(5) Turbo-annexing not allowed. If a government happens to fall, fine, but not as a result of my intentionally making this happen.
How do you intentionaly make a government collapse?
How do you intentionaly make a government collapse?
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Ahh, the shattering of youthful dreams, so sad...
. In any case, just how are you going to stop the french juggernaut, I mean...how badly are you outnumbered here?RJ
“How many times must I tell you that one knocks at a door and then waits for it to be opened for you? You don’t simply barge into a room."
It's nice to know that some thing never change. More than once my father use to yell that at me. You continue to draw the readers in with your story MrT.
Joe
It's nice to know that some thing never change. More than once my father use to yell that at me.
You continue to draw the readers in with your story MrT.Joe
You can occupy all but one province and then send peace offer after peace offer at vic%-11. If they decline then they lose 1 stab. When they hit -3, each further stab loss spawns a rebellion and since they only have one province, that's where it goes. If the last province is taken by rebels (and I'd usually leave it as the capital when I used to use this exploit) you get everything else...I did this to take 35+ provinces off Poland in a single peace once. I now think of this as a cheat if you do it intentionally...
Well, if it was easy then I wouldn't have much to write an AAR about now, would I?Originally posted by Rath Jones
Ahh, the shattering of youthful dreams, so sad...
RJ
The fact that it was the better part of 5 years of biting my nails and wondering who was going to kill who is what made it such an intense period of the game...and what gave me the idea to write about it in the first place. It will certainly come as no surprise that (a) achieving any vistory at all was very much in doubt, and that (b) you'll never guess what the end result of the war was until I begin hinting at it later and it gradually "spell" it out for you. But that's the fun of it all, right? Thanks Joe. I was using the Stanislavski (sp?) method when writing that one.Originally posted by Storey
“How many times must I tell you that one knocks at a door and then waits for it to be opened for you? You don’t simply barge into a room."
It's nice to know that some thing never change. More than once my father use to yell that at me.
Joe
I've got another one of those "my father always said....to me" lines coming up in a future instalment too. In fact, some/many of the relationships between people are ones that I am drawing and melding from RL relationships that I've either had or have witnessed in some depth. It makes it easier to stay "in character" when I'm writing for each.
good history lesson about gilles there. you learn something every day just by cruising these forums.
I think some father-son conflict is coming up. Friedrichs ambitions will probably make him a great man or will get him killed...
However, he changes names from Friedrich to Stefan to Friedrich pretty fast.
Great update! I doubt everybody will know who de Rais is (I didn't know), so that 'history lesson' is indeed welcome.
However, he changes names from Friedrich to Stefan to Friedrich pretty fast.
Great update! I doubt everybody will know who de Rais is (I didn't know), so that 'history lesson' is indeed welcome.
Ko9's: That's one of the things that I love about this forum. Even in many of the otherwise humorous AARs there are little tidbits of history that are interesting...and in some of the works (more like this one, perhaps ) there is a ton of factual historical data.
Sorcerer: Doh! Thanks for catching that. It's fixed now. It's interesting that your (and a few others) have used the term "Friedrich's ambition" since, in my chapter outlines, that happens to be exactly what I call it. I'll have a note that says "Advance F.A. theme...show/do/explain xxxxxx". The ultimate resolution? You'll have to stay tuned.
) there is a ton of factual historical data.Sorcerer: Doh! Thanks for catching that. It's fixed now. It's interesting that your (and a few others) have used the term "Friedrich's ambition" since, in my chapter outlines, that happens to be exactly what I call it. I'll have a note that says "Advance F.A. theme...show/do/explain xxxxxx". The ultimate resolution? You'll have to stay tuned.
January 17th, in the year of our Lord 1439
Early evening, Heidelberg Castle
“I am ashamed of you!”
Friedrich’s eyes blazed into those of Stefan’s, trying to suppress the angry retort that longed to escape his lips. ‘Ashamed,’ his father had said. The enormity of the injustice was insufferable – still further so when he realised that not only were Otto and Johann there, but also that the Kurfürst was seated with them. In the end, it was the shock of seeing a slightly pale but otherwise well Ludwig that allowed him to hold his tongue.
Instead, he snapped stiffly to attention and said in as reproachful a voice as he could muster, “I was ordered to report immediately to my commander upon my return. The Pfalzgraf Otto von Mosback is my commander and I was told that he was here, thus I am fulfilling my duty.”
“I did not ask you what your orders were, nor did I suggest that you not carry them out. Whatever your orders, it is your duty as my son and heir, and as a ranking noble of the Pfalz, to act with propriety, decorum and utmost courtesy. Is that too much to ask, Friedrich? No; don’t bother answering. You will begin by apologising for your rudeness; and then you will swear on your life that you will not breathe a word of the Kurfürst’s unexpectedly good condition; and then you may deliver your report and await new orders. Is that clear?”
Friedrich glanced momentarily at Otto, hoping for support, but he quickly saw that none would be forthcoming. He cleared his throat, swallowing his frustration and fury, and spoke to Ludwig, rather than to his father or uncles.
“Herr Kurfürst. I most deeply regret that I have disturbed you, and I apologise for having entered without…your permission. I am…delighted…to see you much recovered, and I do swear upon my honour…and upon my life…that I will speak no word of it to any living soul, save that you give me leave.”
Ludwig, uncomfortable with the exchange, sought quickly to reduce the underlying current of tension that charged the room. “My cousin, I accept your apology, trust in your word, and thank you for your best wishes for my health. Indeed, I am well on the way to being fully mended, but for the sake of our plans you must hide this fact from everyone for the time being.”
“Thank you, Herr Kurfürst. I will.” Turning to Otto, he continued. “I have a report to make, commander, if you should wish to hear it at this time.”
“I would.”
“Yes, Herr Pfalzgraf. As were your orders, I and my men penetrated deep into the province of Lorraine under disguise. I, myself, spent several days near the gates of Nancy. Nowhere, save for the capital, was there any sign of any of the French king’s troops. In Nancy there is a standing garrison which I would estimate as being approximately the size of our own garrison in Mainz – some five thousand, perhaps. The border is thinly, if at all protected. There are no regular patrols, and there is no sign of preparedness for war. Beyond this we could not go, but I can report that our army would be unopposed if it entered the province immediately.”
“What of the mood of the people? How was their health and their contentment?”
“The peasants, artisans and merchants that either I or my men spoke to are all in average health, although they grumble incessantly about their French occupation and the unjust and unfair taxes that have been levied to sustain the long years of war. I saw some signs, although no direct evidence, that a grass-roots resistance to the French rule is at least being planned, if not being organised. I deem the chance of outright rebellion to be slim, but steadily growing.”
“Excellent. Do you have anything further to report?”
“No Herr Pfalzgraf. That is all.” Friedrich cast a sidelong glance at the others to see if they had been impressed with the depth of his report, or how far he had personally crept into enemy territory. Ludwig appeared attentive, but not fully following the implications of what he had done. Stefan had seated himself near the fire and was warming his hands; but the posture of his back and the set to his shoulders told him that it would be best to avoid his father, if at all possible, for the next day or two. Johann had been listening to his intelligence, but now had crossed to the desk to make a few notes on a parchment – probably a map – and seemed to be too deep in contemplation to thank the messenger. He returned his gaze to his commander’s face.
“Then you may go and warm yourself and get some food for your men. Report to me one hour after dawn in the officer’s mess. Also, tell Karl to send half a dozen runners to meet me in the hall downstairs as soon as I am finished here. I am not sure when that will be, but have them wait there for me until I am done. That is all.”
Friedrich nodded to his commander, bowed in the direction of the Kurfürst, and exited the study, shutting the door firmly behind him. It was all he could do to not scream out his frustration. The ‘interview’ had been a disaster, and nobody had cared about the danger and hard work that it had taken to get them their precious information. Except, perhaps, for Otto…his uncle was so hard to read, sometimes. He guessed that he would find out in the morning.
Treading a little harder than was necessary, he stomped back down the stairs and made his way to the great hall. He would spend a few moments in front of the fire, and then go and see to the messengers and to the rest of his men.
------------------------------
“I am most sorry, Herr Kurfürst. I had hoped that his time spent with Otto and the army might curb his…deficiencies. It appears I was wrong.”
“No need to apologise, Uncle Stefan. I doubt that he will tell anyone.”
“That isn’t the issue. It’s…”
“Enough. Let it be brother.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Johann. You have only one son and he is the model of perfection in every sense.”
“Christoph has his faults as well, as does every man. I wasn’t going to say anything while Friedrich was here, but you do realise that when you came in, not even two hours ago, you entered without bothering to knock at all. It hardly seems fair to espouse such double standards.”
Stefan stared icily at his brother for a moment, but the sounds of laughter coming from all about him were too much, and he was forced to grin. “Shall I apologise to you, as well, Herr Kurfürst.”
“No, uncle Stefan. We shall keep your impropriety our little secret, shalln’t we?”
“Oh, by all means,” said a smiling Johann. “I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone, least of all any of your children.”
Of them all, however, it was Otto who quickly lost his spirit of mirth. “Herr Kurfürst, it is time for your final decision. We will be supported, in some measure or another, by our allies in Hessen, Köln, Würzburg, and Saxony. Our army is more or less ready, and we have a tactical advantage of knowing that Lorraine may be quickly and easily invested without resistance – something that will surely boost the morale of the men who must march there in the cold and damp of the winter. In contrast, the people of France are already tired of war, and may – in some measure – even support us. We also have all the justification we should need in order to satisfy the heads of state, throughout Europe, that our actions are both just and honourable – for who could deny us the right to avenge Margarete’s murder and the theft of the Emperor’s lands? Though we have received no direct word and can expect no overt support, the Emperor has at least given us leave – or so Stefan says – to initiate this action. And so it is time, now, for you to make your decision, Herr Kurfürst. Is it war?”
The was a moment of silence, broken only by the crackling of the logs burning in the fire. All three older men looked at their master, seeing the fifteen year old lad struggle with the enormity of the decision that he must make. Stefan found himself thinking back to the war against Mainz, before it had become a province of the Pfalz. He tried to remember what it had been like for his brother to declare such violence on his neighbour, and to risk the lives of his people; but of course the comparison failed because Ludwig III had been in his thirties already at the time. No comparison was there. They were both, regardless of age, Kurfürsten of the Pfalz.
“It is war.” Ludwig said, breaking into their thoughts. “Prepare the documents and I will sign and send them tomorrow. The day after, we will officially be enemies of France.”
END OF CHAPTER ONE
Early evening, Heidelberg Castle
“I am ashamed of you!”
Friedrich’s eyes blazed into those of Stefan’s, trying to suppress the angry retort that longed to escape his lips. ‘Ashamed,’ his father had said. The enormity of the injustice was insufferable – still further so when he realised that not only were Otto and Johann there, but also that the Kurfürst was seated with them. In the end, it was the shock of seeing a slightly pale but otherwise well Ludwig that allowed him to hold his tongue.
Instead, he snapped stiffly to attention and said in as reproachful a voice as he could muster, “I was ordered to report immediately to my commander upon my return. The Pfalzgraf Otto von Mosback is my commander and I was told that he was here, thus I am fulfilling my duty.”
“I did not ask you what your orders were, nor did I suggest that you not carry them out. Whatever your orders, it is your duty as my son and heir, and as a ranking noble of the Pfalz, to act with propriety, decorum and utmost courtesy. Is that too much to ask, Friedrich? No; don’t bother answering. You will begin by apologising for your rudeness; and then you will swear on your life that you will not breathe a word of the Kurfürst’s unexpectedly good condition; and then you may deliver your report and await new orders. Is that clear?”
Friedrich glanced momentarily at Otto, hoping for support, but he quickly saw that none would be forthcoming. He cleared his throat, swallowing his frustration and fury, and spoke to Ludwig, rather than to his father or uncles.
“Herr Kurfürst. I most deeply regret that I have disturbed you, and I apologise for having entered without…your permission. I am…delighted…to see you much recovered, and I do swear upon my honour…and upon my life…that I will speak no word of it to any living soul, save that you give me leave.”
Ludwig, uncomfortable with the exchange, sought quickly to reduce the underlying current of tension that charged the room. “My cousin, I accept your apology, trust in your word, and thank you for your best wishes for my health. Indeed, I am well on the way to being fully mended, but for the sake of our plans you must hide this fact from everyone for the time being.”
“Thank you, Herr Kurfürst. I will.” Turning to Otto, he continued. “I have a report to make, commander, if you should wish to hear it at this time.”
“I would.”
“Yes, Herr Pfalzgraf. As were your orders, I and my men penetrated deep into the province of Lorraine under disguise. I, myself, spent several days near the gates of Nancy. Nowhere, save for the capital, was there any sign of any of the French king’s troops. In Nancy there is a standing garrison which I would estimate as being approximately the size of our own garrison in Mainz – some five thousand, perhaps. The border is thinly, if at all protected. There are no regular patrols, and there is no sign of preparedness for war. Beyond this we could not go, but I can report that our army would be unopposed if it entered the province immediately.”
“What of the mood of the people? How was their health and their contentment?”
“The peasants, artisans and merchants that either I or my men spoke to are all in average health, although they grumble incessantly about their French occupation and the unjust and unfair taxes that have been levied to sustain the long years of war. I saw some signs, although no direct evidence, that a grass-roots resistance to the French rule is at least being planned, if not being organised. I deem the chance of outright rebellion to be slim, but steadily growing.”
“Excellent. Do you have anything further to report?”
“No Herr Pfalzgraf. That is all.” Friedrich cast a sidelong glance at the others to see if they had been impressed with the depth of his report, or how far he had personally crept into enemy territory. Ludwig appeared attentive, but not fully following the implications of what he had done. Stefan had seated himself near the fire and was warming his hands; but the posture of his back and the set to his shoulders told him that it would be best to avoid his father, if at all possible, for the next day or two. Johann had been listening to his intelligence, but now had crossed to the desk to make a few notes on a parchment – probably a map – and seemed to be too deep in contemplation to thank the messenger. He returned his gaze to his commander’s face.
“Then you may go and warm yourself and get some food for your men. Report to me one hour after dawn in the officer’s mess. Also, tell Karl to send half a dozen runners to meet me in the hall downstairs as soon as I am finished here. I am not sure when that will be, but have them wait there for me until I am done. That is all.”
Friedrich nodded to his commander, bowed in the direction of the Kurfürst, and exited the study, shutting the door firmly behind him. It was all he could do to not scream out his frustration. The ‘interview’ had been a disaster, and nobody had cared about the danger and hard work that it had taken to get them their precious information. Except, perhaps, for Otto…his uncle was so hard to read, sometimes. He guessed that he would find out in the morning.
Treading a little harder than was necessary, he stomped back down the stairs and made his way to the great hall. He would spend a few moments in front of the fire, and then go and see to the messengers and to the rest of his men.
------------------------------
“I am most sorry, Herr Kurfürst. I had hoped that his time spent with Otto and the army might curb his…deficiencies. It appears I was wrong.”
“No need to apologise, Uncle Stefan. I doubt that he will tell anyone.”
“That isn’t the issue. It’s…”
“Enough. Let it be brother.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Johann. You have only one son and he is the model of perfection in every sense.”
“Christoph has his faults as well, as does every man. I wasn’t going to say anything while Friedrich was here, but you do realise that when you came in, not even two hours ago, you entered without bothering to knock at all. It hardly seems fair to espouse such double standards.”
Stefan stared icily at his brother for a moment, but the sounds of laughter coming from all about him were too much, and he was forced to grin. “Shall I apologise to you, as well, Herr Kurfürst.”
“No, uncle Stefan. We shall keep your impropriety our little secret, shalln’t we?”
“Oh, by all means,” said a smiling Johann. “I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone, least of all any of your children.”
Of them all, however, it was Otto who quickly lost his spirit of mirth. “Herr Kurfürst, it is time for your final decision. We will be supported, in some measure or another, by our allies in Hessen, Köln, Würzburg, and Saxony. Our army is more or less ready, and we have a tactical advantage of knowing that Lorraine may be quickly and easily invested without resistance – something that will surely boost the morale of the men who must march there in the cold and damp of the winter. In contrast, the people of France are already tired of war, and may – in some measure – even support us. We also have all the justification we should need in order to satisfy the heads of state, throughout Europe, that our actions are both just and honourable – for who could deny us the right to avenge Margarete’s murder and the theft of the Emperor’s lands? Though we have received no direct word and can expect no overt support, the Emperor has at least given us leave – or so Stefan says – to initiate this action. And so it is time, now, for you to make your decision, Herr Kurfürst. Is it war?”
The was a moment of silence, broken only by the crackling of the logs burning in the fire. All three older men looked at their master, seeing the fifteen year old lad struggle with the enormity of the decision that he must make. Stefan found himself thinking back to the war against Mainz, before it had become a province of the Pfalz. He tried to remember what it had been like for his brother to declare such violence on his neighbour, and to risk the lives of his people; but of course the comparison failed because Ludwig III had been in his thirties already at the time. No comparison was there. They were both, regardless of age, Kurfürsten of the Pfalz.
“It is war.” Ludwig said, breaking into their thoughts. “Prepare the documents and I will sign and send them tomorrow. The day after, we will officially be enemies of France.”
END OF CHAPTER ONE
Yes, I too entered them repeatedly when I was several years younger...
Sorry, MrT, couldn't resist.
Congrats on the first chapter. Wonderful, awesome job.
You can occupy all but one province and then send peace offer after peace offer at vic%-11. If they decline then they lose 1 stab. When they hit -3, each further stab loss spawns a rebellion and since they only have one province, that's where it goes. If the last province is taken by rebels (and I'd usually leave it as the capital when I used to use this exploit) you get everything else...I did this to take 35+ provinces off Poland in a single peace once. I now think of this as a cheat if you do it intentionally...
quote:
How can you quarentee that they refuse a -11 deal? Mos tof the time they accept when the deal is this much in there favour.
quote:
How can you quarentee that they refuse a -11 deal? Mos tof the time they accept when the deal is this much in there favour.
MM,
I've had the AI repeatedly refuse 30%+ offers in their favor. An 11% offer in their favor isn't a rare rejection at all.
In fact, although I think, like MrT does, that this is a cheat, I've done it unintentionally more than once due to the AIs rampant pig-headedness.
I've had the AI repeatedly refuse 30%+ offers in their favor. An 11% offer in their favor isn't a rare rejection at all.
In fact, although I think, like MrT does, that this is a cheat, I've done it unintentionally more than once due to the AIs rampant pig-headedness.
... only one of which is illegal in the U.S. these days.
A triumphant first chapter ... this AAR reminds me a lot of LOTR, with its buildup to a war as seen through the eyes of characters who believe their situation is hopeless. Ah, poor Friedrich ... I emphathize with that lad. An old saying comes to mind about etiquette being the weapon of the privledged used to keep the talented at bay ... or something like that.
Well, the first chapter of LOTR wasn't as good as this one. But on the other hand I don't think this AAR will have as much chapters as LOTR...
A great ending. Now go kick some French butt...
A great ending. Now go kick some French butt...
can't wait for the descriptions of bloody battles.
and the AI often refuses peace offers unless it has certain territories. don't know why, but it does...
and the AI often refuses peace offers unless it has certain territories. don't know why, but it does...
It has begun...
You know, fighting France with those odds would even make me a tad bit nervous. Even the AI can do ok given those money/manpower odds, and all those good leaders....
You know, fighting France with those odds would even make me a tad bit nervous. Even the AI can do ok given those money/manpower odds, and all those good leaders....
In my experience you can win just about any war against the crappy AI if suitably prepared....Mr. T can do it
Originally posted by Rhodz
In my experience you can win just about any war against the crappy AI if suitably prepared....Mr. T can do it
Yes but it can take a heavy toll. I wonder who will die in the coming conflict?
Joe
Thanks for the kind words folks. Most appreciated.
I'll try to get a new instalment up today, but I was annoyingly forced to fly to Montreal for the last day (just got back) so I'm a little behind in both my reading and writing..
--------------------------------------------------------------
LD: LOL! Nancy was it? I would have had you pegged for a Lorraine.
MM: It really depends on what you're asking for. I never spent much time experimenting with it since I decided it was a nasty exploit that I shouldn't be using. On the other hand, in certain circumstances where a perticular province is important to me, I'll continue to make my demands and gradually reduce the other demands...pseudo negotiations. If they keep refusing...well, it's not my fault that their government collapsed.
Shawng1: isn't it a pisser when you're at -30% and they still won't accept the peace? I feel that they deserve to fall under those circumstances.
RD: a very salient point.
Sorcerer: Wow! Thanks for the praise...particularly as LOTR is one of my favourite books of all time. I'll see if I can give you some Weathertop and Mordor scenes before I'm done.
Ko9's: You won't, I hope, be disappointed...but you may have to wait for a little while.
SM: I was definitely nervous...but I had been sitting on my ass doing nothing other than keep my alliance together for 20 years and I decided that it was time to shake things up. Also, with France being on an annexation spree, I was a bit afraid of their aggressiveness and figured that unless someone stopped them, it was only a matter of time before they poured men across the border at me and wiped me out of existence. This was a CB-condoned pre-emptive strike from a gameplay viewpoint. I'm just rationalising it for the story purposes.
Rhodz: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Joe: Yep. I certainly didn't emerge from the war unscathed.
-----------------
No promises, but I think I'll do a little reading and then see if I can finish the first instalment of chapter 2 this afternoon. Otherwise it'll be tomorrow.
I'll try to get a new instalment up today, but I was annoyingly forced to fly to Montreal for the last day (just got back) so I'm a little behind in both my reading and writing..
--------------------------------------------------------------
LD: LOL!
Nancy was it? I would have had you pegged for a Lorraine. MM: It really depends on what you're asking for. I never spent much time experimenting with it since I decided it was a nasty exploit that I shouldn't be using. On the other hand, in certain circumstances where a perticular province is important to me, I'll continue to make my demands and gradually reduce the other demands...pseudo negotiations. If they keep refusing...well, it's not my fault that their government collapsed.
Shawng1: isn't it a pisser when you're at -30% and they still won't accept the peace? I feel that they deserve to fall under those circumstances.
RD: a very salient point.
Sorcerer: Wow! Thanks for the praise...particularly as LOTR is one of my favourite books of all time. I'll see if I can give you some Weathertop and Mordor scenes before I'm done.
Ko9's: You won't, I hope, be disappointed...but you may have to wait for a little while.
SM: I was definitely nervous...but I had been sitting on my ass doing nothing other than keep my alliance together for 20 years and I decided that it was time to shake things up. Also, with France being on an annexation spree, I was a bit afraid of their aggressiveness and figured that unless someone stopped them, it was only a matter of time before they poured men across the border at me and wiped me out of existence. This was a CB-condoned pre-emptive strike from a gameplay viewpoint. I'm just rationalising it for the story purposes.
Rhodz: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Joe: Yep. I certainly didn't emerge from the war unscathed.
-----------------
No promises, but I think I'll do a little reading and then see if I can finish the first instalment of chapter 2 this afternoon. Otherwise it'll be tomorrow.
Extremely Palatinatable
Very impressive prose in that it is deftly written while being tied into actual game mechanics. I particularly liked the French war exhaustion issue. Mr T wrote:
However there are also strong rumours that the nobles and peasants of France are growing weary of this incessant warring that their King imposes; and We have it on very reliable authority that there have been heavy casualties - both during their wars, and in suppressing the peasant revolts in the south.
Thats kool bro. It is just a small example of the way this work shines.
In terms of heavy difficulty settings with a german "minor" and actually surviving....the best of luck......for my selfish reason in that I want to continue reading this AAR!
Reagards, Crinkled Skull
Very impressive prose in that it is deftly written while being tied into actual game mechanics. I particularly liked the French war exhaustion issue. Mr T wrote:
However there are also strong rumours that the nobles and peasants of France are growing weary of this incessant warring that their King imposes; and We have it on very reliable authority that there have been heavy casualties - both during their wars, and in suppressing the peasant revolts in the south.
Thats kool bro. It is just a small example of the way this work shines.
In terms of heavy difficulty settings with a german "minor" and actually surviving....the best of luck......for my selfish reason in that I want to continue reading this AAR!
Reagards, Crinkled Skull
Now, I have a question of a more stylistic bent. How difficult do you think it will be to write the same battle sequence from several different points of view? Especially if your trying to maintain the mental "seperation" of the characters from each other. I've experimented with this a bit, and found it too be a great deal more difficult than I thought. And second, and this is a more general question about AAR writing but I figured I'd ask it here, How do you translate the different tech levels into real changes in technology? I mean, some are obvious, but a great many of them are just "Random_advance_001", anyway, I'm certain Ill have more questions later .
RJ
.RJ