CarinthiAAR: A DVIP + More Kingdoms AAR

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Greetings to everyone, this is my first after action report attempt and I hope to offer you all a fine tale. I have no presumptions of being an excellent storyteller and my grasp of medieval times is limited to Hollywood for the most part. I am a long time lurker and only occasional poster here on Paradox and I have finally decided that making an AAR would be an experience I would like to have.

The von Zahringen family of the Duchy of Carinthia will be the subject of my story, which starts on January 1st 1067. Again, since I don't have much in the way of knowledge regarding the time period, I will be ad libbing their relationships with one another and the world around them. Please forgive me if I come up with anything too outrageous and I will try my best to keep the story reasonable.

I picked Carinthia because it was my first successful CK game back in the early days of vanilla and I wanted to return to them for my first AAR. I think they have great potential for expansion with a collapsing HRE or Croatia, but I have no current set plan of action for the game itself; I intend to react as best I can while roleplaying the characters I'm provided with.

My game is running with the latest DVIP update with no other modifications. I wish to take this opportunity to thank Jorddarkelf for his tireless work in creating an excellent mod for my favorite Paradox game!

Below is a map I made using GIMP to set the location/ setting for the AAR. Snugglie made an excellent tutorial on how to make this style of map in the June 2008 issue of the Aarlander and I also want to thank him for walking me through all the steps! Hopefully, I will have the first gameplay segment up tommorow where I introduce all of the characters. Thank you very much for reading and please comment on anything; I would love to find out what you think!

Central Europe 1067​

 

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An Introduction to Carinthia- Part 1, 2

 

[Landwalker]

The "GIMP Guide" for maps is a great one -- I used the same thing when I was working with Denmark in my EU3 AAR. Although I haven't figured out yet how to do the curved text, which looks great here. What "blank map" are you using for this?

I'm also curious about the "+ More Kingdoms" part of your title. I'm always in favor of more kingdoms. What are you using? (Edit: Nevermind, after poking around in the DVIP threads I found what I assume you're talking about).

Cheers.

 

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Hello and thank you for your interest Landwalker!

I agree with you in saying that the maps look really neat with Snugglies guide, dried parchment just seems right considering the time period etc.

I am actually using Snugglies own redrawn map, found within his post in the same issue he does the tutorial in. It closes up alot of the gaps that I had problems with in the basic map, making it much easier to get the right boundaries without overlapping. It can be found here, towards the top of his post. Snugglies base map

Glad you found the + Kingdoms addon that Jarddarkelf has out for the DVIP mod. If I recall correctly, it just adds in Andalusia (Southern Spain), Aquitania (Southern France), Brittany (Same borders as the duchy), and Lotharingia (Low Countries and Northwest Germany). I don't really plan on trying to create any of those, but the AI might get its act together and surprise us!

Thanks again for the interest and hope you like the coming AAR!

 

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An Introduction to Carinthia- Part 1

This first post is just to get you introduced to the characters I will start the game with and take a close look at the Duchy itself. I hope to have a bit of game play up later tonight after work. Thanks very much for reading!

The Duke and his Family

Berthold von Zahringen is the latest scion of his prestigious family and is a capable man for the most part. He has honed his own ability in battle to a fine edge over his years of service to the German kings, but age has crept over him and his heady days as a frontline fighter against the enemies of the Kingdom are over. He has a strong sense of Christian duty, as befits any knight, and is known for his mild temper and devotion to family when ruling his lands. Berthold’s intellectual ability is not the keenest and recently the strain of controlling far stretched territories has surpassed his aptitude.

Richwara von Babenberg is the devoted wife of Berthold and mother to his four children. The initial reason for their marriage was political, yet the years together have seen their hearts grow very fond of one another. Before marrying Berthold, Richwara was well educated at the insistence of her mother and even now acts as the chief steward of the castle at Kärnten and its surrounding holdings.

Hermann von Zahringen is the eldest son and heir presumptive of the current Duke. He has spent his entire life training to be prepared for accepting the reins of power his father currently possesses and has made great strides towards that goal. A martially based education was decided for him early and his own abilities have grown to match the expectations of a military life. As a young man of a politically active family, he is expected to be wed soon to a suitable bride.

Berthold von Zahringen is his father’s namesake and is perhaps the Duke’s favorite offspring. The elder Berthold attempts to make time in each day to personally instruct the young man; a practice which has developed him into a well rounded individual given his own natural abilities and constant desire for more challenge from his lessons. He too has focused on preparing his body and mind for the theatre of war and constantly impresses his tutors with his desire to succeed.

Gebhard von Zahringen breaks with his two older brothers by not being overly interested in military training. He is instead a quiet, introspective youth that takes great enjoyment from writing letters and studying scripture. The Duke’s chaplain has taken it upon himself to ensure that this concentration on religious study is supported to the best of his abilities.

Luitgard von Zahringen is the only daughter of the Duke, but he seldom has much contact with her over the course of a normal day. Her routine focuses on becoming familiar with the courtly life of a castle and preparing herself to be a suitable bride when she comes of age. Her instructors in the womanly arts have been very impressed with the girl’s ability to master their lessons and promise the Duke that his daughter will be a fine example of ladylike grace.

The Duke’s Court

To assist him in maintaining his fiefs, the Duke has secured the services of many worthy individuals.

Jutte von Cilli is a natural diplomat whose power lies in the disarming way she handles dignitaries from the other courts of Christendom. Her normally mild exterior behavior is balanced by a forceful will to serve her master’s will. She is also a very Christian woman, setting service to the Almighty as a top priority within her personal life.

Husbert of Cremona is a recent Italian immigrant to the Duchy but he maintains himself as one of the best warriors within its boundaries. After an early life of adventuring with mercenary bands in his native land, Husbert attached himself to the Duke’s former marshal as that man sought to pacify bandits within the ducal holdings near Verona. Impressed with the young man, the marshal took Husbert into his retinue and got him a place in the Duke’s household. When the old marshal died of illness last year, Husbert was already groomed to succeed him.

Arnolfo of Cremona is another Italian in the service of the von Zahringens. His has always been a shadowy place at court and all of the clandestine affairs of the realm pass through his hand. His counsel to the Duke has often been tinted towards the dark side of human morality, yet he remains a valuable servant in the cutthroat world of feudal politics. On a personal level, Arnolfo is a very plain personage, never taking wine with his meals and often looking contemptuously on those that let strong spirits take their reason away.

Eberhard Pellegrino is the youngest and newest member of the Duke’s inner circle but he is still a valuable addition. Recently confirmed as Bishop thanks to his family connections within the church, Eberhard holds a sincere love of God and Christian duty in his heart. In the year that he has been at court, he has already spearheaded efforts to relieve the suffering ill and impoverished within the boundaries of the county and is very popular with the people. His prime devotion at the moment is to instruct the Duke’s son Gebhard in matters of religious education.​

 

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Another introduction chapter later tonight with vassals and lands being the topic of discussion. Thanks again for reading!

 

[LlywelynII]

Welcome! It's always a treat when the lurkers come out from hiding.*

You do a lovely job integrating the traits into your character histories - are you going to be trying to role-play them? Personally, I'd love that as most of us generally try to play as well as possible at all times & it can make us too successful after the rough early years.

Alternatively, you're in almost the same place as Mr. A's Brick by Brick (he's Bavaria just to your north) - maybe you could have competing AARs

[size=-1]Minor points:

• I know absolutely nothing about Carinthia and will not be judging you by those standards, although an AAR can be a good opportunity to read up on a region and learn more about its culture and people.
• The map is lovely, but could use fonts.
• lol@ the duke's son's tutor having a diplo of 3: it'd be fun to learn exactly why he is such an awful teacher, esp. given as the locals seem to like him

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*although you probably are going to miss the HOI3 contest unless you hurry. Maybe not that big a deal if you don't like the WWII era, though.

 

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Thank you very much for your response and interest Llywelyn!

My goal is certainly to try and roleplay the characters within my domain as effectively as possible. It will hopefully add a few good interesting dilemmas when confronted with different events and will also allow me to grow as a writer since I need to put myself in their shoes!

All in all, I intend to try and take a leisurely pace through the game, with expansion only coming at a reasonable pace. Depending on how the cookie crumbles (and by cookie I mean the German Kingdom...), I hope to maintain myself as a regional power in Northern Italy and the Balkans.

Thank you for both of the links, as I am glad for the opportunity to study others work and incorporate it into my story. Your epic poem style is something to be envied!

I will look into using a few more appropriate fonts in the next GIMP map I make, I really didn't spend as much time as I should on this one. Both the Papal State and Denmark text looks like it is clipping badly. I promise to try better next time!

As for Eberhard the Bishop, I guess I simply took his low diplomacy to mean he is a bit more standoffish than normal, but that his zealous trait takes over when it comes to helping the people of the provinces. He might not make an excellent dinner guest for conversation (I see him as having a one track mind), but he can still be popular for trying to help others out.

Again, thank you for your comments and hope that you continue to read!

 

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An Introduction to Carinthia-Part 2

Vassals to the Duchy of Carinthia

The lands making up the Duchy are highlighted, with dark green comprising counties directly under the von Zahringen’s control and the lighter shades representing that family’s direct vassals and the greater Kingdom of Germany as a whole respectively.

Guido Tittoni stands as the current ruler of the trading city of Treviso and its suburbs. Coming from a long line of successful merchants, he himself is not a particularly outstanding personage and he owes his position more to his family’s influence than to any personal accomplishment. He is still a loyal enough vassal to the von Zahringen’s and lacks the willpower or support within the city’s factions to plot treachery.

Bishop Olderic von Sayn is an example of intrigue made flesh. Rising up from the pettiest of noble families in a backwoods province of Swabia, von Sayn used his innate ability at subterfuge and scheming to secure an education within the church and advancement from his low birth. He quickly rose to become an indispensible asset to his masters in the Christian church, coordinating the elimination of rivals, the embezzling of funds and the practice of “correct” dogma. His services eventually added up to his becoming appointed to the post of Bishop of Padua and serving as a vassal of the lords of Kärnten. It is up to the current Duke to ensure that the man’s talents for deception are applied towards the Kingdom’s enemies and not turned inward for even more opportunities for securing power.

Count Ulrich von Weimar serves as the lord of both Krain and Istria and is the single largest land owner within the duchy other than the von Zahringens. He is an esteemed warrior who has served his Duke and King in holding the extreme southeast corner of the realm from the depredations of bandits and rogue Croatian counts. He is a competent individual whose only weakness might be the lackluster attention he gives to the infrastructure of his provinces.

Ottokar von Chiemgau holds Steiermark under the Carinthian Dukes and is perhaps the greatest martial strategist within the Duchy. While not above average in most individual measures of military might, his strength lies in the planning and execution of campaigns involving the combined might of the duchy’s levies. While his talents have only been needed a few times in the past decades, it is a comfort to the Duke to know that he will be supported by one of Ottokar’s abilities.

Ravenger of Aquileia is the most elderly of the Duke’s vassals but still throws himself with abandon into living well. Vigorous even at his advanced age, Ravenger holds himself above the minute workings of his realm and instead surrounds himself with the worthies of the city and makes use of his position to hold lavish entertainments at his residence. For the most part, he is a harmless nuisance to the Duke, one which will hopefully soon become one with God.

The Domain of the von Zahringens

Kärnten is the seat of power for the von Zahringen dukes and holds a central place within the greater holdings of their vassals. Its culture is primarily bled over from the Croats to the Southeast but its ruling class is comprised of imported Germans pledged directly to the ducal family. It has great potential for growth as it sits at the crossroads of a heavy trade route leaving the Balkans and bound for locations in Central Europe.

Verona is the richest province directly controlled by the Duke and stands at the opposite end of his realm from his capital in Kärnten. It is Italian in culture and also possesses grand prospects as a trade capital in north Italy, one of the richest areas of Christendom.

Breisgau is the most isolated of all the provinces included in the duchy, being completely cut off from the von Zahringen’s center of power by hundreds of miles of rough terrain. It is still a productive province however, and a fine jewel in the possession of the family. Lately, the Duke has intimated that governance of Breisgau will likely fall to his eldest son following his marriage in order to better prepare him for the demands of ruling the entire duchy eventually.

Duchy Finances and Policies

Considering the richness of their lands, the von Zahringens are very well off from a financial standpoint. Their three directly controlled provinces generate the majority of their income, but the scutage collected from their vassals adds up to a not inconsiderable sum. This financial security will serve the duchy well as the family seeks to improve the infrastructure of their lands and perhaps campaign against their enemies.

None would confuse the Duchy of Carinthia for a grand center of learning. For the most part, advances in living conditions are kept to the sheltered walls of the lands castles and manor houses and all beyond the high nobility and lucky few merchants find themselves facing poverty and squalor in their daily lives. With few chances of making significant breakthroughs on their own, the intellectuals of Carinthia must look outward to the learning centers of the Greek East or Italian peninsula for ideas. For now, the Duke has ordered his scholars to focus on improving the oftentimes impassable roads near the capital, attracting more merchants to the realm and theorize on better ways to effectively siege strongholds.

The laws of the Duchy of Carinthia are basically straightforward and comparable to other territories nearby. Semisalic Primogeniture inheritance has led to a steady and undisputed succession thus far in the family’s history and the presence of the current Duke’s three healthy sons leads one to believe that there is no need to change this method of selecting an heir.

Traditional custom is the preferred governance strategy for the von Zahringens and has provided them with a generally stable and financially sound dominion. Taxes on both the pockets and services on each of the classes within the Carinthian society are balanced and the result is a grouping of well rounded levies in times of conflict.

Policy in regard to the Christian Church is heavily skewed in favor of that institution, with numerous privileges and breaks given to the servants of the Bishop of Rome. The Church holds enormous tracts of lands within the duchy and its word passes as law from one corner of the land to the other wherever the von Zahringens hold sway. Recently, grumbling members of the secular nobility have pressured the ruling family to shift policy to a more equitable level with their spiritual cousins. The consequences of such a change would likely be tremendous and the current Duke is unlikely to make such a move unless events forced his hand. ​

 

[Enewald]

Btw, are you trying to keep the carinthian culture alive?
Good luck!