Lorraine Cooperative Game Thread

[Velociryx]

1459
Economic Survey
S=0, T=477/783 (+229 net), E=48.7 (effect of War Taxes), I=3.8%, exp=6.4 (77d per year)

In late December/early January, the defenses of Gelre fold, and we are loathe to see the Danes expand their presence in the region, so make plans to rescue our stalwart ally from their clutches, as our forces begin surging northward, the Artois (7753/4495) and Flandern (6297) regiments marching into Zeeland, giving us 14050/4495 troops there (total troop presence of 18,545).

With Gelre's capture, the bulk of the armies of our enemies have moved off, and there are but 3446 Danes stationed there to keep the peace. With that target in mind, in February, we march to the rescue of our allies....

[Velociryx]

Sadly, our efforts to rescue faithful ally Gelre are undone by a report of a strong force of some 36k enemy troops of Munster and Hannover marching toward Zeeland. Our regiments (Artois and Flandern) stand down and prepare for defense. It will not be an easy fight, that much is sure, for we are outnumbered nearly 2:1.

On March the second, the first wave of the enemy force hits us, 720/4209 vs 14050/4495, and on March 3, Lorraine's Regiment is bolstered by 3k new Cav recruits raised in Flandres.

The battle in Zeeland rages on through March 12, when the main body of the enemy force arrives, swelling their ranks to:

them: 33,084/4473 vs. our 10,581/4066

However, despite the timely arrival of the enemy's reinforcements in Zeeland, by March 15, it appears that we will emerge victorious!

[Velociryx]

March 16, victory over the houses of Munster and Hannover! Our Artois Regiment is down to 5608/4066) (having suffered losses of 2145/429) and the Flandern Regiment is down to 4973 Foot (suffering losses of 1324)

Total losses for this battle amount to: 3469/429 = 3898

No firm reports of enemy casualties, but reliable estimates put the number at something close to ten thousand enemy troops laid low.

A scant four days later, on March 20, we are tested again in Zeeland by an army from Denmark:

Us: 17556/10417 (our ranks swelled by the timely arrival of the newly re-strengthened Lorraine Regiment marching in from Flandres)

Them: 3465/7807

Not only do we have the decisive terrain advantage, but we have more horse, and more troops in general. With all of these cards stacked in our favor, it comes as no great surprise that we win the day. What WAS a bit shocking was that our victory saw to the total destruction of the army of Denmark, while our forces took only scant losses:

Unit Strength after the battle:
Artois: 4714/3887
Flandern: 4422/0
Lorraine: 7377/6361

Losses:
Artois: 894/179
Flandern: 551/0
Lorraine: 725/145

Totals: 2170/324 = 2494

After this stunning victory over our enemies, we immediately renew our drive to rescue Gelre!

In early May, a Monopoly Company is formed the province of Champagne, swelling our coffers by +100d, and later that month, the Danish garrison in Gelre is anihilated, and our forces begin laying in a siege of that place in a bid to recapture it.

August, War Taxes are again raised (stab to -1), and this sparks a 6k revolt in Berri. Fortunately, there are Castillian troops on scene, and they put the rebellion down with our Duke's blessing!

In September, national stability bounces back to zero and we dig in for the siege ahead.

Gelre's defences buckle before us on December17, just five days after Gelre's Duke surrenders himself and his lands to the Danes! Our ally is lost to us and we vow revenge as the year winds down to a close!

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

1460
Economic Survey
S=0, T=818/1154 (net +266 this year), E=51.1 (War Taxes again), I=3.8%, Exp=5.8 (70/year)

Having tried unsuccessfully to free the Duke of Gelre, we demand and get 350d from Denmark and her allies. Blood money, as we'd rather have had our stauch ally and longtime supporter back in the alliance family, but it was not meant to be, so our hope is that by stripping their treasury bare, we'll prevent such an uprising against us in the future.

For our part, we use the money well and wisely, turning on our amazing diplomatic machine and sending a round of letters to our remaining allies:

England: +155
Burgundy: +147
Castile +193

Which leaves us with 1214d in our National Treasury

A refinery is begun in the province of Champagne (the first one in Europe!), and our troops march home (military to 50%).

February 12, our Duke makes a bold step and siezes power from regional governors (centralize +1), which sees an improvement in general productivity and research for us (stab to -1, prod effie to 23%)

March - a 6k revolt in Nivernais - the Lorraine Regiment is en route to deal with this minor threat to our security.

May - Stability returns to zero

22nd - Lorraine defeats the rebel forces in Nivernais

AAR Summary of the war with Denmark and her Germanic lackeys:

Three of our Regiments saw action in this war: Lorraine, Artois, and Flanders.

Starting Strengths:
Artois: 8000/4544
Flanders: 6360/0
Lorraine: 8102/3506 (+3000 Cav raised at the outset of the war)
Total troop strength used against the Danes: 22,462/11,050 = 33,512

Ending Strengths:
Artois: 4263/3797
Flanders: 4144
Lorraine: 6344/6153
Total troop strengh remaining at the war's end:
14,751/9950 = 24701

Losses:
Artois: 3737/747
Flanders: 2216/0
Lorraine: 1758/353
Total losses during our war:
7711/1100 = 8811

VERY light casualties for the damage we inflicted on our enemies!

At the end of the war, we find ourselves with a max supportable army size of 64k, and have, at present, among all our regiments, 28,311/20,077 = 48,388 (49k)

Can raise 15k additional troops!

A general review of our strategic situation and needs is done, and the following troop conscriptions are ordered throughout the land:

2k Infantry raised in Caux for the Flanders Regiment

2k/1k Raised in Zeeland for the Artois Regiment, which has been permanantly reassigned there to see to our defense in the north

1k/1k raised in Poitou for the Poitou Regiment

7k of 15k troops raised, giving us 8k more to raise later.

In July, Cantonments are established in Languedoc (ManPower +1)

And in August, Castile makes war upon luckless Portugal, and we support the war in spirit, if not in body. Portugal is too far away, and Lorraine as yet has no naval presence (nor any particular need for one at this time), and so...our forces stay home.

September sees an unlikely union as Bosnia joins our alliance family, and otherwise, the rest of the year passes quietly into history....

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

Summary/Strategic Thinking

What we NEED is peace at this point. Peace to save and build an additional refinery in Languedoc (the second...and also the more exposed of our Wine-Producing provinces), peace to restore national stability, and then to continue heavy investment in Infrastructure, because the NEXT time we get a boost to national infrastructure, we'll be able to grow our economy by leaps and bounds with the ability to promote Justicars throughout the realm. And, since we've established a right large realm for ourselves since 1419, thanks to our policy of hyper-aggression in the early goings, and smart use of our tiny Duchy's main strength (Diplomacy...almost all of Lorraine's leaders are better than average diplomats), we have grown, in these first 40 years, from a small backwater state that nobody would have given a second glance, into a powerhouse, and we're beginning to feel the binding effect of nationhood, as our earliest provincial acquisitions lose the last of their nationalism and are bonded fully and completely to us.

So...all that to say that we've done well, and now need a window of peace to consolidate our gains.

Fortunately, we got that window. The next several years were blessedly quiet. There are only a few points of interest where some noteworthy event appeared on our radar, so I shall dispense with the detailed "blow by blow" analysis here and paint with a broader brush stroke.

Again, for those interested in the economic goings on, I present the next few years' economic data in summary form.

1461-1463 were amazing years, primarily for their quietude. After years of hard fighting, we were glad for the peace!

A note that should have been included earlier:

How to read the economic data -

S = The nation's stability at the start of the year

T #/# (treasury level in december/treasury level in January)

Net Gain: (Can be found by taking January's Treasury Level, subtracting the December value from it, and then subtracting our annual operating expenses for the current year)

E = Economic value, per month

I = Inflation rate

Exp = The nation's expenses expressed as a monthly value (multiplied by 12 in the parenthetical value for the total annual expense. This is the number you subtract from the Treasury value to get the net gain value for the year)

[b]Economic Summary Data:[b]

1461
S=0, T=429/563 (net +95), E=29.7, I=3.8%, Exp=3.2 (39 per year)

1462
S=+1, T=528/671 (net +104), E=30.9, I=3.8%, Exp=3.2 (39 per year)
(Refinery Completes this year, and our constant attention to Stab sees a full recovery by December)

1463
S=+3, T=697/873 (net +137!), E=35.1!, I=3.8%, Exp=3.2 (39 per year)

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Velociryx
A long, long overdue update, and a longish segment to boot!

Recap of the situation

Maine Regiment (in Maine): 6629

anyway to rename this regiment the 2Oth Maine Regiment?

[Velociryx]

In 1463, we get another shot in the arm for the military as more nationalism dies away, and we find ourselves able to raise 12k additional troops. Given that our enemies are constantly probing for any sign of weakness, we use this boon well and wisely, making the following additions to our army in May:

2k/1k raised in Zeeland for the Artois Regiment

2k/0 raised in Nivernais for the Lorraine Regiment

1k/1k raised in Poitou for the Poitou Regiment

0/1k raised in Lyonnais for the Zeeland Cav Command

1k/0 raised in Caux for the Flanders Light Regiment

1k/0 raised in Maine for the Maine Light Regiment

It is decided that rather than create a wholly new unit at this time, we would be better served by simply bulking up the fighting strength of our existing units as our strategic needs have not fundamentally changed, and by August, when our new troops are fully trained and rolled into their respective regiments, we cross a major milestone! Parly due to our diligence in keeping a strong army in the field, and partly due to horrific losses on the part of our allies, Lorraine now boasts the largest standing army in all of Europe! Not bad for the little Duchy from nowhere!

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

LOL! Can't do it in the game, I fear, Master LOTM, but yes! Here in the thread, the Maine Light Regiment shall henceforth be dubbed "The 20th Maine!"

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

But wait! It gets even better! Again, thanks to our diligence and care in building the economy, Lorraine has grown from nothing to the 4th largest economy on the planet, and again, the largest economy in Europe!

[Velociryx]

And the milk and honey flows....

Having reached these very important milestones so quickly, Lorraine's entire stance and outlook must begin shifting. We not only have the responsibility for survival (which is the imperative of all nations), but also, a greater responsibility. It may have been true early on, but no longer are we a junior partner in this alliance family. Our armies are every bit the equal of our peer nations, England and Castile. No longer can we...should we view ourselves as anything less than a full partner in the alliance family....nor should any rival nation make the mistake of seeing us in such a light. We are strong. We have proved that strength, first by guile and cunning, and now, by the brute strength that comes with size. We're a big country, and we're starting to grow up, and that's a very good thing.

We're also an integral part, at this point, of what is making and keeping the English alliance family the strongest in the world. Our alliance family has the #1, #2, and #3 largest armies in Europe behind it. Together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish, short of taking on the whole of the world at once....a thing that will surely not happen (so long as I keep my BB rating and desire for more land under control!).

We have not, as yet, mapped out or fully realized what our growing responsibilities are, but we saw hints of it in our last war with the desire to get Gelre back from the Danes.

That we failed to do so there underscores the point quite brilliantly that though we are strong...though we are a mighty nation, there are some things that are as yet beyond us, and it is our duty to grow stronger yet.

One of our failings at this stage, is that we lack a naval presence of our own. As a junior partner, that was okay, because we were not expected nor required to do the heaviest lifting for the alliance, but with our great strength COMES that responsibility. Plainly put, had we a strong navy, we could have sailed over to the Danish heartland and continued pasting them until they relinquished their control over Gelre. We didn't, and therefore, we couldn't.

So...over the course of the next span of years, it falls to us who are participating in these discussions to outline exactly what our responsibilities as a great nation are, and to outline how best to meet those responsibilities.

Clearly, the days of our not needing a navy are over. We need one, even if it is only a nominal presence. We need not be the supreme rulers of the waves....not by any stretch! But we do need to be able to prosecute wars and deal with threats, no matter where they might spring up from, and to do that effectively, we NEED a fleet! All the other cool, grown up nations have them (at least the ones that aren't land locked!), and we're the odd man out there. It is a blight upon us as a nation!

And there are others. We're woefully behind in certain economic arenas, and as soon as we reach a trade effie of 50%, we need to start addressing that aggressively in the world's markets. Til then, we'll be largely wasting our time, as our traders and merchants simply cannot compete on a global scale.

And plenty of others, I am sure, but that is for us to discuss here.

In the meantime, I shall finish outlining what has occurred to our nation during the last of this segment that I have played out.....

[Velociryx]

Peace holds until March 7, 1467, when Denmark declares against us anew, once more bringing their Germanic lapdogs into the fight with them (minus Munster this time, whom they annexed!).

The war progresses smoothly and predictably for us in the east. Our Burgundian allies lock down Mecklen-held Friesen, and our three main battle groups (bolstered by a newly commissioned Zeeland Reserve, consisting of 4k Infantry), march into undefended Gelre, and then further into Oldenburg, extending our line of sieges deep into Danish territory.

We do gain a surprise in June, however, when old adversary Brittany joins the Danish alliance, and suddenly opens the war on a wider front. We activate our three remaining (uncommitted) regements, Poitou, Zeeland Cav Command, and the 20th Maine, and consolidate them in Orleanais as an impressive 21k Army invades Maine from Morbihan.

The gods smile upon us, however, and by late October, we have recovered from our surprise at Brittany's bold move, have destroyed their impressive invasion force to a man with relatively light losses on our part, and are moving with terrifying efficiency to lock down this new western front.

Indeed, it can well and truly be said that all is NOT quiet on the western front.

Not here.

Not with us....

[Velociryx]

If the war with the Danes didn't give us any real trouble (and it didn't), we DID have one additional brief surprise (sorry for the sketchiness here...but the server ATE my last two posts--highly detailed ones at that! UGH...and I don't have it in me right now to retype all that detail, so I'm hitting the high spots the second time around), anyway, if the Danish war wasn't hard, then we DID at least have one more bitter surprise in store....

Austria made a brief, glorious, and entirely foolish attempt at greatness, which began by annexing Wurzburg and Baden (who had, some years earlier, gained control of our beloved Alsace), and then used this newfound strength and border with us to declare war on the strongest alliance family in Europe, dragging their only ally, Milan, into the conflict too!).

Needless to say, we brought things to a close quickly with the danes, capturing Bretagne and Oldenburg for ourselves and Munster for the Burgundians, then swept our armies toward Austria and pounded them relentlessly.

The only trouble we encountered was a band of some 4k Austrians in Baden who WOULD NOT be defeated! We hurled armies three and four times their size across that blasted river, and it took us SIX attacks to chase them off!

In the end tho, we had sieges running from Alsace to Bavaria, took LOTS of winter attrition damage, and ate it, forcing a surrender that included Alsace, Baden and Wurzburg (basically, everything Austria had just worked so hard to gain).

Sadly, our Grand Duke Jean II did not live to see that fine day, dying quietly in his bed in December of 1470, to be replaced by his son, Nicolas.....

[Velociryx]

Cleanup

Played thru to January 1473, finished the war with Austria out, gaining us, as mentioned previously, the territories of Alsace, Baden, and Wurtemburg (I think I said wurzburg last post...oops!), then rebiulding our armies to hold onto our new territories.

As of January 1473 then, our armies are thusly (oh...and centralized again in 1470!)

Artois Regement (in Zeeland): 6719/5289
Lorraine Regement (in Lorraine): 0/10,906
Zeeland Cav Command (in Lyonnais): 0/7476
Flanders Light Regement (in Caux): 7879/0
20th Maine (in Maine): 7458/0
Poitou Regement (in Poitou): 5705/4071

And two new additions, to better protect our expanding realm:

Oldenburg Regement (in Oldenburg): 8517/4149
Wurtemburg Regement (in Wurtemburg): 7944/4571

Total forces under Lorraine's Banner as of January 1473: 44,222/36,462 = 80,684

Max of 82k

Ladies and Gentlemen, Lorraine is at your command. What shall we do with this rapidly growing titan?

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

oh...forgot the last pic!

[Velociryx]

Topics we oughta discuss

Here's some stuff I was thinking about as I was winding down this segment:

As mentioned earlier, now that we've gone from a Duchy nobody cared about to one of the strongmen of Europe, we got responsibilities. What are they and what should they be?

How can we best live up to those responsibilities?

If we make a fleet, what should it look like, and where should we port it/them? What would their goals and aims be, precisely?

Multi-culturalism: We're starting to get some germanic provinces under our belt, and that's a good thing....we've also got two Dutch and two Celtic provinces under our belts. Small but important minorities in our growing Kingdom. What should our position be regarding these minorities? Loose reins or intolerance....or should we let them go?

At some point, in our quest to unite all French and German cultural provinces under our banner, we'll need to step away from the English alliance. Doing so will destroy the strongest alliance that the continent has ever seen, and potentially put us at odds with some really big, ticked off countries. When should we? What groundwork needs to be laid first?

And...anything else that anybody else can think of...

-=Vel=-