Back to the desk...
Turn 7-8
After his prophet Witterich failed to find any interesting site in Aquitania, Hephaistos decided that his army cant be able to take another punishement. Losing 3 guys isn't that bad, except when that make more than 10% of your forces. So he tried to recruit some foreign troups. He first choose some Hobburg fighters but they proved irreliable
they get destroyed before even finishing their previous contract so he order a force of heavy infantry instead: Fernando Footmens.
They arrived in a few weeks , with the knights reinforcement from capitole. The total army is set to attack Languedoc next turn and finish uniting France under Hephaistos Standard. The worriest thing is that now, with the mercenary reinforcement Ulm army have tripled in number !!! Just hope they dont get too greedy...
Spies report a far worst news, Mediteranean sea is full of hostile atlantes ! This is just the second worst possible outcome, at least it isn't R'Lyeh. But the idea of peacefull development is postpone.
Turn 9
"Thoses guys are worth every single gold piece". Mercenary behaves perfectly and took the worst of the onslaught. Languedoc is ours wich is at Last a good new. " Now the trouble will be to have them paid..." Thoses mercenaries were far too strong and not enough of them die in this battle, and a storm just killed one fourth of the population in Aquitania.
The Last gold in treasure have been spent to raise militia in Languedoc in order to somewhat deter an early Atlantean assault. Spies have reported that another pretender is dug in Algerian mountains, that make 2 close foes, 4 if you account for the ones in Groenland and Ural. Spy will go through Italia to recon the opposition.
"How will we pay for thoses mercenaries ? " thought Hephaistos "Well, I wonder how they will behave against knights and longbows"...Time to attack Alemania.
note: Well, just misfortune:1, yeah right
guess I forgot there is no scale for my own luck... TINC: 323 R:162. Mage left in the rear to search for magic site, I decidely neef more gems income.
I just notice that the VP in each capitole make it easier to notice opposition start province.
Turn 10
There is major progress in magic (
CONJURATION AND EVOCATION TO 2 ).
Seems the remnant of the barbarian horde that have attacked Normandy have regrouped, and they now try to seize Languedoc ! To add injury to insult they surprise Arnulf the Master Smith while he was looking for ore gisement, his weak magic power doesnt seems enough to stop their charge. But there is a god, or at least a pretender god watching over him and the 10 newly built arbalest of the local militia manage to rout the barbarian in two volley before they reach him. Now the question is where will they strike now ?
In Alemania the local nobles confront us with 10 knights, 15 longbows and numerous militia. Fernando's men bravely took the fight and backed up by Witterich blessing are slain on their position while Ulmish axeholders start to chop down the now exhausted knights. The two black knighyt fought bravely and manage to survive this time, chopping score of ennemy infantry and archer.
Anyway the efficiency of this new weapon is duly noticed, and especially the fact that the black steel seems impervious to it. Hephaistos quickly give order to have a castle build here, regardless for the sacrifices
(It will greatly impede my home province ressources, and I wont be able to raise more troups this turn. )
Atlantis strongly build up along our coast.
Note: TInc: 397, Upkeep: 112, R:175
The worst thing is I only manage to get up to 433 gold for my 450 gold castle this turn ... and that is AFTER I alchemized my gems hoard
Turn 11-13
Hephaistos is now pondering his next move. While he can wait for the completion of his castle of Alemania he decidely have hard time planning where to go next. He lack troups, badly. Raising them is slow, too slow. He lack gems too.
What he have plentyfully is smiths, but all they can do is roam the libraries while waiting for something to forge.
Unrest grow through the kingdom but as a lightening event a handfull of nature gems are found. All the province militia are raised to stronger level, and the pikemen and knights regiments are now complete.
The spies report 2 important information:
- Algerian nation is identified as Mictlan, wich is a half-blessing.
- Tunisia is reported to have a great ore gisement AND a shambler mound.
Research is progressing nicely and Earthpower enhancement is now avaliable to the smiths, Wind Blade is just some weeks away.
But, where to attack now ?
Secure Europe and build a strong army, while delaying frontal confrontation with Atlantis and Mictlan sound like a decent and safe option. But would'nt it be better to strike now they are weaks ?
Expanding though Italy to reach Mictlan, his ore and his weak starting force before they start pactising with Devil could be safer. But how to guard all this coastline against Atlantis ?
Taking Spain and his Ichyatlid army, building a castle there and going against Atlantis sound a bit difficult, especially as we lack any decent water commander...
Now is the time of the biggest decision.
End notes
Final income : 373, upkeep : 140, R: 176
I now my expansion rate is subpar but I just like to play it slowly, that suit me more. I dont like playing TBS like RTS. A quick look at stats show I am far from being the Last except that I lack in army ( big time ) and in research quite surprisingly in fact. I am currently CONS 1, CONJ 3, EVOC 3 with 50 RP a turn. I wont go more cons until I found some gems.
I got a lot of bad luck but nothing really too bad....
Now I have also to plan my armies as I like to have them designed and standardised ( easier to manage ). It will be the first time I would be able to rely on efficient longbow production with Ulm, will look what it change.
As always, comment welcomes, especially about what I should do next.
[ February 13, 2004, 14:57: Message edited by: IKerensky ]