Poland joined the HRE in my Bavaria game too; and PU'd Bohemia so that they became an elector. It was honestly deeply annoying.
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I was not expecting to see you at war again so quickly with the British. And interesting that the French joined as well. That was a war too early, but worked out. Or I expect it will work out. As you say you have a naval force to prevent wholesale crossing of the Channel and with the Brits defeated you're in good shape.
Are you strong enough to make a bid against France this go around? If not, at least you've defeated the British and that puts you in good stead for a future standoff with France.
Rensslaer
Are you strong enough to make a bid against France this go around? If not, at least you've defeated the British and that puts you in good stead for a future standoff with France.
Rensslaer
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so you'll drop any idea groups for another since colonizing is not necessary anymore?
you'll create your own CN, then annex Portuguese Alaska, so you'll have 2 merchants instead of 1?
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Well, that's a cliffhanger ending, and a bit unusual for this AAR. On the upside, the British are down, but the downside is the powerful and unexpected French await a clash with you. Definitely looking forward to the next chapter.
Onward!
Just like @diskoerekto , this made me smile. However, these days you might see this as a political statement.
Onward!
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I took it as an acknowledgment that @jak7139 has played CIVILIZATION IV. (That's one of many quotes that I automatically hear in Leonard Nimoy's voice.)
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"It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees."
The HRE is only great for protection so long as the Emperor is strong. The Emperor is not.
I know Poland can join the HRE, but I've never seen it happen except in this game. I'm not sure what triggers it.
That does sound deeply annoying.
Even if it's only a one-chapter gap between wars, that's still 14 years. Plenty of time to fight GB again. The quicker we deal with them, the quicker we can reconquer the mainland.
I've played past this point as I've mentioned in other posts, but with hindsight I think we could've tackled France here too. I didn't though because I wanted a climactic war on our own terms with the blue behemoth. It just didn't feel right.
But you're right this is good experience seeing how a war against France plays out. I know I haven't shown it. But the Spanish and French are at a stalemate in the Pyrenees. They've fought a lot of battles, but nothing decisive. If we were helping Spain out, maybe something could be done there.
We do get some nice bonuses besides colonists from Exploration and Expansion (merchants, naval forcelimit, etc.) I haven't dropped either yet, but may do so when this AAR becomes current with gameplay.
Would you all want me to pick new ideas?
You get a gold star!
Part of me thinks this is sarcasm. It's hard to tell. This AAR has had a few cliffhangers.
But if you go by number of images the chapter was getting quite long. I had to cut it.
We were surprised by the French intervention. But it's useful to see that our rivals are so willing to fight. We can plan for it now.
The conclusion of this war coming tomorrow.
I've never played any of the Civ games. But I've heard good things. Glad you all liked the quote though. I'd heard it before, but didn't know who it was from. Apparently it's Oscar Wilde.
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not exactly want, but just curious which is the optimal play for which situation
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I see.
Once this AAR catches up to gameplay, I'll give an overview of our ideas, economy, and diplomacy then. That might help explain why we would/would not abandon our colonial idea groups.
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CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: War With Britain, War With Songhai, Court & Country (October 1660-June 1682)
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: War With Britain, War With Songhai, Court & Country
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(October 1660-June 1682)
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(October 1660-June 1682)
Last chapter we won a close victory against the British in our ongoing war.
I bet many of you were shocked at the power the Brits still held. You may have even wondered how many brutal battles like that were left before a bloody, miniscule peace.
Well fear not! We’ve done what I like to call, future proofing.
The British army has no morale after their defeat. Usually, they’d be able to run away behind a fort and recover before we could chase, catch, and destroy them. But in previous wars I made sure to target key forts like Coventry and Northumberland.
With few forts to hide behind, we can chase the enemy anywhere. We continue harrying the enemy until they’re bottled up behind their fort in Wales.
Our navy helps Spain and a plethora of allies score a victory against France off the Breton coast. Songs shall be sung of this day!
Some more naval victories are secured as the British on land push us back again. But we’re playing the long game. They don’t have much manpower, while we have an ample reserve.
(The British force split up into two stacks. Perfect prey for the discerning Breton general).
Again and again:
Until victory:
France enters a full-fledged alliance with GB during this time. The world stands against us, but we push forward, grateful for the challenge.
Sweden is white-peaced after Denmark attacks them. One down.
And now for some partial payoff.
Last chapter I asked you all to guess as to why we took 5 provinces from Portuguese Alaska instead of annexing them. And @diskoerekto answered correctly.
Now our 5 provinces are cored, so we spawn a CN: Douar-font a Francois, named for our Emperor, heir, and the favorite first name of the Dreux.
The next part of the payoff will have to wait until another war with Portugal. Coming soon!
Meanwhile, we purchase another age Ability, this one giving us yearly +1 Absolutism.
The war in Britain is over. The British have lost. Now what do we do?
We could wait for France and Sunda to accept white-peaces, or we could go on the offensive.
Unfortunately, the French fleet has bottled-up our navy and transports via blockade. We’ll need to fight our way out.
We damage and sink a few French ships, then retreat before the month tick for repairs. Scotland didn’t get the memo.
The battle screen glitches and includes our navy even though we retreated. But the French losses are accurate.
We get our month of repairs and attack again before France leaves. This second battle is a slaughter, cathartic after such a tough war.
Our victorious fleet blockades the Atlantic coast of France, giving a nice boost to our income. Keep in mind that our income is not actually, permanently, as high as shown because our occupations in Britain are contributing to the total.
(Here we also get a look at the continental war. Many battles have been fought between Spain and France, yet neither side has truly broken through).
After a few months though, I notice France will accept a white peace. I still think a short war is better than a long slog, even if we’d eventually win. GB first, France later.
Scandinavia has formed after a Danish victory over Sweden. They’re also now a Great Power.
We embrace the Manufactories Institution for nearly 2k ducats, then take the current admin tech. This one gives us Furnaces.
Sunda is white-peaced. Meaning it’s time for the British to face facts.
All of Australia, all of Scotland, all of Wales. All ours.
We start annexing Scotland and Wales too now that we have all their cores.
And we prompt Al Esperans a Anne into another war in Mexico. They take 6 provinces. The next war should see the end of New Spain.
3 years on from our GB war, I think it’s time for a journey to Africa, don’t you?
I won’t go into detail on the Songhai war. They get distracted sieging our Ivory Coast holdings. We siege their homeland much faster due to our cannons, barrages, and Spy Network. Battles are fought, some we lose, some we win. But we have enough economy and manpower to force the victory.
After 3 years, peace with Songhai comes.
Air’s cores. Segu’s cores. A land bridge to reach them both. And access to the uncolonized interior into Morocco and Libya. 700 ducats.
We took another Government Reform during the war. Each of the ones for tier 9 are actually very good. But I think Brittany this game has shown herself to be quite the Machiavellian. I mostly did this just for the Max Absolutism. I want to grow that value to the top.
Admin tech 22 is taken ahead of time because it unlocks a new Idea Group. We go with Administrative for decreased coring costs and increased governing capacity mostly.
(This screenshot shows which Administrative slots were taken this chapter).
Later, Spain attacks Sulu and calls us in. I’d reenabled the “call us into offensive wars toggle” at some point because I was afraid that keeping it off might tip Spain over the threshold to break our alliance while they still have a stake in Mexico.
Our Asian ships set sail with an army. We land, occupy the province, and don’t give occupation to Spain.
Diplo and mil techs 22 are grabbed. Both give out a bunch of goodies: cannons, heavy ships, Fire and Shock, building upgrades.
Emperor Francois dies. His son, Emperor Francois, will guide us. The new heir to the throne, Francois, seems like a fine fellow.
Once Spain realizes they can do nothing, they peace out, giving us Sulu. For being such a good, “helpful” ally during that war, we gain 31 favors.
New Spain is annexed finally after we prompt Al Esperans again. Spain should like us now.
After Scotland and Wales are done being annexed, we annex Segu.
And now our country has become embroiled in a new Disaster.
But this one is on purpose. Court and Country has a few different solutions for how we can end it. Depending on how we do, we get different bonuses. One of those bonuses is for more Max Absolutism and is what we’re going for.
Throughout the Disaster, we’ll receive events like these:
We want to make sure we have enough Absolutism by the time the Disaster ends to get the best result. The results being, either +20, +10, or -10 Max Absolutism.
From Segu’s remains, we release Kong and Jenne as vassals. They have cores. Enough said.
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The event text talks about rules Brittany swore to uphold when the Senegambian lands came under Breton control.
What rules? Brittany conquered them!
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good job! Wales means they don't have a fort left on the island?
I like how you make peace deals, why not include their firstborn too?
interesting favorite name for a nation who is kicked out from their ancestral holdings by the french
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A war with France! When will the "Return to the Homeland" happen for the successful exiles?
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Congratulations on all your many victories! I must say this chapter is written with a certain muscular swagger in its tone. Brittany is now like an apex predator, a tiger astride the world. Even France will be its prey. However, like any big cat, you will want to play with your catch before you finally dine.
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Great work against Britain and France.
So how strong is Britain still? You've gutted their mainland and colonial territory.
France is still an adversary but doesn't seem as scary, relative to big bad Brittany, as it once did.
Rensslaer
So how strong is Britain still? You've gutted their mainland and colonial territory.
France is still an adversary but doesn't seem as scary, relative to big bad Brittany, as it once did.
Rensslaer
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We probably did promise the locals some autonomy. Can't have them revolting all the time, after all.
We've altered the deal. They better hope we don't alter it further.
Other than London, yes. Capitals always have a fort on them. London also has a fort building besides that.
Well, we don't need their firstborn! What use is that to Brittany?
I never thought about it, but yes, probably a reminder of our reconquest (coming soon).
We have two more chapters before this AAR is caught up with gameplay. After that, I'll see what everyone wants: war with France ASAP or later.
We've entered that point in EU4 where no one can really challenge us. We're top dog, we know it, and can do whatever we wish. Calling Brittany an apex predator is an apt description.
They still have most of the mainland, so aren't completely helpless. Around 100k troops I'd say just because the south of England and the Channel is so rich. But it won't save them, as we'll see tomorrow.
Brittany has gone from underdog to villain. And France will soon face her doom!France is still an adversary but doesn't seem as scary, relative to big bad Brittany, as it once did.
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Huzzah! What I have been waiting for with bated breath.......the "Big Blue Blob" facing doom having seen them wreck numerous runs of mine even when I was playing Them!
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CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: Imperialism & Client States
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(June 1682-February 1697)
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(June 1682-February 1697)
We start off annexing our vassal Air. Now that we’ve reconquered their cores, their autonomy is no longer necessary. Once they’re integrated we colonize the strip of land between Morocco and West Africa.
Over in Asia, Brunei has just lost 2 wars to Sunda then Sampas. They now have tons of lost cores that we’d love to help them reclaim. The price is their fealty.
Before we’re able to complete their vassalization though, we get called in to defend them against…Russia!
Suddenly we’re at war.
During this, we complete Administrative Ideas.
We get 2 new diplo Policies and 1 new admin Policy. While the diplomatic ones are kept turned off, I repeal our current admin Policy (cheaper claims) and enact this new one (cheaper advisors) instead.
We could’ve gone over the free Policy limit and kept both active, but I want to catch up in admin tech. The next tech gives Admin Efficiency and cheaper Development costs, something we of course want to grab ASAP.
(Even though we could take diplo and mil tech right now, we're still ahead of time. Since we won't gain Innovativeness, I want to wait).
Back to our war, we occupy the Russian’s Philippines outpost first. They also have some land in Papua New Guinea which will be our next target.
In the meantime, Scandinavia crosses from Orkney into Inverness. I completely forgot they had land there.
Despite our numbers, their superior quality means we lose a ton of men in an attack!
Our reinforcements were too late and are destroyed.
In a second battle we lose again. Another batch of losses are taken.
As we recover, we take the latest mil tech. It’s a Tactics tech which should help.
In a subsequent battle, we force Scandinavia to retreat to Orkney. Our naval advantage lets us occupy the Faroes and Shetlands unopposed.
We also take diplo tech 23. We’ve now unlocked the Imperialism CB and Client States.
Imperialism gives us a CB on every nation across the globe. For nations within our culture group, we also have access to the Nationalism CB, a buffed version of Imperialism.
Client States are sort of a new subject type.
Previously we’ve either force vassalized, diplo-vassalized, or released nations as subjects. But Client States let us create entirely new nations out of thin air. And we can create an infinite amount of them, assuming we want to go over the relations-limit.
As we take admin tech 23, our war continues.
In Asia we lose a land battle but win a naval one. Terre Australe has already given us a foothold on Papua New Guinea.
More naval engagements are fought against the Russians in the South Pacific and Scandinavians in the North Sea. We even capture Russia’s flagship!
Unfortunately, since a nation can only benefit from one flagship, we don’t receive whatever buffs the Russians gave the Piotr. It is just a nice cosmetic trophy.
Here’s a look at the current GPs, including Russia and Scandinavia for those curious. Over half our score comes from our subjects, evidence of our heavy focus on vassals, diplomacy, and colonies.
Brunei chooses that moment to make peace.
We win a small victory, but our interests in Asia have been maintained against blatant Russian aggression. Brittany would never stoop to such lows!
Brunei gains the Russian presence in the Philippines. Henrika gains the rest of Vinland.
The grateful Bruneians then swear fealty to the Emperor.
Francois dies just a few days before the proposal is sent, aged 42. Our Empress-Consort will head the realm until the young Prince reaches adulthood.
We finished the Court and Country Disaster during all that, attaining the best result. Our Max Absolutism is over 100 now, letting us keep some Estate Privileges should we wish.
Now it is time for another war against the British, joined by both Sunda and France. And despite what that screenshot says we do call Spain in after a while because I wanted to see how France would react to a sudden enemy to their south.
The war goes the same as last time. We lose, lose, lose, lose and take horrendous casualties until the British run out of manpower, then we win.
Before I recount the peace, a few things:
We vassalize Lunda in the Congo. They have a Trade Center
Our West Africa TC gains a merchant. We send it to the Moluccas.
I attack OPM Gujarat after they lose a war. They have cores and will be a good springboard into India. We win and they become our vassal.
Spain white-peaces out of the war. I guess they just couldn’t take the heat. We white peace Sunda and France in response.
Most of GB is annexed.
This was a bloody war. But we won. In the end that’s all that matters.
While we core our new British land, that doesn’t mean we have to stop expanding.
We spend diplo points to buy down our War Exhaustion and Professionalism to increase our manpower, then declare on Morrocco.
They are allied to Songhai who I cobelligerent.
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It's good that Brittany is at the stage where they can afford to throw lots of men into the meatgrinder and wait for the enemy to run out of men. Hopefully Brittany doesn't find a rival that can match their manpower numbers.
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On the catch up trail, hope you don’t mind a few retro comments/questions
On Ch 52:
On Ch 52:
Sounds like a prudent plan. No ‘flogging the dead horse’.
Their star is definitely waning now. Even if in an intuitive sense taking down Britain in order to eventually defeat France seems a bit contra. But I get the position building aspect and disabling a rival colonial power. The establishment of Great Brittany proceeds!
Did that very large AE figure into the assessment of costs? Are there any coalition threats to Brittany now?
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