Unifying AARfrica - An Oyo DW AAR

[Gnorf]

Oyo Empire​

The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today western and northern Nigeria. Established in the 14th century, the Oyo Empire grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by pre-colonial explorers. It rose through the outstanding organizational skills of the Yoruba, wealth gained from trade and its powerful cavalry. The Oyo Empire was the most politically important state in the region from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, holding sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the contemporary republic of Benin to the west.


Short term goals:
Annex Benin
Survive a possible attack from Hausa

Mid term goals:
Gain as much coastline as possible to increase the chances of gaining a CoT when Timbuktu gets starved
Annex or vassalize all of western Africa
Fortify every province

Long term goals:

Westernize
Control all of Africa
Become a major imperialist power



House rules:
No cheese
Stay pagan throughout the entire game
anything else?
​

Made this upon request. Let's see for how long I can survive.

 

[Gnorf]

First mission is to annex Benin. The game clearly wants us to become a colonial power.

To be able to become a rich and powerful kingdom we need to centralize the state.

We raise a regiment of mercenaries and declare war on Benin. We need to be quick in order to snatch Benin before Hausa does so. A few days after us Hausa follows our footsteps and declare war on Benin. We get there first and destroy their army. We demand their full annexation.

Next mission is to create an army for our nation. This is fairly simple since our forcelimits are three regiments. Our main rival Hausa has three regiments in their southern provinces and two more in their northern provinces. We disband our mercenary regiment and raise four more regiments and prepare to take on Hausa.

Their army of three thousand men are routed and retreat into Idah. The army is then annihilated by the natives, allowing us to seize their capital of Bonny and the neighboring province of Calabar.

They're not willing to accept peace, and since I lack conquistadors I can't march through the undiscovered territories to capture their northern provinces. The war has come to a stand-still as I wait for their war exhaustion to rise and make them more willing to accept a peace offer.

 

[Icendoan]

You don't need a conquistador to march into hostile TI.

Looking good! Subbed!

 

[Gnorf]

You don't need a conquistador to march into hostile TI.

Looking good! Subbed!

I know that, but I didn't know that Hausa had a province to the north west of Nupe. Thanks for the sub.

 

[cacra]

if you click in the general area i think you can move there when you eventually click on the provicne

 

[Gnorf]

Poll time:

Is selling provinces to a vassal considered too gamey?

 

[yequr]

Fighting these natives will be a pain though, since they are numerous and (I think Nupe has 5k if I remember correctly from playing Songhai) actually better fighters than your starting infantry. Hausa-north might catch you with your pants down there.

 

[Icendoan]

Selling provinces isn't gamey, if there's a legitimate reason. It's just you as overlord shuffling your duchies. (That ought to be a euphemism.)

 

[gela1212]

Good so far. I told you my suggestions on Skype.

 

[Nunn45]

Woo!

Shall be looking forwards to how you manage to overcome the issues that have and will soon arise.

 

[il_loco]

At this stage of game creating vassals is a necessity rather than being gamey. good luck!

 

[Gnorf]

Fighting these natives will be a pain though, since they are numerous and (I think Nupe has 5k if I remember correctly from playing Songhai) actually better fighters than your starting infantry. Hausa-north might catch you with your pants down there.

Indeed. Took about four years to kill the natives of one province.

Selling provinces isn't gamey, if there's a legitimate reason. It's just you as overlord shuffling your duchies. (That ought to be a euphemism.)

Sounds about right.

Good so far. I told you my suggestions on Skype.

DD

Woo!

Shall be looking forwards to how you manage to overcome the issues that have and will soon arise.

The current issues are quite easy, but I dread the day when the Europeans arrive.

At this stage of game creating vassals is a necessity rather than being gamey. good luck!

Hah, I guess. Thanks!

 

[ATBKING]

Ive always tried an African Campaign, Usually Kongo. but I never make it past 1510. Those darned Castillians!!! Best of Luck to you!!

 

[Nunn45]

The current issues are quite easy, but I dread the day when the Europeans arrive.

Theres a few starting issues with Oyo that can being fustrating ranging from the need to get through those damn natives with so little manpower/troops to trying to deal with Mali (or in one of my games a super Ashanti). With my game Europe was easy to deal with.

 

[Gnorf]

A quick peace is signed with Hausa, since exterminating the natives to be able to reach the northern Hausan provinces would take so long I'd get a forced white peace.

The Ethiopian oppression of fellow animists caused the province of Massawa to defect to us. I don't want it, as it's on the other side of the continent and it's going to slow down my already abysmal tech rate. Though I must say I chuckled a bit when it happened.

We take another step towards a modern and centralized state.

An event moved us towards free subjects.

Another event gave an increase of base tax in Oyo.

The mighty pig-god wants us to conquer more land from the muslims.

We hire an adviser to help improve our army.

While he has some unorthodox ideas, our glorious high elder, in his justness and glory, heeds his advice. Unfortunately his ideas were about our nations trade policies.

We declare war on Hausa, and get an untimely revolt.

Realizing that we cannot seize the Hausan capital we agree on a white peace, and focus on stopping the revolt.

In a stroke of genius, our High Elder realizes that the provinces of Bonny and Calabar are of Ashantese culture, he supports a revolt, in hopes that they would defect to Ashanti.

While waiting for the rebels to do their work, we centralize the state even further.

The genius plan is successful, though deceit and trickery are not held high in the eyes of the pig-god. As a punishment, he orders us to save his followers in Tigre, on the other side of the continent.

Ignoring the will of the pig-god, our High Elder seizes control over previous Hausa-territory.

Intoxicated with success and snus, our High Elder disobeys the pig-god.

As you can expect, this is not appreciated.

Our new High Elder is quick to put the blame on the tribe of Ashanti, and his punishment is swift and relentless.

With Mali already at war with Ashanti, our High Elder sees a chance to strike.

After a quick visit to the bank of Timbuktu, our High Elder offers peace.

Our vassal Ashanti grabs what's left.

 

[Avindian]

Good luck!

 

[sprites]

nice ! That's a bold objective!
you can always try to sell those east african provinces back to get rid of them ... or keep them for a bit as you could modernize from memelukes ^^

 

[TonyJoe]

Take the entire continent

 

[Gnorf]

A few years later we were once again at war with Mali. They had started to recover from the previous tribal succession crisis, so we broke the truce and struck before they had a chance to recuperate.

The goal with this war was the coastal CoT in Cayor. As you can judge from the picture, the goal was achieved. Jenne and Segu was later sold to Ashanti for 20 ducats a piece.

Oyo now has a 50% bonus to defense. Too bad 50% of 0 is 0. This was surely the pig-god playing us a prank.

We encourage divination, giving us a -1 revolt risk in exchange for a stability cost increase of 8%. Since being animistic gives a huge reduction of in stability cost (33% IIRC) this decision is a no-brainer.

Mali collapsed, somehow defecting three provinces to Hausa.

Our glorious High Elder sees an opportunity to once again strike at Mali.

Mali's part of the war, not even lasting six months, was very uneventful, seeing as Mali lacked both troops and forts. We still have Songhai to deal with though.

We make a move towards innovative.

Having cleared out the natives of Nupe a few years back, we strike Songhai from two fronts. Our land tech advantage makes this war a walk in the park. The Songhain army is routed and wiped.

Having occupied almost all Songhain territory, our High Elder goes to visit the Songhain National Bank.

Unfortunately, our High Elder tripped on the way out, landing face-down in a pile of cow-dung. The National Guard tried to save him, but it was too late.

Both Wolof and Bambuk are sold to Ashanti, as I want to avoid going over ten provinces. The incapable ruler effects would would lower my infamy limit too much right now.

For the same reason, we cancel our current mission in hopes of getting a better one.

Our High Elder obeys the will of the pig-god and declare yet another war against Mali.

To help in our current war, we pass a recruiting act, moving us one step towards quantity and one step towards innovative, among with giving us a manpower and reinforcement bonus.

It is time for the annual visit to the bank.

Shortly after, we make peace with Mali, filling our coffers and pleasing the pig-god.

Unfortunately, the whims of the pig-god are not understandable to mere men.

At least to our High Elder.

For now, the pig-god was understanding, and wanted us to take yet another province from Mali.

 

[sprites]

400 for an undefendable province is good now you might want to explore the northern neighbors , just to be safe.