Gamers are not superstitious, it's bad luck.
Donogh
Last week was a bad news, good news, bad news kind of week for my computer.
On Sunday (after a monster session on Medieval Total War) I got a blue-screen-of-death. I was narked off, as I lost two good battles, one against the Milanese and an other against the Mongols.
Things got worse though on Monday when I found that my machine wouldn't boot up.
Two evenings of attempted repairs came to nought, so I was forced to reinstall the operating system, which would of course wipe everything on the drive.
Not to worry really, because I had everything backed up (from Saturday night in fact, so there would be no data loss at all) apart from various programmes installed. Even my favourites were safe on my google toolbar.
Happy days say I, even though I have to fork out for a new memory board (hey, I needed an upgrade anyway, right?)
Unfortunately, when I got back up and running, I saw that all my screenshots/saved games for Total War were gone.
Shite!
Of course, everything important was safe: photos, campaign notes, wargames scenarios blah blah blah; I had learned my lesson well from my fatal mechanical drive failure two years ago.
But, I mean who backs up their saved games and screenshots, right?
I'll post some recollections/notes from the gameplay over the few days prior to the crash, just in case you're interested
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bitter Warfare, Broken Alliances and a terrible threat to Empire
After God, we should place our hope of safety in our weapons, not in our fortifications alone
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
Following their peace treaty with the Empire, the Germans attempt to take back Vienna, though their small army barely outnumbers our garrison.
A terrible storm strikes Venice, but while the garrison inside is saved from any damage, our besieging army is ravaged and many are drowned or burnt in the fires which follow in the storm's wake.
Threatening terrible retribution for their abortive attack on Vienna, the Germans sue for peace and concede the fortress of Innsbruck to us. This city shall prove the bulwark against all future attacks by the Germans, and will serve to stabilise northern Italy also.
The garrison of Venice sallied forth, and despite being outnumbered we trust in Modestos to hold his ground and crush the Venetian resistance to the return of Empire. The Venetians are helpless against us, even though their tactic of hiding behind pavises and shooting at us from the cover of their walls does worry us for a while.
Meanwhile another force under our Prince has embarked from Sicily to North Africa to put pressure on the Sicilians there, but despite besieging two of their cities the Venetians refuse to see sense and accept out terms. Now they are left with only the city of Milan.
Foolishly, seeing us under pressure from several fronts, the Hungarians attack us, blockading Nicaea with a strong fleet and sending an army south from Bucharest.
However several forces which were moving eastwards to counter the Mongol threat are in a position to disembark and fight them off. The Hungarians pay dearly for their opportunism, with Milan and the Turks abandoning their long-held alliances.
Our forces near Zagreb are even in a position to threaten Budapest itself
Admiral Voulgariotes has struck a miraculous blow against the Hungarians, destroyed their entire fleet coming out of the Nicaean harbour. Surely his name will be blessed by future generations!
The shock of this is such to give the Hungarians pause, and they concede Sofia, a great fortress overlooking Byzantium itself, through some hard bargaining by our emissary.
The Mongols have sacked Mosul, and not a single Turk is left! While the Turks have obviously done some damage to the Horde I think it unlikely that they will stop them before they reach the Euphrates and the Empire.
I have too armies in the region, fresh from conquering Gaza and Damascus, but I think some more will have reached there before the Mongols cut a swathe through the Turks.
I am now at war with the Moor, as they attempt (and fail) to take Cagliari, with some last minute assistance from our general leading a small force of cavalry. Despite our victory, this does not bode well for stability in the west.
The Mongols now send some number south around the frontier, and into the province of Jedda, where we have only light forces. This is the weak underbelly and from here they can advance on Jerusalem itself. I strengthen all the garrisons in the region and place an army at Jacob's Ford.
Meanwhile, Prince Ioannes, carried by fleet from the newly conquered city of Tripoli has arrived at Alexandria to continue our war with Egypt.
Hopefully his siege will go quickly and he will embark to arrive in Jerusalem to conduct out defence of the East...
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
Following their peace treaty with the Empire, the Germans attempt to take back Vienna, though their small army barely outnumbers our garrison.
The diplomatic repercussions of their move are terrible for them, with both Milan going to war with them and Hungary abandoning their alliance. Elsewhere interesting things have been happening also; obviously the war Hungary has been prosecuting against Poland has gone well for them, the Polish King becomes their vassal.
With their final stronghold in Ajaccio taken, the Sicilians are no more, only a few renegades remain in the hills and forests.
Grave news from the East. The Mongols! They have arrived somewhere near Baghdad, but what direction they take is a mystery. We had hear news of their coming previously, but had expected them to appear near the Caspian Gates or beyond, not so near to our lands.
Fortunately I am in a position to strike back against the Germans, and after a brave sally from the Vienna garrison drives them off, our large army in Italy marches north towards their fortress in Innsbruck, while my army still besieges Venice. While attempting to take Bologna seems an obvious move, I know that once I take Innsbruck, the Germans' ability to withstand my military might in future will be severly curtailed.
A terrible storm strikes Venice, but while the garrison inside is saved from any damage, our besieging army is ravaged and many are drowned or burnt in the fires which follow in the storm's wake.
Threatening terrible retribution for their abortive attack on Vienna, the Germans sue for peace and concede the fortress of Innsbruck to us. This city shall prove the bulwark against all future attacks by the Germans, and will serve to stabilise northern Italy also.
The garrison of Venice sallied forth, and despite being outnumbered we trust in Modestos to hold his ground and crush the Venetian resistance to the return of Empire. The Venetians are helpless against us, even though their tactic of hiding behind pavises and shooting at us from the cover of their walls does worry us for a while.
Meanwhile another force under our Prince has embarked from Sicily to North Africa to put pressure on the Sicilians there, but despite besieging two of their cities the Venetians refuse to see sense and accept out terms. Now they are left with only the city of Milan.
Foolishly, seeing us under pressure from several fronts, the Hungarians attack us, blockading Nicaea with a strong fleet and sending an army south from Bucharest.
However several forces which were moving eastwards to counter the Mongol threat are in a position to disembark and fight them off. The Hungarians pay dearly for their opportunism, with Milan and the Turks abandoning their long-held alliances.
Our forces near Zagreb are even in a position to threaten Budapest itself
Admiral Voulgariotes has struck a miraculous blow against the Hungarians, destroyed their entire fleet coming out of the Nicaean harbour. Surely his name will be blessed by future generations!
The shock of this is such to give the Hungarians pause, and they concede Sofia, a great fortress overlooking Byzantium itself, through some hard bargaining by our emissary.
The Mongols have sacked Mosul, and not a single Turk is left! While the Turks have obviously done some damage to the Horde I think it unlikely that they will stop them before they reach the Euphrates and the Empire.
I have too armies in the region, fresh from conquering Gaza and Damascus, but I think some more will have reached there before the Mongols cut a swathe through the Turks.
I am now at war with the Moor, as they attempt (and fail) to take Cagliari, with some last minute assistance from our general leading a small force of cavalry. Despite our victory, this does not bode well for stability in the west.
The Mongols now send some number south around the frontier, and into the province of Jedda, where we have only light forces. This is the weak underbelly and from here they can advance on Jerusalem itself. I strengthen all the garrisons in the region and place an army at Jacob's Ford.
Meanwhile, Prince Ioannes, carried by fleet from the newly conquered city of Tripoli has arrived at Alexandria to continue our war with Egypt.
Hopefully his siege will go quickly and he will embark to arrive in Jerusalem to conduct out defence of the East...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Conquest in The War with Sicily, and Profitable Diplomacy
Mistakes made in ordinary affairs can generally be remedied in a short while, but errors made in war cause lasting harm
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
With the Germans vile betrayal, alliances break up because of it. The Turks stay loyal to us, perhaps out of fear, with our Prince prowling the frontier with his hardened army.
The Milanese stay with the Germans, not surprisingly as they are under the Eagle's talons. The Hungarians too, remain allied to the Germans, and this we will not forgive. They are our earliest allies, and married our beloved daughter Anna. We will mark their names, and crush them when the time is right.
We clear the seas of the Sicilian fleet, their last army abroad will not return to its shores.
Meanwhile in the East the Limes are complete: any attack from the Turks will be known well in advance and our forts will slow them to give our armies the chance to respond. But it looks like we are being assaulted by an army of German emissaries.
Our council of nobles know no dissuading of the perils of fighting multiple enemies, as they give us a most unusual mission: to take Jerusalem through diplomacy. If our emissary Maleses were nearby, he would do it without any trouble to be sure, but here some noble's son is entrusted with the task.
We receive a charming Sicilian Princess at Naples, asking for a ceasefire (just as the garrison of Palermo is ready to drop from hunger). But she is proud and will accept no reasonable terms given their position, and the garrison is forced to sally forth. Even with a small relief force send from Cagliari, they are hopelessly outnumbered
The Sicilian advance up the steep hill overlooking Palermo is undone even before they reach our lines.
As we countercharge, their foolish King Simon is wounded and captured, and two of his kinsmen are slain.
Our troops cheer in exultation, they have retaken Italian territory, for the first time in a generation, but something our people have held since the days when Hannibal threatened the gates of Rome.
Our young emissary Balentes is successful, and Jerusalem is handed over to us for the cost of three tributes of almost five thousand florins and a promise to attack local rebels. A high price, but we are sure it is worth it to have The Holy City back in Christian hands (also Jerusalem will have earned the tribute within 10 years)
Our army, just victorious from Naples, marches northwards to invade the German province of Bologna, and meanwhile our army in Ragusa prepares to march northwards to Vienna. The Germans will pay for their behaviour.
With these two experienced and large armies marching towards their borders, the Germans think twice (give that they are also at war with England and Denmark (our recent allies). And concede Vienna to us for a lasting peace.
Milan are only too pleased to reaffirm their alliance with us. Hopefully they will be wise enough to recognise the stronger party next time.
We transport our army, reprovisioned in the newly conquered city of Palermo, to conquer Cagliari.
Our advisors announce that we are now the strongest, most influential power in the known world.
A quick trip north and we are ready to besiege the last Sicilian stronghold. Our name will be feared across the Mediterranean, and theirs will be ground into dust.
Our brave Emperor John has lead some picked men to Jedda, making our treaty commitment to the Egyptians and his quest to restore the glory of the Empire work hand in hand
Soon we shall be able to return our attention to Venice who continue to thwart us diplomatically.
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
With the Germans vile betrayal, alliances break up because of it. The Turks stay loyal to us, perhaps out of fear, with our Prince prowling the frontier with his hardened army.
The Milanese stay with the Germans, not surprisingly as they are under the Eagle's talons. The Hungarians too, remain allied to the Germans, and this we will not forgive. They are our earliest allies, and married our beloved daughter Anna. We will mark their names, and crush them when the time is right.
We clear the seas of the Sicilian fleet, their last army abroad will not return to its shores.
Meanwhile in the East the Limes are complete: any attack from the Turks will be known well in advance and our forts will slow them to give our armies the chance to respond. But it looks like we are being assaulted by an army of German emissaries.
Our council of nobles know no dissuading of the perils of fighting multiple enemies, as they give us a most unusual mission: to take Jerusalem through diplomacy. If our emissary Maleses were nearby, he would do it without any trouble to be sure, but here some noble's son is entrusted with the task.
We receive a charming Sicilian Princess at Naples, asking for a ceasefire (just as the garrison of Palermo is ready to drop from hunger). But she is proud and will accept no reasonable terms given their position, and the garrison is forced to sally forth. Even with a small relief force send from Cagliari, they are hopelessly outnumbered
The Sicilian advance up the steep hill overlooking Palermo is undone even before they reach our lines.
As we countercharge, their foolish King Simon is wounded and captured, and two of his kinsmen are slain.
Our troops cheer in exultation, they have retaken Italian territory, for the first time in a generation, but something our people have held since the days when Hannibal threatened the gates of Rome.
Our young emissary Balentes is successful, and Jerusalem is handed over to us for the cost of three tributes of almost five thousand florins and a promise to attack local rebels. A high price, but we are sure it is worth it to have The Holy City back in Christian hands (also Jerusalem will have earned the tribute within 10 years)
Our army, just victorious from Naples, marches northwards to invade the German province of Bologna, and meanwhile our army in Ragusa prepares to march northwards to Vienna. The Germans will pay for their behaviour.
With these two experienced and large armies marching towards their borders, the Germans think twice (give that they are also at war with England and Denmark (our recent allies). And concede Vienna to us for a lasting peace.
Milan are only too pleased to reaffirm their alliance with us. Hopefully they will be wise enough to recognise the stronger party next time.
We transport our army, reprovisioned in the newly conquered city of Palermo, to conquer Cagliari.
Our advisors announce that we are now the strongest, most influential power in the known world.
A quick trip north and we are ready to besiege the last Sicilian stronghold. Our name will be feared across the Mediterranean, and theirs will be ground into dust.
Our brave Emperor John has lead some picked men to Jedda, making our treaty commitment to the Egyptians and his quest to restore the glory of the Empire work hand in hand
Soon we shall be able to return our attention to Venice who continue to thwart us diplomatically.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
War with Sicily
In battles and in every action against the enemy the wise general, even the most courageous, will keep in mind the possibility of failure and defeat and will plan for them as actually occuring
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
While we are besieging Antioch, the Pope calls a crusade on it. What will happen when we take the city? Will the crusading armies already assembled continue on us?
Will we end up at war with most of Christendom?
Regardless we steel ourselves to persevere with the siege, but to speed up our intended timetable for the storming of the keep, to minimize the likelihood of there being many (or any) crusades being launched.
Then we will just have to rely on the common sense of monarchs and of the Pope to cancel their ill-conceived crusade.
As soon as word reaches Rome that we have succesfully taken Antioch, the Pope cancels the crusade, as all enthusiasm for it dies out amonst the Latin Kingdoms.
With peace in the West, The Emperor continues his efforts to restore our frontiers to the Euphrates, as in ancient times. With the conquest of Aleppo he rests a while and considers the Turks to the north and the Egyptians to the south, who seem the easier target, with the added incentive of Holy Jerusalem.
Back in the Adriatic, we are suspicious of Papal troops movements by sea. and we wonder who could be the target of this attack?
The Moors join our alliance, requesting this in addition to trade rights, but we have no time to be pleased with this, for the Sicilians have shown their true colours and have declared war on us with a concerted blockade of our ports and by landing an army near Ragusa.
Our first naval engagement does not go well for us, but our fleet takes refuge near Corinth and repairs itself for another battle, the Sicilians are much further away from their ports and that will be decisive.
Meanwhile, our good servant Maleses has reached the great northern fortress of Caen and we are in alliance with England also.
While our plan with regard to Sicily is forming - we will launch attacks on their cities Naples and Palermo with our two armies from Zagreb and Constantinople (which we had intended to sail into the Black Sea to take control of Chersonesus.
These plans are threatened by our suspicions of Turkish activity near Antioch and Adana, as we wonder where these troops can be going?
A young Princess from the Danes arrives in France, and our good emissary Maleses takes this opportunity to throw our influence further into the world. Truly the known world recognises our power and righteous role as Emperor!
A nobleman of some talent presents himself to us as a candidate for adoption, and we gratefully accept, he may lead our armies yet.
The first prong of our attack lands on Sicilian territory, surely they must be regretting their decision to pull our beards now!
The Sicilians have just sent an expedition towards Ragusa to reinforce their army there, but we are in a good position to intercept it with our strengthened fleet.
Almost with pity we attack the weakened Sicilian forces outside Ragusa, our Prince has marched from Zagreb and shown patience with their presence as we hope for a diplomatic intervention from the Pope.
They have no hope, and many of their brave number are dead before they charge our lines
We wonder as the Pope calls Crusade on Tunis, as this land is held by the Venetians. That must have been the destination of the Papal fleet we noticed previously, but what help can the Pope expect in his warmongering from good monarchs across Christendom?
Indeed we feel that the Venetian have little hope of holding out against that army, but we secretly hope that the Pope's army comes to grief.
Another Sicilian army lands in Ragusa, but they must wonder where our Prince is!
We trust in the current garrison to drive them off in any case. But now the Sicilians should worry for their own country, rather than concern themselves with conquests.
For now, our armies have reached both the Sicilian fortress at Palermo, and the grand city of Naples. Both are now under siege, and with little hope of relief.
Meanwhile in the East, with the Turkish threat in mind, our Emperor begins a scheme to restore the Limes to their former strength, building a series of watchtowers and forts along the frontier.
But what is this madness!?
The Germans have struck at us, blockading our Greek ports with their strong fleets, and ambushing several of our small squadrons on the high seas. Suddenly our provinces in the north look vulnerable...
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
While we are besieging Antioch, the Pope calls a crusade on it. What will happen when we take the city? Will the crusading armies already assembled continue on us?
Will we end up at war with most of Christendom?
Regardless we steel ourselves to persevere with the siege, but to speed up our intended timetable for the storming of the keep, to minimize the likelihood of there being many (or any) crusades being launched.
Then we will just have to rely on the common sense of monarchs and of the Pope to cancel their ill-conceived crusade.
As soon as word reaches Rome that we have succesfully taken Antioch, the Pope cancels the crusade, as all enthusiasm for it dies out amonst the Latin Kingdoms.
With peace in the West, The Emperor continues his efforts to restore our frontiers to the Euphrates, as in ancient times. With the conquest of Aleppo he rests a while and considers the Turks to the north and the Egyptians to the south, who seem the easier target, with the added incentive of Holy Jerusalem.
Back in the Adriatic, we are suspicious of Papal troops movements by sea. and we wonder who could be the target of this attack?
The Moors join our alliance, requesting this in addition to trade rights, but we have no time to be pleased with this, for the Sicilians have shown their true colours and have declared war on us with a concerted blockade of our ports and by landing an army near Ragusa.
Our first naval engagement does not go well for us, but our fleet takes refuge near Corinth and repairs itself for another battle, the Sicilians are much further away from their ports and that will be decisive.
Meanwhile, our good servant Maleses has reached the great northern fortress of Caen and we are in alliance with England also.
While our plan with regard to Sicily is forming - we will launch attacks on their cities Naples and Palermo with our two armies from Zagreb and Constantinople (which we had intended to sail into the Black Sea to take control of Chersonesus.
These plans are threatened by our suspicions of Turkish activity near Antioch and Adana, as we wonder where these troops can be going?
A young Princess from the Danes arrives in France, and our good emissary Maleses takes this opportunity to throw our influence further into the world. Truly the known world recognises our power and righteous role as Emperor!
A nobleman of some talent presents himself to us as a candidate for adoption, and we gratefully accept, he may lead our armies yet.
The first prong of our attack lands on Sicilian territory, surely they must be regretting their decision to pull our beards now!
The Sicilians have just sent an expedition towards Ragusa to reinforce their army there, but we are in a good position to intercept it with our strengthened fleet.
Almost with pity we attack the weakened Sicilian forces outside Ragusa, our Prince has marched from Zagreb and shown patience with their presence as we hope for a diplomatic intervention from the Pope.
They have no hope, and many of their brave number are dead before they charge our lines
We wonder as the Pope calls Crusade on Tunis, as this land is held by the Venetians. That must have been the destination of the Papal fleet we noticed previously, but what help can the Pope expect in his warmongering from good monarchs across Christendom?
Indeed we feel that the Venetian have little hope of holding out against that army, but we secretly hope that the Pope's army comes to grief.
Another Sicilian army lands in Ragusa, but they must wonder where our Prince is!
We trust in the current garrison to drive them off in any case. But now the Sicilians should worry for their own country, rather than concern themselves with conquests.
For now, our armies have reached both the Sicilian fortress at Palermo, and the grand city of Naples. Both are now under siege, and with little hope of relief.
Meanwhile in the East, with the Turkish threat in mind, our Emperor begins a scheme to restore the Limes to their former strength, building a series of watchtowers and forts along the frontier.
But what is this madness!?
The Germans have struck at us, blockading our Greek ports with their strong fleets, and ambushing several of our small squadrons on the high seas. Suddenly our provinces in the north look vulnerable...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
