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hussites rock! and rightfully so. but once 1434 rolls around, they loose their leaders and other countries catch up tech wise so thats really the time to strike.

i once played hussites and i ran wild until 1434. i kicked ass from budapest to the baltics. vassalized, annexed and all. but then i had so much BB i could withstand the storm of coalition dows without the boni of the early game and got cut down. oh, bohemia..

i played meissen a bit myself and managed to conquer erz from the hussites and chose not to return it to bohemians in the 40's. i played meissen because they have a cool avatar ;)
 
Duke of Wellington: I'm sure Herr Heinrich is appreciative of Johann getting them out of a scrape for the second time. But he does have a deep dislike of Hussites, and he's wondering if his apprentice has actually gone over to the enemy!

Grundius: I'm beginning to think I've converted you to novel-style AARs... :p

Chief Ragusa: The capture by the Hussites in Pilsen was not part of my original plot line so I needed a fairly simple escape route for them! There was a reason for the interlude though... ;)

jwolf: Johann's Hussite sympathies are still a little hazy in my own mind I have to say - I'm just going with the flow on that one! As for the Margrave, his task is to appear to be supporting the Emperor without putting his army and his country in any real danger.

coz1: Well they did spend several months in Pilsen, so I'm sure they had plenty of time to sample the beer. But sometimes a clear head takes priority! :rolleyes:

Paynetrain08: It was certainly very popular back then. As far as I can make out, it's no exaggeration to say that most of the citizens of Pilsen at this period were involved in brewing beer to some extent or another.

Director: I've played up to 1428 so I'm somewhat ahead of the story. Game advice is welcome when we get nearer that point however! And certainly "Johann's revenge" on the Margrave would seem like a suitable goal to work toward for the time being.

J.Passepartout: As I've hinted, all Herr Heinrich wants to know is whether Johann really is a closet Hussite or not!

Ladislav: Thanks for these comments - very revealing. You mention other nations "catching up tech-wise". I had noticed they seemed to have something of a tech advantage. None of my test games got as far as 1434, but I suspected that the Hussites would somehow come a cropper around that point. Also you mentioned being asked to return captured Bohemian provinces to Bohemia in the 1440s. I noticed this "stipulation" in the Crusades against the Hussites event and wondered how it was implemented. In one test game I managed to occupy both of the Hussites' provinces but only had 2% warscore - any idea how on earth that works?? :confused:

Well after four chapters I'm very encouraged that people are still reading and enjoying this story. The only thing I'm worried about is how slowly the story is progressing. Four updates and we're only in 1420, and practically nothing has yet happened in the game! Still, I'm enjoying writing for the moment - thanks to all for reading and posting.
 
Technically, at least, all land in the Holy Roman Empire belonged to the Holy Roman Emperor. Any changes in ownership of land had, again, technically, to be approved by the Emperor. The Stipulation made this explicit in Bohemia's case and lost Sigismund support amongst the German princes who felt somewhat insulted by the inference that the only reason they would help Sigismund was if they received territory.
 
Farquharson said:
The only thing I'm worried about is how slowly the story is progressing. Four updates and we're only in 1420, and practically nothing has yet happened in the game!

Not a problem -- it's a lot faster than my AAR! ;) Just keep up the great writing and you and the story will both be fine. :)
 
Farquharson said:
Ladislav: Thanks for these comments - very revealing. You mention other nations "catching up tech-wise". I had noticed they seemed to have something of a tech advantage. None of my test games got as far as 1434, but I suspected that the Hussites would somehow come a cropper around that point. Also you mentioned being asked to return captured Bohemian provinces to Bohemia in the 1440s. I noticed this "stipulation" in the Crusades against the Hussites event and wondered how it was implemented.


hussites get a tech bonus with the revolution (mimicking their wagenburg tactics i assume). in RL 1434 the radical hussites were defeated by a more conservative hussite wing and marked the end of the hussite wars. they lose most of their stellar leaders by then (zizka, prokop too i think), plus the little tech boost their received at the start doesnt make such a difference due to other countries reaching that tech themselves.

after the hussites are defeated, Romanist Bohemia asks for the provinces you captured. basically an event that triggers for all czech provinces that are not owned by either hussites or r.bohemia. you choose to return these back to Sigismund or keep them (Bohemia then has a CB on you and you suffer some BB).


In one test game I managed to occupy both of the Hussites' provinces but only had 2% warscore - any idea how on earth that works?? :confused:

are you sure?? that sounds odd. it is possible that hussites controlled other provinces, you have to capture all their land AND prevent them from controlling any other provinces. but once they cant build new armies, it should be easy enough. but watch out, those hussite armies can capture cities really fast.

fighting hussites takes a lot of micromanagement, but a savvy human player can still manage ;)
 
Ladislav said:
fighting hussites takes a lot of micromanagement, but a savvy human player can still manage ;)

I can also say that fighting as the Hussites requires a bit of skill, as it is surprisingly easy to be overwhelmed if you screw up. Most of my mistakes, however, generally result from bad event choices, not from the battlefield.

Of course, since you're fighting against them, I'm afraid I can't provide too much help.
 
Duke of Wellington: That's great, but the danger is rather that I will lose motivation. I don't have the stomach for writing mega-length AARs!

Chief Ragusa: Thanks for those snippets of background. I will make good use of some of this stuff! ;)

jwolf: One trick is to start in 1419 - that gives me a head start! :p

Ladislav: Yes, the Hussites are at land tech 2, Switzerland being the only other nation enjoying that luxury at this stage. I suspect their DP settings also give their army some advantages. When I held both Hussite provinces, yes they almost certainly held some Bohemian/Hungarian provinces, plus they'd probably beaten me more than I'd beaten them in battle. But only 2%! Seems a bit rough. Anyway, that's all theoretical since it never happened in this game...

Specialist290: Well, I'm not technically fighting against the Hussites - in fact I'm currently trying my best to avoid that scenario! :eek:

Next chapter coming up.
 
Chapter 5

"So," said the Margrave, sitting back in his chair and looking amused more than anything else, "you have had more adventures than a Chief Mining Officer and his apprentice have the right to expect on such an expedition. Still, you managed to get back safely - my congratulations."

Herr Heinrich and I were back in the town of Meißen, and had been summoned at our earliest convenience to an audience with the Margrave. For me it was the first time I had been inside the great castle that sat atop the hill overlooking the town.

"What I most want from you," continued the Margrave, "is information. Since Oberst Güttingen was forced to withdraw from Pilsen so precipitously, it has been difficult to follow events as closely as I would wish."

"I do not know how much help we can be in that respect, Sire," replied Herr Heinrich. "We were not making any special effort to note what was happening in Bohemia, merely trying to get back here safely."

"Nevertheless, you must have seen some indications of the way things stand," insisted the Margrave. "What I most want to know is whether the Hussites pose any immediate threat to the Margraviate - what can you say to that?"

"Well, we did come across a patrol near the border," said Herr Heinrich. "They were clearly returning from a scouting expedition, and I wondered at the time what that might mean. However, in the event it was they who accused us of being spies."

"But they let you go this time?" The Margrave raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"By a… clever ruse of young Johann's, here," said Herr Heirich. "He managed to convince them that we ourselves were Hussites."

The Margrave turned to me. Up till now I had contributed very little to the interview.

"And how did you manage that feat, young man?" he asked.

The Hussite psalter which had been our salvation was still hidden within my tunic, and I did not particularly want to part with it. I wondered if I could satisfy the Margrave's curiosity without making reference to it, but somehow I suspected that Herr Heinrich would not let me away with this. It was with difficulty that I had persuaded him to let me keep it at all, and he was clearly suspicious that I was harbouring Hussite sympathies. Reluctantly, I made my reply.

"Sire, I happened to have a Hussite token on my person - a psalter in German which we had found in a pack when we escaped from our captors."

"A psalter in German?" said the Margrave. "How curious. You still have this thing, I take it?"

Herr Heinrich gave me a meaningful look. I realized that I was going to have to surrender my booty. I drew it out and showed it to the Margrave.

"Here it is, Sire," I said.

The Margrave held out his hand and I handed it over. He looked at it carefully, but his reaction was not the scornful anger of Herr Heinrich. He seemed mildly interested.

"You will not be needing this any longer," he said to me. It was a statement, rather than a question.

He then handed the book to a page, as I assumed him to be, who had been in attendance on the Margrave since the start of the audience, and whispered something to him. The page hurried out of the room taking the psalter with him. That was the last I ever saw of it.

I have referred to this person as a page, although that is not accurate. Herr Heinrich told me afterwards that this was the Margrave's eldest son, also called Friedrich, who was then no more than ten years old.

"One last matter," said the Margrave, turning back to us. "You will not be ignorant of the fact that the Emperor is looking to his German princes for support in his crusade against these heretics in Bohemia. He was here in person only last week, urging me to commit Meißen's troops to the war. This seems to me a perilous course, however. Having had firsthand contact with these Hussites, what advice would you give?"

"Sire," began Herr Heinrich, who clearly felt strongly about this issue, "I believe it is the duty of every good Christian to do all in his power to oppose this creeping menace. If these heretic dogs are allowed to triumph, where will it all end?"

"That is all very well for you to say," replied the Margrave with some irritation, "but these Hussites are a formidable opponent by all accounts. The Imperial Alliance has so far failed to win a single victory against them. I fear we would be putting not only our army in jeopardy but our very existence, if we openly declared war on them while they are so powerful."

"If I might offer a suggestion, Sire?" I ventured at this point. Two pairs of eyes swung round on me.

"What's that, boy?" said the Margrave in an impatient tone.

"It seems to me," I began, "that Western Bohemia is only loosely held by the Hussites. We saw very few of them as we travelled through the territory, and many of the citizens, perhaps even most, are still loyal to the Emperor. The Hussites may only really be strong in Pilsen itself. Perhaps if Your Excellency were able to secure this region for the Emperor by some means, the risk would not be too great."

The Margrave appeared to give this some consideration. Herr Heinrich was frowning at me. He clearly regarded this suggestion as falling far short of 'our Christian duty'. Finally the Margrave spoke.

"You have a wise head on young shoulders," he said to me. "I will send Oberst Güttingen back to Pilsen immediately, to see for himself how things stand. Very good, that will be all for now."

The very next day Oberst Güttingen and his knights could be seen riding proudly through the streets of Meißen, down from the Castle and across the bridge over the Elbe River. Within a fortnight the news came back from Pilsen. Imperial troops had cleared Western Bohemia of virtually all Hussite forces and only the town of Pilsen was holding out, under the fanatical leadership of the priest Coranda and his followers. Oberst Güttingen had once again set up camp outside the city, this time ignoring Coranda's demands that they withdraw to Meißen. Meanwhile it was said that the Margrave kept up a lively correspondence with the Emperor Sigismund during this time, in which he repeatedly assured him that he was "preparing to undertake military operations against the Hussites".

knight.jpg

This state of affairs continued for a whole year. A semblance of peace returned to Western Bohemia, despite the fact that Pilsen was held by the Hussites. Güttingen's knights made sure that occasional Hussite patrols from Prague and Tabor were kept at bay, while also continuing to harry the Hussites of Pilsen whenever they tried to leave the city for one reason or another. And all the while the Emperor was clearly growing more and more impatient with the Margrave's prevarication.

I myself was kept busy during this time accompanying Herr Heinrich on his frequent trips to inspect mines or undertake surveys. I was learning fast, too, as my master was also an excellent teacher. Occasionally we passed near my father's mine at Freiberg, but we only once visited it. The foreman greeted us civilly enough, but he seemed rather uncomfortable in my presence and was evidently glad to bid us farewell after we had finished our tour of inspection.

Finally in June of 1421 it was announced that the Margrave was preparing to lead his entire army into Bohemia, with the intention of restoring the city of Pilsen to Imperial control. I was rather surprised when a liveried messenger from the Castle arrived at Herr Heinrich's house one evening shortly before the army's departure and asked to speak to me, not to Herr Heinrich.

The Margrave, he explained, had specifically asked that I alone should accompany him during this trip as his "mining specialist". I was to be ready to march with the army the following morning. I thought Herr Heinrich would be upset at this, but he seemed perfectly happy, even pleased for me.

"I've no doubt the Margrave will put your skills to good use," he told me. "Just try and stay out of trouble this time, that's all!"

It was with a mixture of excitement and apprehension that I collected together what belongings I would need ready for the morning and lay down to try and get a good night's sleep, if such a thing were possible in the circumstances.
 
dont fight the hussites, siege the hussites. that is your best option :D fighting their field armies is a suicide mission, you have to be smart about moving your armies so they end up with no controlled and owned provinces. once they loose their ability to field new armies, its easy to destroy them.

best choice is to let the romanists get defeated by them. hussites will annex all provinces save silesia and you can then annex hussite (formerly r.bohemia) provicnes from them. and after the wars just choose the option of not returning to sigismund. i think erz might even have german culture. am i correcT? havent the game in front of me
 
Specialist290 said:
I can also say that fighting as the Hussites requires a bit of skill, as it is surprisingly easy to be overwhelmed if you screw up. Most of my mistakes, however, generally result from bad event choices, not from the battlefield.

an astute observation. hussites are not invincible, you still have to use smarts to fight. knock out r.bohemia out and annex as much as possible in order to expand your power base. then move against austria. vassalize them, no worth taking that 1 province. they will throw off their yoke soon anyway. once you have your hands clear, move against hungary and annex carpathia and pressburg. there is an event giving you slovak culture and these 2 provinces as cores. afterwards just bunker down and fight back if attacked. overextending yourself in germany might be your undoing once hussites loose their advantages (land tech, leaders).
 
Duke of Wellington: I think I had better remind everyone that these are not "real" Hussites I am going to fight. It is just rebel scum who currently control Sudeten province (Pilsen), which is still part of Romanist Bohemia. It is more for role-playing purposes than anything else. The real Hussites still seem pretty invincible at this stage.

Ladislav: So far I'm following this strategy (letting the Romanists get defeated by them) :D
 
A careful invasion into Hussite lands. I wonder what adventures Johann will face this time around.
 
He'll be getting very little sleep this evening. He's got quite an adventure, and dangerous one, ahead of him. But it seems that the Margrave smiles upon him. Good luck against the Hussites.
 
The bleeding Margrave reacted interestingly to the German psalter. I wonder if he disposed of it or kept it?

I can imagine the foreman of a mine being embarrassed when visited by someone who was trapped in that mine and whose father was killed by it. :)
 
Hmmm:
This is a new style for you Farq, and I am glad to say, it is one that works very well. It will be interesting to read a shorter, more in-depth work for a change.
Keep up the good work. :)

I can see that perhaps young Johan might be better suited to the life of a soldier rather than that of a miner; he has a keen tactical mind.
 
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