Orleans turbo-WC attempt

Freiherr vStein · 19-08-2003, 06:26

This is going to be a rather meager AAR, sorry. The point is to document my game, not to tell a story. No characters or imaginative narration.

I am playing Orleans in the Grand Campaign, latest (23rd july) 1.07 beta patch, very hard/normal.

The goal is to finish WC by 1552. This game is about conqest, not colonization or map-painting and if the dakota still exist when I reach the deadline I won't be particulary bothered either. WC will be considered as finished when I have annexed all nations I have contact with.

My guideline is to follow the opposite of what Peter Ebbesen advises for easy and managable WC.

Specifically, furious expansion in Europe while ignoring the new world, no particular care for BB costs, no diplo-annexions, no new alliances after the starting alliance, largely ignoring the economy (no sending merchants before the first few waves of mass-annextions), peace never longer than nescessary to remove war exhaustion, kicking the BB wars off soon after the BB treshold is reached during the first half of the 15th century.

I don't really expect to win this game, but I'm sure to have fun trying

.

andy tarkovsky · 19-08-2003, 07:02

Ambition and balls. Good-luck.

Judge · 19-08-2003, 07:16

Good luck, you certainly need a great deal of luck so again, good luck

Peter Ebbesen · 19-08-2003, 07:35

Go for it!

Since you are going for bloody conquest of your neighbours rather than a full WC, how about saying that you are done, when you own every inhabited province you can walk to from Paris?

(You are going to become France within the first 10-15 years, I presume)

Machiavellian · 19-08-2003, 07:39

That plan in crazy. That plan is absolutely, positively Crazy. I like that plan.

Gaijin de Moscu · 19-08-2003, 07:52

I like this challenge. Will read, enjoy and learn

Singleton Mosby · 19-08-2003, 08:09

Waiting for the blood to flow.

Mulliman · 19-08-2003, 09:10

Good luck!

John F Nordlund · 19-08-2003, 09:21

GREAT, I hope the English wont take you in the begining.

Freiherr vStein · 19-08-2003, 09:35

Part 1: The Hundred Years War and the Crown of France

At the start of a Grand Campaign with AI-played England Henry V will always lead a 30k men army to Orleans and take it by siege. Orleans doesn’t have the means to stop him so there are only two ways to survive: Either capture another province before Orleans falls or buy yourself a separate peace with England.

Orleans begins the campaign with 10k infantry, 5k cavalry and 50 ducats. Before starting I ended the vassalization with France, increased land dp by one point, lowered maintenance to 50%, adjusted religious tolerance and divided the army in three 5k troops. These siege armies evaded Henrys main army successfully and initiated sieges in Caux, Calais and Flanders. With three simultaneous sieges the chances are pretty good that at least one of them finishes in time. In this game it was Caux

I continued sieging like this for some more, dodging the armies that came my way unless they were tiny, the treasury slider always all the way to the right when looting a new province and to the left when not

. Soon England made an offer I couldn't refuse: Calais, Caux and Normandie for peace with their alliance!

Since the war between French and English alliance was still going on I used the opportunity and immediately broke the truce by DOWing Burgundy. After some more sieging they offered me Flanders and Artois. Perfect!

It was already late 1421, though. Richemont would turn up in a bit more than three years and France would be much, much harder to beat then. So time to take some risk. I left the French alliance, took one loan and built a cavalry army, the proceeded to dow Bourbonnais (I had military access with France, much needed during the war against Burgundy). France had about 60k in the field at that time, fortunately mostly infantry. Provence, Bourbonnais and Auvergne another 40k. And Orleans 30k. Shortly after the dow France signed over Vendee and Guyenne to England. No distractions anymore either. Fortunately most of their armies concentrated their efforts on sieging Orleans. Un less I entered Paris of course. Somehow the French AI can never stomach a siege of Paris. Provence was willing to sign white peace and several sieges progressed nicely.

But eventually Orleans fell and The AI started to siege back several provinces simultaneously. with about 20k each. I gathered most of my cavalry and attacked one them with an equal-sized army with much stronger cavalry component, but no luck. No luck on the second attempt either. Only when I used all my cavalry and some reinforcements built with looting money did I start to wipe them out. Not before Champagne and Niversais were back in their hands, though. But by November 1424 I had 100% war score on France and after they rejected to cede all provinces except Ile de France two times they finally offered it themselves in January 1425.
Of course I immediately broke the truce by dowing Provence. I just had signed separate peace with Auvergne and they dishonored the alliance call this time and even dowed the French allies. Auvergne is sometimes surprisingly smart.
After the annex ion of France the Crown of France event finally triggered in November 1425. I could have sworn I made a screen shot

.
Anyway Richemont and 25k new soldiers just waited to crush the opposition and 30 artillery were ready to accelerate sieges but I was running out of enemies, Bourbonnais surrendered in may 1426 and Provence could never occupy them all. Since WE was still manageable I dowed England just after the truce ran out. Richmont slaughtered all Burgundian troops (ca 30k, half cav) and soon all English and Burgundian provinces were under siege. At the same time a galley fleet was under construction to complement the 6 warships from old France and as soon as the sieges were all finished the fleet managed to gain superiority in the channel. England had stationed 60k troops on the island in 2 armies, but of course that was no problem for Richemont and soon most of England proper was besieged or already captured.

The AI would of course never give away the province combinations I wanted to I had to settle with their offer.
So in March 1431 the 12 years of continuous wars finally ended and WE could begin to fall (from a level of 6 in cores).

Likely future targets are Brittany, Auvergne and the Iberians (in an alliance except for Portugal). After I have dealt with the Iberian Alliance I will probably trigger the BB wars.

EDIT:
BB is 22.2/36
inflation 3.8%

Timmy · 19-08-2003, 10:17

Eek...you certainly arent hanging around, i'll give you that...

Peter Ebbesen · 19-08-2003, 10:36

...And Denmark is already being dismantled by the German minors. Sigh. Ah, well, blood to the ankles and rising - keep up the good work.

Sabre Man · 19-08-2003, 15:11

Wow!

Looking forward to the next chapter.

Hajji Giray I · 19-08-2003, 15:59

Zowie! That's some insane playing you're doing!

I guess you won't need my wish of good luck...

I am not playing a multiplayer game against anybody named Freiherr vStein.

Anibal · 19-08-2003, 17:15

Great! I clap my hands!

juszuf7 · 19-08-2003, 17:58

Wow! Although I guess the rest should be easy playing as France...

Timmy · 19-08-2003, 18:06

I still count surviving as Orleans for more than a month as an achievement by its self...

Storey · 19-08-2003, 18:14

WOW doesn't do justice to what you're doing. How about "OH MY GOD ARE YOU MAD!"

Great start and looking forward to seeing how you handle the BB wars.

Joe

John F Nordlund · 19-08-2003, 18:45

Keep it going.

*Stroph1* · 19-08-2003, 18:58

Quote:

Great start and looking forward to seeing how you handle the BB wars.

My money is not going against Orleans! Onward and upward.

19-08-2003, 06:26	#1
Freiherr vStein Lt. General Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,403	Orleans turbo-WC attempt This is going to be a rather meager AAR, sorry. The point is to document my game, not to tell a story. No characters or imaginative narration. I am playing Orleans in the Grand Campaign, latest (23rd july) 1.07 beta patch, very hard/normal. The goal is to finish WC by 1552. This game is about conqest, not colonization or map-painting and if the dakota still exist when I reach the deadline I won't be particulary bothered either. WC will be considered as finished when I have annexed all nations I have contact with. My guideline is to follow the opposite of what Peter Ebbesen advises for easy and managable WC. Specifically, furious expansion in Europe while ignoring the new world, no particular care for BB costs, no diplo-annexions, no new alliances after the starting alliance, largely ignoring the economy (no sending merchants before the first few waves of mass-annextions), peace never longer than nescessary to remove war exhaustion, kicking the BB wars off soon after the BB treshold is reached during the first half of the 15th century. I don't really expect to win this game, but I'm sure to have fun trying .

19-08-2003, 07:16	#3
Judge In the mix Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: At work it seems Posts: 3,627	Good luck, you certainly need a great deal of luck so again, good luck __________________ The Kingdom of Jerusalem- A Modern Crusade COMPLETED Tiger of Mysore - 'Better two days as a tiger, than two hundred years as a sheep'- weekly showcase awarded twice Red Hot Chile A Chilean Empire under the sun (Victoria AAR) COMPLETED Horde of the Cross-Naimans the last Nestorian Christians (MES 0.3.3.3b) -COMPLETED

19-08-2003, 07:35	#4
Peter Ebbesen the Conqueror Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beyond the infinite Posts: 13,118	Go for it! Since you are going for bloody conquest of your neighbours rather than a full WC, how about saying that you are done, when you own every inhabited province you can walk to from Paris? (You are going to become France within the first 10-15 years, I presume) __________________ Need basic tech advice for Victoria 2? Read my little guide to killer techs. Got the go-ahead to move my V2 Beta AAR, Fruitcake, the Musical, out of the depths of the V2 beta forum and into public view. Currently writing (slowly) the puerile My Inevitable Greatness, a "Mount" and "Blade" Warband AAR. PG~13. For those interested in Dominions 3 (SP or MP), there is also an introduction thread to Dom3 MP in this thread run by Jarkko. ----- For new denizens of the forum: To post here you have already agreed to follow the user agreement and the general rules (pay specific attention to rules 2, 3, and 6 if writing while your temper is heated). Furthermore, there may be special rules for specific forums. These can usually be found in sticky posts at the top of a forum. Read the stickies and obey the rules and, overall, it is a much nicer forum for all of us. Disobey the rules and be moderated, warned, put on probation, or banned.

19-08-2003, 07:39	#5
Machiavellian Alternate Historian Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The endless maze of my own imagination. Posts: 1,868	That plan in crazy. That plan is absolutely, positively Crazy. I like that plan. __________________ "When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer..." 54-40' or... A counter-factual history of the Oregon Territory and the birth of Columbia. The Double Cross and The Golden Bull A tale of the 'new' history of the Kingdom of Hungary Royalist Roast: A Puritan AAR The adventures of the second puritan revolution Upon the desert sands: A Mongol Empire Scenario Dynasties in conflict with Outremer

19-08-2003, 07:52	#6
Gaijin de Moscu A Rising Tide Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Geneva - Moscow - Osaka Posts: 1,152	I like this challenge. Will read, enjoy and learn __________________ EU-II: Lenape World Conquest AAR 2nd Best Megalomaniacal conquest, 2004. An Azteca AAR July 2003 OscAAR; Broken Spears Silver Medal @ Best AAR Jan - June 2003; Russia / Vietnam AAR; A Pirate AAR; Japan AAR in Haiku. Vicky: Mexico: We People Here.

19-08-2003, 07:02	#2
andy tarkovsky Second Lieutenant Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 133	Ambition and balls. Good-luck.

19-08-2003, 08:09	#7
Singleton Mosby Lt.-Colonel of Guerillas Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mosby's Confederacy, Guerilla territory, VA. CSA Posts: 7,585	Waiting for the blood to flow. __________________ --- Under the Rising Sun - A Victoria 2 Review AAR --- My Victoria 2 Review ---- Writer for Armchair General.com and the AARlander ---- My HOI3 Preview, Beta AARs and Review AARlander Writing-contest Organizer ................. Former Editor in Chief of the AARland 'Advocate'

19-08-2003, 09:10	#8
Mulliman Im The Young Cow Man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,872	Good luck! __________________ I play eu MP. So should you... The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head. Rest in Peace, Daniel Auby

19-08-2003, 09:21	#9
John F Nordlund Second Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 122	GREAT, I hope the English wont take you in the begining.

19-08-2003, 09:35	#10
Freiherr vStein Lt. General Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,403	Part 1: The Hundred Years War and the Crown of France At the start of a Grand Campaign with AI-played England Henry V will always lead a 30k men army to Orleans and take it by siege. Orleans doesn’t have the means to stop him so there are only two ways to survive: Either capture another province before Orleans falls or buy yourself a separate peace with England. Orleans begins the campaign with 10k infantry, 5k cavalry and 50 ducats. Before starting I ended the vassalization with France, increased land dp by one point, lowered maintenance to 50%, adjusted religious tolerance and divided the army in three 5k troops. These siege armies evaded Henrys main army successfully and initiated sieges in Caux, Calais and Flanders. With three simultaneous sieges the chances are pretty good that at least one of them finishes in time. In this game it was Caux I continued sieging like this for some more, dodging the armies that came my way unless they were tiny, the treasury slider always all the way to the right when looting a new province and to the left when not . Soon England made an offer I couldn't refuse: Calais, Caux and Normandie for peace with their alliance! Since the war between French and English alliance was still going on I used the opportunity and immediately broke the truce by DOWing Burgundy. After some more sieging they offered me Flanders and Artois. Perfect! It was already late 1421, though. Richemont would turn up in a bit more than three years and France would be much, much harder to beat then. So time to take some risk. I left the French alliance, took one loan and built a cavalry army, the proceeded to dow Bourbonnais (I had military access with France, much needed during the war against Burgundy). France had about 60k in the field at that time, fortunately mostly infantry. Provence, Bourbonnais and Auvergne another 40k. And Orleans 30k. Shortly after the dow France signed over Vendee and Guyenne to England. No distractions anymore either. Fortunately most of their armies concentrated their efforts on sieging Orleans. Un less I entered Paris of course. Somehow the French AI can never stomach a siege of Paris. Provence was willing to sign white peace and several sieges progressed nicely. But eventually Orleans fell and The AI started to siege back several provinces simultaneously. with about 20k each. I gathered most of my cavalry and attacked one them with an equal-sized army with much stronger cavalry component, but no luck. No luck on the second attempt either. Only when I used all my cavalry and some reinforcements built with looting money did I start to wipe them out. Not before Champagne and Niversais were back in their hands, though. But by November 1424 I had 100% war score on France and after they rejected to cede all provinces except Ile de France two times they finally offered it themselves in January 1425. Of course I immediately broke the truce by dowing Provence. I just had signed separate peace with Auvergne and they dishonored the alliance call this time and even dowed the French allies. Auvergne is sometimes surprisingly smart. After the annex ion of France the Crown of France event finally triggered in November 1425. I could have sworn I made a screen shot . Anyway Richemont and 25k new soldiers just waited to crush the opposition and 30 artillery were ready to accelerate sieges but I was running out of enemies, Bourbonnais surrendered in may 1426 and Provence could never occupy them all. Since WE was still manageable I dowed England just after the truce ran out. Richmont slaughtered all Burgundian troops (ca 30k, half cav) and soon all English and Burgundian provinces were under siege. At the same time a galley fleet was under construction to complement the 6 warships from old France and as soon as the sieges were all finished the fleet managed to gain superiority in the channel. England had stationed 60k troops on the island in 2 armies, but of course that was no problem for Richemont and soon most of England proper was besieged or already captured. The AI would of course never give away the province combinations I wanted to I had to settle with their offer. So in March 1431 the 12 years of continuous wars finally ended and WE could begin to fall (from a level of 6 in cores). Likely future targets are Brittany, Auvergne and the Iberians (in an alliance except for Portugal). After I have dealt with the Iberian Alliance I will probably trigger the BB wars. EDIT: BB is 22.2/36 inflation 3.8% Last edited by Freiherr vStein; 04-09-2003 at 22:33.

19-08-2003, 10:17	#11
Timmy Speshul Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hereford, UK Posts: 375	Eek...you certainly arent hanging around, i'll give you that... __________________ "If it had not been for you English, I should have been Emperor of the East; but wherever there is water to float a ship, we are sure to find you in our way..." - Napoleon Bonaparte

19-08-2003, 10:36	#12
Peter Ebbesen the Conqueror Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beyond the infinite Posts: 13,118	...And Denmark is already being dismantled by the German minors. Sigh. Ah, well, blood to the ankles and rising - keep up the good work. __________________ Need basic tech advice for Victoria 2? Read my little guide to killer techs. Got the go-ahead to move my V2 Beta AAR, Fruitcake, the Musical, out of the depths of the V2 beta forum and into public view. Currently writing (slowly) the puerile My Inevitable Greatness, a "Mount" and "Blade" Warband AAR. PG~13. For those interested in Dominions 3 (SP or MP), there is also an introduction thread to Dom3 MP in this thread run by Jarkko. ----- For new denizens of the forum: To post here you have already agreed to follow the user agreement and the general rules (pay specific attention to rules 2, 3, and 6 if writing while your temper is heated). Furthermore, there may be special rules for specific forums. These can usually be found in sticky posts at the top of a forum. Read the stickies and obey the rules and, overall, it is a much nicer forum for all of us. Disobey the rules and be moderated, warned, put on probation, or banned. Last edited by Peter Ebbesen; 19-08-2003 at 18:22.

19-08-2003, 15:11	#13
Sabre Man Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mallow, Ireland Posts: 1,473	Wow! Looking forward to the next chapter.

19-08-2003, 15:59	#14
Hajji Giray I Khan of the Crimea Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: December 17, 1902 Posts: 2,042	Zowie! That's some insane playing you're doing! I guess you won't need my wish of good luck... I am not playing a multiplayer game against anybody named Freiherr vStein. __________________ Friends, I am no longer a regular visitor to the Paradox forums. However, you can attract my attention at any time by sending me a PM. I am notified by e-mail and will happily get in touch. ~ Hajji The Official OT Forum Museum a collection of the best OT posts and threads of all time! The Jingles v. Hajji Girl-Getting Challenge Debts Unpaid: The First Guy Marlborough Mystery Five times an AARland Choice Winner! View a directory of my other AARs

19-08-2003, 17:15	#15
Anibal Not so idle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Campinas - SP - Brazil Posts: 3,716	Great! I clap my hands! __________________ Member of the International Native Speaker Resistance Proud owner of 50 2Coaties

19-08-2003, 17:58	#16
juszuf7 Serf Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Behind you! Posts: 826	Wow! Although I guess the rest should be easy playing as France... __________________ Walt Disney had wooden teeth. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets. The Sanskrit word for war translates as 'wanting more cows.' For more interesting facts visit the Random facts site

19-08-2003, 18:06	#17
Timmy Speshul Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hereford, UK Posts: 375	I still count surviving as Orleans for more than a month as an achievement by its self... __________________ "If it had not been for you English, I should have been Emperor of the East; but wherever there is water to float a ship, we are sure to find you in our way..." - Napoleon Bonaparte

19-08-2003, 18:14	#18
Storey StoreytellAAR Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: West Coast Posts: 5,892	WOW doesn't do justice to what you're doing. How about "OH MY GOD ARE YOU MAD!" Great start and looking forward to seeing how you handle the BB wars. Joe __________________ The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell Desert Tides or how I learned to swim in quicksand Adventure A Tall Tale Told on a Cold Night Fantasy

19-08-2003, 18:45	#19
John F Nordlund Second Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 122	Keep it going.