Prussia - gain three provinces lose three provinces

Prussia

1707

The Bavarians have come at me with a vengeance since declaring war on me. It seems that they have been a lot more dangerous and aggressive than the Austrians. The Austrians took West Prussia from me, but since then have been fairly passive, with just an army or two threatening to march on Berlin. However, the Bavarians have taken Dresden in the last year and the Venetians have taken the empty, pillaged Vienna, which I decided I didn't have the resources to garrison. Also the Poles marched across Austrian territory to take Prague - do they have designs on Austria too perhaps?

I am using the 1.5 patch and it seems that the AI so far has been more co-ordinated and aggressive in its actions.

Battle of Rossbach - new Historical Battle for Empire Total War

I played this new battle that comes with the 1.4 patch at the weekend. Much like Fontenoy it seems too easy. I think this is because the quality of the Prussian troops has been put too high. You don't really have to be too clever to win it.

The set-up for the battle is also a bit bizarre - with quite a few large mountains really defining the battlefield, and I am guessing, forcing the enemy AI to act in a certain way. This works as the cavalry try a flanking manoeuvre, which fails, and then the infantry deploy badly in a sort of shaky column, which is quite easy to defeat.

Here's the actual dispositions taken from Wikipedia:

New 1.5 patch for Empire Total War

With the 1.4 patch just out, it's great to hear that there is a 1.5 patch in the works as well! See Mike Simpson's post at the official Total War blog site.

I think it's a shame that there has been so much criticism. I have been playing since they first released Shogun and I think Empire is the best Total War game yet. It's much better than anything comparable on the market at what it does.

If you want historical recreation then go for a worthy but duller game like John Tiller's Battleground series - great games, but take longer to play and less immediate fun to the general gamer.

New beginning with Prussia

I have just started a new campaign as Prussia. Unfortunately I didn't get to the end of my campaign as France as I bought a new computer recently and didn't transfer the save game files over.

Also the new 1.4 patch is out, so I thought I would start from scratch with this patch installed.

Revolution Baby!

Year: 1718

France

A couple of battles with the United Provinces and then rebels in Flanders beat me up and kicked me out. Ok not so bad, just need to recover the place.

However, next turn my King dies and the new Queen Victoire I can't hold things together and Revolution breaks out. I plump for the sans-culottes, but foolishly I had just built some large and impressive forces up in Paris the turn before - my Drill School having just been constructed. This meant the government forces were much too strong. I still managed to fight a good battle in charge of the Revolutionary army though and nearly won a close fought affair, but it wasn't to be.

Of course my faction had now died off, so this meant I could continue the campaign but only from the turn before back with the ancien regime. This time I decided not to build the government forces. Will see what happens next - will Revolution still happen? Can the people rise up and defeat their oppressors?

Will the new revolutionary army get rid of their white uniforms eventually?

Defeat for Spain in Flanders

Year: 1717

France

I seem to be doing well, but badly. My subjects keep threatening to revolt, but my popularity is going up and down like a yo-yo - up when I defeated an invading force from the United Provinces - completely whipped them, and then down again - I guess because of my oppressive taxation policy. Income has risen as - I think because I lost some troops and also started raiding Spain's trade routes - I forgot previously that this could bring income in as well as hurt your enemies - I should try to do a bit more of this.

I would like to sort of push my subjects a bit further to see if they come out in open revolt - just to see what happens. Presumably there is a French Revolution style event that happens and changes the regime - and the flags and uniforms maybe?

On the war front perhaps I should invade Spain - they seem to be preoccupied in North Africa, with the peninsula looking relatively unguarded. My forays into Northern Spain have been met by relatively small enemy forces so far.

Spain Declares War - my oldest Buddy

Year: 1713

France

Not sure what I did to upset these guys but that went and declared war. More fool they I say - I swiftly invaded a completely unprotected Flanders and after a couple of turns of strong garrisons, no tax and destroying a rebel army, I am pretty much in control.

I am still woefully short of money, but things aren't looking quite as grim as they were.

I should be able to build a drill school next turn. And also go a-raiding into Northern Spain!