CanAARies

Rozmarzony · Oct 25, 2013

Chapter 19
1052 - 1058
Sultan Isalcas III of Canaries
Part II

Classic moves, destroy all stacks as fast, as you can.

And the rebels only helped with weakening Rus.

The battle went too well.

Yeah, thanks to me Russia is again united... huh, now it's get harder.

Harder and harder. These hosts and claimants really loves me.

Status quo before some important moves, remember, Rus is slavic, so damn high bonuses for defending.

New king, he isn't great, but taking into account he got a lot of support during rebelion I can't risk.

If only for 350 gold, why not?

And there's that battle, on some neutral territory, decisive victory which allowed me to annihilate stack in next small clashes.

When he was close to get into first castle, had to assasinate him. He was done after 2 fails.

Overall. Me slowly conquering lands and Russia slowly organizing army.

Yes, I lost so many troops, that lonely priest sent that "proposition" to me.

Haven't choice and set him free.

While Russia is dealing with more rebeles, more holding in my hands.

Risky battle, they attacked with 50% troops more (1k) but while crossing the river.

It gave me almost 30% warscore, so without losing any battle I finally won the war, doubling territory of my realm.

Aardvark Bellay · Oct 26, 2013

Wow.....also impressive distance to your home base.

But for your good there is no distance penalty anymore.
Go go go !

edit: I forgot, there is still a distance multiplier for factions. Not that big though or comparable to the old distance penalty IMHO.

drSandworm · Oct 26, 2013

Only in CKII can you see Canarian- led Mali launching an invasion of Russia.

Good job on your conquests, though holding this much wrong- culture land might be a problem

Rozmarzony · Oct 26, 2013

Chapter 20
1058 - 1067
Sultan Isalcas III of Canaries
Part III

During last war, my ruler came to adulthood. Propably worst ruler, which I played since last 100h in ck2... duh.

Yes, I don't know why my kingdom is called "theocracy" but thanks to it my heir is going to inherit both kingdoms despite gavelkind in both of them. Weird.

First thing, what I did was reorganising the kingdoms, basically I banished all dukes and most counts, while creating high priests as new vassals.

As you can see in sample screen, one duke "gave" me a lot of gold so any "problems" with gold got solved, went from 2k to 8k thanks to banishing.

Vassals in Mali.

First rebellion.

Of course, surrendered to him. He chosen good time, before my kingdom was in proper state.

First retinues in my game, will be pain in the ass to transport them there and there.

Another peasant revolter, already landed, using his free troops conquered my another province.

His mighty state.

My vassals in Russia after I won civil war, which inherited from previoUs local ruler.

My military potential, slowly growing strong since the start of the game.

Faces of all my vassals if anyone would be interested.

Finally Taghlibid Sultanate got some civil war.

If someone remember, muslims control that lonely barony, which is my holy site.

That guy, who left me, being pwned, well, he deserved it.

Before I even moved my army somewhere, civil war ended, so mine too.

Next civil war happened, so I declared wars for 3 northern provinces and holy site.

Some nice looking mosaic.

I gained marked provs and holy site, even before warscore went to 100%.

To win the last war, I needed to go into Iberia... A lot of armies everywhere.

Well... it was quite unexpected, but I'm not surprised why that happened.

Next bugged thing, not only inheriting both kingdoms with gavelkind, but no pretenders beign produced.... yes. That black child, which was first heir was assinated by me some years ago, wanted to look more "berber".

alscon · Oct 26, 2013

Very interesting. Maybe you are called a theocracy because of all your priest vassals? At least it serves to keep your kingdoms together.

Rozmarzony · Oct 26, 2013

alscon said:
Very interesting. Maybe you are called a theocracy because of all your priest vassals? At least it serves to keep your kingdoms together.

Thanks. But certainly not this, I was "theocracy" even before banishing everyone, while having only Iceland as theocracy vassal, all other from Russia and Mali were normal feuduals.

Wow.....also impressive distance to your home base.

But for your good there is no distance penalty anymore.
Go go go !

edit: I forgot, there is still a distance multiplier for factions. Not that big though or comparable to the old distance penalty IMHO.

Heh, I found old "distance mechanics" pretty nice. I wish they still would be there.

Only in CKII can you see Canarian- led Mali launching an invasion of Russia.

Good job on your conquests, though holding this much wrong- culture land might be a problem

That's why I'm loving this game.

Rozmarzony · Oct 27, 2013

Chapter 21
1067 - 1083
Sultan Medjan I the Great of Canaries
Part I

It will be hard to change him into proper ruler in 6 years.

After few first months of rule gained a claim for holy site.

But why I'm doing claims there? Thanks to them, I can't avoid all distances, and attack even in-landed not-border provinces.

Normal player would conquer more and more, slowly going in direction of specific province, by using claims I can't skip entire proces.

So now instead of winning 30-40 conquest wars (and remember, winning any war with Andalusia is beyond my capability) I can win one.

Location of it, what will be important some time later.

War started by my father ended. After playing normal Mali campaign I'm accustomed to it.

All my vassals don't like me, so not big deal.

He plotted, so I couldn't resist imprisoning for free.

Again trying...

And again civil war ends before I managed to do anything.

Got adult, I will say he's great, taking into account how he looked like few years ago.

Newly-formed Perm is having some aspirations

Cause I can only raise 1-3k from my Russia and he have around 9k... I surrendered at first day.

How it looks in all its glory.

Some host, it would be weird if any wouldn't show up.

Soon I will not have enough space for the bodies.

Another try and another fail.

Because I don't wanna die from boredoom all time trying conquest in Mauretania, now some wars with OPMs from Volga Bulgaria.

Some free imprisonment, lowering chances of civil war.

Overall screenshot for that campaign.

How it looks after I incorporated first county.

King of Ruthenia attacked me, and you can see how many soldiers he have. Normal procedure - surrender at start.

For what he was "fighting".

My vassals started civil war for his claim.

But hey, why I even had russian-slavic vassal?

Well, after reorganisation of my kingdom he was the vassal of one high-priest.

Afanasiy take advantage of situation and did successful subjugation on Tver, becoming "independent" duke in process.

The easiest solution is the best one.

After being king for years, I have finally some military potential.

Warm-up for my army, before starting bigger project.

If you ask why I'm even posting screens about them, I'm doing it only because I want to show how often they appear.

After 3 fails.

My younger brothers.

Something like "Maaaan, he should be the king", and yes, some of my vassals also thought so, starting factions for them.

Peasant revolter happened, marked for red is conquered prov.

In the end, I didn't wanted to risk life of my troops for one province.

But if I can raise 13k army, why I even care about that 3k? About it in next chapter.

Rozmarzony · Oct 27, 2013

Chapter 22
1083 - 1090
Sultan Medjan I the Great of Canaries
Part II

That's why I protected my people. There's some new king of Perm, having only 7k army in total, now doing some campaign for OPM in Finland, so I couldn't take better moment for my offensive.

All armies from both sides are visible on this screen.

Basically after battle ended, Kingdom of Perm was doomed.

Killing off reorganised remnants army.

Gathered 1000 prestige, never liked those ambitions, but If i can get some profit, why not.

Got into prison another vassal, he's Russian/Slavic and duke, because he rebelled against one of my high priest and won.

I'm slowly achieving perfection is showing hosts. Three important info in one screen.

After few provinces were conquered and another army beaten, 100% and empire got some new lands!

Ok, those provs aren't the richest, don't have many troops or possible holdings, but they're mine! And it looks so beautiful.

Plus, considering I can use one subjugation per ruler, and big pagan states besides Perm are Sweden and Cumania... in theory, I can blob a lot more in following years.

With new kingdom got some civil war (with Surgut from previous screen), ended it as fast, as I could.

Yes, first thing, what I do was banishing EVERYONE! In the screen you can see some exemplary rich count, who ofc. got banished.

My treasury went from 8k to 15k in few months.

By the way, during "banishation" of the realm, I got rid of all mande rulers in Mali.

There were few counts, but now assigned there only berber ones.

In Perm/Russia situation wasn't so good, and there are still plenty counts with other religion/culture, but I haven't enough piety at the moment and they're under high priests, so nothing bad.

New structure of vassals in "eastern" part of the empire. Yes, maybe I exaggerated with some sizes, but who cares. I can always banish them again.

Some quick look at my ruler... I got 3 kingdoms already, starting as lonely Canaries. Well, it's some progress.

Gavelkind with new kingdom started working, so had to assinate second son. I'm happy with that change, otherwise would be too easy.

When I was thinking about my further conquests Papa showed me the road to the heaven of blobing, unfortunately, not only me.

I can only say, that during rule of Medjan the most important things since the start of the game will happen. Conquering Perm was first, crusade (and it effects) are second... and there will be even more. But more about that in next chapters.

Attalus · Oct 28, 2013

Good AAR
Who would have thought that Canarians could conquer Russia

Rozmarzony · Oct 28, 2013

Chapter 23
1090 - 1098
Sultan Medjan I the Great of Canaries
Part III

Best moment to take my holy site.

More Christians are joining and civil war within sultanate ended.

Idiotic moves of sultan, instead of focusing on damn crusaders, he want to wipe out me.

Strong son appeared, so older one need to die.

Two most interesting crusaders, and yeah, king of Ireland is truly butcher of muslims.

First time I've seen all members of crusade attaching forces to papa.

Well, while battle was kinda epic, muslims somewhat won.

Ehe.

When I finally got into holy site, yet again Sultan is trying to destroy me in first place.

I lost. My army from Mali scattered into winds. You thinks I should stop now... but if damn christians can do some journey to Andalusia, my people to!

20k army of slavic/suomensko pagans under west african command are going through all Europe to Mauretania. Funny view.

Sultan called one ally.

Lands of that sultan. And he's really going from Ethiopia to Mauretania for help only...

The crusade proved to be a real success of papal politics and diplomacy.

You can also see some battle taking place and my army, which is slowly organising in enemy lands.

Some time later. King of Lotharingia arrived, instantly sieging some castles.

Huh...

Basically, some excommunicated/homosexual king joined to the crusade, appeared when all muslims forces were shattered, did some fast blitzkrieg on some muslims land and acquired everything creating mighty empire in process. Only in ck2.

Wanted to get rid of ethipian muslims, so assasinated sultan.

When all local forces were in distant lands, some peasant revolter forced me to surrender one county to him.

Pagans doing their dirty job.

Ruthenia once again grabed some of my lands.

Without army and holdings, surrendered before 100%. For me, gorgeous situation.

But then Cumania did, what I wanted. Subjugation. When most of my troops were slowly replenishing...

That guy is holding holy site, so killed him.

His son shared his fate.

I'm really close to reformation now.

Still loving assasin button. Ok, it wouldn't help at once cause armies are already marching into Perm, but in future, weak Cumania means stronger Canaries.

Start of their conquest, without any resistance from my side.

Tub · Oct 29, 2013

This is absolutely insane xD. I don't think I've ever seen an AAR with such an eclectic mix of conquests. And I've never seen the Umayyads taken out almost completely in a single stroke, that's amazing.

Props for conquering Russia with Canaries - I hope you can create the Empire of Russia as West African, convert the continent!

Rozmarzony · Oct 29, 2013

Attalus said:
Good AAR
Who would have thought that Canarians could conquer Russia

Thx. I find it funny too, that as Canaries I control farthest south-western province in the map, at the same time having farthest north-eastern. Such decentralization.

This is absolutely insane xD. I don't think I've ever seen an AAR with such an eclectic mix of conquests. And I've never seen the Umayyads taken out almost completely in a single stroke, that's amazing. Props for conquering Russia with Canaries - I hope you can create the Empire of Russia as West African, convert the continent!

I can't create Russia, but surely I will convert everything I can! In detail, in next chapters I will even show religious map of Russia with some changes since the overview. In shortcut, more west african!

Rozmarzony · Oct 30, 2013

Europe
Small overview
XI century

Informations and mostly screens about some interesting things happen in the world.

In the early years of the game, those saxons conquered Cyprus... and now, almost 200 years later they're still holding half of the island.

After Seljuks fell apart, this happened. First time ever I see Persia held by zoroastrianism (well, it heresy) character. Something really extraordinary.

Persian kingdom at its greatest extent.

However, they ended as another victim of the Shia muslims... hope isn't lost cause still there're a lot of count-tier mazdaki rulers in Persia.

As for restorations, when cuman party taken over Hungary, it again became major player there.

They managed to take off Bavarians from their de-jure... but at high cost. Great Moravia is slowly expanding south.

Beauty of inheritance. Salians, who are starting as county somewhere in Karlings lands, in some way gained Venice with Ademar becoming first dodge of new republic in process.

Norway has indeed unique history.

At the end, heir to the kingdom of Burgundy. He's clearly diamond.

MiltonS · Oct 31, 2013

Very, very cool AAR. Glad I found this one before it's finished.

You might want to tell your spymaster (seen in 6th pic of chapter 20) to stop standing in the middle of the ocean.

So you're ceding single-provs to allow yourself to conquer whole kingdoms in subjugation CB? It seems holding onto your present lands would be more stable in the long run, as each conquest you save up for is then chopped up piece by piece whilst you await the next.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing a reformed West African! What expansion awaits? Is Cumania next? Or will you get revenge of Ruthenia?

Rozmarzony · Oct 31, 2013

MiltonS said:
Very, very cool AAR. Glad I found this one before it's finished.

You might want to tell your spymaster (seen in 6th pic of chapter 20) to stop standing in the middle of the ocean.

So you're ceding single-provs to allow yourself to conquer whole kingdoms in subjugation CB? It seems holding onto your present lands would be more stable in the long run, as each conquest you save up for is then chopped up piece by piece whilst you await the next.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing a reformed West African! What expansion awaits? Is Cumania next? Or will you get revenge of Ruthenia?

1. Thanks. Good to know there are still new people coming to my thread. Because of each of you it's so worth writing this aar.

2. Huh, it will be cool if every councilor would be placed on other island.

3. I'm allowing it when:
a) All my troops are replenishing and I can't defend.
b) When all my troops are away conquering something, so can't defend.
c) When I don't want to loose a lot of troops defending one prov, it isn't worth of it.
It's actually making all my conquests faster. I don't care about lands in Russia, those holdings are just my temporary blob base, nothing more.

4. Because of obvious... ekhem... (reformation) I will not be able to use subjugation once again. I wanted to annihilate pagan Cumania/Sweden just to post pic with big "Canaries" written in entire east, but it won't probably happen. But hey, there are Mongols in future so such approach will only save ma a lof of problems. The only reason why I went into Russia, because it was my last hope (at start I wanted to conquer British Isles) to create blob base with further easy conquests. Thanks to it, my AAR isn't boring one, with me existing in one prov... and it allowed me for some territorial gains in Mauretania.

What expansion awaits?

After war with Cumania, some conflicts around Maghreb will happen... and then, pretty big struggle with Sultanate of Africa.

MiltonS · Oct 31, 2013

Sounds good! Looking forward to it.

MiltonS · Oct 31, 2013

Woops, forgot to ask this earlier: the "homemade" fix for attrition - what did you do exactly? Just raise force limits in west african provinces, or give west african religion the decreased attrition perk? Would love to see the actual code...

Rozmarzony · Oct 31, 2013

MiltonS said:
Woops, forgot to ask this earlier: the "homemade" fix for attrition - what did you do exactly? Just raise force limits in west african provinces, or give west african religion the decreased attrition perk? Would love to see the actual code...

In 00_religions.txt under west_african_pagan

Code:

priests_can_marry = yes
female_temple_holders = yes
allow_looting = yes
[b]defensive_attrition = yes[/b]

Just added that line.

Considering west african have aggression set to 0.1 and are doomed at start, they really should have that deleted by devs home attrition.

Rozmarzony · Nov 2, 2013

Chapter 24
1098 - 1107
Sultan Medjan I the Great of Canaries
Part IV

Emir of Toledo, from Taghlibid house (that one who ruled over Andalusia in Umayyads replacement) became independent after crusade ended.

But because he's OPM, he didn't survived the attacks from the south for the long time.

Another "release". Don't have time for dealing with peasants.

Yep, Marrakech is holy site.

Cumania only managed to get 56% warscore before my army replenished. What's even better, they lost a lot of soldiers due to attrition, events and assaults.

Minimal loss of soldiers.

After annihilating their army and re-conquering few provinces I got 0%, so young khan agreed for white peace.

Continuation of lovely blobing, yes, rush for reformation.

That's why I assasinated old Khan. New one, who lost war, lost army and lost his daddy is so liable for civil wars.

Got another claim, for last holy site. Deep in sunni lands, but who knows what will happen in following years.

Pretty powerfull Sultan of Africa declared holy war for that one county. I was having so much trouble getting it, only for loosing it now in such lame manner? No way!

Some host was trying to conquer remains of Umayyad Sultanate, had to kill him. Yes, little help for infidels but it would allow me for better control over entire region.

Another holy war for my lonely holy site... but this time, it's my damn salvation! You will see why.

Land of liberator and his army.

Retinues slowly winning war over Marrakech.

After few months liberator completely overrun that prov.

Now, there's trick. I can surrender to Africa (who can call A LOT of troops) without losing any lands. It will be much easier to defeat liberator with his 10k army than Africa with around 30k.

Another russian mobilisation. I just want to be sure that I will win, and they will be helpful with increasing moral authority.

When I wasn't looking, liberator and his army attacked my retinues. Ouch.

But at the start of it, he was killed leading to unexpected outcome.

Glorious victory.

But enemy forces weren't shattered. Once again canarian army defended their positions.

Without surprise, after local forces went south, new peasant demanded some lands.

Both wars were won in following months.

Heir and only living son is adult now. Unlucky with education, but in overall, not bad.

Revoked all holdings from Marrakech (my crown authority is high enough), giving then holy site to some west african priest.

In next chapter, going for reformation.

Rozmarzony · Nov 3, 2013

Chapter 25
1107 - 1115
Sultan Medjan I the Great of Canaries
Part V

At start (because you know, swimming in the gold) ordered building 5 temples.

Pagan troops from Russia are my core forces in raiding party.

After a lot of raids mainly in marked lands finally got 50%.

1111 year

A date to remember, first objective accomplished.

Count-tier priest ruler, who controlled one holy site became high priest of west african religion. Buggy? There is one common rule - highest priest vassal should become head of religion, and I had a lot od dukes-priests (that's why papa is so often head of tengri religion). If anyone have some explanations, I'm listening. Now, because he's head, everything will be a little harder.

Slowly forward. As with rulers, I had no problems with converting all of them to reformed faith.

However, when I was focusing on increasing moral authority... 3 peasant revolts happened in Mali. After reformation itself, some heresiach with his army appeared in the north.

When I was dealing with rebels, I had to give up another province to Ruthenia.

But at least Mali was cleared from vermin.

Info from the papa.

When I wasn't looking, rest of Umayyads were conquered. Those Ivarings are everywhere!

That's why I was complaining about that priest becoming head of religion. Just look at next screen:

Sultan of Africa managed to conquer Sicily form Byzantine... and he is thinking that we have chance against them? Such an idiot.

After few month his small army was defetaed, giving 76% warscore for sultan. After this, his province was assaulted and great holy war instantly ended, without any chances for some fair war.

In the meantime, assassinated another host. Good, my assassins are hard to control when bored.

Rather obvious move, but something for personal comfort.

Not challenge at all.

Getting better and better (and bigger).

Thanks to "defending" great holy war he got a hundreds of piety... my fault, should assasinated him.

Top - his armies
Bottom - my armies, and remember, most of them are in Russia so it will not be easy war.

In the close world something pleasant for eye happened. That king was italian duke, vassal of king of Italy. However, he changed his culture due to event, then rebelled for independence, won and created beautiful Aragon. For such things I'm playing this game.

HERE you can see, how it looked before creation of Aragon.

CanAARies

Field Marshal

Lord Wuffington of Grumpytown by the barks

Second Lieutenant

Field Marshal

Magister Inquisitiones

Field Marshal

Field Marshal

Field Marshal

Consul of Divergences

Field Marshal

Major

Field Marshal

Field Marshal

Major

Field Marshal

Major

Major

Field Marshal

Field Marshal

Field Marshal