Republic of Gotland strategies?

[Stanoje]

Any tips on how to start as Gotland? Genoa and Pisa have obvious venues of expansion via holy wars, but Gotland is surrounded by several big players. And the smaller targets are pagan counties where you can't even bring in enough troops to mount a siege.

What's the way forward here?

 

[shypixel]

Two approaches:

1) Run, run fast and run far: Immediately upon starting the game, declare a prepared invasion for somewhere more preferable. You start small, so should get a very decent number of troops for free. Get some land in a more balkanized area. Then when Sweden invariable gobbles up Gotland, it being de-jure, you will have somewhere to be.

2) Kiss some royal boot: Bend the knee to Sweden or Denmark when they first form. In some respects I prefer Denmark, as even if you are a part of Sweden, you might get gobbled by the Jarl of Smaland. Nobody in DM will have a de-jure claim on you, and you should have time to grow more powerful before you need worry.

 

[Stanoje]

Thanks, but I was looking more on advice for playing as the Republic of Gotland. I don't think it exists at the 867 start date. EDIT: That is, your mentions of prepared invasions and a pre-Denmark/Sweden setting seem like you're talking about the early start date.

 

[yourworstnightm]

Is Gotland even playable in 867. I thought they weren't. In 1066 the main task should be to make sure the Norse dude won't get the Swedish throne, because he usually start to revoke titles from Catholics.

 

[rinuseuropa]

This thread makes me wanna play a republic. Capitalism!!

 

[LACKADAISICAL]

Gotland is in a really dangerous situation--since they're an island with no routing point, if you get invaded and the enemy lands troops before you move troops off the island, any losing force will instantly be entirely destroyed since they have nowhere to run, and any mercs you hire will suffer the same fate due to starting with 0 morale. Either swear fealty to sweden or denmark, or quickly nab a mainland country so you'll have some safe haven if gotland gets invaded. Personally I prefer just attaching myself to someone more powerful.

 

[Hellbooze]

Won't merc's just replenish faster than they take hits from attrition? And even if they didn't, I think you can still siege a castle before they go too low. Just keep reinforcing your sieging troops from time to time, with only small batches of units, so you don't lose too many of them.

If that doesn't work, go to Ireland and/or focus on building tradeposts.

Haven't really played republics that much lately, except German Norse Venice for the lulz.

 

[darkrage_nl]

First you get the money, then you get the power (mercs) and then you put them in position near the lands you want to conquer before you declare war.

I suggest that you start with a Mallorca island and holy war from there.

Then after a while a crusade for Jerusalem will start and the first one will fail like always... but during the 2nd one you will have enough income and gold to buy enough mercs to conquer yourself a kingdom and get automatic independence from the incompetent Swedish king =>.

Side note, it can be interesting (and dangerous) to give the other merchant family's duchy's in southern Spain so they can declare wars on there own and thereby both keep themselves and the enemy's surrounding you occupied with each other (also they spent prestige on titles and losses)

 

[Apocal]

Is Gotland even playable in 867. I thought they weren't.

Gotland isn't. Amalfi and Venice are.

 

[Dagon1]

Playing Gotland as a republic shortly after the TOG start isnt that problematic. Just start as one of the big guys in scandinavia, conquer Gotland and give away the duchy title to the mayor of visby and switch to him after daving the game.

 

[X#13]

1. Start off by marrying your offsprings into both Svitjod and Sjaelland then form an alliances with both of them. Then be creative and acquire the titular duchy of Visby title.
2. Your main source of income is the raids. Until you get the shipbuilding technology raid Tjust every two years.
(The Alliances will be useful coz one of them will trump the other and then you can swear fealty to the victor. You shall remain untouched because of the alliances.)
3. Use fabricated claims or shrewd diplomacy and marriages to acquire more land.
4. Become powerful enough to declare independence and branch off with your real kingdom.
5. with a large army and even larger fleet start raiding Constantinople. Those are the most satisfying raids ever.
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after that just do what you want... unify scandinavia - invade britain - conquer saxony - push east to finland and rus....

 

[alscon]

You can do the usual republic play, build trade posts, conquer cities, then crush everyone under mercs.
Or you can try to help Erik the Heathen gain the Swedish crown, what he manages to do even on his own in some games, then convert to Norse. Get even more income through raids, choose the target of your choice with a prepared invasion, or launch conquests everywhere. As long as you don't have to fend off angry cross-worshippers. Fun game.

 

[CoSMoS]

Please note the thread creation date

 

[Dahoota]

Dat necro.

I don't know about two years ago, but in 1066 in the current version Gotland/Visby is one of my favourite starts in the game. Flipping Germanic and attempting to revive the faith is challenging and a lot of fun (compared to how easy and OP it is in the early starts).