HRE NES

[Cyclotron]

Yeah, your editing... sheesh. Alright, I'll see what I can do.

[Cyclotron]

Okay, that makes a bit more sense. At least the numbers add up. I am assuming Vizegraf Magenhard von Linz is with the 4th Regiment on the Bohemian border.

Does this mean that all Bavarian and Carinthian chivalry (knights, sergeants) is under your personal command?

To all: That update was very drawn out, and I apologize, it's been a busy week. I believe everything is ready for your orders at this point. Appleciders, I'll just update your stat block after the next update. Casualties from the Vienna campaign will also be factored in on the next update. Thanks for participating, it should be even more full of German goodness when our 4th duchy is taken up in a week or so.

[Micha]

Duchy of Saxony - Orders

As much as the people of Saxony mourn the death of Otto, their beloved duke, they have a great deal of respect for his son Heinrich, his successor. After the failed attempt on his life, for which the very old bishop Hatto is responsible, rumours of Heinrich´s destiny to do great deeds in the future are spreading among the peasants.

Heinrich, not wanting to waste more time on the matter, has sent a message to Hatto that the failure was a sign of god that the great lord doesn´t want him to die yet, so any further earthen interference might be dangerous in regards to the ascension to heaven... With this, the case is closed. Hopefully this gesture of goodwill is received as that by Heinrich´s opponents...

When the new duke was back at Magdeburg, the scout parties had already returned. Their reports were promising, so Heinrich held a war counsil with his generals and they decided to move out this winter. The Duke has spent 400 denarii on blankets and tents for the army, as there didn´t seem to be enough for the levies.

The Duke himself will be commander of the army, with Vizegraf Widukind von Hildesheim as his replacement. The knights and Seargants have been warned about the Wendish tactic of fleeing and ambushing, so they should behave somewhat more disciplined.

Followed by several hundred supply wagons, cooks, performers, singers and less devout women, the Saxon Peacebringer Army left Magdeburg after the Christmas celebrations. Two and a half thousand men at arms are approaching Lipsk when the new year begins. Scouting parties are advancing in front of the army, recruiting local guides and auxiliary forces as well as bribing chiefs to surrender (in exchange no harm is to be done to them, their people and their villages!). Some 400 denarii are brought along for this purpose.
The generals are to chose the tactical details based upon the maps, the guide´s advises and their own knowledge. There are four principles that have to be followed:
- Stay together!
- Capture or kill the chiefs if they don´t surrender!
- Send scouts in all directions, to not get ambushed too easily!
- Stick to promises! If a chief surrenders, leave his people and possessions unharmed!

Zcwickaw shall be reached after Lipsk has fallen, so the troops can rest and regroup. Johann of Zwickau shall swear the oath of loyality to the Duke, after that he will be titled "Count of Voigtland".
Zwickau, as the town will then be called, will be the winter camp for the army. 550 Denarii are to be spent on a fortification around the town and a chapel.

Meanwhile to the north, 150 denarii are to be banked in a Viking Watch Fond. One denari goes to any peasant who spots and reports a raiding party. If the Viking Slayers can counter the raiding based on this information, the spotter will be rewarded an extra 2
denarii, while his lord will get 7 denarii.

Order Summary:

• Train 150 Medium Guards (polearm, light) and 50 light bowmen (bow, cloth) for the Viking Slayers
• forge 120 heavy armour pieces [600d - 600d (iron) = 0d]
• Bank 150 denarii in a Viking watch fond
• Send 400 denarii with the Saxon Peacebringers to bribe local chiefs and recruit Wendish auxiliaries and guides
• Spend 550 denarii on building a ringwall and a chapel in Zwickau
• Unleash the dogs of war onto the Wendish chiefs!

This will cost 950 denarii (+ up to 150d for Viking Watch)

[Cyclotron]

One problem here:

forge 150 heavy armour pieces [300d - 300d (iron) = 0d]

150 heavy armor pieces would be 750 denarii. You have 400 denarii of iron from Swabia. This is enough to cover the armor production in full, so that 750 denarii of armor will actually cost 375 denarii. This is because every denarius of iron counts as 2 denarii for making arms and armor.

Besides that, great.

[Micha]

That´s a thing I didn´t find when browsing the stats page... Where does it say I have 400d worth of iron? During the past updates I had 300d only.

Anyway, I want to make as many heavy armour pieces as my iron supply pays for.

[foolish_icarus]

Rename "New recruits" to "Eastern Battalion" and put them under the command of Bishop Roricus von Worms.

Landgraf Abelard von Bernfeld will be attached to my knights and seargeants.

Vizegraf Waldibert von Speyer is free to attend to his own wants, be they inspiring his attendents with his glory, traipsing through the countryside and "saving" damsels, or whatever else it is a dandy in medieval Germany does.

King Conrad to Duke Heinrich of Saxony:

Rejoice! Your good father is undoubtedly in heaven, and the people of Saxony have a great man, son of a great man, to lead them. May Heaven continue to protect you, as it has turned the daggers of your fiendish assailants, and bless you with long and fruitful reign. Also, congradulations on the birth of your son!


King Conrad to King Rudolph of Upper Burgundy:

My sympathy is with you for the death of your father. We will, of course, maintain the most peaceful of neighborly relations with your good kingdom and her pious people. We gratefully accept your prayers, and my court wishes you the best of reigns.


Send an official to the court of the new Doge to convey my kingdom's desire for continued friendship with Venice.


King Conrad to Emperor Alexander III:

Greetings. My prayers, such little things as they are, are for your health and the continued well-being and piety of your people. I humbly ask that you reconsider your request of us, as the Magyar have shown to us with fire and steel that they desire no peace with Christian kingdoms. Every Magyar action and word that I have seen or heard is a blasphemy to Christ, and for us to let down our guard would be to allow our people to suffer slavery and death, and worse, forbidden to practice the Faith, at the hands of these pagans. I very much hope that with the aid of the Almighty you will succeed in showing the Magyar the light of God and turning them away from our borders and towards the Bulgars.


(A private discourse while on campaign)
Arnulf,

I trust your judgement on the battlefield. So long as you desire to continue setting up the tactical orders of battle, you have my support to do whatever you deem necessary with any forces in the campaing not expressly given other orders.
Also, I can trade you a higher quantity of silver to pass on to Berengar. Say, 300 d.?

-Conrad




Begin to train 300 new levy men (to become the Rhine Levy). Last turn I began the training of 300 levy men. Will they be ready this turn or the next?
-300 d.

Put in my armory:

200 Shields, 200 d.
200 Light Armor, 175 d. (with iron)
50 Pavises, 50 d.

50 Bows, 50 d.
100 Javelins, 100 d. (how many javelins can a soldier carry?)
100 Spears, 100 d.
100 Polearms, 100 d.

Total cost: 1075 d.

I'm interested in learning about the numbers, prices, and travel times in hiring any of the following mercenaries: Frieslanders, Slavs, Franks, Croats, and any Bohemians who managed to escape the Magyars.

[appleciders]

Originally posted by Cyclotron
Okay, that makes a bit more sense. At least the numbers add up. I am assuming Vizegraf Magenhard von Linz is with the 4th Regiment on the Bohemian border.

Does this mean that all Bavarian and Carinthian chivalry (knights, sergeants) is under your personal command?

To all: That update was very drawn out, and I apologize, it's been a busy week. I believe everything is ready for your orders at this point. Appleciders, I'll just update your stat block after the next update. Casualties from the Vienna campaign will also be factored in on the next update. Thanks for participating, it should be even more full of German goodness when our 4th duchy is taken up in a week or so.

Re von Linz: Yes.
Re chivalry: Now that you mention it, put them under the command of Landgraf Fridebert von Meran. I have some plans here.
Re updating stat block: Sounds good.

Private discourse to Conrad:
I will continue to defend our borders from the Magyar infidels. My thanks for your support and trust, and for pursuing every line of support with the Byzantines. I will enter negotiations with Berengar for the purchase of silver; my own coffers run dangerously low, and I will try to show a significant profit that I might avoid the indignity of asking you for a loan.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Emperor Berengar of Friuli, King of Italy
I have access to sufficient quantities of silver to interest you, but I do not particularly desire the items you listed for trade. Most helpful to me would be a supply of potash or salt, especially the latter. However, I would likely be able to trade you silver for cash if all else fails- say 300 silver for 500 denarii in cash? Iron is a more ticklish proposition, considering the war I'm fighting with the Magyars, and I would be loath to trade it away at the moment.


Cyclotron, what would the benefits of trading for glassware, cloth, leather, or olive oil? Just the regular trade benefits, or something else too?

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by Micha
That´s a thing I didn´t find when browsing the stats page... Where does it say I have 400d worth of iron? During the past updates I had 300d only.

Anyway, I want to make as many heavy armour pieces as my iron supply pays for.

Gah, blasted typos. You have 300 from trade, not 400. That means your iron discounts up to 600 denarii worth of arms, or 120 heavy armors. Would you like to stay at 150 or downgrade to 120?

Begin to train 300 new levy men (to become the Rhine Levy). Last turn I began the training of 300 levy men. Will they be ready this turn or the next?

The levy men are now in the process of training. They will be available to command next turn, so you can't give them orders this turn except to do things like move around your own Duchy.

how many javelins can a soldier carry?

Typically 5-6, carried in hand or behind the shield. Archers usually carry 10-15 arrows on their persons at one time. Javelins thus provide fewer shots than bows, but are better at penetrating armor and more damaging generally when the enemy is in range. Also, in a pinch, javelins can be used in melee (with about the same effectiveness as a spear, though without the anti-cavalry bonus), while bows and arrows are useless at close range.

Ordering "javelin" for your troops doesn't mean just one javelin, it assumes a supply of them. It costs one denarius to equip one man with javelins, and it is henceforth assumed that he is provided with ammunition from your supply trains; you never have to buy him more. The same is true of bows and arrows.

I'm interested in learning about the numbers, prices, and travel times in hiring any of the following mercenaries: Frieslanders, Slavs, Franks, Croats, and any Bohemians who managed to escape the Magyars.

Travel times for these mercenaries are dependent on where you want them to go. For campaigning in Vienna and its environs, Slavs, Croats, and Bohemians would be ready immediately, and could be ordered around this turn. Franks from Italy would take one turn, and Frieslanders would take two turns.

The following mercenaries are available currently:

Slavic Warriors (spear, shield) - These lightly armed pagan warriors are tough but ill-disciplined. They are best suited to being a mobile reserve to fend off light cavalry. Cost: 1d per man per turn. 4,000 available.

Moravian Veterans (light, axe, javelin, shield) - Once soldiers in Bohemian or Moravian armies, these men have been forced into mecenary bands by the destruction of their homelands at the hands of the Magyars. They have some military training and are better equipped than militia, and they are largely Christian. Cost: 2d. 2,500 available.

Dalmatian Cavalry (lance, shield) - These spirited Croatian (and mostly Christian) light cavalrymen are light lancers suitable for flanking and screening duties. They will not fare well in a heavy melee, however. Cost: 2d. 1,500 available.

Croatian Men-at-Arms (heavy, shield, mace) - The lesser nobles of Croatia often sell their services to the highest bidder when their own country is at relative peace. They are tough, well-disciplined, Christian, and equipped with good quality armaments, though they are not rich enough to own horses. Cost: 3d. 1,000 available.

Frankish Chivalry (light, sword, lance, shield) - Sergeants from Italian cities, these minor nobles are desperate to prove themselves on the field, and willing to do so for other Christian princes. They are excellent soldiers and medium cavalrymen, though sometimes too aggressive for their own good. Cost: 3d. 800 available.

Frieslander Raiders (polearm, light) - These fierce Frieslanders fight with only the massive double-handed Danish Axe and stout leather armor. They are war-hardened Christians well suited to brutal frontal assaults, and more disciplined than Vikings. Cost: 2d. 1,500 available.

Cyclotron, what would the benefits of trading for glassware, cloth, leather, or olive oil? Just the regular trade benefits, or something else too?

"Luxury goods" work in much the same way as trading metals, except that they have no special functions (i.e. iron or stone being useful for making some things), but generally create higher profits than metals and minerals. You also don't get money for things that you produce; if you produce wine, you can't trade with somebody for more wine and expect a profit.

The further away the good comes from, the more profit potential, but the riskier the trade - if the Genoans lose a convoy of your goods to saracen pirates, the Italians will shrug and continue taking your metal.

Diplomacy: All other diplomatic requests given to my characters will be resolved after the next update, unless you ask me to answer back now. I am starting work on the update, so send in any last orders to me soon.

Emperor Berengar of Friuli, King of Italy, to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
His Imperial Majesty is uncertain why a Duke with a city in his Duchy called Salzburg would lack for salt, but a trade could be arranged. His Majesty is not interested in paying denarii for silver, and has no potash to trade - potash production and metal mining are what you Germans are for, anyway. His Majesty is still willing to trade the items he mentioned before.

[appleciders]

Salzburg, huh? Well, maybe there's some benefit to speaking German. Details... I assume this is in the form of salt deposits that can be mined, so I will be making a quick change to my orders above to exploit this. Also, please respond to the below diplomacy before the update.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Emperor Berengar of Friuli, King of Italy
I would accept a trade of 400 denarii worth of leather, wine, and cloth for 300 denarii of my silver.

[Micha]

Originally posted by Cyclotron
Gah, blasted typos. You have 300 from trade, not 400. That means your iron discounts up to 600 denarii worth of arms, or 120 heavy armors. Would you like to stay at 150 or downgrade to 120?

Neither nor. If I got 300d worth of iron, that means I would get 300d cash and 300d worth of weaponry for free. So if I was forging 120 heavy armour pieces, that would cost me 300d + the 300d from iron bonus. So all my iron would be gone.

Right now I need every small budget surplus I have, so even the 300d from iron are needed. That´s why I have edited my ordrs to their current (final) wording: Forge 60 heavy armour pieces, which costs me 60*5d=300d which is covered by my iron bonus, so the usual mining income is still there.

Confused? I sure am.

[foolish_icarus]

cyclotron, orders will be updated shortly (edited portions will be in bold)

appleciders, are you mounting an assault this turn? I want to know whether to hire mercenaries.

[appleciders]

I am not mounting an attack, I am consolidating the Wachau valley with a very high probability of being attacked by the Magyars, and so am preparing for a defensive. Don't spend a lot on mercanaries, but if you feel like hiring a few, archers or some other ranged types might be prudent.

[Cyclotron]

Emperor Berengar of Friuli, King of Italy, to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria

While His Imperial Majesty is pleased to see that you have come around to His offer, He would appreciate a volume of silver great enough to suit his similarly large scale projects. His councillors inquire as to whether additional sources could be mustered on your end to make this trade worth the Emperor's concern.

In the meantime, however, realizing that the poor and backwards German people require his urgent aid, he will accept a trade of an equal value of leather, wine, and cloth for your 300 denarii of silver. Perhaps he will be inclined to give you your suggested "discount" if your offer rises to something more substantial.

Confused? I sure am.

I'm sorry, Micha. Perhaps the system should be simplified, I'll look into it. For now, it works this way:

Every denarii of iron counts as two when spent on arms. Thus, when you buy 100d of armor, you can spend 100d, or just 50d of iron. The iron doesn't give you "bonus denarii," it just doubles when used for arms.

If you made no armor, you would receive 300d from your mines.

If you made 10 armor pieces, that would cost 50d, which you could cover with only 25d of iron. Thus, you would receive as income 275 out of 300d of iron.

If you made 60 armor pieces, that would cost 300d, which you could cover with 150d of iron. Thus, you would recieve as income 150 out of 300d of iron.

If you made 120 armor pieces, that would cost 600d, which you could cover with 300d of iron, which is exactly what you have. You wouldn't get any income from the iron because it would all be spent on arms.

If you made 150 armor pieces, that would cost 750d, which you could partially cover with 300d of iron. It would cost you 300d of iron, plus 150d from other sources (iron doubles to 600, with 150 left to reach 750).

I hope the examples help clear it up...

Note on Mercenaries: I'm going to use one of the starting posts of this thread to serve as a mercenary billboard, updated with each update. That way, all you have to ask me about is how long it would take them to reach you.

edit: The new mercenary billboard will supercede the list I just posted, so please refer to the billboard once posted instead of the post above.

I will start the updating process tomorrow. I have friends coming over Saturday night until Tuesday morning, so if I do not finish the update by Saturday night it will not be out until Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll see. I may do something like last update and post the update first, then do the stat block and other dirty work after the weekend.

[appleciders]

I might suggest that in addition to a mercenary billboard, a general billboard might be in order, so that we can see in one place what each of our current generals are like.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Emperor Berengar of Friuli, King of Italy
The most I could offer would be 425 denarii worth of silver. For that, I feel that the equivilent of 600 denarii worth of wine, leather, and cloth would be fair. If that's not acceptable, then I accept your offer of an even trade at 300 denarii for each side.

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by appleciders
I might suggest that in addition to a mercenary billboard, a general billboard might be in order, so that we can see in one place what each of our current generals are like.

I will consider that. If I do that, I'll do it with the next update.

edit: mercenary billboard is up. Some cool dudes for your perusal.

Emperor Berengar of Friuli, King of Italy, to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
His Imperial Majesty notes that you haggle like a Venetian Jew. His councillors would be scandalized by such an outrageous theft that your larger offer amounts to. He is willing to trade 300 even, or graciously provide you with 500 denarii of goods for your 425 denarii of silver. He regards this as his final offer.