing control of the colony for ourselves. Then it was off to Rio Grande near the mouths of the Amazon, which we seized on 13 May. England surrendered to us on 31 August 1469, offering to empty their treasury of all five ducats.

And on a side note, on 31 June I adjusted to slider one space away from Decentralization.

-Pat

[Varam]

Great work. An epic victory over the dastardly English, and now you have new colonies.

[J. Passepartout]

I thought of all the Irishmen in America in reality and was amused by the thought of how many there would be by now if Ireland was the actual coloniser.

[Lord E]

The English gave up it seems, but I think you should try to get a provinces instead of just some gold. Still good developments I think.

[pjcrowe]

The English gave up it seems, but I think you should try to get a provinces instead of just some gold. Still good developments I think.

It would have been nice, but for two considerations: I'm well on my way to a third bankruptcy, having taken out another loan to finance a couple more colonists, and military maintenance was risking having it happen before the loan even came due (I was hoping I'd become large enough before then to take a second loan); also, Ulster has been my vassal for just over ten years at that point, but that all changed in early October.

-Pat

[pjcrowe]

OK, let's see... In mid Feb 1472 I got my first (second?) event, wherein we repel the natives in Rio Grande (+200 settlers, -300 native). On New Year's 1474 I declared war against England, and in the ensuing Battle of Meath we lost 43 knights out of 2k + 1k inf to England's loss of 457 out of 1k inf, with the rest of their regiment disbanded. The seige was fairly straight forward: status quo, water shortage, food shortage, water shortage, food shortage, water shortage, and finally they surrendered on 19 Aug. My cog was off exploring the South Atlantic, and it was late before I ordered it back home. I spent over a year waiting for the peace offer I wanted, turning down offers of 70-50 gold. But when they offered 176 gold in early Jan 1476, I couldn't refuse. It financed the cultural conversion of the formerly Portugese colonies of Barahonas and Rio Grande.

We went on to get two more events during Donnchad IX's reign, Poor Gov't Policies (we know we're right), and Bourgeoisie Request Privileges (denied). And the Grand Diplomat passed away on 2 Dec 1482. I've played about another five years, but that can wait until the next update.

-Pat

[Lord E]

Seems the war went better this time, and that peace offer for all those ducats were as you say very good