Game 279: Month 5

The Calm Before the Storm

Armorica was bustling with preparations for the invasion. One by one, Celtic nobles left hearth and home bound for the east. Word quickly reached Arthur's court that all our emissaries arrived safely at their destinations. During their travels they also heard of other distant regions swearing fealty to other kings. The Alamanni kingdom assumed control of Gaul, and the Pannonia bowed down to Atilla and his Huns.

Turn 5 Planning

This turn will place our nobles and troops within striking distance of Germania. It's nearly time to strike.

Political Plans

• Arthur will once again shower the people of Germania with gifts, which will increase his regional reaction there

• Prince Ambrosius, Duke Mac Cekt, Count Connact, Baron Aed Ruad and Governor Cimbraeth move to pop centers on the border between Belgica and Germania. Agents Zed and Dirk continue escorting them.

Military Plans

• Titan will attempt to retrieve the Ekkisax, and afterwards will push through the plains into central Belgica. With their speed, they will be able to strike into Germania next month.

• Reinforcements arrived in our capital this turn. They were assigned to legion Pegasus, and marched eastward.

• Ross the Red imparts his wisdom, training more up and coming leaders in Titan, preparing them for battle.

Covert Plans

• Mouse and Hush will once again undergo training. By the time they arrive in Germania with Titan, they will be experienced enough to wreak havoc with the Teutons.

Additional Plans

• Construct storehouses in Sleepy Hollow. They will provide much needed supplies to fuel the war against the Teutons.

This leaves me with one order remaining, and not enough gold to issue anything. I could drop the construction of the storehouses to move a couple of lower ranking nobles instead, however I prefer to leave them in Armorica for the time being as early warning systems – Ambassadors are perfect for the Learn King Standing command.

I send a quick message to the Saxons to let them know of my positioning. Next turn, we strike!

Game 279: Month 4

Eastward Bound

With Armorica loyal to Arthur, it was time to march against the Teutons and free Germania from their grasp. Our allies the Saxons conveyed the location of several towns and villages in Belgica that would play host to our nobility as they traveled through that region. Titan journey through the Saxon homeland was delayed. Our finest leaders braved the stronghold of a Giant – a man three meters tall. Several of the men were seriously wounded, and we lost Centurion Mac Torin. After the grueling battle, Ross the Red, newly promoted to Marshal, was in possession of Dragon Slayer, a Norse sword that once belonged to Beowulf.

Elsewhere in Rome, the Thuringians subdued the central region of Raetia. Rumor has it the Franks of Aquitania began an invasion of the traditional Vandal stronghold of Viennensis. Arthur's treaties with the Frank kingdom prevent him from interfering in this invasion, and he is true to his word. The Celtic forces will be deployed to Germania.

Turn 4 Planning

It is currently quiet in Armorica. All neighboring kingdoms are friendly. This turn will be devoted to building our economy to support the coming war, and moving our people into position.

Political Plans

• Arthur will once again shower the people of Germania with gifts, which will increase his regional reaction there

• Prince Ambrosius, Duke Mac Cekt, Count Connact, Baron Aed Ruad and Governor Cimbraeth move to pop centers in Belgica. Agents Zed and Dirk are assigned as bodyguards.

Military Plans

• Titan will remain camped outside the unusual sighting where the Ekkisax is located

Covert Plans

• Mouse and Hush will once again undergo training.

• O'rork Ledbelly will create a diversion in Koln. The previous one was successful, hopefully he will be able to gain another level.

Additional Plans

• Rhiannon will once again Heal the legion of Titan. This is risky, as she is weary from the last month's attempt to heal. I feel the risk is worth it however – we need to ensure Marshal Ross the Red is healthy to investigate the sighting next turn.

• I was going to build watchtower in Cennabum. It would notify us whenever enemy nobles arrive. Considering the NAPs we have with our neighboring kingdoms, it is better to spend the money on a market now, and purchase the watchtower later. This way I accumulate the extra gold & supplies. Two additional brigades are scheduled to arrive at our capital next turn, and I want to ensure a robust economy to help pay for their maitenance

• construct a mill in the village of Seabreeze (where our storehouses are). It grants a bonus to storehouses in addition to the benefits of the mill itself

• Build storehouses in Questor

• After all the construction, we have used up more supplies than we had stored. It is time to take advantage of the global trade discrepancy in supplies. I trade 1000 gold for 1800 supplies.

Game 279: Month 3

Armorica

All of Armorica celebrated the third month of Arthur's campaign. Every neutral population center throughout the region declared there loyalty to the Celtic kingdom as Cenabum, Rennes, Sleepy Hollow and Kiar Bannor were swayed by the Celtic military and nobility. Seven other regions pledged allegiance to the monarchs that resided there, including our allies the Saxons, and potential enemy, the Teutons.

O'rork Ledbelly investigated Koln, the largest city in Germania. He discovered the cream of the Teuton nobility lodged within, prince Totila and duke Hunulf. It was their actions that persuaded the people of the city, and ultimately Germania, to submit to Odavacer's will. Rumor has it several of the city's elders disappeared shortly after the arrival of the Teuton entourage. The rest declared Odavacer their king. Very convenient. Arthur's mind was made up – the Teutons would pay for their treatment of all Germanians.

Turn 3 Planning

Now that Armorica has raised our banner, it is time to prepare for the invasion of Germania.

Political Plans

• Arthur will shower the people of Germania with gifts, which will increase his regional reaction there

• Duke Mac Cekt, Governor Cimbraeth and Ambassador Unicus move to eastern locations in Armorica. This will leave them in good position to move into Belgica, and onward to Germania.

Military Plans

• Unicorn, the patrol with our finest Celtic leaders, will Investigate the unusual sighting they are camped near. They will stop at nothing in their attempt to retrieve the artifact located inside. Afterwards, they will rendezvous with the other legions outside the second unusual sighting in the region.

• General Eber Donn will train Centurion Mac Torin – this will help improve our odds investigating the next unusual sighting

Covert Plans

• Mouse and Hush will once again undergo training. Hush will join legion Titan.

• O'rork Ledbelly will create a diversion in Koln, and our new agent Zed
  will do the same in the Frankish villiage of Mariner's Cove in Amorica. These diversions are meant as training sessions. We risk losing our agents, but will hopefully increase their experience level more cheaply than standard training costs.

Additional Plans

• Rhiannon will Heal the legion of Titan. The brigades suffered casualties while taking the villages in Armorica that will be replaced by this order.

Game 279: Month 2

Flawless Execution

Arthur's proclamation created a stir throughout the Celtic nation. A massive entourage departed the capital for Cenabum. Duke Mac Cekt arrived safely in Rennes. Our military maneuvers were unopposed as the legions deployed to the neutral villages in Amorica. Each legion scoured the territory en route to their destination, and each discovered the location of an artifact. Priestess Rhiannon was less fortunate; her divinations failed to reveal the location of any powerful relics.

Our agent corps effectively executed Arthur's commands. Hush started a fire in the Cenabum market at the same time as the arrival of our caravan of nobles. This diversion enabled the entourage to enter undetected.

The kingdoms on Armorica's borders kept to their agreements. All stayed away from the region, ensuring it would soon fall under Arthur's rule. Collectively, the kingdoms dramatically swung Rome's economy. Several kings must have joined Arthur, trading supplies for gold. The new rate of exchange was 16 supplies for 10 gold.

Turn 2: Planning

The major actions this month revolved around carrying out the original plans to take Armorica.

Political Plans

• Arthur will work to increase his influence. This will ensure all our nobles are more effective, no matter what region they are in.

• Count Connact will stir unrest in Cenabum, allowing Prince Ambrosius to assume control of the city.

• Duke Mac Cekt will usurp control of the town of Rennes.

Military Plans

• The legions are ordered to assault the neutral villages they are camped outside. We are confident of victory, having an estimated power three times greater than the defenses. This is an opportunity for leaders and troops to gain experience that will be useful in the times ahead.

• After the assaults, the leaders of each division will separate to a new patrol, and rendevous outside the caves rumoured to house Dragon Slayer, a powerful weapon artifact. The patrol can move faster than the group as a whole, so this shall ensure we do not waste a turn.

• The remaining troops will head eastward into central Armorica. This will position them closer to the border of Belgica, through which they must travel to reach Germania

• General Ross will train Centurion Cormac to ensure he is prepared for investigating the unusual sighting next turn
  
  

Covert Plans

• Mouse and Hush each undergo training

• Our newly hired agent will recon the city of Koln. We need to gather information regarding our potential enemy, the Teuton

Game 279: Month 1

Out of the Ashes

The empire had fallen! We learned of the withdrawal as the sun reached the highest point in the sky. Caesar's legions had departed; the senate was no more. Roman authority vanished from the land, leaving a vacuum in its place.

King Arthur convened his court to discuss the situation. The Romans had ruled our homeland of Armorica for generations. Their departure left the region in turmoil, with no one to look out for the people. After much debate, Arthur declared his intentions; he would bring order to the region, and unite the world under the Celtic banner.

Soon after that fateful council, I, genome, a humble envoy to our mighty king, received a messenger from Vortigern, King of the Saxons. Their kingdom lay to the east of Amorica in an untamed region known as Belgica. The envoy brought offerings of peace from his liege, and an agreement was quickly forged. We Celts would not assault any Saxon holdings, and in return they would leave us in peace.

During the celebrations of the treaty signing that evening, the Saxon envoy told tales of atrocities committed in Germania, a region beyond Belgica to the east. It seems that after the Romans left the citizens to their own devices, a tribe of barbarians calling themselves Teutons seized power. All who opposed them were violently oppressed. King Arthur was a champion of the common man. The tales of the Saxon envoy enraged the Celtic king, and he vowed to put an end to the Teuton tyranny. An alliance was struck with the Saxon king.

Arthur dispatched aides to the Franks who resided in Aquitania, south of Armorica, and to the Alamani in Gaul, south east of the Celtic homeland. Within a matter of days he had secured a non aggression pact with both kingdoms. These agreements preserved the sanctity of Armorica's borders – the Celtic homeland would be safe from external threats for at least the next ten months.

With diplomatic needs fulfilled, it was time to attend to domestic matters. Armorica was still without rule after the Romans fled the region. The Celts needed a strong united homeland to help them face the threat of the Teutons.

Turn 1: Planning
As the Celts, I start with a rulership of 15. This gives me the ability to issue two orders more than all other kingdoms, who start with a rulership of 13. This can be challenging, as we have the same starting treasury as the other kings, so initial spending must be prudent to take advantage of our special ability.

There are several important decisions that need to be made in the initial stage of the game. The first is how to deploy my kingdom. There are three standard openings to Fall of Rome that I have seen used with some success.

1. Attempt to take the home region as soon as possible. This involves moving two or more powerful nobles to the city in the region as well as capturing the villages and town that we are aware of.
2. Covertly take the home region. This involves taking the towns and villages that are visible, and finding additional pop centers by scouting with legions or using the high priestess to divine them. This option is usually chosen if you don't trust your neighbors, and fear one of them will try to hinder your kingdom politically, either denigrating you in your home region, or sending a noble to the nearest city.
3. Rush a neighboring region to catch your neighbor off guard, and eliminate him early.
   

Each of these strategies have their strengths and weaknesses. Given the relative isolation of the starting position, option #3 does not make sense – I would not be able to assemble enough of my legions and nobles to strike early in either Belgica or Aquitania. Given this is a veterans game, it is possible that one of my neighbors may be planning to use this option to target Amorica (my homeland). Diplomacy is crucial at this point. My initial correspondance with the Saxons, Franks and Alamanni secured a Non Agression Pact with each so I do not fear aggression from any of these kings. With all borders secure, I decide to chose option #1 – the sooner I can take the region, the sooner I receive the resources it provides.

With that choice made, the initial orders are relatively simple to plan:

Political Plans

• Arthur will enamor the people of Amorica, to improve our regional reaction there.
• Prince Ambrosius, Count Connact and Baron Aed Ruad are dispatched to Cenabum, Amorica's crown jewel. I believe that the prince and count will be sufficient to sway the people to follow the Celts; sending the baron is an insurance policy.
• Duke Mac Cekt is sent to Rennes, the closest town to the Celtic capital Cherbourg.
  

Military Plans

• Legions Pegasus and Titan will combine at the capital and then march on the village of Sleepy Hollow. Agent Mouse is assigned to Titan.
• Legions Minotaur and Pheonix meet outside the village of Kiar Banor
• Celtic troops are very fast – the legions are ordered to scout the terrain, revealing more Armorica territory than simple movement.
  

Covert Plans

• Train agent Mouse for level 4
• Agent Hush will create a diversion in the city of Cenabum. This will hopefully be a cheap training exercise for the agent – while there is a small chance of being caught, he is guaranteed to succeed, and will hopefully gain a level
• Hire a new agent in our southern town of Brest. He will be used to keep an eye on our neighbors.
  

Additional Plans

• The legions are able to scout most of the western part of the realm – priestess Rhiannon will attempt to divine for unusual sightings in the eastern portion of Armorica. Her scrying will also include part of Belgica. I will let the Saxons know of anything she finds in their region.
• current production – 21000 gold, military consumes 12000, with 9000 balance for next turns activities, plus whatever is left from this turn. Planned expenditures: prince + duke + count + baron (hopefully not required) == 18,000. Agent activities + king action , another 15,000. In order to guarantee enough gold on hand, we must trade 33,000 – 9000 = 24,000 supplies for gold this turn. That should leave 13,000 supplies for next turn, more than enough to raise influence