Sicily 1503
I don’t suppose it should be a surprise but I’ve lost Karaman to the Turks. As I look around I see I’m allied with Naxos, Aragon and Connacht. Boy Connacht is sure to be a big help, don’t you think? Aragon on the other hand proves a helpful ally in the coming war. Not much in the way of an army (again) or Navy.
My mistake in my earlier turn was trying to expand too quickly in an area I couldn’t expect the AI to defend. So I’m going to expand closer to home. I need to be stronger if I’m going to go over and pick on the Turks or for that matter anyone between me and my goal.
Just out of curiosity I take a look at the tradition window and it looks like the last war against the Ottomans was mainly fought at sea.
Ah the first improvement in Infantry of the three countries.
The AI has selected to stay with men at arms and I suppose you could make an argument to support that choice so maybe it’s not the first indication of the AI screwing up but I’m going to switch to Galloglaigh Infantry. I have read that the AI has a tendency not to upgrade it’s land forces but we will see.
As with the Teutonic Order the Sicily AI is capable of building up its infrastructure.
Normally I choose land but this time I pick Naval reform. I’m just months away from getting the next level in land anyway so what the hell let’s go naval. My navy is usually several steps behind my land forces but I think at least in the coming few turns I’m possibly going to need a strong navy.
So I’m just about ready after once again(why am I beginning to fell like Sisyphus) rebuilding my land forces and my manpower pool is as busy as bees replenishing itself when Naxos gags on an olive and spits out a declaration of war against the Ottomans. I decline to join them and yes I know this could be a chance to grab something but I didn’t like the fact that Naxos hasn’t a ghost of a chance of surviving, leaving me alone against the Turks so thanks but no thanks. Sure enough they last less than a year before being annexed by the Turks. I also get a notice that the Teutonic Knights just declared war on Novgorod. Hope they know what they are doing.
Finally in 1505 I’m ready and declare war on Urbino. Brandenburg and Modena join Urbino while Aragon and Connacht join me in the fun. Yea Connacht failed to show up. I don’t know why I forgot to kick these losers out of my alliance. Anyway my plan was to annex Urbino and then move up and hit Modena, which has just two provinces, demand one for peace and sit back and enjoy. Unfortunately just before I declared war Venice took Modena’s province leaving it just the capital. Still there’s work to be done so we have at it and I once again I show my superior tactical and strategy prowess and roll over the opposition. Of course it did help that Urbino didn’t have any land forces.
So I’ve just started playing ra-ta-tat-tat on Urbino when this pops up.
Wow. The TO AI is already two provinces ahead of me this turn.
I capture Urbino after a couple of months and I annex the suckers. Meanwhile Aragon besieges Modena.
Aragon reaches a separate peace with Modena and Brandenburg and graciously leaves me to besiege Modena until it surrenders. Modena becomes my vassal and that leaves Brandenburg who can’t get to me or me to them so we eventually agree to a white peace...
Meanwhile back at the TO ranch our Teutonic knights declare war on Lithuania.
They weren’t satisfied with Novgorod?
Which ended a year later.
Woo Hoo.
Then in 1509 the Teutonic Order again declared war against Novgorod but it ended in a white peace. Maybe I’ve created a monster?
Just a couple of comments. In my EU2 game the Pope was the war monger of the three countries I played. I mean the guy would pick a fight with anyone he thought looked cross-eyed at him and this time it’s the Teutonic Order who’s bouncing around like a stud on steroids picking fights regardless of how big and mean his opponent is. One thing that crossed my mind was this is the third war between the Order and Lithuania with the Order losing one, a draw in another and winning this one. if Lithuania is one of the lucky countries then the Order shouldn’t be doing this good, right? Or do you think I’m reading too much into these results?
Yea I know the TO AI picks up three provinces to my one, plus my one vassal. Luckily I’m not keeping count.