Before I begin my next installment, I think I better give you all a overview of the known world (known to my nation).
The Ottoman Empire is in it's infancy. As mentioned already England and France are in the last decade or two of the 'Hundred Year War'. Denmark hold sway in Scandinavia, it's the senior partner of a union with Norway and Sweden, and is at war with Scotland.
There are many other wars and alliances but I won't mention them just yet as they don't have any significance to my aims of expansion, ..yet.
Remember to click on all the images to see the full size view.
Next is my armed forces.
My army is made up of 3 regiments of 'pike men', each regiment made up of a 1000 men.
My navy has 3 'Barque's' and a Cog. The Barque's are medium size warships while the Cog is a transport ship.
One of the fleets is lead by an experience Admiral, whose services I required for free.
The first fleet is protecting trade in the Bordeaux trade hub, the second fleet is protecting trade in the London trade hub. The third fleet, been a transport ship remains at port.
Below is a screenie of available army and naval units and their explanations.
Now, back to making decisions.
As mentioned before, I am sending a diplomat to Connacht to improve relations, and another to fabricate claims on the territory of Munster. Both these missions will take nearly a year to play out I will have to bide my time.
I have the option of hiring advisers, these are quite expensive to hire (16 Ducats) and expensive to pay monthly (1- 4 Ducats depending on their skill), as my net income monthly is +0.18 Ducats and there’s only 50 Ducats in the government coffers I will forgo their services until I am in a position to afford them.
As it's still 11 of November, it's about time I un-pause the game and see how things turn out.
21 November 1444
Scotland has offered an Alliance !
I have accepted, they might be useful in the future when I need to annex the province of Meath.
10 February 1445
Scotland offer a Royal Marriage !
As my King doesn't have a heir, I think it's wise to start going about getting one.
My worry here is that it might lead to a war of succession in the future.
13 April 1445
Some interesting developments, it seems Scotland has been playing all sides in Ireland.
Connacht has also entered into a Alliance and Royal Marriage with Scotland.
Tyrone has entered into both a Alliance and Royal marriage with Munster, plus a Royal Marriage with England.
Munster have enter into an Alliance and Royal Marriages with both Tyrone and Scotland.
I think I better form an Alliance with England, has my diplomats are busy, I will have to wait until they are finished their jobs before I start trying to 'woo' England.
Just an note on Alliances, as I am allied with Scotland, but Scotland is also allied to Tyrone and Munster. If I attack Tyrone or Munster, Scotland declares war on me. It seems the attacker gets punished for breaking the peace.
21 July 1445
The Papal Conclave have elected a new pope. I don't fully understand the HRE (Holy Roman Empire) side of the game. From what I understand, if you have Cardinals that are willing to be 'sponsored' by you (or bribed) it increases your prestige. It can also gain you more power and allies if your fighting heretics or nations of other religions. It's a learning process, I 'll let you know as I go along.
12 November 1445
Good news ! We have completed 'Conquest Casus Belli' against Munster. Now I can get my diplomat to woo the English.
20 November 1445
My Navy, in their role of protecting the merchant fleet report that England's Normandy Kingdom (the provinces of Noramdie and Caux) is under attack and it's castles are under siege. I think they can hold out for quite a while, has there doesn't seem to be a blockade on the ports.
7 December 1445
England has accepted my offer of an Alliance. Perfect !
14 December 1445
A opportunity has come to invest in a future Cardinal, my Papal influence.
I have opted in a 39 year old named Tellez-Giron, the youngest on the list. I figure it will take a lot of time for my nation to gain the required Papal influence to be considered a major player in the great game, this guy might be still alive. Plus he has the most votes so far.
24 December 1445
A new air to the throne, the succession is safe (for the moment).
I also sent a diplomat to Tyrone to offer an alliance and they accepted. Huzzar !
I have enough alliances to cast my eye towards Munster, I need to provoke Munster into war somehow without me been seen as the aggressor. I have Casus Belli, but I don't want to have a coalition against me.
So I'm going to try and from a coalition against them before I go to war with them.
4 January 1446
Looks like a rebellion in a province in Whales.
England's Normandy provinces are still under siege.
14January 1446
The Welsh rebellion is crushed.
26 January 1446
An interesting event, an administrator has suggested to let people buy titles as a way to make more money, I rebuff the idea and gain +1 in stability.
I think I should now explain what 'Stability' is, currently my stability is at '0', with my rebuff it goes to +1. If it falls to '-3' there is a good chance of rebellion, as we had seen in Wales.
Below is a explanation of some of the icons on the UI.
12 March 1446
I have sent a diplomat to fabricate claims on Connacht. It will take 365 days. I might as well start this process now with all the provinces in Ireland.
I also started to build a Barque ship (172 days to complete) to protect the trade routes, my economy isn't doing well and I don't yet have the necessary tech ideas to build a market place. Damn steep learning curve in this game.
