AAR - EA bless (Helheim) owerpowered on med+ map ?

[CharonJr]

Turn 7

Great Woods was taken without casualties, but I lost 2 Helhirdings in the successfull attack on Citala.

Commoners raised the defenses in Fenica by 15 PDs to 16.

Sauromancia showed up with about 40 lancers and archers to the SW of Carnag, but at the moment I have to focus my attention on Arco with only newly levied troops from the provinces and the beginnings of my 4th division as guardians vs. any attack.

My 1st division found the lightly defended Arco capital and will try to take with province and lay siege to it.

The 2nd division will try to cut off the Arco force in Rotmarsh by an attack into the Marshlands in order to join the siege on the following turn.

The newly formed 3rd division with its 12 Helhirdings will strike south into Feldan Forest vs. approximately 50 woodman/blowpipers in order to join the siege later on.





Another Hangadrott and 7 Helhirdings are recruited with hopefully 7 additional HHs (limited by my dominion here) on the following turn. In addition some heavy infantries and archers are recruited throughout the conquered provinces.


I am a bit too aggressive for my own taste, but am afraid that I have to be in order to make up for my earlier blunder. A lightly defended Arco capital is just too sweet a target...

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Turn 8

Arco fielded about 40 defenders (all except 4 from PD, looks like the AI raised it quite a bit), but despite being pressed my 1st division was albe to beat them while losing 9 spearmen.

My 2nd divions meet with about 40 Arcos (mainly militias and light infantries with some heavy infantries, flyers and chariots) in the Marshlands and was able to route them. 1 Helhirding was lost in the attack.

The 3rd division took Feldan Forest from the indies without any losses. There is an arena in Feldan which provides 25 gold.

Niefelheim has 30 militias/hurlers to the west of Fenica who are supported by 5 giants and 1 Gygja who is radiating power.

Sauros forces of about 60 lancers/archers moved to the southeast and might attack me or take the indie plains of Hubbarton which I consider mine, but at the moment there is nothing I can do about either Niefel or Sauro.

The second Hanga will help with the research while I recruit 1 Helkarl and 7 HHs for my 4th division. Archers/heavy infantries will be recruited in the other provinces again.

The 6 remaining Helhirdings of the 2nd divison might not be enough to face the reported 60 Arcos (militas, light infantry, bear tribe warriors) in Rotmarsh and I send them to support the siege. Either those Arcos will come to me anyway or wreck some havoc in my lightly defended provinces. In this case I will use my 4th division with its 14 Helhirdings to mop up.

1st divison will continue its siege while the 3rd will attack Oak Woods and either join the siege or retake the Marshlands (if Arco takes it) on the following turn.





I try to recruit the Farstrikers merc band in my capital for 165 gold in order to progress south and secure my southern border.

Since I am fairly sure that I will lose either the Marshlands or Citala to Arco this turn I set both taxes to 200%

I would love to build some temples/forts, but at the moment expansion/destroying Arco seem to be more important.

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Turn 9

Arco attacked the Marshlands with about 20 militias and archers and easily beat the lonly PD there.

The 30 indie militias/archers/heavy infantry in Oak Woods were killed by the 3rd while losing one of my Helhirdings.

Arco split its forces in Rotmarsh and send about half to the Marshlands while the other half took the indie province to the south. Seems like he does not consider the siege of his capital to be a serious threat, I hope that he is wrong about this...

Niefel keeps its troops on my border, but has made no further progress.

Sauro did what I have been afraid of and took the plains, threatening to move north into the province (Florien) I plan to take with some heavy infantries/archers from Carnag in addition to the Farstrikers from my capital which I have been able to recruit.

The newly raised 4th division will relieve the 3rd in Oak Woods which will try to retake the Marshlands and keep pressure on the Arco units away from the capital.





It would be nice if Sauro and Niefel went to war about the indie province west of Carnag, but I doubt it...

1 more Hanga is recruited and 7 HHs again, but this time I recruit an additional 6 mounted hirdmen as potential rear-rushers if the cold war with Sauro should turn hot over Florien. They might be used as a mop-up force also, if Arco continues to move its troops in my territory.

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Turn 10

20 Arco archers and militias tried to break the siege of the Arco capital, but were annihilated without a single loss to my troops.

About 40 Arco militias, light infantries and archers defended the Marshlands. They were unable to stop my 3rd division, but managed to kill 1 Helhirding.

Sauro did attack Florien this turn and destroyed the independents there, but were thown out of the province by my heavy infantry and the Farstrikers. 24 Sauro lancers and archers were killed with 2 of their commanders (1 commander and 23 troops escaped) while I suffered the loss of 12 archers and heavy infantries (3 form the Farstrikers).

The walls of Arco are still holding and since they keep some troops in the field taking provinces instead of ordering them back to defend their capital I feel that I have to increase the pressure.

3rd and 4th division will join the siege now, which should enable me to storm the walls fairly soon (defense value of a fortified city is "only" 250).

1 Helkarl, 7 Helhirdings and 7 more Mounted Hirdmen are recruited in my capital. If the Arco division in Midland should get aggressive towards me I am fairly confident that I have enough firepower in my currently being build 5th division to squash them.




Some additional archers and heavy infantries are recruited throughout the realm.

At the last minute I decided that the mercs should earn their pay and my own troops will understand the importance of expansion instead of definding. The 2 divisions from Florien and send SE to take the lightly defended indie province of Ligrea, possibly meeting superior forces from Arco and Sauro there...

I keep asking myself what Niefel is up to and am very interested to see what Sauro will make of the little misunderstanding that lead to our border incident...

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Quick question: If a fortress turns neutral during a siege, do I have to do anything special, or will my forces continue the siege ?

The orders still say siege, but IIRC I had some problems in another game with a fortress becoming neutral during a siege.

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Hmm, nobody has any idea ?

Oh well, since I already made a mistake and this AAR is for educational purposes I will just let them keep on sieging and see what happens

CharonJr

[Nerfix]

I think that if a fort turns neutral you can conquer if automaticly without a fight when you storm it. Not sure. Happened once to me.

Good going BTW.