Okay, I thought I would try this out, basically playing Crusader Kings on medium difficulty using Scotland. I am not too good at the game yet, but I will see how I go, I did good on easier difficulties but so far when I have played on medium difficulty I have pretty much spent my time trying to build up some resemblance of strength against the threat of the English. I will pretty much keep it fairly unhistorical, because Scotland got owned....so I will not be doing research on Scottish history etc. the images posted will mostly be in game images, I will try not to be text heavy, but we will see how it goes. Any ideas to make the AAR better or tactics etc. is greatly appreciated. If I do good and don't get bored a grand campaign may be in order...hopefully I am not eliminated in the first few years. I know that there is a Scotland AAR already on here, that's why I posted this on the RTR forums for the past few weeks, but I decided 'screw it' and decided to post...I am about up to chapter six on the RTR forums so I will post one chapter a day until I catch up.
Malcolm Dunkeld is the ruler of the Kingdom of Scotland. Below is his realm and the nobles which make up his realm.
The kingdom of England, the foremost nation in the British Isles is going through a time of instability. William the Conqueror has just take rule of the nation and aims to keep the Saxon people from rising up while still keeping control of the united England. This is done by dividing his land into vassals among his loyal nobles who helped him in the invasion of England. England, even though rich and strong will be forced to keep her vassals under control while still honouring her obligations to the world at large, either on the European continent where the lands of Normandy are in thier control, or through honouring thier nation and faith in crusades. When they get the chance they may attempt to bully the poorer nations around them, to gain more resources and land for thier purposes in the wider world.
Wales starts as a friendly group of provinces, waiting until the time they are united under a king strong enough to unite them all. They are much in the same situation as Scotland, sharing a land border with England and having limited resources to combat English aggression. Without acting smartly they may find themselves under the heel of the English. To survive they must be united under a king and expand into territories which are not in conflict with England.
The island of Ireland is fragmented into a variety of regions, rarely coming to agreement on any issue, when they are at peace that is. They may become the exploding point of conflicts between the more organised nations of the region, as the nature of the states in Ireland could mean that stronger powers can pick them off one by one without the other Irish states doing anything about it, therefore their inaction may mean doom for thier own state, as they cannot possibly survive as the united nations of the British mainland in the broken up state they are in.
Somewhat of a peaceful region they are owned by Norway and could be a potential area for Scotland to expand into, even though the provinces are fairly poor the Norwegians coming to 'rescue' these regions would unworthy against the armies of Scotland, as the distance they have to travel to get a few poor regions is great and their travelling armies will be weak and tired by the time they get to Scotland. Included in this region is the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands.
Malcolm sat in the throne room as he often did pondering his nations future. His people were a proud nation of warriors yet were not blessed with the wealth they deserved, they had often survived in the past by raiding Northern England for its significant riches, yet Malcolm was now pondering a different course.
The new King of England was in the process of solidifying his rule and going through the process of linking his vassals to the English throne, as opposed to the relative free reign the Saxon vassals previously got, a noted example of this was the challenge the Godwinson family often posed to Edward the Confessor, which, in the new England the new king hoped that such strong vassals should be shut down, centralising the power in the English crown. This centralisation of English power would mean that raids on Northern England could mean that the power of Scotland would be crushed.
While deep in thought a courtier shuffled in, as he was called in a while ago by Malcolm earlier.
"You called for me your majesty?"
"Yes, I understand you are the senior of Scotlands courtiers is that correct?"
"Yes sir, as you understand we are the ones who take care of the business that your Highness does not have the time to take care of personally."
"Okay, well I would like you to do a job for me, it will change the face of Scotland and give your courtiers the duties that will help me carrying out my grand plans."
"Certainly your majesty, anything for our kingdom."
"I need you to form courtiers to carry out my plans in warfare, the economy, politics and in the, more dishonourable acts."
"A spy master my lord?"
"Yes of course, now come back with me once these people have been chosen, and I will tell them what must be done, and be quick about it, the longer we wait, the stronger our enemies get."
As the time passed Malcolm still sat thinking, the burden of a monarch is often unbearable, only the strongest of people can handle it effectively, Malcolms plan for the greatness of Scotland relied on the strength of his family line. A perfect mix between military prowess, diplomatic saavy and of course a little bit of religious enlightenment will keep his plan on track, to grow his nations strength until he is strong enough to take on the ultimate enemy, England, and then beyond to greatness, to the point where his nation is the strongest among all others. The Glory of the mighty Scottish people must be known among the people around the world, they must be feared and respected. This was his dream.
With thoughts of the grand Scottish empire running through his head a group walked in, accompanied by the head courtier.
"Your majesty, I have assembled the best courtiers in the fields you wanted to help you out."
"Thankyou, leave them here, I have plans to go over with them."
By this time it was late afternoon, while Malcolm and his new advisors sat around the table to draw up a plan that will hopefully make Scotland great. The plans put forward to the martial of the armies, the spy master and the steward in charge of the economy were basically a one for the future, the martial must train armies up so that in the future they will perform well and perhaps to prepare for campaigns in Ireland, which will act as a launching point for future invasions of England, the spy master must keep all foreign spies off Scottish soil, as well as stopping assassins, attacking spy activities or assasinations won't take place as of yet. The steward will act to keep the economy ticking yet still keeping thier vassals strong, hence vassal scutage will be eliminated. The chancellor has the most important job however, they must keep to English at bay and if they do in fact attack they must do all in thier power to cease the attack, whether it be giving away a province or paying them off. The chancellor will act to keep vassals happy while the Kingdom acquires and re-distributes thier land so as to be a better benifit to the kingdom and to the vassals themselves in the long run. Only time will tell. It was time to put the wheels in motion.
Prologue: State of the region
Malcolm Dunkeld is the ruler of the Kingdom of Scotland. Below is his realm and the nobles which make up his realm.
Neighbouring nation politics
England
The kingdom of England, the foremost nation in the British Isles is going through a time of instability. William the Conqueror has just take rule of the nation and aims to keep the Saxon people from rising up while still keeping control of the united England. This is done by dividing his land into vassals among his loyal nobles who helped him in the invasion of England. England, even though rich and strong will be forced to keep her vassals under control while still honouring her obligations to the world at large, either on the European continent where the lands of Normandy are in thier control, or through honouring thier nation and faith in crusades. When they get the chance they may attempt to bully the poorer nations around them, to gain more resources and land for thier purposes in the wider world.
Wales
Wales starts as a friendly group of provinces, waiting until the time they are united under a king strong enough to unite them all. They are much in the same situation as Scotland, sharing a land border with England and having limited resources to combat English aggression. Without acting smartly they may find themselves under the heel of the English. To survive they must be united under a king and expand into territories which are not in conflict with England.
The Irish states
The island of Ireland is fragmented into a variety of regions, rarely coming to agreement on any issue, when they are at peace that is. They may become the exploding point of conflicts between the more organised nations of the region, as the nature of the states in Ireland could mean that stronger powers can pick them off one by one without the other Irish states doing anything about it, therefore their inaction may mean doom for thier own state, as they cannot possibly survive as the united nations of the British mainland in the broken up state they are in.
Norwegian Northern Scotland
Somewhat of a peaceful region they are owned by Norway and could be a potential area for Scotland to expand into, even though the provinces are fairly poor the Norwegians coming to 'rescue' these regions would unworthy against the armies of Scotland, as the distance they have to travel to get a few poor regions is great and their travelling armies will be weak and tired by the time they get to Scotland. Included in this region is the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands.
In the throne room of Malcolm Dunkeld, King of Scotland, 1066
Malcolm sat in the throne room as he often did pondering his nations future. His people were a proud nation of warriors yet were not blessed with the wealth they deserved, they had often survived in the past by raiding Northern England for its significant riches, yet Malcolm was now pondering a different course.
The new King of England was in the process of solidifying his rule and going through the process of linking his vassals to the English throne, as opposed to the relative free reign the Saxon vassals previously got, a noted example of this was the challenge the Godwinson family often posed to Edward the Confessor, which, in the new England the new king hoped that such strong vassals should be shut down, centralising the power in the English crown. This centralisation of English power would mean that raids on Northern England could mean that the power of Scotland would be crushed.
While deep in thought a courtier shuffled in, as he was called in a while ago by Malcolm earlier.
"You called for me your majesty?"
"Yes, I understand you are the senior of Scotlands courtiers is that correct?"
"Yes sir, as you understand we are the ones who take care of the business that your Highness does not have the time to take care of personally."
"Okay, well I would like you to do a job for me, it will change the face of Scotland and give your courtiers the duties that will help me carrying out my grand plans."
"Certainly your majesty, anything for our kingdom."
"I need you to form courtiers to carry out my plans in warfare, the economy, politics and in the, more dishonourable acts."
"A spy master my lord?"
"Yes of course, now come back with me once these people have been chosen, and I will tell them what must be done, and be quick about it, the longer we wait, the stronger our enemies get."
As the time passed Malcolm still sat thinking, the burden of a monarch is often unbearable, only the strongest of people can handle it effectively, Malcolms plan for the greatness of Scotland relied on the strength of his family line. A perfect mix between military prowess, diplomatic saavy and of course a little bit of religious enlightenment will keep his plan on track, to grow his nations strength until he is strong enough to take on the ultimate enemy, England, and then beyond to greatness, to the point where his nation is the strongest among all others. The Glory of the mighty Scottish people must be known among the people around the world, they must be feared and respected. This was his dream.
With thoughts of the grand Scottish empire running through his head a group walked in, accompanied by the head courtier.
"Your majesty, I have assembled the best courtiers in the fields you wanted to help you out."
"Thankyou, leave them here, I have plans to go over with them."
By this time it was late afternoon, while Malcolm and his new advisors sat around the table to draw up a plan that will hopefully make Scotland great. The plans put forward to the martial of the armies, the spy master and the steward in charge of the economy were basically a one for the future, the martial must train armies up so that in the future they will perform well and perhaps to prepare for campaigns in Ireland, which will act as a launching point for future invasions of England, the spy master must keep all foreign spies off Scottish soil, as well as stopping assassins, attacking spy activities or assasinations won't take place as of yet. The steward will act to keep the economy ticking yet still keeping thier vassals strong, hence vassal scutage will be eliminated. The chancellor has the most important job however, they must keep to English at bay and if they do in fact attack they must do all in thier power to cease the attack, whether it be giving away a province or paying them off. The chancellor will act to keep vassals happy while the Kingdom acquires and re-distributes thier land so as to be a better benifit to the kingdom and to the vassals themselves in the long run. Only time will tell. It was time to put the wheels in motion.