Hello to all of you (hopefully) more skilled at this game readers. Once again, I have lost the save to my very first update of this AAR (see part 1 above), so I have decided to just make a new one instead of raging and just playing as France on very easy with no inflation like I usually do. I am again playing the country of Aragon, on all default setting, except that there are no lucky nations.
As I first join the game, I get my mission to vassalize Navarra, like always. I decide to make a National decision called "Pass Naval Recruiting Act" to gain one innovative. I decide to hold off on moving my actual sliders as well, because having a 7000 man revolt while also fighting a war at the same time is bad news. My army consist of 1 cavalry regiment, and 4 infantry regiments. They are all promptly given a leader and sent off to crush Navarra.
On the diplomacy standpoint, I get royal marriages with France and Portugal, while Castille unfortunately rejects my offer. This is bad, because it probably means that Castille will hate me forever now. I also get an alliance with Burgundy to help with any possible wars with France.
After my grand army occupies Navarra, I vassalize them and receive a new mission. Right after doing so, I make a move towards centralized.That can't hurt, can it?
I declare war on Sardinia, which is guaranteed by the Pope. Hopefully I can vassalize the Pope in this war as well.
HOWEVER, someone has to come in and ruin the fun. Apparently, Savoy was at war with Sardinia as well, and they conquer them. Instead of the AI's usual strategy of taking all of their cash money, Savoy annexes them! In retaliation, I declare war on Savoy. This may not look like too bad of a war, but believe me, many,many, many other nations join in later on.
During this war, I spend a very long time fighting the ships and landing parties of Venice, Scotland, Corfu, Naxos, Hungary, and Mecklenburg. I have split my armies into two groups, 5000 men to conquer Sicily, and 6000 men to defend Aragon itself. In time, Venice and Scotland combine to have a 9000 man army at some point, so I am forced to recruit some mercs. I also take some stab hits during this war as well, as I wait for a chance to make peace with everyone except Bohemia and Savoy.
Fortunately, as of April 1406, I am still making a profit of 9 ducats a year without minting. Right now, my inflation is at 2.1 due to the mercs, but it is not rising. No technologies have been researched as of yet.
As for diplomacy, 2 reports stand out VERY much. This could mean a war soon. Very soon.
In 1407 at some point, I reach full on War exhaustion. This will cause many revolts once I reach peacetime. Luckily I get some events that lower the risk by 2.
Then, on Januray 15, 1408, tragedy strikes. I am attacked by Castille. Burgundy refuses to join me, but Portugal is all to happy to join Castille.
Before this had happened, I had almost fully occupied Savoy. Now I figure I should just finish that job. That way, I will have more land that Castille must conquer, and it's separated from the rest of Aragon.
I receive war subsidies from many nations, which might help keep me afloat in this war. I also receive alliance offers from about 5 Italian nations, including Milan, Naples, and the Papal State.
Right now; however, it is time to make peace with Savoy. I know my mission is to take Sardinia, but annexing them right now is probably the way to go.
Once Savoy is taken care of, I head over to my homeland to see what is going on. Portugal and Castille are moving around army stacks of a considerable size, while rebel armies pop up in multiple places. My army's position in this image right here is the closest it will get in this war to actually getting into a 10k versus 10k men battle with Castille or Portugal. Needless to say, the homeland falls within 2 years.
I make a white peace with my old Bohemian enemy, as one war is more than enough for me right now, thank you very much.
A peace with Portugal is reached. I lose my Navarran vassal, and am forced to also pay a small lump sum. In my opinion, removing one of my two enemies is a very good thing, and this deal was well worth it.
I retreat my army through French lands to Savoy. I plant my army in Cumeo and wait for Castille to attack me. This leads to a repetitive "game" between us that has 3 steps along with a couple of other variables.
Step 1: Castille lands 6000 men with their 6 transports in Nice. My army and leader rushes to attack them from Cumeo.
Step 2: My army beats theirs, and they retreat to Cumeo. My army goes with them in hopes of destroying them. Sometimes, rebels spawn as well.
Step 3: Both armies arrive in Cumeo, where my army destroys theirs. I then rest my army in Cumeo until the next 6000 men arrive. During this time, my great friend Milan deals with rebels, and Castille sends me peace offers that consist of me releasing both Sardinia and Savoy as independent states. This will not do.
A slider change is in the air, so I make a move towards quality, for just another small edge in this war.
And now: the evolution of Castillian peace offers.
Early offers: Are you kidding me? NO WAY
Mediocre offers: Don't try and be me, Castille. I'm on to you...
Highly advanced and respectable offers: Shut up and take(none of)my money!
So, in summary, I make peace with Castille to annul some treaties and release Sardinia. This is ironic, considering I have now done the exact opposite of what my mission wanted me to do. Oh well.
This war has crippled me with war exhaustion. I am at my limit. My economy is also on the brink. If I keep my troops funded to stop revolts, I will have to take a loan, but if I defund them to keep my economy afloat, I will be taken apart by rebels. My plan right now is to hopefully let Milan take care of Savoyard rebels, and have my army concentrate on Aragon itself.
This is going to be a tough time. And it's only 15 years after the start of the game...