Sforza!!! - A Milan AAR

[Eams]

Sadly, you can’t annex the pope…but you can vassalize them! All hail the second Babylonian Captivity!

It's the third really (Avignon in 14th century), but who's counting?

Being at war with both the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope is a serious display of badassiness.

 

[unmerged(60841)]

Lots of wars- but Milan will be extremely strong if she comes out on top! Good luck.

 

[coz1]

I suppose there is at least one bright spot in being in near constant war - your armies are at full maintenance to deal with revolts and surprise DoWs.

 

[billy bob]

Might I suggest an end to wars? Really what are you trying to get?

 

[Lord E]

I am guessing your BB is getting pretty high now with all those wars. But the Pope is clearly mad and needs to be thought a lesson, the only bad thing is that you could have used all the forces you need to send to Rome to Castile instead and that way you could have defeated the Castillians earlier, but I think that after a quick victory in Rome you should be able to send all those forces west and defeated Castile anyway…

 

[TheExecuter]

"Poor stability, an economy in tatters, revolting populace, dwindling manpower, dying leadership, massive losses on the battlefields!! Pah!!! I say!! These elements are clearly the ingrediants for Conquest!!" *so says Rens* :rofl:

[de-lurks]

Been reading this AAR and also 'Fire Warms' and I've also noticed that Rens "likes a challenge." But as my brother (a compulsive warmongering strategy gamer) would say...

"What? The treasury is getting low? Lets steal some from my neighbors."

"What? The peasants are revolting? Lets get into a war to distract them or put them down with my full-strength armies."

"Trade? That's for sissys. Build up your wonderful white tower civilization...then I'll come along and take it from you. Thanks."

Good luck with your wars Rens.

 

[unmerged(72712)]

I have been lurking on the forums for a couple of weeks and i have read your aar and it is execellent. It has inspired me to play milan.

 

[Carewolf2]

I am guessing your BB is getting pretty high now with all those wars. But the Pope is clearly mad and needs to be thought a lesson, the only bad thing is that you could have used all the forces you need to send to Rome to Castile instead and that way you could have defeated the Castillians earlier, but I think that after a quick victory in Rome you should be able to send all those forces west and defeated Castile anyway…

Well.. Sicily is protestant. So maybe not _that_ mad.

 

[Rensslaer]

Well.. Sicily is protestant. So maybe not _that_ mad.

Actually, Sicily is still Catholic. It's Siena that's Protestant.

Renss

 

[stnylan]

My my Spain is being very stubborn. Well, pride is a deadly sin, and it is only right that they pay for it

 

[unmerged(53911)]

Exciting stuff, as always!! Another war?! Shocking!! No, I really must stop that kind of commenting as clearly this is working out very well for Milan and the Sforzas (and for this AAR as well). KUTGW! - where "W" stands for "War-Making"; seems appropriate for this tale thus far.

I am curious as to the level of revolt percentages in some of your territories. Bremen's revolt is not surprising given the cultural difference. Any other provences with a similar revolt issues?

 

[VILenin]

Great to hear!

Just remember that if you want the Strategy Guide you'll need to get the Collector's Edition. I assume they're still only available through Target stores.

Though I, and others, have suggested it, I've heard no word that they will reprint or sell the Strat Guide separately.

Thanks!

Renss

What a bummer! Maybe I'll have to swing by Target and see if I can pick up a copy a little earlier than planned.

You're at war with the Holy Roman Emperor AND the Pope. I think you're running out of ways to be reviled! Maybe running up your badboy triple digits and then converting to Confucianism next? Seriously though, I see you've built more ships so I'm happy.

 

[germanpeon]

My advice would be to either vassalize the Pope or reduce him to just Rome. I prefer the second option because that would teach him more of a lesson, and give you more long-term economic benefits, as well as getting you that much closer to unifying Italy. Allowing Rome to remain in the hands of the Pope indefinitely is acceptable (and realistic) though.

 

[unmerged(71654)]

I've been silently lurking and reading this since you started it Renn, and between your AAR and RossN's I've been sold on buying the game and getting into this, and brushing up my writing and storytelling skills in the process.

Keep up the edge of your seat intensity, I'm sure it makes it more engoyable for you, and it certainly has made this an exciting and fun daily read for us, your fans.

 

[Secret Master]

Geez, Rens, I can barely keep up with you. War after war, conquest after conquest, update after update. Between the writing and bloodletting, I can't decided which is more fun.

I do have a small request, if it is even possible. Can we get a screenshot of this ruler's "Game Over" screen, where his wars are listed. I want to see how many "Wars of Milanese Aggression" he is personally responsible for and where you sit in terms of "Franco-Milanese Wars" and so forth.

 

[Carewolf2]

Actually, Sicily is still Catholic. It's Siena that's Protestant.

Renss

Maybe the pope has a speech impairment?


Pope: I-I want to to declare wawar on Si--si--ci-si--eena...
Advisor 1: Sicisi..?
Advisor 2: I think he means Sicily, just declare the war, you don't want to offend the pope

 

[Graymane]

I don't know why everyone wants you to stop all your wars early, you are already beseiging a bunch of territory, you can make much better than a white peace soon. Of course, to quote this new strategy guide that I just got last night along with my new collector's edition for my b-day "...one of the most important things to decide is what your war aims are" :rofl:

 

[Rensslaer]

Of course, to quote this new strategy guide that I just got last night along with my new collector's edition for my b-day "...one of the most important things to decide is what your war aims are" :rofl:

Everyone wants to hear...

Well, maybe it's that you guys don't know me all that well... Those folks who followed Fire Warms the Northern Lands know that I generally develop war aims fairly early, and go after them with dogged determination.

And I would say what they are....

But I also have this addiction to suspense and cliffhangers, so I'm not always going to tell you what they are, until I achieve them!

Rensslaer

 

[Rensslaer]

Well, since I am doing this partly as a means of teaching strategy, I'll give in and explain some of my thinking...

I rarely go into any war without wanting something, even if I didn't start the war, so I will rarely take a white peace unless I'm either 1) desperate to be at peace (I'm not, yet), or 2) thinking I'll be in a worse position soon.

I would take money if I thought 1) they had money to give, and would agree to, or 2) I felt that money could make up for the trouble caused (which it usually can't).

If I weren't meaning to dominate the Mediterranean, I wouldn't be so keen upon territorial conquest either. But each province on the Med has the potential to be added to the empire I want, so I might as well pick them up when I have a chance, subject to limits imposed by Badboy/Reputation.

So.... based on those criteria, you can assume that I would like to take territory from Castille. Not much -- one or two provinces -- but some. This territory would be on the Med.

I'm also close to having sieges completed in a number of provinces, so I should have the ability to make my demands reasonably soon.

I will tell you that I do particularly covet Gibraltar, because of its special properties to cross by "land" to Africa. And I think I've said as much.

So there...

Rensslaer

 

[unmerged(12435)]

Renss.. another great game, another fantastic AAR Even if it stole some two hours of my sleep, I couldn´t stop reading..

Damn, it only makes me cry, that my piece of scap metal will not run this one

Btw.. no plans of some colonial expansion?