Sforza!!! - A Milan AAR

[Lordban]

I used to find colonial wars sad too, until the time came when what I thought was a overwhelming force of 9,000 men in Brazil saw over 20,000 Castillian soldiers move southwards from their holdings on the northern coast and in Guyana, and they proceeded to lay siege to all my cities. In 1570...
Needless to say, I didn't get my warscore up in the Americas

Renss, the avatar is the Greek one among the EU shields - browsed through them and noticed that it happened to have a double-headed eagle I'm very fond of
And yes, I'm nibbling at 'Fire Warms', though at a considerably lower pace than I read through Sforza And have appreciated your characterizations there so far, especially that of Louis-Napoléon.


So, you're globally seizing the initiative, but your opponents have forces quite capable of matching yours. Is this the build-up for a climactic battle?

 

[coz1]

I'm not sure "fun" would be the word I would use...profitable certainly fits however.

Looks like Castile is giving a bit of trouble on the mainland. It will be short-lived, to be sure.

 

[Lord E]

Seems like the colonial war is going fine, also the Portuguese have little chance of defending Morocco against your great forces it seems. But I am a little worried about the progress on the Iberian Peninsula, it seem like both Portugal and Castile are pretty strong and this war might take longer time that anyone had thought if they are to fight like this for a long time.

Still I am confident that your great armies will win in the end, just press forward once more and crush them all!

 

[unmerged(47151)]

Took me just over 3 and a half hours to read all the 93 pages, but I think this AAR deserves those pages.

I expecially loved the bit when the Cretans gave him a hard time.

 

[stnylan]

I do love the colonial wars. Most of the time, anyway.

 

[unmerged(80698)]

I like them for their not-so-big manpower drain, which stuff like a Burgundian (My country right now)Frankish war. Total men killed so far on my side: 42,587 men. o

Yes, I like colonial wars.

 

[unmerged(24320)]

Rensslaer: ...Milanese forces based in Morocco make an immediate move to seize the Portuguese-controlled province of Tangier, which controls one side of the Straits of Gibraltar, an obvious crossing point for troops of whichever side controls the straits.

if you take Tangier in the settlement of the war, does that connect your North Africa holdings to your capital ? ? hint, hint ! !

Rensslaer: ...Ideally, all of Morocco would soon be occupied, and there would be nowhere for them to run.

splendid ! !

magnificent updates ! !

 

[Rensslaer]

By the way I LOVE this AAR. Hope U will be able sonner or later form Italy.

Welcome, Jachulus! Thank you for expressing your enjoyment. It's great to hear!

Another nice update filled with a lot of nice new cores and colonies. Seems your empire is getting stronger and stronger and more united by the day that is good news. A new boundary insult with Castile. Could be interesting, perhaps it is time to kill them once and for all and make them your vassals

I have plans for this round, though it's just no fun to tell you what they are...

At last, a chance to consolidate gains in southern Spain. Iberia will be speaking the language of Italia once again! I think the time for the Moors is fast approaching an end. Have fun with this war!

Oh, I intend to! Lots of opportunities. But the fact that I'm so spread out now makes maintaining control of everything at once a little harder.

Rensslaer: ...At least... not until the second week, or so, of combat...

well, at least you did not leave us with a hook ! !

magnificent updates ! !

I always explain myself clearly -- no cliffhangers.

This war will be interesting, because it also has colonial aspect since now both you and Portugal are colonial empires. Maybe this offers you good opportunity to expand in Brazil.

Brazil would be nice, but I have so little there to begin with. Plus, the Castilians and Portuguese have some cities around there, which means they can build troops. I just have Guantanamo. We'll see!

Yes, overseas expansion might well be warranted.

I'll try when and where I can. Expansion at home is still my priority, as I have an appointment with the Ottomans one of these days!

If it's complacency, being shaken awake is good on occasion. If it's decadence, well...

Definitely not decadence. I'd just let my maintenance down during a stretch of peacetime, and they got the jump on me. All will be accounted for soon!

If you do successfully upgrade to 1.3 be aware, very aware, that AI armies are a little bit bigger than previous patches.

Hmm... This will be interesting to deal with, but I think I might like it. I've been disappointed by the challenge put up by my most powerful neighbors recently.

Yes, they are MUCH bigger. I wouldnt worry about it too much, as you seem to have a habit of maintaining large armies as it is. Its important to be aware of though.

Unfortunately, my armies are getting more spread thin, as I'm unwilling to build more of these expensive armies during peace, or during unchallenging wars. I might be sorry for that.

Castille and Portugal aren't very formidable, and the geographically removed position of England precludes any serious threat from them, though they could harass your colonies I suppose. Austria should've taken this oppertunity to stab you hard and deep before you end up doing it to them.

I think you're right about all this. Austria has a reckoning coming... one way or another!

Bremen has divided the enemy's attention time and time again. It's more than paid for its costs of ownership. It probably helps that the ai is so cavalier about stability.

Yes, it's quite interesting the path Bremen has taken, and the way it's drawn us north into the German power vacuum. Not that I mind!

This is shaping up to be a real dozy lets see what the future holds for Milan in the Iberian Peninsula, Africa, and the colonies in the Americas. Good luck

I must, of course, decide how much I'm willing to increase my Badboy. This could put us into cardiac arrest from all the fat prizes available!

Your going to Europe? Hope you enjoy our little continent.

No, unfortunately, this was only a home-grown Oktoberfest. Yes, it was fully authentic, with Bavarian dancers, good beer, and we sat across from three German ladies who came to America after the War. The food is great -- attracts alot of native Germans. Me and my wife both started going there ("Helga's", which became our favorite restaurant) before we even met each other! Talk about coincidences!

I think Castile will regret this war far more than Portugal in the end. They'll certainly end up losing more, for sure.

I was thinking exactly the same!

(But in Swedish...)

You might be surprised... It all depends what my war aims are. What are they? Hmm...

If Milan can secure the sea, yes Milan will be victorious. If it trails badly in the naval department, no victory.

Again, you might be surprised... Remember that, except for my colonies, I can travel by internal land routes across the whole width and breadth of my holdings.

Nice progress. Morocco will be yours soon.

I'm sure hoping so. But other factors may intervene...

Renss, yes, I'm nibbling at 'Fire Warms', though at a considerably lower pace than I read through Sforza And have appreciated your characterizations there so far, especially that of Louis-Napoléon.

Very cool! I'm very proud of Fire Warms, which totally outweighs this one as far as creative input and time spent developing the story. Louis Napoleon came to be one of my favorite characters, which was a total surprise to me! Fascinating guy.

I'm not sure "fun" would be the word I would use...profitable certainly fits however.

Actually, I'm not sure how much profit I can yet squeeze out of the Americas. I haven't got the ability to explore, yet, and so I'm reliant on the intelligence leaks from my neighbors to "see" all those gold-producing provinces. I can't see most of them, yet.

Seems like the colonial war is going fine, also the Portuguese have little chance of defending Morocco against your great forces it seems.

I really never expected that the colonial front would see much fighting... but just watch!

Took me just over 3 and a half hours to read all the 93 pages, but I think this AAR deserves those pages.

I expecially loved the bit when the Cretans gave him a hard time.

Very cool, Cliffracer! And welcome! Thank you for taking the time to push through it all.

I do love the colonial wars. Most of the time, anyway.

I'm very glad that the colonial powers haven't (yet) paid much, if any, attention to the East Indies, where I have two vulnerable colonies.

I like them for their not-so-big manpower drain, which stuff like a Burgundian (My country right now)Frankish war. Total men killed so far on my side: 42,587 men.

Wow. That's some serious combat!

if you take Tangier in the settlement of the war, does that connect your North Africa holdings to your capital ? ? hint, hint ! !

Does it really? The straits were still a little vague when I was finishing the Strategy Guide, so I was never quite sure how this worked. This is something to keep in mind.

Hey, thanks, everybody, for keeping tabs on this AAR, and for taking the time to say hello! I hope to have another update up soon (not today).

I'm very shocked by all the espionage events that have popped up now that I've started with the third patch. I have only been able to play about 3 days so far -- not alot of time to play -- and I'm being charitable, perhaps, in thinking this is only because until now no one has had any use for spies... So I'm hoping that things will settle down a little once the reserve spies are used up (so this doesn't turn into a Le Carre novel!).

Rensslaer

 

[Rensslaer]

In Morocco, Gen. Pico met the enemy, and is making progress, although now that he’s left so many troops behind, he lacks the advantages he had in earlier battles.

In October, Gen. Alessandro led a superior army from Cordoba and moved forward to attempt to dislodge King Manuel’s siege at Andalucia. However, between Manuel’s skills and trick skills (die rolls again!), he was badly bloodied. He retreated toward Badajoz, hoping that cavalry moving up from Morocco across the straits would keep Manuel from moving further into southern Spain.

In south America, the northern front was a chase through the jungles and mountains. Properties traded hands, and then traded back.

But in southern Brazil, things were starting to look very different. Combat had sunk one ship of our relief force, and the other had foundered in a south Atlantic storm, with our infantry regiment aboard, and now drowned.

Only one regiment still stood guard in our colonies, there, and more Portuguese forces were arriving and threatening our position. It did not look good. Hopefully decision could be made in Europe before things got too hairy here.

The Spanish had managed to evict our two small siege armies on their northern coast. But other troops were flooding in from the south, and King Francesco was gathering a large army in our territory to take on northern Castille.

Our armies held sieges on Badajoz, and Madrid, and Gen. Aldini now engaged with a small force against a smaller force in the Castilian capital. Each of these forces held.

But, despite the recruitment of some mercenaries to help defend Armagnac, the Castilians seemed intent on breaking us out of that ancient land.

Just before Christmas, Emperor Francesco plowed into a Castilian army, and though it was a bloodbath, Francesco was making significant progress, and actually outmaneuvering his trained opponent.

Meanwhile, we continued to make limited progress against the Spanish colonies of America.

Having achieved much, the two regiments in Maracaibo moved to intercept another regiment which contested the territory, and even our wounded regiment in Caracas decided to try to seize another province before moving back to defend its base.

The balance in Spain seemed to waver every day, but those who could read the signs believed that Castille and Portugal would inevitably falter.

 

[germanpeon]

Im surprised the armies being used by both sides arent larger in this war. In my games I usually see even medium powers throwing around stacks of five to seven regiments. You should use the advantage by creating a large-ish cavalry stack and having it going around eliminating regiments.

 

[unmerged(24320)]

GhostWriter: ...if you take Tangier in the settlement of the war, does that connect your North Africa holdings to your capital ? ? hint, hint ! !

Rensslaer: Does it really? The straits were still a little vague when I was finishing the Strategy Guide, so I was never quite sure how this worked. This is something to keep in mind.

methinks that i read that somewhere. perhaps someone with the game can give us that answer ! ! (please) ! !

Rensslaer: ...Only one regiment still stood guard in our colonies...

perhaps you should consider moving troops to the colonies during peace time ? ?

Rensslaer: ...Just before Christmas, Emperor Francesco plowed into a Castilian army, and though it was a bloodbath, Francesco was making significant progress, and actually outmaneuvering his trained opponent.

hmmm. do i remember that leaders have a penchant to die during the Christmas season ? ?

Rensslaer: ...The balance in Spain seemed to waver every day, but those who could read the signs believed that Castille and Portugal would inevitably falter.

THAT is the MILANESE way ! !

magnificent update ! !

 

[VILenin]

Hmm, it seems Milan's having trouble bringing all of its forces to bear against the Castillan and Portugese curs. Is it that the colonial war's diverting resources/distracting you or are you just reluctant to commit an overwhelming force?

 

[Lordban]

Castille and Portugal, as colonizing powers, must have a strong economy running at the moment, making them tougher contenders than one would expect given their European clout. But there have been no significant armies thrown against your lines for quite some time: their forces are wearing down quite quickly, while yours, though not overwhelming or even really important, are gaining an edge. Just curse the dies

As for land provinces connected to your territories across a strait, they aren't treated as overseas provinces for taxation purposes (a fact which makes the Ottoman Empire a lot more viable )

 

[unmerged(58610)]

So the Milanese are already drooling at the prospect of taking prvinces off Castille and Portugal. I think they are counting their chickens a bit too early. The English have yet to engage. Still you might end the war before the ai commits whatever armies and navies it is busy building. Three north african provinces off Portugal and 3 off Castille would round off Milan's territory a bit. I express surprise that Castille and Portugal haven't sat their fleets off Milan's many coastal provinces interruptnig all that trading income, since they have naval superiority. By now many Milanese soldiers will have as much knowledge of Castille as the Castillians since they have besieged its provinces so many times before.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

Colonies seem to be in troubles, hopefully you can send them help soon.

 

[unmerged(80064)]

Glad to be of service! If I haven't welcomed you before, then Welcome!

You have welcomed me before But i guess it's easy to forget since i don't post alot.
And your updates are great as always!

 

[coz1]

You are truly doing quite well given this was all an unplanned for war. If you take any SA provinces, you had better built forts there.

And I think you are wearing them down, slowly but surely. Your manpower certainly helps, I'd imagine. You can likely hold out longer than they can. Let's just hope France or somebody else doesn't get any wild ideas while all this is going on.

 

[Terraferma]

I agree, the only significant trouble spot would be southern Brazil. Just focus on winning in the Iberian Peninsula and the rest will fall into place . I noticed that your war isnt the only one going around judging by Sweden rejecting Denmark's peace offer.

 

[Lord E]

I must say I am surprised that Castile and Portugal have fought this well and are still able to fight very hard against your trained forces. This war certainly will be much harder than anyone had thought. Still it seems like you are slowly gaining the upper hand so I think that if you continue to press forward you will win eventually…

Good luck

 

[unmerged(54496)]

Woah... I have no idea how long it took me to read this entire AAR... But i just couldn't stop!