Some might recall an AAR I wished to start a few years back concerning the Wars of the Roses (a purely narrative attempt that you can read here.) I never could quite find the game to start that story, at least here on the forum. So when the new game came out, I could not help myself but try the English campaign and see what the events did to the tale. The end result was mixed.
I started up the game and found myself immediately at war with France as most are familiar with in this campaign. I will also admit, it took me a few restarts due to both the new game and adjustment to new variables to get the attempt to work. I ended up gaining military access with Brittany and hiding the English troops that I rescued from the south until I was ready to travel out on chevauchee into the French countryside. My army ended up in Paris, and holding the capital, was able to strike a good peace keeping all my continental possessions. Then it happened...Henry died without issue in game (poor Edward...Margaret of Anjou has a few things to say about that.)
The start does coincide when I was planning my own tale, or thereabouts but yet again, there is not enough focus on poor Richard. Yes, you still get him at first as a great general, but when the event fired in-game, I ended up with a king named George. George Plantagenet of York, one assumes, but far before 1460 and I was not ready to give up the dream. I could still work around this story-wise. And thus, I went into coding mode, finding the file and changing my King...
And let me just say to all those wondering about England's start in EUIV...no, it is not easy. Between the various rebel factions, pretenders and Lollards alike as well as French, Scots or any other...I had a hard time keeping up my manpower dealing with it. That Lancastrian army also has a goodly amount of cavalry which is still powerful early in game.
At least I lucked out and got a proper Edward as challenger and by God, he fought me. By 1454, here we are...
Let's just say, we lost. And I continued to have issues with keeping up the manpower of my armies as I chased Lancastrian rebels all over the place. It took until 1456 to have a decisive battle...
The Battle of Wessex seemed to see the tide turn and very soon after, we finally win the famed Wars of the Roses.
And it's only 1456. Richard finally gets to be King. And then he promptly dies an early death. Still, he died peacefully rather than with his head on a pike at the gates of York. In fact, even Richard Neville, Salisbury to you and me, lives until 1462. All things considered, it works as a game. Not historically, to be sure, but it works in this alt-universe. When all is said and done, I am left with this as my heir:
And that's when it got to me...what happened to Cecily, dammit? She never had a child from Savoy!
Maybe that was simply where the child was conceived.
Seriously, the game was wonderful. It was not so historically accurate, but that isn't quite why we play these games. It did give an alt-history in which to tell an interesting story should I wish to do so. And further to that, was a hell of a challenge between beating of the French initially and then dealing with the onslaught of rebellion. Many have said this start with England is difficult and they are correct. But those that say it is impossible are wrong. It is infinitely doable and likely better than what I was able to do. Let's just say that coz1's love of loans is still in effect.*
(* yes inflation came up in the equation once again. )
I ended up with a few other smaller wars as I wormed my way into Ireland and looked at Scotland with arched eyebrow. However, it took me forever to regain my manpower. In the midst of that, France decided to DoW. Again, England does not get an easy start. However, this is a true AAR...my after action report of the WOTR for those interested. I can give you more details as asked, but suffice to say it does not model it perfectly. Not yet at least. I'd like to see a bit more detail at least at the start of the game as to who is who in the dynastic game. Can't be that hard to see that the first York on the throne might be the Duke of York seeing as how he is older than the terrible Henry and his 0 0 0 stats. Randomness is allowed to take over, but this is the CK engine so the ties should already be there at the start.
All other things considered, however...WOW! What an awesome game! I can't say I have enjoyed playing EU like this in a long, long time and I have played every single one since the first. This iteration is a wonderful addition to that tradition and I can readily say that trade, diplomats, rebels, war and so many other things are that much better this time round. Kudos Paradox!
I may have more of this if others are interested but have little time to write AARs these days. Suffice to say that by 1495, here we are as England...
As you can see, I could not leave Scotland alone. To paraphrase an old Monty Python sketch, I'd like to tax Scotland, and I've a feeling Scotland would tax me. I've played further and will continue to do so. I'll add more to this as other interesting things crop up perhaps. But for now I wish to say my AAR is here to declare EUIV a success and the WOTR event stream quite lacking. The civil wars in England of the time are a direct result of soldiers coming home from the HYW and should model that as much as who is king without an heir. In fact, that wasn't why the WOTR started. Henry had an heir...he just didn't have great stats.
My tale is still waiting for the proper game to present it. Frankly, I am starting to think I should just write the narrative bits from the history we know and forget about modeling it on a game. But then where would the AAR come from? Hope you enjoyed.
I started up the game and found myself immediately at war with France as most are familiar with in this campaign. I will also admit, it took me a few restarts due to both the new game and adjustment to new variables to get the attempt to work. I ended up gaining military access with Brittany and hiding the English troops that I rescued from the south until I was ready to travel out on chevauchee into the French countryside. My army ended up in Paris, and holding the capital, was able to strike a good peace keeping all my continental possessions. Then it happened...Henry died without issue in game (poor Edward...Margaret of Anjou has a few things to say about that.)
The start does coincide when I was planning my own tale, or thereabouts but yet again, there is not enough focus on poor Richard. Yes, you still get him at first as a great general, but when the event fired in-game, I ended up with a king named George. George Plantagenet of York, one assumes, but far before 1460 and I was not ready to give up the dream. I could still work around this story-wise. And thus, I went into coding mode, finding the file and changing my King...
And let me just say to all those wondering about England's start in EUIV...no, it is not easy. Between the various rebel factions, pretenders and Lollards alike as well as French, Scots or any other...I had a hard time keeping up my manpower dealing with it. That Lancastrian army also has a goodly amount of cavalry which is still powerful early in game.
At least I lucked out and got a proper Edward as challenger and by God, he fought me. By 1454, here we are...
Let's just say, we lost. And I continued to have issues with keeping up the manpower of my armies as I chased Lancastrian rebels all over the place. It took until 1456 to have a decisive battle...
The Battle of Wessex seemed to see the tide turn and very soon after, we finally win the famed Wars of the Roses.
And it's only 1456. Richard finally gets to be King. And then he promptly dies an early death. Still, he died peacefully rather than with his head on a pike at the gates of York. In fact, even Richard Neville, Salisbury to you and me, lives until 1462. All things considered, it works as a game. Not historically, to be sure, but it works in this alt-universe. When all is said and done, I am left with this as my heir:
And that's when it got to me...what happened to Cecily, dammit? She never had a child from Savoy!
Maybe that was simply where the child was conceived. Seriously, the game was wonderful.
It was not so historically accurate, but that isn't quite why we play these games. It did give an alt-history in which to tell an interesting story should I wish to do so. And further to that, was a hell of a challenge between beating of the French initially and then dealing with the onslaught of rebellion. Many have said this start with England is difficult and they are correct. But those that say it is impossible are wrong. It is infinitely doable and likely better than what I was able to do. Let's just say that coz1's love of loans is still in effect.*(* yes inflation came up in the equation once again.
)I ended up with a few other smaller wars as I wormed my way into Ireland and looked at Scotland with arched eyebrow. However, it took me forever to regain my manpower. In the midst of that, France decided to DoW. Again, England does not get an easy start. However, this is a true AAR...my after action report of the WOTR for those interested. I can give you more details as asked, but suffice to say it does not model it perfectly. Not yet at least. I'd like to see a bit more detail at least at the start of the game as to who is who in the dynastic game. Can't be that hard to see that the first York on the throne might be the Duke of York seeing as how he is older than the terrible Henry and his 0 0 0 stats. Randomness is allowed to take over, but this is the CK engine so the ties should already be there at the start.
All other things considered, however...WOW! What an awesome game! I can't say I have enjoyed playing EU like this in a long, long time and I have played every single one since the first. This iteration is a wonderful addition to that tradition and I can readily say that trade, diplomats, rebels, war and so many other things are that much better this time round. Kudos Paradox!
I may have more of this if others are interested but have little time to write AARs these days. Suffice to say that by 1495, here we are as England...
As you can see, I could not leave Scotland alone. To paraphrase an old Monty Python sketch, I'd like to tax Scotland, and I've a feeling Scotland would tax me.
I've played further and will continue to do so. I'll add more to this as other interesting things crop up perhaps. But for now I wish to say my AAR is here to declare EUIV a success and the WOTR event stream quite lacking. The civil wars in England of the time are a direct result of soldiers coming home from the HYW and should model that as much as who is king without an heir. In fact, that wasn't why the WOTR started. Henry had an heir...he just didn't have great stats. My tale is still waiting for the proper game to present it. Frankly, I am starting to think I should just write the narrative bits from the history we know and forget about modeling it on a game. But then where would the AAR come from?
Hope you enjoyed.
