Also, if you're only generating that few florins from trading, you're doing something wrong. Remember that trade upgrades include things like roads, docks and mine upgrades (not so sure about Medieval II since it has the trader guys, but in Rome a mine upgrade would increase the mine output and also increase the trade output; more goods to trade.) In my Britons game i'm racking up several thousand florins from each of my various upgraded home cities on trade alone.
I meant a couple hundred florins in a trading town, not for the whole empire. It's still nowhere close to tax income is what I'm saying. I know about ports and roads and mines and such, and build all of them to the point of finding myself underarmed from lack of garrisoning.
Yet another epic battle; if I didn't know better, I'd swear Knight units get bonuses for being outnumbered, because I see them pulling off amazing last stands all the time, even surviving when they really shouldn't. Playing as the Sicilians (I've abandoned Venice because the game was on Medium difficulty, and changing Unit sizes halfway through fucked everything up), I conquered Durazzo with two units each of Mounted Sergeants and Mailed Knights. No Generals, but I did bring along my Cardinal (by mistake). Durazzo gets converted to a castle for defending my eastern front and to retrain the cavalry, and is then left alone for several turns, to train and wait under the Cardinals peaceful watch.
A Byzantine princess shows up to offer Trade Rights. Awesome. Two turns later, a matching force of Byzantine noble cavalry archers, backed by mobs of militiamen and archers lays siege for no damned reason. The princess returns, offering a peace settlement in exchange for cash. Fifty florins a turn, for four turns. The fuck, I say. But the Knights of Durazzo bow to no heathen woman, let alone to sell their lives for pocket change.
Besides, surely the Greeks wouldn't attack in one season, while I bring reinforcements from Naples?
They waited on the high ground at the castle yard, watching the Byzantines wheel their battering ram to the abandoned gate, curtly joking of their new foes' sinful tastes and effete mannerisms. The Cardinal had abandoned hopes for a peaceful resolution, and walked through the ranks giving benediction and prayers for those who would kill and die alike. Ladders were raised, but it made no difference. The walls were lost before the battle began, as planned. The Greek mounted archers raced through up the main road, and the butchery began.
Lances splintered, horses dropped, arrows fell, and men screamed. The slightly tougher Knights proper claimed the unenviable task of crashing headlong into an advance of thrice their number to stop it cold, while their mounted guards tore through the backstreets to pierce the advance in its side. Minutes turned to hours, and for every Greek trampled beneath an armored hoof, two more took his place. The Templar called a retreat, and the line broke away. Thinking themselves victorious, the Varditoi wheeled about to urge his men on. But they waited one moment too long, for the retreat was only to make space to build another charge.
Dozens died in the second rush, enough to terrify the exhausted footmen into another mistake. They turned to run, and were cut down to a man, leaving their noble leaders in disarray as they too galloped away from certain death. Although their mounted servants had been reduced to but a score, the Knights pressed on, and found themselves hewing through archers like wheat, before repulsing one last ragged advance from through the gate itself. Winded but no less eager, all together tore through the castle walls to give the desperately rallying Byzantine noblemen one last swipe, before allowing themselves the luxury of dismounting to pass out.
317 horses and riders were of able body to fight. Counting those wounded light enough to ride again, 97 remained. Of the 635 Greeks who entered the castle, a bare 103 escaped alive. In truth, more than twice that number had been merely crushed into the dirt but were left behind within the walls. I could have heeded the Cardinal's plea to let them limp home. I could have taken the Emperor's offer to buy their freedom. Shit, I could have used the money.
But the Knights of Durazzo strike no deals with traitors and heretics. All were put to the sword. I was only left to wonder why I didn't get to adopt the Knight's commander into the royal family. What more glory could be required?
Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to save Durazzo from another siege of twice that number again, with an even larger reserve for behind them. And to save Florence from a Venetian mercenary army, fresh from their conquest of Bologna and their alliance against all reason with the Byzantines.
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Topic: Medieval II, Total War in general, discussion time (Read 74728 times)