I had to restart the scenario about five times to get this result because I was trying out different strategies - and getting annexed. And because I knew there’d be plenty of failures, I didn’t take pics of the first few years but you have my explanation, which is just as good. Okay, not really but its all I have.
Within the first few days of the world opening, I moved a slider +1 aristocracy and set my heart on building two cavalry units. War with Tver told me that I cannot win with a 1/2/0 combination. I have to be cavalry heavy in spite of MM’s cavalry-heavy penalty.
In that first day I also looked for an ally. Novgorod: Impossible. Poland: No... Muscovy: Impossible. Will anyone be my friend? Teutonic Order: Maybe... I don’t know what made me ask. Perhaps I was lonely in the big, big world. And the Order accepted. I didn’t know how they’d help but I didn’t want to be without guarantees or allies.
Time was going slow. Like my previous scenario starts, Muscovy guaranteed Tver, I guaranteed Muscovy and the world was harmonious. When my cavalry units were built I looked into DoWing Tver but they were guaranteed by Muscovy. I began sending insults to no avail.
As the years went on, the Order got itself into trouble with Poland and Pommerania and for war taxes alone, I decided to help. We were fighting Poland, Lithuania, Bohemia, Pommerania and
the universally awesome Brandenburg. At the start of 1458, Tver took advantage of my most recent insult and declared war. With my cavalry heavy army I successfully beat them back, hired a level 2 fort defense advisor and moved into Tver. Before the year let out Tver was annexed.
Peace with the Pommerania alliance came to me (still at war with Poland/Lithuania) through a white peace although the war in Russia was just starting. Novgorod declared war on Pskov which was guaranteed by Muscovy. Since I had restarted so many times and tried so many strategies, I wondered what I had to do. One strategy I thought of was to DoW Muscovy to get to another country but the only two vulnerable countries were through Lithuania and I couldn’t spare another diplomat.
Once I saw all of Muscovy’s troops head west and no more were visible, I moved into Tver, DoW’d Muscovy and slipped into Moskva. The Order didn’t help but I didn’t expect them to. Yaroslavl* v. Muscovy* and Ryazan.
My capital was suffering its last effects of the scorch and before I left, I scorched Tver too. I also picked up another fort defense advisor, a weak one but it was better than nothing. And the race for the fall of the capitals began as Ryazan was soon in Yaroslavl with 3000 infantry.
As the sieges began ramping up (Ryazan at 88%, myself around 50%) I had an option to buy three new regiments for 75 ducats. I took it if only to slow down the Ryazan siege... I also began taking loans to cover the cost. The three units were able to escape and joined my siege in Moskva by 31 October.
With both our sieges at 100% I was sure Ryazan would occupy my capital first and the 10(roughly) Muscovite regiments in Tver were unsettling. I picked up the peace screen, hoping to separate the vassal status of Ryazan and a few ducats. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. Instead I settled for Muscovy removing their core on Tver and 25 ducats. Although Muscovy currently has a core on my capital which is not good.
At this point I began taking pictures.
As the year let out Novgorod ceded Olonets and a few ducats, Ryazan was annexed by Muscovy and I made peace with the Order’s enemies. I took an interest in Novgorod at that point since they were broke in three pieces. If I could steal away Kola, Muscovy would have to march through Novgorod again. But as I received my new diplomat, I discovered they were guaranteed by Sweden and Muscovy and were allied with Poland. I began marching south instead, careful to not step in my own territory.
And in March, I went bankrupt. That’s fine because I still get to keep my regiments and I need them to conquer a country equal my size.
In August I received military access through Lithuania and began marching. I had two choices: Moldavia or Riga.
As 1460 went on the Order escaped a devastating peace by paying Poland 67. And an event shifted me +1 tradition. This is fine since I’m not planning to Westernize anyway.
July 1461 Kazan guaranteed me; five days later Muscovy did the same. I’m not sure why Muscovy did it since they’re the only danger I have.
After looking at Moldavia I discovered they could be more than I could handle (guaranteed by Muscovy.) I turned to Riga and declared war.
In spite of Riga’s one regiment and my six, it was a close fight. I’m sure the bankruptcy had something to do with this. But more importantly, peasants rose up in Tver and now I have no way to get back to fight them.
Still with a money problem, the Sale of Offices event came around I had accepted the deal. Hopefully I can curtail this inflation... more importantly, I can raise my military maintenance.
With my new cash I decided to build a small force to dispel the peasants in Tver until...
And again...
Some good news came in 14 November 1462 when Riga fell. To take the extra war taxes I waited until 1 January 1463 to annex.
Around this time I cleared out my advisor pool and hired a new 3 star stability. I’m going to need that more than anything.
Things only got worse at home though...
