Krakra
20-05-2005, 22:39
Prelude:
I read about the game on gamespot and had waited patiently for its release on May 10, 2005. To my surprise, its availability on that date was, well, unavailable online or in game stores in Louisville, KY. After three days of waiting, I finally found out that CompUSA had ‘limited copies’ – as I later found out, they had received only 2 copies and, lucky me, had not sold any so far. After ~ 30 min of searching the shelves, I finally found it ...
This is my first game. So why write an AAR in the first game? Because the first game is generally the sweetest and because many games disappoint so much after the first game that the desire to replay them goes away. The first game is also the game that most closely resembles reality – you don’t know all the tricks, you are a bit hesitant to start bashing everything in sight and you are still humble, yet full of optimism.
I decided to play in Early for Georgia on Hard. Why Georgia? Because I was born in Bulgaria, but Bulgaria in the game – just like as it was in history at that time – was a fairly large country and I wasn’t prepared to rule a large country as my first game. I needed something small I can grow with and something that was close to my place of birth, while at the same time away from Europe so that the AI can develop as well. Why on Hard? Well, I read the manual, passed the tutorial … what else does a king need to kick some ***?
And so the rule of Tzar Krakra Pernishki began…
Chapter 1: The Beginning
The students laughed and chatted merrily, ignoring his announcement that the class had started. In his third day on the job as the tutor of the children of the country’s elite – and who, no doubt, would be the country’s elite one day – Aristotle still had not found the key to winning their interest.
“Georgia,” he started wryly, “was a one-province country ruled by an ambitious tzar. Through determination, clever diplomacy, luck and sharp sword it became one of the mightiest kingdoms, feared and revered many worlds over.”
The chatter and laugher died down. He glazed a hint of interest being born in their eyes. He seized the moment and continued rapidly.
“Monetarily, Georgia was poor. However, it did have some useful mineral deposits around which a vibrant industry could be built.”
http://img218.echo.cx/img218/1880/aar19vz.th.jpg (http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=aar19vz.jpg)
“Strategically, Georgia was at war with Byzantine – the predominant power of that era. The Byzantines, in their arrogance, thought little of Georgia and refused repeated request to settle peacefully. After all, Georgia had no army and no possibility to build one quickly. Even more, Georgia had access only to rudimentary units, making its army of much lesser quality than what the Byzantines could field. Though this gave Byzantium the definitive upper hand, Georgia still had a very able and large royal family that it could count on.”
http://img218.echo.cx/img218/1833/aar23hh.th.jpg (http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=aar23hh.jpg)
“The first order of business for the young Tzar was to strengthen the royal treasury. With the population quite content, tax rates were doubled immediately. The entire royal family was turned to merchants and sent to negotiate trade deals and trade at the most lucrative markets. A construction boom of economy-aiding buildings began.
The new measures quickly gave fruition and money started flowing in. With the first 1,000 golden pieces, a new Landlord was hired and appointed to govern Georgia…”
“Why did the tzar need the Landlord, teacher?” asked the young Alexander.
“The tzar was wise. He knew that one day he may need troops and need them quick. A landlord greatly increases the population growth rate and thus increases the availability of people to be hired into the army. He also helps rationing the food supply in the town, allowing the town to withstand a siege longer and thus increasing attrition on the enemy undertaking the siege.
What the tzar didn’t count on is how quickly the Byzantine attacks will start! It was quite a surprise for him to learn that a large Byzantine army was sailing towards Georgia. Panic ensued in the capital. The first military building was begun immediately.
The building was just finished when the Byzantine army disembarked on the coast. Its experienced commander exploited the weakness of the Georgians and headed straight for the capital city. In the city itself, three legions of hastily recruited peasant soldiers nervously awaited the thundering Byzantine columns. Their commander turned to them and spoke loudly. He spoke of the importance of this day. He spoke of bravery, of duty. They were the last defense. Should they brake and run, their lives and the lives of their loved ones will be over. This is it: victory or peril.
Nowhere has it ever been seen the valor and tenacity exhibited by the Georgians on the monumental day. Outnumbered, they fought bravely. They fell, but falling they inflicted heavy casualties on their foes. Such immense perseverance finally broke the spirit of the Byzantines; they lost their appetite to battle against such fanatics, who cared not for death but chose to seek it on the battlefield. The Byzantine front line broke into desertion, caused chaos among the troops that followed them.
With loud, blood-freezing, shrieks the Georgians fell upon the confused ranks obliterating them. The chaos turned into a mad run. The Byzantine soldiers – discarding their weapons and shields – ran away. The Georgians followed them. What started as a battle turned into a blood bath. Only the Byzantine commander was able to escape it.”
http://img218.echo.cx/img218/4625/aar34ao.th.jpg (http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=aar34ao.jpg)
Aristotle cleared his throat, took a sip from his water cup and glanced at his pupils. They were all silent, intensely looking at him.
“What happened next, teacher?” asked one of them, unable to hide his interest.
I read about the game on gamespot and had waited patiently for its release on May 10, 2005. To my surprise, its availability on that date was, well, unavailable online or in game stores in Louisville, KY. After three days of waiting, I finally found out that CompUSA had ‘limited copies’ – as I later found out, they had received only 2 copies and, lucky me, had not sold any so far. After ~ 30 min of searching the shelves, I finally found it ...
This is my first game. So why write an AAR in the first game? Because the first game is generally the sweetest and because many games disappoint so much after the first game that the desire to replay them goes away. The first game is also the game that most closely resembles reality – you don’t know all the tricks, you are a bit hesitant to start bashing everything in sight and you are still humble, yet full of optimism.
I decided to play in Early for Georgia on Hard. Why Georgia? Because I was born in Bulgaria, but Bulgaria in the game – just like as it was in history at that time – was a fairly large country and I wasn’t prepared to rule a large country as my first game. I needed something small I can grow with and something that was close to my place of birth, while at the same time away from Europe so that the AI can develop as well. Why on Hard? Well, I read the manual, passed the tutorial … what else does a king need to kick some ***?
And so the rule of Tzar Krakra Pernishki began…
Chapter 1: The Beginning
The students laughed and chatted merrily, ignoring his announcement that the class had started. In his third day on the job as the tutor of the children of the country’s elite – and who, no doubt, would be the country’s elite one day – Aristotle still had not found the key to winning their interest.
“Georgia,” he started wryly, “was a one-province country ruled by an ambitious tzar. Through determination, clever diplomacy, luck and sharp sword it became one of the mightiest kingdoms, feared and revered many worlds over.”
The chatter and laugher died down. He glazed a hint of interest being born in their eyes. He seized the moment and continued rapidly.
“Monetarily, Georgia was poor. However, it did have some useful mineral deposits around which a vibrant industry could be built.”
http://img218.echo.cx/img218/1880/aar19vz.th.jpg (http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=aar19vz.jpg)
“Strategically, Georgia was at war with Byzantine – the predominant power of that era. The Byzantines, in their arrogance, thought little of Georgia and refused repeated request to settle peacefully. After all, Georgia had no army and no possibility to build one quickly. Even more, Georgia had access only to rudimentary units, making its army of much lesser quality than what the Byzantines could field. Though this gave Byzantium the definitive upper hand, Georgia still had a very able and large royal family that it could count on.”
http://img218.echo.cx/img218/1833/aar23hh.th.jpg (http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=aar23hh.jpg)
“The first order of business for the young Tzar was to strengthen the royal treasury. With the population quite content, tax rates were doubled immediately. The entire royal family was turned to merchants and sent to negotiate trade deals and trade at the most lucrative markets. A construction boom of economy-aiding buildings began.
The new measures quickly gave fruition and money started flowing in. With the first 1,000 golden pieces, a new Landlord was hired and appointed to govern Georgia…”
“Why did the tzar need the Landlord, teacher?” asked the young Alexander.
“The tzar was wise. He knew that one day he may need troops and need them quick. A landlord greatly increases the population growth rate and thus increases the availability of people to be hired into the army. He also helps rationing the food supply in the town, allowing the town to withstand a siege longer and thus increasing attrition on the enemy undertaking the siege.
What the tzar didn’t count on is how quickly the Byzantine attacks will start! It was quite a surprise for him to learn that a large Byzantine army was sailing towards Georgia. Panic ensued in the capital. The first military building was begun immediately.
The building was just finished when the Byzantine army disembarked on the coast. Its experienced commander exploited the weakness of the Georgians and headed straight for the capital city. In the city itself, three legions of hastily recruited peasant soldiers nervously awaited the thundering Byzantine columns. Their commander turned to them and spoke loudly. He spoke of the importance of this day. He spoke of bravery, of duty. They were the last defense. Should they brake and run, their lives and the lives of their loved ones will be over. This is it: victory or peril.
Nowhere has it ever been seen the valor and tenacity exhibited by the Georgians on the monumental day. Outnumbered, they fought bravely. They fell, but falling they inflicted heavy casualties on their foes. Such immense perseverance finally broke the spirit of the Byzantines; they lost their appetite to battle against such fanatics, who cared not for death but chose to seek it on the battlefield. The Byzantine front line broke into desertion, caused chaos among the troops that followed them.
With loud, blood-freezing, shrieks the Georgians fell upon the confused ranks obliterating them. The chaos turned into a mad run. The Byzantine soldiers – discarding their weapons and shields – ran away. The Georgians followed them. What started as a battle turned into a blood bath. Only the Byzantine commander was able to escape it.”
http://img218.echo.cx/img218/4625/aar34ao.th.jpg (http://img218.echo.cx/my.php?image=aar34ao.jpg)
Aristotle cleared his throat, took a sip from his water cup and glanced at his pupils. They were all silent, intensely looking at him.
“What happened next, teacher?” asked one of them, unable to hide his interest.