After fiddling around in a few practice games, I'm starting for real as Poland-Lithuania. Normal/Normal, with random events.
My tactics in this campaign are generally to stay peaceable unless attacked. However, I also need to neutralise the three major powers around me (Turkey, Russia and Austria) as soon as possible.
It seems like the opportunity to do just that arises in 1493, when Venice, the Mamalukes and Iraq all declare war on Turkey. I follow suit, bringing Portugal and the Hansa along for the ride.
Early success is encouraging - with zero resistance a huge Commonwealth army sweeps through Bujak, Dobrudja and Rumelia. Just when I'm contemplating the delights of Constantinople, a vast Turkish fleet comes up behind me and lands a 50,000 man army plus 200 cannons on Bujak.
That is the turning point of the campaign. Although the Hansa briefly capture Bulgaria, the huge Turkish army storms Bujak and makes a start on an undefended Bessarabia before being suddenly boarded on ship and sent off I don't know where. I use the brief breathing space this allows to recapture Bujak.
Just after I've done that, the Turks make white peace with Iraq and the Mameluks, and force Venice to concede them Illyria. This is worrying - clearly I'm next on the list. Worry turns to grave concern when 40,000 Turks appear on the horizon. However, Konstanty Ostrogski has appeared from Mazowia, and after a little to-and-fro stuff in Rumelia, I manage to persuade the Turks to give me Bujak in return for peace.
While this has been going on, all Hell has broken loose in Western Europe. Three massive coalitions are doing battle across the continent, with the line-up being Spain (Lorraine, Milan, The Palatinate and Naples) versus Scotland (Cyrenaica, Savoie, the Pope, Navarre, Helvetia) with the Hansa, Portugal and the Teutonic League separately at war with the Scottish coalition. Looks like things are going to get a little warm over there. I declare war on Scotland along with my allies the Hansa, but don't propose to do anything concrete towards the war effort. Before long, Scotland makes a white peace with me, which is fine.
Before long the annexation scorecard reads Spain 2 (Navarre, Helvetia), France 1 (Milan). Just after I make peace with Turkey, France and Spain settle their differences, with France giving up Milan to Spain (which gives Spain a nice connected stretch of territory in Franche Comte, Helvetia and Milan).
Meanwhile I'm investing in growth, as the politicians say, and trying to become best buddies with the Hansa.
During this period, Russia declares war on Kazan twice, and instantly regrets it. Kazan, however, clearly doesn't know a good thing when it sees it - making a white peace with Russia immediately after the fall of Moscow, for example. It looks like Kazan are not just going to roll over in this game.
1507, and France, despite losing the last major European war, clearly wants another go, so it joins with Scotland, Savoie and the Pope in a war against England, Venice and the Mamelukes. This is bad news for England, who by 1508 have ceded Calais and Meath to France, and Lancashire and Yorkshire to Scotland.
Meanwhile, my alliance with the Hansa and Portugal has come to an end, and it is recreated with Prussia, Hansa and Moldova in the fold.
The Reformation strikes in 1514. I'd like to peacefully annex either Prussia or Hansa before they turn Protestant, but I'm not confident that I can. Either way, if I can't do it peacefully, I can return them to the true faith with the sword later on.
Just after the reformation, Russia has another go at Kazan. I see a vast Kazan army heading for Moscow, and the opportunity is too good to miss. Despite the stability consequences (-2 for no CB), I join in - along with Hansa. Led by Michael Glinski, on 17 July 1514 Polish and Kazanian troops storm Moscow and sieze the Kremlin.
With help from the Kazanians (who still hate us, but clearly hate the Russians more), and our dear friends in the Hanseatic League, we break down Tver and the great prize of Novgorod. Michael Glinski takes command in both sieges, so although our manpower commitment is small, by December 1514 Moscow, Novgorod and Tver all fly the white eagle. We take Tver and the star prize, Novgorod, in a separate treaty early in 1515.
Russia is still in a world of hurt, however, with Onega and Vladimir both under Kazanian control. We'll see whether Kazan can throw away their advantage this time.
Denmark are still at war with me, and a 10k army is shuttling around causing trouble near Warsaw. I send the 40k hardened veterans of the Novgorod siege, under Michael Glinski, to have words with them. However, Denmark see sense and accept a white peace before Michael and the boys turn up.
Meanwhile I'm not at all displeased to see that Russia is still up against the wall with Kazan. Kazan now controls every Russian province except Vologda and Moscow, and has 20,000 men beseiging the Russian capital. Against this onslaught, Russia can manage 4,000 men. Hopefully, Kazan will force Russia to accept a settlement that - combined with the Commonwealth's control of Novgorod - will cripple the Russian bear for ever.
Kazan makes peace a little later, taking Arkhangelsk and Kola. See what I mean about stupid? They need the guiding hand of the Commonwealth in their affairs, I think. No chance of an alliance at the moment, however, since their relations with me are at -200. Might need to invest in Kazan.
The next few years are a quiet time for the Commonwealth and for Europe. A few alliance wars that were hanging around from the earlier great conflagration have been settled in white peaces. France, however, still holds Trabzon from the Mamelukes.
A few rebellions have to be put down here and there in my realm, but the happy year 1523 sees my return to +3 stability, and the vassalisation of the Hansa (which would have been more worthwhile if they'd managed to hold Holstein while I was capturing Moscow). Now to see whether I can peacefully annex them before they become Protestant...
1524 starts with the first protestant conversion - Wurttenburg. I move my armies into Lithuania, next to Prussia - just to be ready.
On February 8th, it's war again for lots of western Europeans. Austria and Spain duke it out with France, Cyrenaica, Scotland, Savoie, the Pope and Portugal. Not good odds for Spain there.
The war widens on March 9th, with Venice, the Mameluks, England, Iraq and Persia weighing in against Spain and Austria. We remain aloof.
More war breaks out on 30 September, this time in my part of town. Russia are going to have another pop at Kazan, and Pskow, Sweden and Denmark are in on Russia's side. Pskow, however, is not going to be doing much, because she's surrounded by me and the Teutonic Knights. Shame, Russia could really use those 30,000 men. <grin>
Also in September, an explorer appears to take control of the nine warships we've got sitting around doing nothing in Gdansk. We send him off to Africa. Unfortnately, Pan Bielsko dies seventeen days later, so Africa will have to wait. We've gone one settler now, though.
Summer 1525 and Kazan are not repeating their earlier success against Russia. What they need is some Commonwealth soldiers to lead the charge on Moscow. They're not going to get them this time, however. Sweden, Denmark and Russia together are a bit much for me and the Hansa alone.
By the end of 1525, Kazan's men are dropping like flies at the walls of Moscow, while their other possessions are being overrun by Scandinavians. They agree to give Russia 50D and Archangelsk. Meanwhile, the big western war is petering out in a series of one-on-one treaties with a bit of cash paid here and there. No provinces have changed hands yet.
In January 1526 Hansa turns Protestant, and our vassalisation ends, damn it! But to show there are no hard feelings, they are instantly allowed back into our alliance. They might come in handy when the inevitable war with Sweden, Denmark and Russia happens. However, Sweden turns protestant in 1527, so that alliance is temporarily dissolved. Might be time to bring Sweden on board against Denmark.
Wurtemburg must have done something bad, because on March 3rd, 1527, Bavaria declare war on them, with Austria and Spain as allies. Since Wurtemburg has borders with all three, I think an independent Wurtemburg might be about to recede into history. Meanwhile on more domestic matters, I build a refinery in Smolensk.
to be continued...
My tactics in this campaign are generally to stay peaceable unless attacked. However, I also need to neutralise the three major powers around me (Turkey, Russia and Austria) as soon as possible.
It seems like the opportunity to do just that arises in 1493, when Venice, the Mamalukes and Iraq all declare war on Turkey. I follow suit, bringing Portugal and the Hansa along for the ride.
Early success is encouraging - with zero resistance a huge Commonwealth army sweeps through Bujak, Dobrudja and Rumelia. Just when I'm contemplating the delights of Constantinople, a vast Turkish fleet comes up behind me and lands a 50,000 man army plus 200 cannons on Bujak.
That is the turning point of the campaign. Although the Hansa briefly capture Bulgaria, the huge Turkish army storms Bujak and makes a start on an undefended Bessarabia before being suddenly boarded on ship and sent off I don't know where. I use the brief breathing space this allows to recapture Bujak.
Just after I've done that, the Turks make white peace with Iraq and the Mameluks, and force Venice to concede them Illyria. This is worrying - clearly I'm next on the list. Worry turns to grave concern when 40,000 Turks appear on the horizon. However, Konstanty Ostrogski has appeared from Mazowia, and after a little to-and-fro stuff in Rumelia, I manage to persuade the Turks to give me Bujak in return for peace.
While this has been going on, all Hell has broken loose in Western Europe. Three massive coalitions are doing battle across the continent, with the line-up being Spain (Lorraine, Milan, The Palatinate and Naples) versus Scotland (Cyrenaica, Savoie, the Pope, Navarre, Helvetia) with the Hansa, Portugal and the Teutonic League separately at war with the Scottish coalition. Looks like things are going to get a little warm over there. I declare war on Scotland along with my allies the Hansa, but don't propose to do anything concrete towards the war effort. Before long, Scotland makes a white peace with me, which is fine.
Before long the annexation scorecard reads Spain 2 (Navarre, Helvetia), France 1 (Milan). Just after I make peace with Turkey, France and Spain settle their differences, with France giving up Milan to Spain (which gives Spain a nice connected stretch of territory in Franche Comte, Helvetia and Milan).
Meanwhile I'm investing in growth, as the politicians say, and trying to become best buddies with the Hansa.
During this period, Russia declares war on Kazan twice, and instantly regrets it. Kazan, however, clearly doesn't know a good thing when it sees it - making a white peace with Russia immediately after the fall of Moscow, for example. It looks like Kazan are not just going to roll over in this game.
1507, and France, despite losing the last major European war, clearly wants another go, so it joins with Scotland, Savoie and the Pope in a war against England, Venice and the Mamelukes. This is bad news for England, who by 1508 have ceded Calais and Meath to France, and Lancashire and Yorkshire to Scotland.
Meanwhile, my alliance with the Hansa and Portugal has come to an end, and it is recreated with Prussia, Hansa and Moldova in the fold.
The Reformation strikes in 1514. I'd like to peacefully annex either Prussia or Hansa before they turn Protestant, but I'm not confident that I can. Either way, if I can't do it peacefully, I can return them to the true faith with the sword later on.
Just after the reformation, Russia has another go at Kazan. I see a vast Kazan army heading for Moscow, and the opportunity is too good to miss. Despite the stability consequences (-2 for no CB), I join in - along with Hansa. Led by Michael Glinski, on 17 July 1514 Polish and Kazanian troops storm Moscow and sieze the Kremlin.
With help from the Kazanians (who still hate us, but clearly hate the Russians more), and our dear friends in the Hanseatic League, we break down Tver and the great prize of Novgorod. Michael Glinski takes command in both sieges, so although our manpower commitment is small, by December 1514 Moscow, Novgorod and Tver all fly the white eagle. We take Tver and the star prize, Novgorod, in a separate treaty early in 1515.
Russia is still in a world of hurt, however, with Onega and Vladimir both under Kazanian control. We'll see whether Kazan can throw away their advantage this time.
Denmark are still at war with me, and a 10k army is shuttling around causing trouble near Warsaw. I send the 40k hardened veterans of the Novgorod siege, under Michael Glinski, to have words with them. However, Denmark see sense and accept a white peace before Michael and the boys turn up.
Meanwhile I'm not at all displeased to see that Russia is still up against the wall with Kazan. Kazan now controls every Russian province except Vologda and Moscow, and has 20,000 men beseiging the Russian capital. Against this onslaught, Russia can manage 4,000 men. Hopefully, Kazan will force Russia to accept a settlement that - combined with the Commonwealth's control of Novgorod - will cripple the Russian bear for ever.
Kazan makes peace a little later, taking Arkhangelsk and Kola. See what I mean about stupid? They need the guiding hand of the Commonwealth in their affairs, I think. No chance of an alliance at the moment, however, since their relations with me are at -200. Might need to invest in Kazan.
The next few years are a quiet time for the Commonwealth and for Europe. A few alliance wars that were hanging around from the earlier great conflagration have been settled in white peaces. France, however, still holds Trabzon from the Mamelukes.
A few rebellions have to be put down here and there in my realm, but the happy year 1523 sees my return to +3 stability, and the vassalisation of the Hansa (which would have been more worthwhile if they'd managed to hold Holstein while I was capturing Moscow). Now to see whether I can peacefully annex them before they become Protestant...
1524 starts with the first protestant conversion - Wurttenburg. I move my armies into Lithuania, next to Prussia - just to be ready.
On February 8th, it's war again for lots of western Europeans. Austria and Spain duke it out with France, Cyrenaica, Scotland, Savoie, the Pope and Portugal. Not good odds for Spain there.
The war widens on March 9th, with Venice, the Mameluks, England, Iraq and Persia weighing in against Spain and Austria. We remain aloof.
More war breaks out on 30 September, this time in my part of town. Russia are going to have another pop at Kazan, and Pskow, Sweden and Denmark are in on Russia's side. Pskow, however, is not going to be doing much, because she's surrounded by me and the Teutonic Knights. Shame, Russia could really use those 30,000 men. <grin>
Also in September, an explorer appears to take control of the nine warships we've got sitting around doing nothing in Gdansk. We send him off to Africa. Unfortnately, Pan Bielsko dies seventeen days later, so Africa will have to wait. We've gone one settler now, though.
Summer 1525 and Kazan are not repeating their earlier success against Russia. What they need is some Commonwealth soldiers to lead the charge on Moscow. They're not going to get them this time, however. Sweden, Denmark and Russia together are a bit much for me and the Hansa alone.
By the end of 1525, Kazan's men are dropping like flies at the walls of Moscow, while their other possessions are being overrun by Scandinavians. They agree to give Russia 50D and Archangelsk. Meanwhile, the big western war is petering out in a series of one-on-one treaties with a bit of cash paid here and there. No provinces have changed hands yet.
In January 1526 Hansa turns Protestant, and our vassalisation ends, damn it! But to show there are no hard feelings, they are instantly allowed back into our alliance. They might come in handy when the inevitable war with Sweden, Denmark and Russia happens. However, Sweden turns protestant in 1527, so that alliance is temporarily dissolved. Might be time to bring Sweden on board against Denmark.
Wurtemburg must have done something bad, because on March 3rd, 1527, Bavaria declare war on them, with Austria and Spain as allies. Since Wurtemburg has borders with all three, I think an independent Wurtemburg might be about to recede into history. Meanwhile on more domestic matters, I build a refinery in Smolensk.
to be continued...
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Just be ready- they will probably declare war on you anyway. How about attacking some other khanathes instead? Or Turkey? (they are a threat to all Europe and your badboy rating should actually go down if you manage to beat them)
