Bearly Surviving: A Novgorod AAR
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Innocence said:So is the musical version with Jeff Wayne and Richard Burton
Exactly. I think the worst part is when a vassal declares war on someone and looses their territory, since I have no way of helping him without declaring war myself. Wouldn't it be more reasonable if your armies would always help defending the territory of your vassals/liege, even without declaring war? I guess it's simply the feeling that the land belongs to me and the vassal is only renting it
Anyway, I'm impressed that you're able to hold your empire together with a disasterous Prestige like that. What's your reputation like?
If you want to defend your vassal, then you have to join your vassal's war, or intervene between the combatants (negociate a white peace / solve the crisis that caused the war in the first place) - this are the rules of vassalage: the lord protects his vassals and they, in turn, have to provide the lord with soldiers and resources. If you don't declare war (as you've mentioned) this means 1) you betray your vassal & 2) you forfeit his lands.
The vassalage system was quite different from the rent one... hmm, I'm renting this appartment, does this mean I'm vassal to the landlord?!?
Laur
Poor girl; oh the horror, the horror she must have endured! All those wrinkly bits, knobbly knees, mising teeth :goes green: Ok, I'm going to stop thinking about this right now, before I give myself nightmares :wacko:Paranoid Tsar said:
It's a wonder she didn't end up depressed too.
frogbeastegg said:Poor girl; oh the horror, the horror she must have endured! All those wrinkly bits, knobbly knees, mising teeth :goes green: Ok, I'm going to stop thinking about this right now, before I give myself nightmares :wacko:
It's a wonder she didn't end up depressed too.
In an Ireland game I'm playing, I had a brother (named Find) to the current king who was: arbitrary, cruel, deceitful, reckless, selfish, proud, indulgent, insane, depressed,[*] and had pneumonia. And he ordered the building of no less than three Towers of Babel. What isn't surprising is that his wife (who married him when he was still the "wonder kid") became schizophrenic; what is amazing is that it took her 10 years to do it! :wacko:
(Oh, and rather interestingly, after his death, Find was canonized.
)[*Sounds like he'd make a good king of Rus.
]
And I thought I was the only one to give the CPU the "Al McGuire Double Flick"*. Well done, man. :rofl:
"The Time Machine" is another excellent sci-fi classic. I prefer the original movie over the remake, though. Of course, the book is still the best of them all. Being a Morlock would be kinda cool, except for the having to live underground in the dark (and consequently tripping over furniture) bit.
I do have to agree with the others here. What's one more historical inaccuracy now? The Arab Orthodox tsar might be a fun twist. You could have another Messiah on your hands...
* = The "Al Mcguire Double Flick" was so named after hearing a story about my dad's college days. Back in the 1970's, the Marquette basketball team visited Memphis State and beat the Tigers by one point in overtime. The crowd booed Marquette furiously the entire game, and when it was over, Marquette coach Al McGuire ran around the Mid-South Coliseum double-flicking the crowd before disappearing into the locker room under a chorus of boos and thrown objects.
Innocence: There's a musical version of War of the Worlds? Makes me think of that Simpsons episode with Troy McClure in "Stop the Planet of the Apes I Want to Get Off."
I've kept it together with one of my patented "don't do anything for a decade" moves, keeping an honourable reputation the entire while. My piety was also high (2000+) which probably helped a bit. CK really favors a conservative player in my opinion, just because it's so easy to overextend. EU 2 had some of that too, but with the demense limits a large empire can melt like snow in May if the vassals all rebel.
Lurken: The Arab ruled Russia would have been a disaster for several reasons, and the combustion of history professors is only one of them. It would have ended the Rurikovich line, which should be "game over" as far as I'm concerned. Also, having a different culture ruler wouldn't have done any good for loyalty and I didn't want to see "Moscow is now Arab culture" pop-ups.
Morpheus506: Exactly it. I must prevent the nightmare of enlightened and tolerant rule from seeping into Russia!
Laur: You mean your landlord doesn't occassionally ask you to fight for him against rival land owners or deliver bags with unknown contents as a "favor?" Must be nice.
frogbeastegg: I guess the best advice would be to "close your eyes and think of Russia." Sure he's an elderly drunken inbred, but think of the glory of bringing forth club-footed hiers with low scores who just might become the Messiah one day! The real surprise was how well the King was able to perform in a world where Bob Dole E.D. commercials haven't even been dreamed of yet.
Henry v. Keiper:
"Begins where the other big ones leave off." That's all I'll say about Anthony Quinn's married life.
Judas Maccabeus: You'd think after the second Towe of Babel he'd move on to declaring himself the Messiah or talking to Angels but some people are just persistent, I guess. It seems Cannonization is pretty random (that or I don't understand the qualifications). I've had "zealous" Kings with huge piety scores not get it while undistinguished courtiers do. I've yet to see anyone make "saint" so getting that must take something really special.
Like rebuilding the Tower of Babel six or more times, I guess.
Russia's Kings favor depression and pneumonia more than crazed or schizophrenic, sadly.
King Of Nines: I've never seen either "Time Machine" movie, although I heard the newer one was especially unworthy. Using Sci-fi for social commentary is always a risky business (when you fail, you fail completely) but H.G. Wells pretty much nailed it with his future vision of the social classes. I'd imagine a lot of the Morlock game would involved running those machines that presumably (?) keep everything going on the surface.
That and the cannabalism. They can see in the dark, so no furniture bumping.
Al McGuire is just a legend here in Milwaukee, although mostly for the 1982 championship than some crass behavior in a road game. At least he's not Ron Artest.
More on the way after I recover from eating my own weight in turkey and gravy.
Makes me think of that Simpsons episode with Troy McClure in "Stop the Planet of the Apes I Want to Get Off."I've kept it together with one of my patented "don't do anything for a decade" moves, keeping an honourable reputation the entire while. My piety was also high (2000+) which probably helped a bit. CK really favors a conservative player in my opinion, just because it's so easy to overextend. EU 2 had some of that too, but with the demense limits a large empire can melt like snow in May if the vassals all rebel.
Lurken: The Arab ruled Russia would have been a disaster for several reasons, and the combustion of history professors is only one of them. It would have ended the Rurikovich line, which should be "game over" as far as I'm concerned. Also, having a different culture ruler wouldn't have done any good for loyalty and I didn't want to see "Moscow is now Arab culture" pop-ups.
Morpheus506: Exactly it. I must prevent the nightmare of enlightened and tolerant rule from seeping into Russia!
Laur: You mean your landlord doesn't occassionally ask you to fight for him against rival land owners or deliver bags with unknown contents as a "favor?" Must be nice.
frogbeastegg: I guess the best advice would be to "close your eyes and think of Russia." Sure he's an elderly drunken inbred, but think of the glory of bringing forth club-footed hiers with low scores who just might become the Messiah one day! The real surprise was how well the King was able to perform in a world where Bob Dole E.D. commercials haven't even been dreamed of yet.
Henry v. Keiper:
"Begins where the other big ones leave off." That's all I'll say about Anthony Quinn's married life.
Judas Maccabeus: You'd think after the second Towe of Babel he'd move on to declaring himself the Messiah or talking to Angels but some people are just persistent, I guess. It seems Cannonization is pretty random (that or I don't understand the qualifications). I've had "zealous" Kings with huge piety scores not get it while undistinguished courtiers do. I've yet to see anyone make "saint" so getting that must take something really special.
Like rebuilding the Tower of Babel six or more times, I guess.
Russia's Kings favor depression and pneumonia more than crazed or schizophrenic, sadly.
King Of Nines: I've never seen either "Time Machine" movie, although I heard the newer one was especially unworthy. Using Sci-fi for social commentary is always a risky business (when you fail, you fail completely) but H.G. Wells pretty much nailed it with his future vision of the social classes. I'd imagine a lot of the Morlock game would involved running those machines that presumably (?) keep everything going on the surface.
That and the cannabalism. They can see in the dark, so no furniture bumping.
Al McGuire is just a legend here in Milwaukee, although mostly for the 1982 championship than some crass behavior in a road game. At least he's not Ron Artest.
More on the way after I recover from eating my own weight in turkey and gravy.
Please post more! I don't quite understand what's going on, since I don't have CK, but your writing style makes me like it nevertheless.
1380-1400: Revolts, petty theft, unjust wars, the heroic impregnation and dealing with separatists.
If there is one lesson for large empires it's "don't go to war." Other than some meaningless ego there is absolutely nothing to be gained.
If there are two lessons the second one is "lay off the vodka."
I don't follow these lessons as well as I should.
Official soundtrack/philosophy. Also the soundtrack for a great horror movie about evil machines. "This machine just called me an asshole!"
After showing restraint for a short while 1381 is a study in over confidence and senseless aggression. The circle shields in Molina get attacked, drawing in Tunisia. More for Mother Russia, da?
While this is going on Ryazan has a defecting two province vassal in the Crimea. I offer some military assistance but assume that Ryazan can handle it mostly alone.
You do two things when you assume.
The new Alpine soldiers are released on an unsuspecting world.
Of course Ryazan makes a mess of the war and I have to divert men just to bail them out and save a little face. It's not until 1386 that the feckless principality has reasserted its authority over the two province menace.
Elsewhere, Tunisia is being ground down slowly, with the emphasis on slowly. After overrunning its five province demense it turns into a one province at a time bug hunt while Tunisia respawns over and over. The war drags on like this until 1387.
Elsewhere, heavy crossbows are discovered giving our archers a considerable edge over those still using "rather heavy crossbows" or whatever the previous advance was.
The new super weapons.
Just as the Tunisia war finally ends in 1387, with the fornicating Byzantines picking up some scraps, our King finally dies. The new ruler might be a child, but he has positive prestige! God help my enemies now!
I doubt he'll need a good martial score, right?
Defections occur the very next year, as certain traitors don't approve of the Kid King for some reason. Zemigalians and Khwarizm may sound like made up nonsense words in a Lewis Carol poem but they're actually the newest enemies of our King.
While the fight against the Jabberwocky counties begins in earnest a zealous firebrand is calling for revolt. Just harmless talk.
I've got the unrest under control, thanks.
While the firebrand inspired revolts flare up worse than someone who lost their herpes suppression tablets "science" is at last discovered. Let's hope this allows the creation of super viruses and so forth.
The new science called, uh, science.
The first evil vassal wars end in a bitter victory in 1389, even while I'm hanging traitors like it's on sale. The good news is the King has finally completed his education, becoming an elusive shadow. Well, that explains his youth portrait, at least.
Nothing like a shadow leader to fill one with confidence.
Back in Iberia some of our noble conquests have somehow become independent. It seems the "somehow becoming independent" issue is a recurring problem. Unjust war with Navarra begins in 1390 and then against Rioja in 1391. That's mine you dastards!
The revolts continue, as if part of the local weather.
Unrest continues, for its own sake.
The King finally gets a real portrait in 1392 at age 16 (he's still a shadow, though). Not surprisingly he already has gray hair.
West Devina (Tree Flag) and Valencia (not tree related) try their hand at defecting in the same year, and the King is wounded in the resultant battles. His is not what I'd call a charmed life.
West Devina: the face of the enemy.
With the defections stopped the next year it looks like I can catch my breath. Then I notice the King, who just gained "sickness" from his wounds, is unmarried, has no children, and the Arab is still next in line.
A hasty marriage is concluded with Victoriia from Mecklenburg in 1393 and I pray the King can handle the needed activities for heir creation in his weakened state. It appears he can, because a pregnancy occurs and his too-many vowel having wife gives birth...
...to a daughter.
Tears are running down my face. I know you're sick and dying, Iakov, but I need you to perform those awkward postures one more time.
Luckily he doesn't die and in 1396 a son is finally born. Russia is safe...but for how long.
To celebrate, we steal some relics from the "enemy" in 1399.
Just fill this bag with Saint's teeth and act natural.
1400 hits. It seems I'm falling into a pattern. First decade: ill advised war. Second decade: deal with the fall out. Can I break it and punish the Purple or will the toughest battles stay in the bed room? Only time will tell.
Russia 1400. I'm convincing myself these new lands were worth the trouble.
If there is one lesson for large empires it's "don't go to war." Other than some meaningless ego there is absolutely nothing to be gained.
If there are two lessons the second one is "lay off the vodka."
I don't follow these lessons as well as I should.
Official soundtrack/philosophy. Also the soundtrack for a great horror movie about evil machines. "This machine just called me an asshole!"
After showing restraint for a short while 1381 is a study in over confidence and senseless aggression. The circle shields in Molina get attacked, drawing in Tunisia. More for Mother Russia, da?
While this is going on Ryazan has a defecting two province vassal in the Crimea. I offer some military assistance but assume that Ryazan can handle it mostly alone.
You do two things when you assume.
The new Alpine soldiers are released on an unsuspecting world.
Of course Ryazan makes a mess of the war and I have to divert men just to bail them out and save a little face. It's not until 1386 that the feckless principality has reasserted its authority over the two province menace.
Elsewhere, Tunisia is being ground down slowly, with the emphasis on slowly. After overrunning its five province demense it turns into a one province at a time bug hunt while Tunisia respawns over and over. The war drags on like this until 1387.
Elsewhere, heavy crossbows are discovered giving our archers a considerable edge over those still using "rather heavy crossbows" or whatever the previous advance was.
The new super weapons.
Just as the Tunisia war finally ends in 1387, with the fornicating Byzantines picking up some scraps, our King finally dies. The new ruler might be a child, but he has positive prestige! God help my enemies now!
I doubt he'll need a good martial score, right?
Defections occur the very next year, as certain traitors don't approve of the Kid King for some reason. Zemigalians and Khwarizm may sound like made up nonsense words in a Lewis Carol poem but they're actually the newest enemies of our King.
While the fight against the Jabberwocky counties begins in earnest a zealous firebrand is calling for revolt. Just harmless talk.
I've got the unrest under control, thanks.
While the firebrand inspired revolts flare up worse than someone who lost their herpes suppression tablets "science" is at last discovered. Let's hope this allows the creation of super viruses and so forth.
The new science called, uh, science.
The first evil vassal wars end in a bitter victory in 1389, even while I'm hanging traitors like it's on sale. The good news is the King has finally completed his education, becoming an elusive shadow. Well, that explains his youth portrait, at least.
Nothing like a shadow leader to fill one with confidence.
Back in Iberia some of our noble conquests have somehow become independent. It seems the "somehow becoming independent" issue is a recurring problem. Unjust war with Navarra begins in 1390 and then against Rioja in 1391. That's mine you dastards!
The revolts continue, as if part of the local weather.
Unrest continues, for its own sake.
The King finally gets a real portrait in 1392 at age 16 (he's still a shadow, though). Not surprisingly he already has gray hair.
West Devina (Tree Flag) and Valencia (not tree related) try their hand at defecting in the same year, and the King is wounded in the resultant battles. His is not what I'd call a charmed life.
West Devina: the face of the enemy.
With the defections stopped the next year it looks like I can catch my breath. Then I notice the King, who just gained "sickness" from his wounds, is unmarried, has no children, and the Arab is still next in line.
A hasty marriage is concluded with Victoriia from Mecklenburg in 1393 and I pray the King can handle the needed activities for heir creation in his weakened state. It appears he can, because a pregnancy occurs and his too-many vowel having wife gives birth...
...to a daughter.
Tears are running down my face. I know you're sick and dying, Iakov, but I need you to perform those awkward postures one more time.
Luckily he doesn't die and in 1396 a son is finally born. Russia is safe...but for how long.
To celebrate, we steal some relics from the "enemy" in 1399.
Just fill this bag with Saint's teeth and act natural.
1400 hits. It seems I'm falling into a pattern. First decade: ill advised war. Second decade: deal with the fall out. Can I break it and punish the Purple or will the toughest battles stay in the bed room? Only time will tell.
Russia 1400. I'm convincing myself these new lands were worth the trouble.
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the_shy_kid: Thanks for the kind words! Even if you had CK you probably wouldn't understand what was going on, as others could attest. You should get it, though, it's a lot of fun. The game goes until 1453, so I think Russia should have a few more adventures before this wraps up.
You should get it, though, it's a lot of fun. The game goes until 1453, so I think Russia should have a few more adventures before this wraps up. 
The Arab strikes again! I tell you, HE is the mastermind behind of all this evil-doings!
Heh, well I guess musical isn't the correct term - it's more like recorded story-reading (Burton) with added synthesizer music score (Jeff Wayne) and cool artwork. Recorded in 1976. I recommend it - even goes with vodkaParanoid Tsar said:
Ow come one! It's brilliant poetry!
"I hate every ape I see,
from chimpan-A to chimpan-zee..."
:rofl:
Oy vey, what a mess! Let's hope Iakov's reign picks up a little. Though watching you deal with rebel scum is quite amusing...
I had a little vodka myself last night.
Nice use of the Stanford tree in that last update. :rofl:
I have to agree with the general consensus that the evil Arab Messiah is responsible for all the world's problems. But you can't really execute the Messiah, can you?
Nice use of the Stanford tree in that last update. :rofl:
I have to agree with the general consensus that the evil Arab Messiah is responsible for all the world's problems. But you can't really execute the Messiah, can you?
You're thinking of the Fighting Machines (the tri-pods carrying the Heat Ray). They look like this:Henry v. Keiper said:That picture ticks me off...tripods don't have SIX legs
The things in the picture with six legs were the Martians auxillary machines, used for building more machines, catching food (humans) etc. In the book they are described as "crab-like" IIRC. Anyway, sorry for getting off topic again...
On topic I'm very curious on how you're keeping your Empire together with all those rebellions. Seems to me you would end up in the same endless spiral as I did, where re-conquering the rebel vassals makes your prestige drop so much that more vassals rebel etc. etc. How do you handle this?
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Lurken: Sadly the Arab successor is not the Messiah and has no Tower of Babel plans that I know of, but he's still trouble. I'm still confused why non-Russians are so high on the list of successors, but then my Gavelkind knowledge is sadly lacking.
Be sure to tell us all how your first game goes.
Innocence: Very cool picture. I forgot they had different machines, although I suppose they would. Most of my memories of War of the Worlds are from the old movie version, which was rather cornball. "If only we could channel the energy of a square dance, etc." Was there a rule back then that all dialogue had to be as stilted as possible?
Surviving the death spiral means heading it off right away. First, I made sure my settings are conducive to high loyalty. Scutage is now next to nothing (I've got little to build and still make decent coin without it) and I'm using feudal contract to get another loyalty bonus. I took Judas's advice and have been spending money freely to give myself breathing room (no more 30,000 gold treasury!). Also, I'm avoiding using the soldiers of my vassals, always a loyalty ruiner.
Another little bit of advice is if a vassal of a vassal defects I let my vassal retake it so they get the reputation hit. I usually give this vassal large gifts (1000 at a time) to help them get through it.
Judas Maccabeus: Fighting more Muslims, who are nearly as bad as Pagans in terms of being nature's punching bags, might be the way for awhile. I'm considering an unjust war against either Poland or Sweden if I can get enough prestige to claim their Kingdom. Of course, this will ruin my monarch beyond all repair but Iakov probably isn't long for this world anyways.
The disasters and difficulties are fun to write about but torture to play through. I'm rather glad for them, otherwise this would be a laundry list of conquests with the occassional bear picture.
King Of Nines: You can execute the Messiah, but don't expect it to stick. Hopefully the next succession will be a bit smoother...I could always go to elective law or some such and then it would be smooth sailing (after half of Russia defects from the loyalty hit, of course).
Standford Tree = best mascot that isn't a Buckeye.
Henry v. Keiper: Tri-pods have six legs if you tape two of them together.
Be sure to tell us all how your first game goes.
Innocence: Very cool picture.
I forgot they had different machines, although I suppose they would. Most of my memories of War of the Worlds are from the old movie version, which was rather cornball. "If only we could channel the energy of a square dance, etc." Was there a rule back then that all dialogue had to be as stilted as possible?Surviving the death spiral means heading it off right away. First, I made sure my settings are conducive to high loyalty. Scutage is now next to nothing (I've got little to build and still make decent coin without it) and I'm using feudal contract to get another loyalty bonus. I took Judas's advice and have been spending money freely to give myself breathing room (no more 30,000 gold treasury!). Also, I'm avoiding using the soldiers of my vassals, always a loyalty ruiner.
Another little bit of advice is if a vassal of a vassal defects I let my vassal retake it so they get the reputation hit. I usually give this vassal large gifts (1000 at a time) to help them get through it.
Judas Maccabeus: Fighting more Muslims, who are nearly as bad as Pagans in terms of being nature's punching bags, might be the way for awhile. I'm considering an unjust war against either Poland or Sweden if I can get enough prestige to claim their Kingdom. Of course, this will ruin my monarch beyond all repair but Iakov probably isn't long for this world anyways.
The disasters and difficulties are fun to write about but torture to play through. I'm rather glad for them, otherwise this would be a laundry list of conquests with the occassional bear picture.
King Of Nines: You can execute the Messiah, but don't expect it to stick.
Hopefully the next succession will be a bit smoother...I could always go to elective law or some such and then it would be smooth sailing (after half of Russia defects from the loyalty hit, of course). Standford Tree = best mascot that isn't a Buckeye.
Henry v. Keiper: Tri-pods have six legs if you tape two of them together.
I got to see the actual Stanford Tree a few years ago during an NCAA Regional in the tourney about 4 years ago. It took me a few timeouts to figure out exactly what the costume was supposed to be...
I think the War of the Worlds analagy seems rather appropriate for this AAR. Your Russian Horde is the all-conquering Martian Invasion Force and the rest of Europe is the Pathethic Human Resistance. Just don't get killed by bacteria and have the dogs eat your flesh...
I think the War of the Worlds analagy seems rather appropriate for this AAR. Your Russian Horde is the all-conquering Martian Invasion Force and the rest of Europe is the Pathethic Human Resistance. Just don't get killed by bacteria and have the dogs eat your flesh...