I would say Canaries, but you've already made it in other AAR. So, i choose El Cid, 1094, 1st january.
You're choosing, I'm playing
- Thread starter Rozmarzony
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Thanks for this, especially that I wanted to play as him in near future.
After release of 2.0 I played as him for few years, not even needing to swear fealty, so I'm curious what gonna happen in next game as Cid.
Considering that all previous starts were "winnable" without need of luck, for next game I'm taking something more hardcore.
Chapter 7
867 - 870
Bavandid dynasty
Hardest zoroastrian start, no event troops, no family to speak of. That guy is at least direct descendant of Sassanids, but he has no in-game bonus for that.
What's funnier, his senior is even harder to play. Shia descendant of the Prophet, surrounded by sunni muslims and zoroastrians, always conquered by Gilan, and if not, Karen. His only vassals are: his son and Bavandid.
At start Karen attacked my senior, so I wanted to help my folks. Created independence faction and pushed my request, but even having 230% power isn't enough. So I got war with him, what's worse, Karen was in aggressive approach to me.
So I had to wait. When Karen walked over my provinces, destroyed shia army and started siege of his holdings, I raised all my levies and did same thing for another castle. However, when Karen ended that one, he wanted province, which was besieged by me... to not allow for battle, I had to disband all my army losing a lot of troops in process.
Situation after we both won against Alavid. As you can see, Gilan went for north and lost badly.
Indepedance gave me nothing, from east and north my brothers in faith. In south truce with Alavid and in east powerfull Saffarids..., which decided to holy war on me with their 10k army. Huh.
Loan from jews, expelling, banishing all my vassals, all of it to hire a lot of mercs. Unfortunately I didn't managed to move them to my second prov and without morale I got quickly overwhelmed.
After they fought with me again and again everything became even worse.
Well...
For future I need to remember one thing. Avoid declaring independance, after winning Karen would gain me as vassal and I could help them to defend from everyone. What's important, it's possible to beat starting armies of Saffarids even as OPM, so hope for next game isn't lost.
867 - 870
Bavandid dynasty
Hardest zoroastrian start, no event troops, no family to speak of. That guy is at least direct descendant of Sassanids, but he has no in-game bonus for that.
What's funnier, his senior is even harder to play. Shia descendant of the Prophet, surrounded by sunni muslims and zoroastrians, always conquered by Gilan, and if not, Karen. His only vassals are: his son and Bavandid.
At start Karen attacked my senior, so I wanted to help my folks. Created independence faction and pushed my request, but even having 230% power isn't enough. So I got war with him, what's worse, Karen was in aggressive approach to me.
So I had to wait. When Karen walked over my provinces, destroyed shia army and started siege of his holdings, I raised all my levies and did same thing for another castle. However, when Karen ended that one, he wanted province, which was besieged by me... to not allow for battle, I had to disband all my army losing a lot of troops in process.
Situation after we both won against Alavid. As you can see, Gilan went for north and lost badly.
Indepedance gave me nothing, from east and north my brothers in faith. In south truce with Alavid and in east powerfull Saffarids..., which decided to holy war on me with their 10k army. Huh.
Loan from jews, expelling, banishing all my vassals, all of it to hire a lot of mercs. Unfortunately I didn't managed to move them to my second prov and without morale I got quickly overwhelmed.
After they fought with me again and again everything became even worse.
Well...
For future I need to remember one thing. Avoid declaring independance, after winning Karen would gain me as vassal and I could help them to defend from everyone. What's important, it's possible to beat starting armies of Saffarids even as OPM, so hope for next game isn't lost.
Chapter 8
867 - 880
Bavandid dynasty
Second try. This time both zoroastrians states attacked Alavids. After shia army got destroyed, created independence faction and successfully pushed my claim. Seems like key factor in AI decision about accepting demand of the factions is existence of their army.
For brief moment when I was independent got loan and expelled Jews, couldn't do it as vassal. Without it there is almost no way to destroy event troops of Saffarids.
Overall for zoro states after both wars ended and I joined to the Karen.
Karen attacking Dulfid emire, the weakest neighbour.
As you might expect Saffarids joined to the war with their 9k doomstack.
I was kinda lucky and when battle beetwen me (mainly mercs) and Saffarids started, Karen abolished idea of doing siege and joined to the battle, making it victorious for zoro in process. Ok, first problem in Bavandid playthrough solved.
When I was killing off Saffarid army, Karen went back to siege.
However, it would be too much of waste to fire mercs after using them only for 2 battles, so I sent levies back to home, went back with mercs to one of Karen provs and started holy war for big duchy under Saffarids control.
Next problem. Samanid (k_khiva) joined to my war with 3k army.
However, they got Zoro uprising and were busy at the moment. At this point I made the biggest mistake. Instead of trying to destroy Samanid army, I was just doing siege looking how zoro uprising is crushed. If I would destroy forces of Samanid, there would arise next zoro state... and I still had to do it in future.
After beating 3 small armies of muslims and besieging more provs, war was won.
To fuel my constant war and upkeep of mercs I had to banish some barons... because of it everyone hated my and killed via plot.
Overall for situation once again after both wars came to end. Karen got invasion from the Turks, but defense was successful.
At this point I couldn't keep mercs for any more. However, using my personal levies I was able to holy war on last province of Alavid. Also, Karen got another invasion for entire kingdom, this time from Samanids.
But luckly they won.
Khiva was without money and troops, so best moment to attack them.
When I was doing holy war for red-marked duchy, Saffarids attacked yellow-marked, previously lost to me.
Seems like there is no hope to win again, cause they're having around 7k once again, and I have only ~100 gold in treasure.
867 - 880
Bavandid dynasty
Second try. This time both zoroastrians states attacked Alavids. After shia army got destroyed, created independence faction and successfully pushed my claim. Seems like key factor in AI decision about accepting demand of the factions is existence of their army.
For brief moment when I was independent got loan and expelled Jews, couldn't do it as vassal. Without it there is almost no way to destroy event troops of Saffarids.
Overall for zoro states after both wars ended and I joined to the Karen.
Karen attacking Dulfid emire, the weakest neighbour.
As you might expect Saffarids joined to the war with their 9k doomstack.
I was kinda lucky and when battle beetwen me (mainly mercs) and Saffarids started, Karen abolished idea of doing siege and joined to the battle, making it victorious for zoro in process. Ok, first problem in Bavandid playthrough solved.
When I was killing off Saffarid army, Karen went back to siege.
However, it would be too much of waste to fire mercs after using them only for 2 battles, so I sent levies back to home, went back with mercs to one of Karen provs and started holy war for big duchy under Saffarids control.
Next problem. Samanid (k_khiva) joined to my war with 3k army.
However, they got Zoro uprising and were busy at the moment. At this point I made the biggest mistake. Instead of trying to destroy Samanid army, I was just doing siege looking how zoro uprising is crushed. If I would destroy forces of Samanid, there would arise next zoro state... and I still had to do it in future.
After beating 3 small armies of muslims and besieging more provs, war was won.
To fuel my constant war and upkeep of mercs I had to banish some barons... because of it everyone hated my and killed via plot.
Overall for situation once again after both wars came to end. Karen got invasion from the Turks, but defense was successful.
At this point I couldn't keep mercs for any more. However, using my personal levies I was able to holy war on last province of Alavid. Also, Karen got another invasion for entire kingdom, this time from Samanids.
But luckly they won.
Khiva was without money and troops, so best moment to attack them.
When I was doing holy war for red-marked duchy, Saffarids attacked yellow-marked, previously lost to me.
Seems like there is no hope to win again, cause they're having around 7k once again, and I have only ~100 gold in treasure.
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Chapter 9
867 - 874
Bavandid dynasty
I decided to start again when I asked myself "Why I can't use same tactics as for Karen playthrough?" In previous game maybe I could blob over years, but it would be too slowly in comparision to Karen tactic.
This time only Gilan attacked Alavids, but it was enough. After their army got destroyed I became free, got gold from jews and used holy war on Samanid, who were in war with Karen.
War itself was rather easy and fast.
After I took one prov. from Samanids, I joined to them.
However, at this point I couldn't demand elective monarchy because of my truce with senior. Don't worry! After losing 2 wars he was hated by vassals and died pretty fast via my plot.
New child king of Khiva accepted my demand. What's better, some other vassal joined to my faction resulting in 1082% power.
Next step was to demand installation of claimant (me) for Khiva throne... but as low count I couldn't do it.
But don't worry, Saffarids were wiping out Alavids from the map, what allowed me to create a duchy.
After it I could propose my "candidature" and what's even better... child ruler accepted my "proposition"!
From count to king in few years. Abolishing previous game was one of my best decisions. By the way, you can see that my character gained "organiser" in one of the battles, it gonna be damn helpfull in future.
Next years I was banishing everyone and conquering Yagbuids thanks to holy war. Red-marked is starting zoro count under Yagbuids, in this game he somewhat managed to became independent in first years of game. I wanted to diplo vassalize them, but he was turkish so not now.
But don't think that I play NK mode, after I banished last muslim vassal I created new vassals everywhere.
Next war was declared for Khorasan, to isolate Karen from all dangers of the world. Muslim state of Saffarids is having 10k army, but don't worry, I have enough gold to beat them.
867 - 874
Bavandid dynasty
I decided to start again when I asked myself "Why I can't use same tactics as for Karen playthrough?" In previous game maybe I could blob over years, but it would be too slowly in comparision to Karen tactic.
This time only Gilan attacked Alavids, but it was enough. After their army got destroyed I became free, got gold from jews and used holy war on Samanid, who were in war with Karen.
War itself was rather easy and fast.
After I took one prov. from Samanids, I joined to them.
However, at this point I couldn't demand elective monarchy because of my truce with senior. Don't worry! After losing 2 wars he was hated by vassals and died pretty fast via my plot.
New child king of Khiva accepted my demand. What's better, some other vassal joined to my faction resulting in 1082% power.
Next step was to demand installation of claimant (me) for Khiva throne... but as low count I couldn't do it.
But don't worry, Saffarids were wiping out Alavids from the map, what allowed me to create a duchy.
After it I could propose my "candidature" and what's even better... child ruler accepted my "proposition"!
From count to king in few years. Abolishing previous game was one of my best decisions. By the way, you can see that my character gained "organiser" in one of the battles, it gonna be damn helpfull in future.
Next years I was banishing everyone and conquering Yagbuids thanks to holy war. Red-marked is starting zoro count under Yagbuids, in this game he somewhat managed to became independent in first years of game. I wanted to diplo vassalize them, but he was turkish so not now.
But don't think that I play NK mode, after I banished last muslim vassal I created new vassals everywhere.
Next war was declared for Khorasan, to isolate Karen from all dangers of the world. Muslim state of Saffarids is having 10k army, but don't worry, I have enough gold to beat them.
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Chapter 10
874 - 919
Bavandid dynasty
Those 2 mercs bands gonna accompany me for next few wars, so remember that i'm not winning by power of levies, but simply gold.
After 2 battles doomstack of Saffarids went into oblivion.
Cumans though I was easy target... they were so wrong.
Overall after 2 wars.
Well, mercs still were hired by me and I didn't wanted to stop my expansiosm so I had to break truces, 3 times in row while attacking Saffarids.
874 - 919
Bavandid dynasty
Those 2 mercs bands gonna accompany me for next few wars, so remember that i'm not winning by power of levies, but simply gold.
After 2 battles doomstack of Saffarids went into oblivion.
Cumans though I was easy target... they were so wrong.
Overall after 2 wars.
Well, mercs still were hired by me and I didn't wanted to stop my expansiosm so I had to break truces, 3 times in row while attacking Saffarids.
It was profitable in every way:
-Muslims no matter what still will hate me
-Saffarids all time were without army or with nominal one
-I could just assault specific holdings in every war
-Abbasids at time were having some troubles time so Saffarids were left alone
-Mercs upkeep! Most important factor here probably
Map of my conquests. War #3 was against Dulafids, small muslim state. After everything I usurped Persia.
When I couldn't attack anyone other than Abbasids around Persia because of lack of prestige to break truce, I went for easy conquest in the north.
After that war my gold was around ~0 so I had to resign from mercs. They costed me 1600 gold, but they were worth it.
Old ruler of Chimboy died and new one is persian, so accepted my offer of vassalization.
Starting Bavandid is slowly becoming god of war.
It was Ibadi heresy, so used on it holy war without any repercussions from other muslims.
Reduced Saffarids were having some problems, so got one prov from them.
After first Karen ruler died new one accepted vassalization.
Cumans once again tried but failed.
Alan Riders in middle east? Well, for them used holy war too.
At this point I needed to go deeper into muslim lands. Considering that Baghdad separated from Abbasid empire, it was best target.
Beetwen this war and 4 first wars with Saffarid, where I was breaking truces several (10-20) years passed... my gold went from ~0 to ~1000 (thanks to taxes) once again so I hired mercs.
Had to win a lot of battles.
All muslims neighbours joined but they didn't managed to form one big doomstack, so I slowly destroyed all of them until I got 100%.
My empire. Red-marked next duchy, which I taken from Saffarids.
However, then my first ruler died... only few years before creating empire. Damn.
Two months later his successor died too. Seems like there is no place for diplomacy specialized ruler in zoro state.
New one was proper general.
Before and after conquest. At this point my army reached limit of 10k men.
First direct conflict with Abbasids. They were dealing with some rebellion, so won war rather fast.
And I did it. Empire and priesthood. I never thought, that I could do it so fast as Bavandids.
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Huh, thanks for kind words! After ending CaAARies I didn't excepted such activity in this thread, so surprise is even greater.
I already did El Cid playthrough and I will write AAR around Friday.
Edit: Damn you. It's that famous eunuch.
I already did El Cid playthrough and I will write AAR around Friday.
Sorry but after playing as OPM El Cid I'm little tired of Iberia. Also, even playing as spanish count in 867 isn't much of challenge, so not in the near future. But thanks for your request.
Thanks for suggestion but well, I need to check him. As for now, I'm thinking about Roussel de Bailleul, which going to be pretty hard while obeying house rules and being surrounded by 2 blobs. Also, I didn't even knew that such personage existed in our history so thanks War_lord by the way for bringing some new history info to me.
Edit: Damn you. It's that famous eunuch.
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Play as Hashishins in 1090/1091. Just start as a random character, enable charinfo, check the grandmaster id, and use 'play CharacterID' cheat. You're the unique independent Shia ruler. I tried him recently, in 2.0, and i was smashed by seljuk. It's a nice challenge.
Chapter 11
1094 - 1111
El Cid
El Cid in all his majesty. I already did 3 things: pilgrim, taking 500 gold from jews and chosing as ambition paragon of virtue. I'm OPM mostly surrounded by the infidels, but it doesn't matter much in 2.0 with OP holy orders.
Typical events always firing up when playing Alexiada scenario or later start dates.
There's some trick. When templar event is happening, don't unpase game. Templars are spawned with 600 gold, giving you only chance to borrow cash from them. In entire future game some AI always will take 300 gold when possible. Now I have 800+ gold, 500 thanks to Jews and 300 thanks to Templars.
Another predictable event - crusade for Greece.
I need at least ~160 piety to hire holy order, so I'm giving back templars their money. Effect? 300 free piety.
Holy order with my levies. Had to hire some merc band with boats to transport everything to Anatolia.
What's better, Alexios is fighting with Turks, and before crusade started infidels lost their armies already.
At the start of the crusade.
At the end.
El Cid is becoming better and better. Played 3 years, became king with the holy nickname.
My crusade state,
Time to expand in Iberia. Using ony hole order I can fight with every muslim army without much of problem.
List of conquests.
Another useful option, asking pope for the money. Every possible pope is loving me, so asked first one after crusade and after he died, asked his successor too. I have to pay 20$ per month for holy order upkeep so that money is really needed to expand.
Not only pope gave me money, but also CB to invade Castille!
Hired 2 mercs bands for it.
Before decisive battle.
I'm having almost 30 martial, there was no way to loose it.
Splitted army into 3 smaller and started slowly process of conquering every province.
Managed to kill pope via plot, so more gold is coming to me!
Because alliance of Navarra and Aragon attacked Castille, I don't even need to care about their respawning armies.
He was ally of Castile, so killed just to be sure he will not interfere.
That hungariana pope is loving me more than the others. Accepted second request for money.
After some years passed I could raise next 3k army from former muslim holdings.
Hungarian pope died from age.
After crusade I married my son to byz. princess to insure that Byz will not attack me. Now she's my lover.
1094 - 1111
El Cid
El Cid in all his majesty. I already did 3 things: pilgrim, taking 500 gold from jews and chosing as ambition paragon of virtue. I'm OPM mostly surrounded by the infidels, but it doesn't matter much in 2.0 with OP holy orders.
Typical events always firing up when playing Alexiada scenario or later start dates.
There's some trick. When templar event is happening, don't unpase game. Templars are spawned with 600 gold, giving you only chance to borrow cash from them. In entire future game some AI always will take 300 gold when possible. Now I have 800+ gold, 500 thanks to Jews and 300 thanks to Templars.
Another predictable event - crusade for Greece.
I need at least ~160 piety to hire holy order, so I'm giving back templars their money. Effect? 300 free piety.
Holy order with my levies. Had to hire some merc band with boats to transport everything to Anatolia.
What's better, Alexios is fighting with Turks, and before crusade started infidels lost their armies already.
At the start of the crusade.
At the end.
El Cid is becoming better and better. Played 3 years, became king with the holy nickname.
My crusade state,
Time to expand in Iberia. Using ony hole order I can fight with every muslim army without much of problem.
List of conquests.
Another useful option, asking pope for the money. Every possible pope is loving me, so asked first one after crusade and after he died, asked his successor too. I have to pay 20$ per month for holy order upkeep so that money is really needed to expand.
Not only pope gave me money, but also CB to invade Castille!
Hired 2 mercs bands for it.
Before decisive battle.
I'm having almost 30 martial, there was no way to loose it.
Splitted army into 3 smaller and started slowly process of conquering every province.
Managed to kill pope via plot, so more gold is coming to me!
Because alliance of Navarra and Aragon attacked Castille, I don't even need to care about their respawning armies.
He was ally of Castile, so killed just to be sure he will not interfere.
That hungariana pope is loving me more than the others. Accepted second request for money.
After some years passed I could raise next 3k army from former muslim holdings.
Hungarian pope died from age.
After crusade I married my son to byz. princess to insure that Byz will not attack me. Now she's my lover.
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Chapter 12
1111 - 1123
El Cid
Everything has to come to an end.
Finally achieved something as El Cid.
In another war asked every ally to join to me, just to show effects of my marriage policy. Add to them Byzantine and pope love and I'm untouchable.
Becasue I have a lot of vassals, got one with 20+ diplo, who did what's above for me.
Well, it really need to be balanced.
Next map of my conquests. As you can see in lower part of the map, Leon survived as 2 prov. state. Didn't saw that during war with me he incorporated some muslims.
He accepted second request too.
Got 80% of Hispania so tournament to celebrate it properly.
Not bad, but still no possible maximum
There is no reason to not do it.
He hired 5k merc and after losing them, another 5k, but it was pointless.
Because pope was my vassal I could invade HRE, no matter how much pope liked kaiser.
Crushing the enemy in process. Half of my forces are mercs.
Because of the pope my income went to 60 gold, that's why I hired even more of them.
After assaulting few provinces and destroying some small stacks, 100%.
Ok, that's fine already. But why not go further?
(By the way, HRE vassals didn't started any rebellion in future, because my all time hired mercs increased my power a lot.)
His another wife was previously mentioned byz. princess. When she died, both his daughters inherited claim for Byz. During war with pope and Kaiser killed all his children except 1 via plot.
Because I assigned every vassal in Hispania, all those murders were quite fast.
Then just used assassins for 900 gold to kill ERE emperor and his young daughter inherited, allowing me to push claim of my family.
Terrain bonus and river crossing? Nothing for El Cid!
After getting 2 provs, 100%. Even easier than with HRE.
Because he killed his younger brother in past, I could imprison him without tyranny.
New vassals of Maria didn't liked her for obvious reasons.
Last move.
Let say it's enough.
1111 - 1123
El Cid
Everything has to come to an end.
Finally achieved something as El Cid.
In another war asked every ally to join to me, just to show effects of my marriage policy. Add to them Byzantine and pope love and I'm untouchable.
Becasue I have a lot of vassals, got one with 20+ diplo, who did what's above for me.
Well, it really need to be balanced.
Next map of my conquests. As you can see in lower part of the map, Leon survived as 2 prov. state. Didn't saw that during war with me he incorporated some muslims.
He accepted second request too.
Got 80% of Hispania so tournament to celebrate it properly.
Not bad, but still no possible maximum
There is no reason to not do it.
He hired 5k merc and after losing them, another 5k, but it was pointless.
Because pope was my vassal I could invade HRE, no matter how much pope liked kaiser.
Crushing the enemy in process. Half of my forces are mercs.
Because of the pope my income went to 60 gold, that's why I hired even more of them.
After assaulting few provinces and destroying some small stacks, 100%.
Ok, that's fine already. But why not go further?
(By the way, HRE vassals didn't started any rebellion in future, because my all time hired mercs increased my power a lot.)
His another wife was previously mentioned byz. princess. When she died, both his daughters inherited claim for Byz. During war with pope and Kaiser killed all his children except 1 via plot.
Because I assigned every vassal in Hispania, all those murders were quite fast.
Then just used assassins for 900 gold to kill ERE emperor and his young daughter inherited, allowing me to push claim of my family.
Terrain bonus and river crossing? Nothing for El Cid!
After getting 2 provs, 100%. Even easier than with HRE.
Because he killed his younger brother in past, I could imprison him without tyranny.
New vassals of Maria didn't liked her for obvious reasons.
Last move.
Let say it's enough.
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Woah. I saw an empire like this in the Post your Empire thread (maybe it was the same one?), but i don't think it included the HRE too. Nicely done.
I think it'd be interesting to see how far you can get with him before he dies.
Edit: Damn you. It's that famous eunuch.
I think it'd be interesting to see how far you can get with him before he dies.