The Great North American Grand Campaign (Eastern Europe)

[Duuk]

So some of us who like the Grand Strategy part of this game here in North America have gotten together.

Eastern European or Central European nations only.

Very Hard/Normal.

Selected nations were:

Austria (Kyran) -- He's just asking for trouble, right?

Ottoman Empire (Imfamous III) -- Ditto, only Islamic style.

Brandenburg (Duuk)

Poland (Lorak)

Muscovy (Discman)

Note: I'm not sure these are their forum names.

1492 Scenario!

 

[Duuk]

So far, we have played from 1492 until roughly 1510. It's been exciting and somewhat humilating for me.

Brandenburg starts in a fairly lowly position. My army is too large by almost half for my country (an army with a state, anyone?).

Early on, I decide to ally myself with the Hanseatic League. I did this under the belief that I would be able to diplo-vassalize and then diplo-annex Mecklemburg and Pommerania with a minimum of badboy, since I don't want badboy wars in a MP game.

When relations between myself and Mecklemburg got to 191, they offered to vassalize me. I decided right then and there that I would need to be bigger and wealthier if I was going to diploannex the Hanse.

I quietly inquired with Austria if they would mind if I chewed the German areas off of Bohemia. Kyran wasn't pleased with this idea, but didn't threaten to declare war, either. Diplomatically speaking, he stuck up for Bohemia but made it clear he wasn't willing to let any Austrians die over that.

My allies and I invaded Bohemia, and quickly shattered the Czech forces suppressing our German brothers. Or something like that. Things were going well, Silesia was captured, Erz under siege, and Bohemia was free of enemy forces.

Then the Hungarians arrived. They were, of course, allied to Bohemia and Austria. All 65000 of them.

They seemed upset about something. They slaughtered my armies, but I managed to win enough battles against them to have a +6% war score. I tried in vain for a white peace, knowing that if I could remove Hungary from the war, it was as good as won.

The Hungarians knew this as well, it seems.

Following that, I needed to take 2 loans just to stay alive. My armies were mowed down like chafe in a wheat field, and my capital fell to Hungary.

I offered Bohemia 50d for peace, even though I still held Silesia and had a +8% war score. They accepted.

I spent the next three years building enough cash to pay off those loans. Luckily, the Tsar decided that having a strong Brandenburg was a good thing for him, and sent some money.

Following the destruction of my nation in short order, I decided what any sane person would under these circumstances.

I needed better friends.

I left the alliance with Mecklemburg et al, and offered to join the Austrian alliance. The Holy Roman Emperor laughed until tears came from his eyes. We tried to explain that a simple "No" would have been fine, but apparently he wanted us to remember it.

Luckily, the Poles (of all people) decided they needed a friend.

We shared similiar interests, such as:

Pomerania.

I took advantage of this, and once my loans were paid off, Poland declared war on Pomern.

I quickly annexed Mecklemburg and vassalized Holstein and Bremen.

Just before Vorpommern fell, Imfamous CTD'd, so the game is saved and waiting!

Duuk

 

[unmerged(10340)]

December 25th, 1491

Yay! It's Christmas, and I get to open my present today! Wow, this one's a really BIG present, I wonder what could be inside! It took me six days to open the present because it was so big, but when I finally got it all unwrapped I discovered it was... POLAND! My own country! Just what I always wanted! Now my dreams of uniting the world in peace can finally come true!

I took a tour around Poland to see what I would need to do to prepare for the coming of world peace, and saw my stability at zero, not too bad, a few hundred ducats, not too bad either. I think I'll start by... what's this? Lithuania has asked me to honor my alliance and declare war on the Teutonic Order and Prussia? Checking my relations and alliances, I see that I like Lithuania, and they are vassals! What a great way to start off making world peace: By conquering and vassalizing two more nations! Time to get started right away.

Looking around my country I see hordes of cavalry, and a couple dozen thousands of infantry. Should be enough to take on Prussia and the Teutonic Order and show them that world peace is just around the corner. My men walked over Prussia as if it was a paved sidewalk just making a bridge to the Teutonic Order's Provinces. Prussia happily became a vassal and joined my alliance with Lithuania, and my men laid siege to the Teutonic Order. It wouldn't be easy though... Pskov, Crimea, and Ryazan declared war on the Teutonic Order, but that was just a guise to hinder my efforts at World Peace! I was sieging with 12,000 men, and Pskov, Crimea, and Ryazan, the evil geniuses that they are, flood the Teutonic Order with 50,000 cavalry!! Winter set in and my men starved to death!

Fortunately, their efforts were to no avail, and I was eventually able to successfully siege and vassalinze the Teutonic Order. Lithuania, Crimea, Pskov, Muscowy, Denmark and Sweden all proceeded to pummel the Teutonic Order now. I didn't see it in the best interest of world peace to stop them at this time. I DID inform them all that the Teutonic Order is now my vassal and that I didn't appreciate them beating up on it like that, and forunately, they slowly stopped.

Except for Lithuania. No matter how many messengers I sent to Lithuania to inform them that I want to induct the Teutonic Order into our alliance, and that Lithuania is kind of hindering that, they just ignored me. The war went on for about 14 years, with nobody really doing anything, but eventually a peace agreement was... agreed upon, and the Teutonic Order was inducted into my alliance.

Meanwhile I decided to look for other countries whom I could show the path of world peace to, and saw I had a casus belli against Pommern, they looked like prime candidates to show that world peace is a good way of life. A quick check of their allies showed they had too many for me, including Holstein, Bremen, Mecklenburg, and Brandenburg. I had a royal marraige with Brandenburg, and I liked them, so a war with them simply would not do. I would have to wait and look for another opportunity to spread world peace.

In the meantime, I decided to work on my economy. For some reason, I had quite a bit of money. Much more than I had anticipated, so I put tax collectors in all my provinces, and ran a campaign promoting Free Trade... just to get more money. inflation was looking okay at 3%, and was looking even better when I had "A Good Year" or something, which totally eliminated my inflation and gave me some ducats.

It was a happy time for all except Brandenburg. They had been in a war with Bohemia and Hungary, and it really looked like things were going Brandenburg's way. But suddenly I noticed Hungary had twenty thousand troops in Brandenburg's capital and was laying siege to it! This was not world peace-like!! I was infuriated! I like Hungary and all, but I like Brandenburg also, so I could not let this happen! A quick check of Hungary's alliances and I see that Bohemia and Austria are teamed up with them. Hmm... I like Austria even more than the other three, so I don't want no quarrel with them, but maybe they can be reasoned with.

I sent some messengers to Austria, informing them what is going on in Brandenburg and that I would like to interfere to break it up. Austria quite bluntly said they thought Brandonburg deserved their punishment, and that I should stay away, so I obliged. Fortunately, Brandenburg was able to negotiate peace before losing anything serious, and I heard Muscowy helped them out monetarily. I was going to help them myself, but then I realized I had just enough money to build a Fine Arts Acadamy. I had noticed before that I was behind in all technology, had weak armies, and bad economy. So... since we are failing in everything else, we might as well be artists! I put the construction of the Fine Art Acadamy into motion.

Brandenburg apparantly noticed during their little fiasco with Hungary that his "allies" up in the north were worthless, and contributed nothing to world peace, and he left his alliance. I had seen how well they negotiated peace with Bohemia and Hungary, so I decided he would be a good candidate for my alliance and quickly made an offer to them. They accepted, and we began plotting how we would make Pommern and their allies see the light and join our cause. We agreed I would take Pommern under my wing, and Brandenburg could do as they please with the other countires, and I declared war on Pommern, starting their path to world peace.

Remember the "failing in everything else" I mentioned earlier? Well that really came to light here as my legions of troops were massacred by the brave, lone soldier guarding Pommern... and his 11,999 friends. While Brandenburg quickly snapped up all his targets, Pommern continued to rebuke myself, AND Lithuania, but we eventually wore them down, and began sieging their province. Meanwhile, Brandenburg was already sieging their other province.

Suddenly, the Ottoman Empire disappeared from the earth! But that was just a sign of things to come, as suddenly the giant words "Connection Lost" appeared in the sky, and the world came to an end!


This was my semi-accurate interpretation of what occured between January 1st, 1492, and February 11th, 1511

Hope you enjoyed it. This was my very first attempt at an AAR. Also, I have never played Poland, so it is my very first attempt at Poland. Also, I have never played a serious, long multiplayer game, so it is my first attempt at that as well! Wow... Lots of first times for me here. Anyway, feel free to give me feedback on if i'm boring, stupid, funny, make bad strategical choices, etc. Also, I'm open to advice on what I should do next (Stab somebody in the back, switch religions to Muslim, or whatever)

I don't have spell check, in case I made many blatant spelling errors. Especially Brandenburg. I noticed when I was almost done that I had been spelling it wrong (Brandonburg) the whole time, hehehe. I tried to change them all, but I probably missed some.

I love you all! Thank you very much!

Lorak

 

[Duuk]

Nice report, Lorak. Now, I'd like to get the others to post...

Specifically, I wanna know what Kyran was up to while I was bashing away (and getting bashed) by his allies.

Duuk

 

[unmerged(9895)]

Imfamous III

first, i would like to start by thanking Duuk and Lorak for getting this AAR off to a great start. Playing the game has been lots of fun, so far, and i am very please that we all are going to commit ourselves to playing again(even though my messed up work schedule may cause problems).

in our first session i played the rightous Ottoman Empire, untill my very unfortunate crash.

recordings of a muslim monk's confessions

1492
O alla! wise and unmerciful,
give me strength,
give me wisdom,
give my people the courage of muhammad,
for they go off to the land of Ragusa.

They go to rescue our lost brothers,
our swords will kill the devils that live in their hearts,
and our true ways will bring them back to the light,
for we know the worshipped the forbidden one,
alla, give us strength.


1493
Alla! bueatiful and terrible, lover and destroyer,
we praise you from our humble planet,
we thank you for you mercy on our pittiful souls,
for honoring all of our lost brothers into your halls,
for they died in your name,
to slay the unfaithful, those who pretend,
those who call themselves mamalukes, rulers of egypt,
we praise you!
give us the strength to conquer their lands,
and force them into our just empire.

Alla! we worship you till our demise,
you have shown us the way,
you have given us back our devil worshipping brothers or ragusa,
and for this we will not fail you,
we will cleanse the land of their horrid faith,
all in your name.


1497
Alla! my king
your name is spreading and your love is growing
our brothers, my people, of macedonia have opened their eyes,
and in the light they saw your infinate wisdom,
we now are as one, they share our faith,
please accept their praise of you equal with ours.


1502
Alla! creator of our universe,
we love you, o mighty one,
you have shown us the way,
the way to strick down those untrue,
those who call themselves people of venice,
our brave warriors conquer their lands as i praise you,
give them the courage to accept their doom in your name.


1503
Alla! destroyer of worlds,
you honor us, your faithfull children,
your wisdom has allowed us to defeat the unfaithfull,
we have conquered the lands of egypt,
leaving behind just a few whom still rebel,
we know it is your wish we conquer them all,
and we shall, in the name of your glory.

1506
Alla! unmericful overlord,
we have failed you it seems,
the people fight up in rebellion, killing each other in hate,
we must make peace with those of venice,
only gaining your land of iona, leaving the rest to demons,
our armies will return, o killer of the unfaithful,
and continue the conquest of your lands.


1508
Alla! lover of peace and lover of war,
our homelands, your kingdom, has known peace for to long,
the young men desire to prove themselves in your eye,
for this we have chosen a grand task,
and ask your hand in help,
we shall build you a mosque of gold, the grandest of all mosques,
that is why the armies have striken into armenia,
so we pray, and hope,
that you will help us conquer the lands of iraq.

1510
Alla! too bueatifull to behold,
the construction has begun, it shall show your glory,
but show nothing of your true bueaty,
because to look apon your light would bring instant death,
we thank you for the lands of armenia,
and respond with,
once the mosque is complete we shall again strike into iraq,
and this time our goal will be to take much more,
o alla give us strength.

 

[Duuk]

Wow. Stellar.

Kyran.......

Duuk

 

[Kyran]

Austria - 1492-1511 Dormant Superpower

Ok, this is my first AAR so i'll see how it works out in the end...

Started out the session by pulling a few strings and getting into an alliance with Bohemia and Hungary to protect my future holdings in the east and north. Ottomans were also a question i had to answer so we exchanged plans and decided on how to divide up Venice. Mantua and Istria for me and the rest his and said he wouldn't advance any more into the Balkans. Peace in the east was secure.

After making the deal with the Ottomans I arranged my funds for the long term and in time too. Looking towards neighboring Venice I noticed they were expanding into Northern Italy and quickly DoWed them to protect my future holdings. I told the Ottomans that my side of the plan had to be excellerated and asked for them to also DoW on Venice. Unfortunately they were busy fighting rebels and invading the Mamelukes.

Mantua by this time was lost and Milan was being seiged by the Venicians. I took my 42k army and sent them toward the incopacitated nation of Milano to releive them of the 21k army sieging them outside their gates. Remnants of the Mantua siege were still hanging around and when they heard the news they began to march toward Tirol. About a month after the small Venician army arrived in Tirol they were instantly crushed by the much superior Austrian army heading towards Milan.

Soon after the Battle of Tirol the large Austrian army hit Milan and its attacks hard. The much larger battle of the Austro-Venician war the Battle of Milan was bloody resulting in Austrian victory and the shattering of further Venician expansion into Northern Italy. Giving me the edge to finish off Venician power once and for all.

By this time Brandenburg had given me several messages saying he had his eyes on Silesa and Erz. And attempted to discourage him from taking them knowing that Brandenburg's power wasn't enough to bring in the victory it invisioned. Also another diplomatic close call had risen in the east. With Ottomans still occupied with the Mamelukes the Hungarians took siege to Dalmatia after war was declared and took it putting me in a situation with the Ottomans.

The Austrian army after Milan marched toward Mantua and took it with ease. Noticing the idle Hungarian army in Dalmatia I knew it would soon march to Istria I commanded the army to bypass Veneto after Mantua was under Austrian control. Istria was mine!

Not long after my army arrived in Istria the Hungarians realized there was more Venician land to the west. While watching the attrition build up in Istria i began to build up more infantry for a siege on Venice itself. 6 months or so later it ended with me in control and I moved the reminants to Venice. Hungary did as well.

Endlessly sieging Venice 1500 came along and the Milano Inheritance arrived and i chose to take it and make France worse of an enemy. Finally a large 20k Bohemian army came down from north of the Danube to help raise attrition in the already swamped siege at Veneto. The siege continued to hang at -3 and with all the manpower being thrown at it Venice would not fall till the biggest event of the first session IMO happend.

Brandenburg declared war on Bohemia.

Not wasting any time Bohemia asked Austria and Hungary to join in and we both honored it though i refused to waste Austrian blood on something that silly. With Hungary and Bohemia now needed else where i was free to siege Veneto alone and finally assaulted the fortification leaving no mainland Venician holdings under its control.

I waited for the Ottomans to attack Venice but were still busy with rebels though somehow they took Ionia. Soon after taking Veneto they gave me a peace deal i couldn't refuse. 75d plus Mantua and Istria. Hungarian Dalmatia had been adverted and the security of future Austria was insured. The rest of the session was spent watching Brandenburg get the stuffing beaten out of it. While also discouraging Poland from joining in on the festivities.

Sadly Imfamous got disconnected and we cut the session. I hope this is a good view of what the head of the HRE was doing those 19 years.

 

[Duuk]

...when we finally managed to restore the game, you'll remember that Brandenburg (me!) and Poland (Lorak) and his vassals were at war with Pommerania.

The Army of Berlin quickly captured Vorpommern, leaving Poland to capture Hinterpommern. It had been decided that using this formula we could partition Pommerania into two equal parts, one for each of us.

After 2 years of battle, Poland finally managed to capture Hinterpommern, only to discover that (since I had made a seperate peace annexing Mecklemburg) we did not have a 100% score.

Poland settled for some cash and military access, while I had the task of needing to capture Hinterpommern. This I did, and accepted peace for 50d and Vorpommern. I assumed that vassalizing them would be a waste, because I knew what was about to happen.

The Reformation.

Now, as a side note, I almost always play Catholic countries. Much to my surprise, all of Brandenburg's provinces are Protestant. Never one to argue with the masses, I converted.

Now, before I mention the response of the other players, let me let you in on a secret: I had been planning to be the first Holy Roman Emperor from Berlin. It was a pipe dream, given the Hapsburg bonus, but I can hope, right?

This meant that I had royal marriages with all the Electors, and with more Catholic states than should be humanly possible. Buttering up the Germans to vote for me, etc.

This meant that I sent about 25 broken RM messages, along with my 2 cancelled vassals. Suffice to say, I took a stability hit.

"Kyran (Austria) :damn"

That about sums it up.

Now, as the HPIC (Head Protestant In Charge), I decided to get better relations with some people. This included allying with Muscovy, Bremen, and Pommerania (oddly enough). Poor Poland neglected to join my new alliance. Shortly thereafter, the Russians left us out in the cold, so to speak.

In the Spring of 1520, the Muscovites got all pretentious and decided to call themselves "Russia". Luckily I managed to save before anyone chatted.

And with that CTD...

When do you all want to get together and play again?

I'm thinking Saturday evening may be best from the schedules I've heard so far.

 

[Kyran]

Austria - Reform and Patience

March 12, 1511 - February 24, 1520

Nothing really significant happend in this short session for Austria. Got land tech 11 giving me the nicer infantry with the metal hats around 1513. Hungary invaded Moldovia which held Wallachia as well and snatched it with no trouble.

Venice was again on the rise and without a human Ottoman player for this session it was left alone. In 1516 they did an unlikely means of expansion by attacking Crimea and taking Azow. It made me laugh to see such an act.

1517 brought with it the Reformation and the usual holy hell was unleashed upon Northern Europe. By the same time the following year half of Germany was Protestant and Sweden too. All was peaceful in Austria though.

The Habsburgs in 1519 tied the knot with the ruling family of Spain expanding their influence. As any sane Austrian I chose to rule the dynasty from Vienna (who whouldn't?)The following year the Principality of Muscowy took up the mantle and we had to save and decided to quit for tonight.

 

[unmerged(9895)]

ok....so saturday has arrived....are we playing tonight??

i can

 

[Duuk]

I was just about to ask that. Shall we commence with ICQ?

Duuk

 

[Duuk]

I've emailed everyone involved in our game.

Shall we assume 8PM Eastern?

Email or ICQ me.

Duuk

8186730

 

[Warspite]

Holy sweetness, you guys RULE!!!!!!!!

This is great and it makes me want to play a multiplayer game. Bruce, Chris we GOTTA do one of these things

Keep up the good work gents, I not only like how you are doing this AAR I am really happy that you are having a successful MP game.

 

[Duuk]

Updates to follow, we played around 30 years tonight.

Some new faces, some familiar.

Brandenburg the Peaceful and Friendly -- Duuk

The Ottoman Turks -- Imfamous III

The Austrian Menace -- Kyran

The Poor Polish -- CivilizedWar (who did well!)

The Tsar of all the Russias - Wilhelmus

The Stability-Impaired Swedes -- Arren

--

The game was remarkably stable until my PC decided to crash repeatedly. Hopefully we'll continue again soon!

 

[Duuk]

I'm wondering if something isn't wrong with V-Net, since I can't seem to type anything legibly there.

Players in this game, please send an email to duuk at havenmud.com and let me know when is convientant for all of you.

Also, ICQ seems to be not working for me either. Time for a virus-scan, I think.

Duuk

 

[unmerged(9895)]

Imfamous III

i would like to start by saying it was a great 25 years we played and it was even better to rejoin this game with (some of) the same people. The fillers did a great job of keeping up the good gaming. I just hope i can remember everything that happened in those years well enough to write about it. Well, here goes.

War journal of the great Grand Field Marshall of Alla's Most Rightous Army for the grand archives of Constantinople for his majesty's eyes when the throne is again ruled by a monarch of noble blood

1520
The war is over. Nine years of an insane monarch is at an end. Nine years of unfaithful devotion has been stopped. The empire, as grand as it is, stands on the edge of destruction. Split and devided, there is no leader. No ruling voice of alla, no devine hand of justice. The peasants think themselves as strong as nobles, and serfs rise up against their own lords. How did it all come to be like this? Alla himself only knows.

(OOC: for 9 years the AI ruled the ottoman empire, but no I am back in charge )

I fear what will happen when peace comes to our warlike nation. It is held together by only a thread now, and peace could be the weight that splits it apart, forever. That is the reason I mobalize my men. That is the reason I have ordered shops closed and their workers enlisted into the military. That is the reason we now go to war with Venice, so-called land of artists. Let me see them paint the ground red with their blood.

1522
The war goes well, both wars. The old war, the war to the north, is just about over. Venice can only keep their navy intact. Their land army has all been but wiped out. The despised Austrian have made a pact with us against the Italians. They will allow our armies to cross their lands to reach the capital of the enemy, for as we can not succed to do it by sea. In return, we have aggreed to stop crossing their border in cover of darkness and impregnanting austrian ladies while their lords rest in drunken slumber. To seal the pact, we sent the former princess, Usilla the ugly, off to marry a royal cousin, Vans Frundenuuger by name.

The new war, the one to the south also goes well. The silly egyptians run from certain doom when they see our armies coming. their weak spears are no match for our guns of smoke and pain. These may be the weapons of the devil worshippers, but they sure work just as good in the hands of the rightous. Let alla guide our bone crushing ball of pain when it is shot out of the heavy smoke stick. May it crush the heart of all unfaithful.

1527
War with Venice has come to an end. We have taken all lands of theirs, except their prized city of art and boats. We have no need for any more ships and no want of any more artists, so we left this land for the unliked austrians. Our country still wars the the south, siege the last holdings of the weak egyptians.

Usilla the ugly has returned to our country. She was cast out of Austria by Frundenuuger on the terms she was unfaitful. On a trip to visit the heir to the Brandeburg throne, Usilla won the heart of this man, named Duukie Hackteg. On a very unrightous night, Duukie and Usilla lay together, creating life with their actions. Usilla was forced to return home and Duukie willingly gave up his postion as heir inorder to be with his love. Brandenburg now has no heir. May their king die and them be forced to put a woman on the throne.

1530
The Empire is now at peace again. Where my next enemy is, I do not know yet. The egyptains have been defeated. The have given up all lands except one city. The city of their ruler. I agreed to remove my armies only after they accepted Usilla the ugly as their new queen and her mate, Duukie the foolish, as their king. Their now two year old child, Metahmem, has been sworn in as our new emperor. I am to look over the country for another ten years. After that, I will step down and be his advisor and grand marshall of the armies. Usilla and Duukie both swore other to me and Metahmem before departing to egypt to rule their.

1535
My armies have conquered the lands of moldavia. The news was they peoples of this nation were to be conquered by the austrians in the coming years. I could not afford to let that happen. Nor could i afford to let peace reign any longer. Our people love the new monarch, but as he is still in his years of innocence, the evil plot against him. I sent his lordships most untrustworthy allies to the front of the battlelines.

1539
The time grows near. One more year and our nation will again be great in the eye of alla. A new monarch needs stability to learn on to rule. To achieve this, I have conquered and annexed the lands of Georgia. Less enemies means less worries.

1540
Metahmem is now the new monarch. This will be my last entry in this journal, for now I am no longer allowed into the royal palace, being only of common birth. His holyness is a strong a driven monarch, even at the young age of 13. His first act as king was to have Duukie the weak beheaded and sent back to the lands of Brandenburg. His mother, Usilla the ugly, was beheaded and sent back to the lands of austria. With each body was a note that read "interfere with the work of alla and you will suffer a like fate." The people are happy to have such a holy man on the throne again. It brings us all closer to alla.

(OOC:I know I didnt mention it, but the AI began colonizing some areas and in the 20-25 years we played I was happy to keep up the good work.)

 

[unmerged(9895)]

Imfamous III

I would like to see an aar by russia....just to see what they are up too.....and maybe one about the troubles of poland....anyway....good game guys...i can play again next saturday anytime.....and next monday anytime....sorry about the closest time being a week away from now.....i'm very busy this week.

 

[Kyran]

Austria - Superpower at last

After some last minute player changes we got to buissness.

- March 1520
The king started the game with a short diplomatic campaign to raise favor across the HRE. It did very well turning almost every german minor pale or dark green by the end. Habsburg control of the HRE was ensured for the near future.

- March 1521
Bohemia became Protestant and left the alliance we had with Hungary. With no diplomats from my campaign I almost began to panic and every day ticking by seemed longer but in April i finally got a diplomat before Brandenburg which was revealed after yelling in anguish about something like only getting one diplomat a year. The Bohemians anyway were safe once more under the wings of the Habsburgs.

- December 1521
A surprising turn of events occured when Bohemia declared war on Brandenburg and so began what the Austrians dub The Second Northern War. Austria declared itself uneasily neutral cause Erz and Silesia were Brandenburg's targets and didn't want to mess around with the silly quarrels of the Brandenburginians and Bohemians but Austria did mark that if more than Silesia was taken there would be a have to be a third war.

- June 1526
After a bloody war going back and forth between Brandenburg and Bohemia Brandenburg took Erz and Silesia against the king's wishes.


- November 1526
Looks like Brandenburg was lucky to get what it got since in November the king inherited the lands of Hungary and the lands of Bohemia as a vassal. Now that Austria has risen to the status of superpower many around Austria feared of possible Austrian agression except for the king of Poland who expressed that though its size had grown almost three times its original size in one year it wasn't afraid of a large power now on his boarders. All seemed well for Austria now.

Sometime during the course of these 6 almost 7 years the Ottomans began a full military campaign against Venice. By 1533 there was only a troop of one thousand Venicians hiding in Moldovia from the wrath of the Turks. An Ottoman army of about thirty thousand layed siege for a long time but not as long as the Austrian army did some twenty years ago in the Veneto-Austrian War. Venice finally gave into the Ottomans and all their possesions off the mainland were given to the Turks plus Azow and Dalmatia. Soon after the Ottoman army left Venice a large sixteen thousand army of peasants began to lay siege to Venice demanding change after Venice's massive defeat puting Venice in a strangle hold.

Close to the end of the session, I'd say around late 1542 Brandenburg was at it again. She and her king had recently annexed two german minors in the last few years and now was looking towards the east for the first time to weak Poland for conquest of the Danzig Corridor. She banned Poland from her Millitary Alliance but smelling war Poland allied itself with the Turkish heathens. By the time the series of disconnect began Austra was still undecided who she was going to help, the weak Polish and get Erz back or Brandenburg and take part in an early partition of Poland. Though a peace still hung over Austria in 1543 no one knew for how long with war close to its boarders once again.

 

[unmerged(9895)]

Imfamous III

hmmm....I wonder

how deep do the treasury vaults of austria go??
5,000??? 10,000????

 

[Arrenius]

Sweden

After many years of guidance by some idiotic AI player, the great nation of Sweden came under the guidance of the brilliant and talented Arrenius. Unfortunately, my ignorant people did not share my same optimism for our great country. Throughout the course of the entire session, I was plagued by numerous events that destabilized the entire country. These events were so common, it drove the country's monarch to a point of temporary insanity(and I'm not talking about the event either ).

Upon assuming the burden of the crown, the first things I noticed was a stability of -1, Swedish armies totalling 70,000 strong, a current state of war between Denmark, Genoa, Venice, Bavaria, and Hessen versus myself. In addition, our ill-equipped armies were still utilizing pikes, swords, and longbows versus the seasoned aquebusiers of the Evil Alliance. Our massive military budget was driving our economy into the ground. A poor tax collection system and few trade routes also contributed to our financial weakness. We were diplomatically cut off from the rest of Europe and were shunned as a result of it. Sweden was regarded as a horde of Barbarians or Vikings, and only a genius could save our great nation from utter destruction. Have no fear Sweden, I am here.

My immediate goal was to end this war as promptly as possible. I meant to end it with victory. I hid my navies for the duration of the war in order to preserve them for future use. I then mobilized my armies and began sieging several territories of Danish Norway. Despite our technilogical inferiority, our numerical superiority quickly turned the tide in our favor. I personally was hoping to seize the majority of Norway in a peace treaty. However, the dastardly French declared war on me and began landing troops on our soil. The French refused our tributes in exchange for peace. I then decided I needed to end the war with Denmark as soon as possible. The Danish then offered my Jamtland, Trondelag, and Narvik in exchange for peace. Although these provinces aren't prime real estate, they were good enough given the circumstances. Unfortunately, I would have continued fighting if I would have known the French were then going to offer me peace for only 75 gold coins. Lousy Frenchmen. We shall meet again...

I then began setting out to improve my stability and my economy. By 1532, I possessed aquebusiers of my own. Tax collectors were patrolling the majority of the countryside. In addition, Swedish traders were began venturing to every corner of Europe. Swedish diplomats began creating trade agreements and royal marraiges with foreign powers. At one point, Sweden possessed a short term military alliance with Brandenburg. However, despite all of my grand accomplishments, the populace still refused to acknowledge my wisdom. Throughout my reign, seldom was Sweden ever a stable nation. Feeling frustrated with the peasantfolk at home, I was looking for a distraction.

I was looking for a reason to go to war with Denmark again. I needed to "settle" a dispute that should have been taken care of over 20 years ago. Instead of joining the Hanseatic League as the people insisted, I denied their request. As a result of my actions, I claimed Gotland and Skane as part of National Sweden. A manufactory in Vaster-Gotland was established as a result of my decision as well. War had been declared. The Unification of Scandinavia was beginning. Sweden would soon become a world power...

(Now if only the people of Sweden would like to actually LIKE to become a world power...)