With a few years since a new start date release, I think there is a good opportunity to make some changes to army structure and to fit it in a timeframe where military innovations did spread, and where there was a paradigm shift across the world.
952 is a good start year.
In England, Erik Bloodaxe faces off against King Edric of England, and it looks like the Viking threat will see its final days. (In other words, a less OP start for a Viking ruler in England)
The showdown between the Magyars and the heart of Europe approaches, with the mightiest German king since Charlemagne ready to lead his knights into decisive battle with the invader. An Empire hangs in the balance for Otto, and mastery over central Europe for the Magyars. Even as the West prevails and Eastern heathens become Baptised, the great Turkish tribes to the south become Muslims.
The Visigothic bastion of Asturius has survived the Islamic onslaught, and the new Kingdom of Leon is formed and the faithful begin to take on a new character. Will a legendary hero come to drive the Muslims back, or will the Spaniards lapse into factionalism and petty squabbles?
The Muslims are also in the ascendancy, but in the heartland of their faith. The Fatimid Caliphate has recovered almost all of the House of Islam as established under the Abbasids, but with a different take on the Prophet’s succession. Will this dynasty last and establish rule? Will an ambitious Caliph spark a reaction something far beyond his wildest reckoning? The next century will be as momentous for Islam as it will for Europe.
In Normandy, the true father of Europe has come to power. Richard the Fearless, like his father before him, is surrounded by crude warlords. Baptised, perhaps, but pagan in character and perfidious to the core. Richard set the standard of Norman knighthood by defeating all retrogrades and forging a warrior class to surpass any of the heathen sagas, setting the stage for the literal kingmakers of Europe for the next two centuries.
A common theme with all these leaders is their place in history at a time of cultural change. That means religious, in many parts, but also in military. This was when the armored knight became the master of the battlefield in most of Europe, and in far off China, the Song Dynasty reached probably the apogee of military organization and power in its warlike history.
What would be fun would be that you get to decide your nation’s fate in a similar way. Instead of trying to capture provinces for flipping them to the martial (or dynastic) rules that give you an advantage you are looking for, have it something that you can work towards. Maybe even a tech meter that branches off. How else to have, in game, something like the rise of Chivalry in the Nordic countries and in England and Scotland? Or the same sort of progress could lead towards the effectiveness of infantry and its rebirth during the 14th century.
This is also a grand opportunity to change the way battles actually are conducted, depending on era. The Fyrd of the 11th century and before is not the well paid army of Henry V, and their actions on the battlefield should reflect that. Instead of the game constantly evolving from smol to giant armies, an aspect of flexibility or professionalism could start to make battles have more impact on the course of the war. Professionalism could become a double edged sword too, with the Kwarazmshah having a professional army at the Indus, but with an added risk to his power if it is defeated.
These are som vague ideas but the general idea is to expand upon the existing military system. The main point is to structure an army how you want within cultural confines that make sense. And also, of course, to get another start date that is full of opportunity.
952 is a good start year.
In England, Erik Bloodaxe faces off against King Edric of England, and it looks like the Viking threat will see its final days. (In other words, a less OP start for a Viking ruler in England)
The showdown between the Magyars and the heart of Europe approaches, with the mightiest German king since Charlemagne ready to lead his knights into decisive battle with the invader. An Empire hangs in the balance for Otto, and mastery over central Europe for the Magyars. Even as the West prevails and Eastern heathens become Baptised, the great Turkish tribes to the south become Muslims.
The Visigothic bastion of Asturius has survived the Islamic onslaught, and the new Kingdom of Leon is formed and the faithful begin to take on a new character. Will a legendary hero come to drive the Muslims back, or will the Spaniards lapse into factionalism and petty squabbles?
The Muslims are also in the ascendancy, but in the heartland of their faith. The Fatimid Caliphate has recovered almost all of the House of Islam as established under the Abbasids, but with a different take on the Prophet’s succession. Will this dynasty last and establish rule? Will an ambitious Caliph spark a reaction something far beyond his wildest reckoning? The next century will be as momentous for Islam as it will for Europe.
In Normandy, the true father of Europe has come to power. Richard the Fearless, like his father before him, is surrounded by crude warlords. Baptised, perhaps, but pagan in character and perfidious to the core. Richard set the standard of Norman knighthood by defeating all retrogrades and forging a warrior class to surpass any of the heathen sagas, setting the stage for the literal kingmakers of Europe for the next two centuries.
A common theme with all these leaders is their place in history at a time of cultural change. That means religious, in many parts, but also in military. This was when the armored knight became the master of the battlefield in most of Europe, and in far off China, the Song Dynasty reached probably the apogee of military organization and power in its warlike history.
What would be fun would be that you get to decide your nation’s fate in a similar way. Instead of trying to capture provinces for flipping them to the martial (or dynastic) rules that give you an advantage you are looking for, have it something that you can work towards. Maybe even a tech meter that branches off. How else to have, in game, something like the rise of Chivalry in the Nordic countries and in England and Scotland? Or the same sort of progress could lead towards the effectiveness of infantry and its rebirth during the 14th century.
This is also a grand opportunity to change the way battles actually are conducted, depending on era. The Fyrd of the 11th century and before is not the well paid army of Henry V, and their actions on the battlefield should reflect that. Instead of the game constantly evolving from smol to giant armies, an aspect of flexibility or professionalism could start to make battles have more impact on the course of the war. Professionalism could become a double edged sword too, with the Kwarazmshah having a professional army at the Indus, but with an added risk to his power if it is defeated.
These are som vague ideas but the general idea is to expand upon the existing military system. The main point is to structure an army how you want within cultural confines that make sense. And also, of course, to get another start date that is full of opportunity.
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