I haven't seen Goldfinger, but I read the book.
Looks good so far, I like this opportunity to steal your gold.
Looks good so far, I like this opportunity to steal your gold.
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I like this aar. I get the feeling that Juan is acting on his own, and that you have nothing to do with his decisions.
Nice AAR you have here, coz1.
Good luck in getting those gold provincies form Austrians and Czechs. You will need it.
Good luck in getting those gold provincies form Austrians and Czechs. You will need it.
Oh bravo! Very nicely done so far - though kind of a hard goal!
I enjoy a good comedy AAR (I've never been able to sustain one for very long) and this is very imaginative. 'Tim' indeed!
I enjoy a good comedy AAR (I've never been able to sustain one for very long
) and this is very imaginative. 'Tim' indeed! 
C'mon! You only have, what, 397 years left? Better get movin'!
Okay, so maybe expecting you to have conquered Central Europe by now was a tad bit unrealistic. Whereto next? And, gazing a little further into the future, how do you plan on gaining access to the Siberian corridor? Wading in, clobbering half of Eurasia into submission? Or something more subtle?
Okay, so maybe expecting you to have conquered Central Europe by now was a tad bit unrealistic.
Whereto next? And, gazing a little further into the future, how do you plan on gaining access to the Siberian corridor? Wading in, clobbering half of Eurasia into submission? Or something more subtle?
Usually a major colonizer can get to Siberia from the Pacific without too much trouble. It's rare that Russia gets very far into Siberia. One game I met them just west of Lake Baikal and that's as far east as I have seen them control territory.
This is gonna be good. A goal like that is going to be very interesting to watch you go for. I hope you're nice to the Golden Horde though......
P.S. Is it just me or are the images not working?
P.S. Is it just me or are the images not working?
Fb-fb:
J. Passepartout - Yes, the book is pretty darn good too. I have all of them in the original paperback from my father. I'm kind of fond of Casino Royal as well, but a bit irritated that they are making it the next Bond movie.
Saulta - I get that feeling too, sometimes.
Wolfhound - My crack team of monks is working on that problem as we speak. I'm hoping they come up with an answer soon. Otherwise, I'm not sure how to crack that one in Bohemia.
RossN - Thank you sir. I've enjoyed the comedic AARs as well, but never thought I could really try one until now. Let's hope it doesn't bomb.
Stuyvesant - Yeah, it's a little slow going at first. But I am hoping for updates to cover about ten years at a time. I'm trying not to play too far ahead either. As for your question about Siberia, see below.
jwolf - Exactly. When I have taken Siberia in the past as someone other than Russia, I usually come in from the Pacific and try and build to Saian. That'll be my plan here as well. In fact, if I can get to it early, that may be my plan for getting to Samara too.
Duke of Wellington - Thanks for stopping by. I sure hope it will be fun. And I'm also hoping not to have to deal with the horde too much. I'll have to check on the pictures, but they were working the last time I checked them. (EDIT - checked them and they appear to be working.)
Thanks again for the interest everyone. This one is going up a bit faster than some of my previous work. But like I said, I'm playing as I go and not too far ahead. Any and all requests will be considered. Next update should follow in a few moments.
J. Passepartout - Yes, the book is pretty darn good too. I have all of them in the original paperback from my father. I'm kind of fond of Casino Royal as well, but a bit irritated that they are making it the next Bond movie.
Saulta - I get that feeling too, sometimes.
Wolfhound - My crack team of monks is working on that problem as we speak. I'm hoping they come up with an answer soon. Otherwise, I'm not sure how to crack that one in Bohemia.
RossN - Thank you sir. I've enjoyed the comedic AARs as well, but never thought I could really try one until now. Let's hope it doesn't bomb.
Stuyvesant - Yeah, it's a little slow going at first. But I am hoping for updates to cover about ten years at a time. I'm trying not to play too far ahead either. As for your question about Siberia, see below.
jwolf - Exactly. When I have taken Siberia in the past as someone other than Russia, I usually come in from the Pacific and try and build to Saian. That'll be my plan here as well. In fact, if I can get to it early, that may be my plan for getting to Samara too.
Duke of Wellington - Thanks for stopping by. I sure hope it will be fun. And I'm also hoping not to have to deal with the horde too much. I'll have to check on the pictures, but they were working the last time I checked them. (EDIT - checked them and they appear to be working.)
Thanks again for the interest everyone. This one is going up a bit faster than some of my previous work. But like I said, I'm playing as I go and not too far ahead. Any and all requests will be considered. Next update should follow in a few moments.
I imagine one of the annoting parts of Siberia is that you will need a land connection of colonies for just a handful of gold provinces. I have rarely colonised very far in Siberia because of that, although I do make sure to conquer all those countries in the way when I am Russia.
J. Passepartout said:
You only need a trade post in order to set up a colony further along in Siberia
Quest: The Spanish Search For Gold
Episode II: The One With Alvaro de Luna
Jackie Powers: Hello, and welcome once again to your favorite show, “Quest!” right here on ESPN 5154. No…that’s not a typo. (smiling) It’s the newest edition to our ESPN family - ESPN 5154, (Big Smile) The Next Channel! Now let’s get back to our quest. When last we left off, our King Juan II had just completed a successful, if costly war with Granada, Navarre and Foix. Let’s see what the judges have to say.
King Midas: (as Jackie stops in front of him and looks up with interest) Well, Jimmy…I think he has a period of rebuilding here. Things ought to be in safe hands, especially since he now has an alliance with both Aragon and Portugal. Iberia is locked down tight.
Goldfinger: Not tight enough if you ask me, fancy pants. There’s still that blight they call Granada.
JP: Yes. And what about that, Goldfinger?
Goldfinger: He has an alliance until 1426. As soon as it’s over, Juan should take care of business, as they say.
JP: A bold plan of action. And as we can see, things start off on a pretty interesting note.
Alvaro de Luna comes to town and immediately starts causing a problem
Tim the Leprechaun: Who’s that feller?
King Midas: Another troublemaker.
Tim the Leprechaun: He better not be after me gold as well!
Goldfinger: (with approval) I like the cut of his gib.
JP: It seems we have a new man to contend with. The famous Alvaro de Luna. Troublemaker or the right man for the job? You decide.
King Midas: Right away, Jim, it puts Juan at negative three stability again and makes the revolt risk go up all over the country. That’s rough sailing.
JP: Indeed.
Goldfinger: But he’s a natural leader of men. Juan II needed capable hands in the last war and didn’t have any. (smiling for once) No more siege stealing, I can assure you.
Tim the Leprechaun: Can I get a drink? Is there a bar in here anywhere?
JP: (to audience) And then, in late 1423, Aragon goes and declares war on Genoa bringing Milan and Modena into it. Juan joins his pals, but sits by the sidelines, just watching. He basically spends his time doing the marriage rounds in Germany and promoting the rest of his tax collectors.
Goldfinger: Good. He’ll need them.
Tim the Leprechaun: Perhaps just a wee bit of scotch?
JP: Everything is smooth sailing until 1424 when April sees some corruption and inflation rise.
Tim the Leprechaun: (sits up quickly and looks around with a worried look on his face) Is she here?
King Midas: (stepping in) No doubt a fault of that de Luna character. I knew he was unsavory.
Goldfinger: (getting a little too close to King Midas) Sometimes unsavory gets the job done, know what I mean?
King Midas: (nervously waving a handkerchief in front of his nose and trying to look away) Yes…yes…there are times…
JP: (interrupting) But things don’t go so well for de Luna. In October of 1425, he fails to crush a band of rebels in Murcia.
Failure to defeat rebels in Murcia
Goldfinger: But that is no matter…(pointing to the screen)…
Granada prefers peace, it seems
Goldfinger: You see also that Granada has asked to be vassals again. Of course Juan refused! Not only did it help his stability, but it gives him the perfect excuse to attack them once more. Just like clockwork. A perfect machine, really…
Tim the Leprechaun: Just a wee thimble full…that’s all really.
JP: But de Luna doesn’t go after Granada just yet. He first has to finally destroy the rebels in Murcia. Even as the truce between Granada and Castile runs out, de Luna finds himself desperately trying to rout the very last elements of revolt. Turns out he needn’t have worried so. Portugal does Juan II a favor in 1427 by declaring war on Morocco who has since taken on Granada as an alliance partner.
Portugal DoWs Morocco (allied to Granada)
Goldfinger: Just a small question of deployment. Nothing to worry about.
JP: Well, I think we can all guess what Juan does next?
de Luna moves in swiftly to take out Granada
Goldfinger: (rubbing his hands together feverishly) Yes!
JP: (to the audience) Doesn’t look like Aragon thinks that way. However, they rejoin almost immediately and soon Juan II has Granada on the…uh oh! Look what we have here?
de Luna is defeated in Granada and retreats to Murcia
King Midas: (snorting with repressed laughter) Looks like the old boy can’t quite get it done to me, Jimmy.
Goldfinger: Look pal, you can’t win ‘em all. Got to trade level two didn’t he?!?
Tim the Leprechaun: …………………………………………..……………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...( gone backstage searching for a drink)
Bells and sirens start going off in the studio and Jackie smiles, running back to center stage.
JP: Look what time it is, gents. Time to visit with our contestant and pick his brain about events so far. I think King Midas might have pegged this right but we’ll have to get Juan’s opinion. So let’s bring him on out…Ladies and gentlemen, Juan II, King of León and Castile!!!
The crowd goes crazy and Juan II smoothly walks out from backstage wearing regal robes and his crown. He seems slightly preoccupied by something occurring backstage until Jackie grabs his attention and walks him over to the couches.
JP: So Juan…can I call you Juan?
Juan II: We would prefer something a little more respectful.
JP: Uhhh…OK then. Your majesty.
Juan II: Better.
JP: Yes, well…we’ve watched your progress so far and I wanted to get your view of the events that take up the better part of years 1428 and 1429, because I think they really had something real to say about the early years of your reign.
Juan II: That’s an interesting point of view, Wink. But don’t forget what started it all. For whatever reason the Scots declared war on Aragon the year before, we have no idea. But that was a bit of a smack on our royal person after the terrible loss by de Luna in Granada. We were personally shamed by it.
JP: We have a clip set up for you, your majesty. Let’s all take a look at it for just a moment.
Everyone turns to a screen and watches a quick montage of a few naval battles between the Castilian navy and the Tlemcen navy set to the music of bagpipes. To make matters worse, Castile loses each and every one. The lights come back up as Jackie stares at Juan II, waiting for him to respond.
Juan II: That was really out of context, you know. These are two different wars.
JP: Then why did I see a fleet from Ulster down there, tell me that?
Juan II: ………………………………
JP: I didn’t think so. Not all is so glum though your grace. This certainly had to make you happy.
de Luna attempts once more to complete the reconquista for Juan II
Juan II: Yes. We were very pleased to hear that he had defeated the dreaded Moor and sacked the city come early 1429.
JP: Right after you signed the orders to concentrate harder on the quality of your army. A nice one two punch.
Juan II: (smiling proudly) We thought so.
JP: (wiping out an index card from behind his back) BUT…that still leaves you at war with, let’s see…(looking down at his card and reading)…Tlemcen, Morocco, Tunisia, Scotland, (he looks up at Juan for a second on that one, arches an eyebrow and goes back to reading) Milan, Genoa, Switzerland and the Papal States.
Juan II: …………….
JP: You’re not getting off that easy this time.
Juan II: Well…we have plans to get out of those wars. You know, the really irritating thing is Aragon already made peace with the bloody Genoese. They got us into that mess to begin with!
JP: And could I perhaps nudge you just a little bit regarding what exactly those plans might entail? (trying to stare down Juan II).
A crash is heard just off set and Jackie looks over to see a clearly inebriated Tim the Leprechaun fall through some fake bushes as he knocks over another light stand. Juan II takes that moment to quickly get up and walk offstage before Jackie can ask him another question. Jackie looks back, and he has disappeared.
JP: (to the audience) Typical of a leprechaun!
Silence is such that crickets are heard chirping as Jackie walks over and tries to help Tim the Leprechaun to stand up. They walk back over to the judge’s stand and deposit Tim the Leprechaun in his seat.
JP: I guess we should take a final look at the board for the show while we (looking around to stage hands) try and get things back in order around here.
Castile 1429
JP: (taken a bit by surprise when the camera comes back to him) It’s been another great one, hasn’t it friends…(he looks to the judges and smiles)…
King Midas: (insulted) Really sirs, I have never…never…
Goldfinger: Oh, stop your bitchin’ over there or I’ll belt you one, Mr. Fancy.
Tim the Leprechaun: Where’sh Pushsy Galore when you neeed her? Urp
Jackie Powers: (stepping in front of Tim the Leprechaun) Aaaaand I think that about does it for another episode of “Quest!” Join us next time right here on ESPN 5156…(looking around backstage again trying to find any kind of answer)…
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Alcohol and worry about de Luna and this April person made a good update. Juan seems rather... reticient... about his reign. Perhaps he is worried about April.
Colonies, trade posts, I am a monument to inexactitude. I still historically do not have the patience to get all of Siberia.
Colonies, trade posts, I am a monument to inexactitude. I still historically do not have the patience to get all of Siberia.
I'd like to see Goldfinger take over the throne. I'm sure he'd deal one to those Scots, and those Genoese and those Aragonese..... Nice update :rofl:
Nice updates. I think Juan would have been better of by letting the rebels complete their siege and move on (preferably into the waiting arms of De Luna) and then siege the province back. Same goes for Granada: let them go siege gibraltar, then start a siege on an empty province of Granada. Still, the Granada thing worked out okay, so... keep it up, I would say.
Typical... just typical, you go and watch the darts for a day and find you've missed two episodes on the other side
Oh well, had my video set up to catch this one, just as well really.
Nice coupple of updates, good luck with the monks and all.
Sir C.
Oh well, had my video set up to catch this one, just as well really.
Nice coupple of updates, good luck with the monks and all.
Sir C.
Fb-fb:
J. Passepartout - Well, I know Tim is worried about April. Juan's just trying to get by, with the help of Alvaro de Luna that is. As for colonies and/or trading posts in Siberia, I usually alternate, starting with a base and then building depending upon need. It's a little harder coming in from the Pacific but I know it works. If anything, beating China is the only worry, and I rarely ever see that as a problem.
Duke of Wellington - Goldfinger certainly thinks he could run a better ship than Juan. Just wait until Odd-Job shows up.
Grundius - You are certainly right, especially as far as attrition goes. Though I often build just above my manpower limit and use them as cannon fodder just to get a war over more quickly. But I need to learn how to use terrain better. It's always been something I just plowed right through and cleaned up afterwards. Ah, the plight of my poor soldiers...
Ciçatrix - Good. I don't know if they will all outlast the entire AAR, but they seem to be working for now. Anyone - feel free to offer up suggestions for alternate judges should one or more need to step away for a moment.
SirCliveWolfe - This one is going pretty quickly because I am playing as I write and I hate to get too far ahead in either department. But I have the next couple of days off so there may be a steady stream of updates at present. It won't always move this quickly, I assure you.
Lurken - Saw your comment at the last minute. Thanks for reading.
And with that said, for the moment five comments gets an update. And this one with a tiny shout out... [EDIT - shout out actually occurs in Part IIIc]
J. Passepartout - Well, I know Tim is worried about April. Juan's just trying to get by, with the help of Alvaro de Luna that is. As for colonies and/or trading posts in Siberia, I usually alternate, starting with a base and then building depending upon need. It's a little harder coming in from the Pacific but I know it works. If anything, beating China is the only worry, and I rarely ever see that as a problem.
Duke of Wellington - Goldfinger certainly thinks he could run a better ship than Juan. Just wait until Odd-Job shows up.
Grundius - You are certainly right, especially as far as attrition goes. Though I often build just above my manpower limit and use them as cannon fodder just to get a war over more quickly. But I need to learn how to use terrain better. It's always been something I just plowed right through and cleaned up afterwards. Ah, the plight of my poor soldiers...
Ciçatrix - Good. I don't know if they will all outlast the entire AAR, but they seem to be working for now. Anyone - feel free to offer up suggestions for alternate judges should one or more need to step away for a moment.
SirCliveWolfe - This one is going pretty quickly because I am playing as I write and I hate to get too far ahead in either department. But I have the next couple of days off so there may be a steady stream of updates at present. It won't always move this quickly, I assure you.
Lurken - Saw your comment at the last minute. Thanks for reading.
And with that said, for the moment five comments gets an update. And this one with a tiny shout out... [EDIT - shout out actually occurs in Part IIIc]
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Quest: The Spanish Search For Gold
Episode IIIa: The Other One With Alvaro de Luna
Jackie Powers: Hello and welcome once again to ESPN 5172’s favorite show, “Quest!” When we saw Juan II last, he was still waging war against a whole host of nations. Could he get out of it? Let’s visit our judges and see what they have to say. (stopping in front of Tim the Leprechaun for a second, and then quickly moving on to Goldfinger) Let’s start with you.
Goldfinger: I see no reason why he couldn’t easily slip out this mess. After all, he’s not actively fighting any of them.
JP: Well, all except Tlemcen who’s given him quite a problem in the Western Mediterranean.
Goldfinger: Who worries about Tlemcen? I’ve never even heard of them.
JP: (smiling to the audience) Well Juan sure has.
Tim the Leprechaun: (holding his head) Not so loud…please.
King Midas: Jimmy, I think you’ll notice that a little quick diplomacy goes a long way, especially if money is involved.
JP: Quite right, King Midas. Let’s take a look at how Juan II deals with his problem. (looks to the board) Ah, see that. A few quick diplomats sent to Milan and Scotland and before you can say ‘how do you do’ Juan’s got a peace settlement with Genoa, Milan, Switzerland, the Pope and Scotland.. Not bad.
King Midas: Told you.
JP: Not so fast, King Midas. It looks like you were more right than it seemed. It only cost him nine ducats to make peace with Tunisia. So who does that leave?
Goldfinger: Morocco and Tlemcen.
JP: Right you are, Goldfinger. Looks like he’ll have to wait to make that deal. But Juan seems to have things under control. Inflation sits at 4.3% to start 1430, and by May he has Portugal back in the fold.
Goldfinger: Fickle bastards.
JP: Now, now. You’ve got to hand it to Juan for handling his neighbors so deftly.
Goldfinger: He should invade and cease these irritations. There are more important plans to carry out.
Tim the Leprechaun: Does anyone know where I could get some coffee?
JP: (ignoring Tim the Leprechaun) Not even 1431 sees Morocco willing to make peace. Look there – he offered 50 ducats and they still won’t accept.
King Midas: They are quite stubborn.
Goldfinger: Why make peace? He should simply go down there and make them take a knee. What use is an army for, anyway? I mean, this isn’t rocket science.
Ross Perot: (quickly walking onto the set from backstage) Larry, that’s exactly what I mean. Now here we have a kingdom that clearly has no dog in this hunt anymore. Yet they won’t make peace. (holding up some cheaply made poster boards) Here’s a pie chart of the number of times Castile has offered peace, and how many times it’s been accepted.
JP: It’s just a black circle.
Ross Perot: Precisely. A monkey could do this. I don’t know why those idiots in Warshington can’t get it straight. It’s just that simple. Just say yes!
JP: Yes, well…thank you for that commentary, Mr. Perot. But I think you want the show next door.
Ross Perot: Well you let me know if you next a guest anytime soon. Ain’t had much use for these pie charts since ’96.
JP: Will do. Now let’s get back to the quest. As you can see, Juan II reaches infrastructure level two in May of 1431 and keeps his research right there. But then in June…Houston, we have a problem…
Foix rises up against Aragon and declares its freedom. Notice my feckless allies
Goldfinger: I don’t see the problem. Send de Luna up there and take Foix like it should have been taken back in ’22.
King Midas: If he can (laughs silently to himself)
Goldfinger: (glaring) Keep it up, Little Lord F*** Pants!
King Midas: Well…I never…
Goldfinger: I think you have.
JP: Gentlemen…if we might focus? Especially since it looks like your plan backfires, Mr. Goldfinger. The government of Foix falls before anyone can get to it and here we have Navarre take its place. It’s peace again for Juan II.
Goldfinger: You never can trust those basque bastards.
JP: But it’s not all bad news.
Tim the Leprechaun: There is coffee?
JP: Nope. More peace. Juan II finally settles with Morocco for 50 ducats.
King Midas: He offered them that three times already. Goodness, those heathens are a troubling sort.
Goldfinger: I think you know my feelings on this.
Tim the Leprechaun: I think I’ll just lay my head down here for a moment.
JP: So not much of note for our King as the year 1432 passes by. Portugal rejoins the alliance once more and a royal marriage is made with France. What do you think that’s all about?
King Midas: Well clearly he is trying to protect his northern border. I see no reason to antagonize the French as they consolidate their holdings.
Goldfinger: There you go again with that pacifist crap. They shouldn’t be allowed to consolidate. Juan ought to be up there taking care of business.
JP: Well there is only so much war one man can wage.
Goldfinger: You obviously have no idea how to run a successful criminal enterprise, Mr. Bond.
JP: You’re right about that. And please, it’s…
Tim the Leprechaun: (laying down on the floor) Maybe if I just stretch out a little.
JP: But then, in late 1433, word is sent that Portugal wants the Pope to declare the Canaries as part of their realm since they are doing so much to deliver the islands to the kingdom of God.
Portugal tries to claim the Canary Islands with the Pope's blessing
JP: An emissary is sent to Rome to plead Castile’s case. Will it work? Find out after this commercial break...
* * *
Note: Look for Part IIIb either tonight or early tomorrow.
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