Es scheint in Empire üblich dass die meisten kontinentaleuropäischen Großmächte rückständiger sind, als die Kleinstaaten, mit Ausnahme der Briten und Spanier natürlich, die sich jedoch mehr um ihre Kolonien sorgen dürften. Eine solche ist das Osmanische Reich, das schon laut eigener Fraktionsbeschreibung mit großen Zahlen beeindrucken muss, technisch jedoch den Anschluss zu verlieren droht. Der "kranke Mann am Bosporus" bietet jedoch die Möglichkeit etwas traditioneller und MTW2-ähnlicher an die Dinge heranzugehen.

Machtzentrum Naher Osten
Öl ist noch ohne Bedeutung, leider, aber ein Pakt mit dem Iran und den Kaukasus-Staaten kann helfen Russlands Vordringen in der Region aufzuhalten. Ein Deal mit dem Zaren, der einer Verschwörung gegen den "Westen" gleichkommt, wird dafür sorgen, dass Russland sich primär um die Polen oder ähnliches kümmert.

Balkan Expansion
Nach etwas Bündnispolitik, die einer Charme-Offensive entsprechen soll, ist es an der Zeit den Balkan endlich unter türkischer Kontrolle wiederzuvereinen. Dazu muss Morea fallen und Siebenbürgen aus Serbien, Bulgarien und Moldawien annektiert werden. Nun gilt es die Reaktion Österreichs und Polens abzu warten.

Ein Waffenstillstand mit Venedig und Angriffe auf Südungarn könnten Österreichs Stellung in Kroatien schwächen und somit zur idealen Angriffsbasis werden lassen. Kroatien sollte zur Militärstadt aufgerüstet werden, denn von hier aus, kann Wien ins Visier genommen werden. Das weitere Vorgehen hängt nun stark vom politischen Kräfteverhältnis zwischen den italienischen und deutschen Staaten, wie auch in Osteuropa ab. Wien zu rasch anzugreifen kann das vormalige HRR gegen einen aufbringen, Polen könnte einfallen oder Russland den Balkan für sich beanspruchen.

A Swedish Campaign report

von Jack Lusted (Creative Assembly)
Quasi ein Insiderbericht entnommen von http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic/42588

As you guys have seen quite a few videos of battles, I thought I'd post about a recent Swedish campaign I played so you guys get more of an idea about how the campaign game plays.

Der Anfang

Early on I decide I must help build my military power. So I focus my research onto military technology, build extra schools to allow the research of more items at once, and begin to build up an army in Estonia near Riga. This will allow me to fight the Russians if they decide to start a war, or to expand into the nearby Duchy of Courland...

WAR!

...which I invade after gifting the Russians a bit of cash to keep them happy for a bit. After a tough fight I secure the region, but almost immediately the Prussians approach me asking for the province in exchange for some technologies and more importantly an alliance. Eager for allies I accept, and the tech allows me to upgrade my farms to increase my income as well as keeping my population fed.

Preparations...

With my economy secured and a strong ally in Prussia, I turn my eyes towards my Scandinavian neighbours Denmark. Determined to take Denmark out in one glorious invasion, I begin to prepare three armies ready to take Iceland, Norway and Denmark.

...and Problems

But these big armies rapidly begin to drain my income. My research focus switches onto techs that will improve my income from workshops and farms, and I cancel a trade agreement with France in order to free up a trade route so I can sign a new trade agreement with the Marathas which proves much more profitable.

Revolution!

All the focusing on techs and building schools has had an unfortunate side effect, the people are not happy. They are clamouring for reform, and so I endeavour to spark a revolution myself. Raising taxes soon leads to one, and I side with the rebels in order to turn Sweden into a republic. After a hard fought battle for Stockholm, victory is mine and the old order is removed. The public is now happy with the more enlightened Republic government type.

With the revolution over, I focus once again on preparations to invade Denmark.

The First Strike

But Denmark declare war first, marching armies through my lands and damaging my buildings. Damaged schools means no more research, and damaged farms leads to unhappiness as the population is less well fed. So I march an army out to deal with these raiding forces and I initiate my own invasion plans.

One army lands on Iceland after a long trip away from trade routes to avoid detection where it quickly takes the region. But my main invasion army fares less well. Marching close to Copenhagen, my almost 2000 men find themselves facing over 4500 Danish troops. In a hard fought battle barely 500 of my men survive after fleeing the field having been beaten decisively.

And this is where my campaign report ends. Sweden has transformed into a Republic, improved its economy and military and is now engaged in a long and costly war with Denmark with wins and losses on both sides. I hope this has help give you an idea of what playing the early stages of an Empire: Total War campaign is like.


Feel free to ask questions about this campaign and I'll try and answer as many as I can.

Questions and Answers

Teil: 1

-1-
Q: very interesting actually...unit sizes on huge?
A: Huge.

-2-
Q: Did Prussia aid you in anyway against Denmark?
A: Prussia did aid in terms of helping to raid a Danish trade route with their very small navy. They have not built up very much so could not really aid me more than that.

-3-
Q: what year have you ended at? by the way it sounds FANTASTIC!!!
A: 1720, 42 turns in.

-4-
Q: and some informations (tactics, type of troops ...) about the fight you made against the Denmark-Norway soldiers ?
A: Both sides had mix of line infantry, good cavalry, artillery. Classic long lines and flanking manouevres, but their numbers were too much for me. Only managed to kill about 2100 of their men out of 4500.

-5-
Q: when choosing the "Rebel" side, how was the resemblance of your "new" army?
I'm talking soldiers here. Did they wear different uniforms the the loyalists or was there only a "colour" difference?
Do you have any influence on with what soldiers you can fight the civil war or are you confronted with a made decision on what troops are available to you?
A: Same uniform as old one, flag was different. If you side with the rebels in a civil war you get an army spawned for you.

-6-
Q: What was in Iceland?
A: Good income from fishing ports, and it is right next to a trade route to America.

-7-
Q: Jack, I am getting the feeling that revolutions are nearly unavoidable. Why did you want to switch to a republic in the middle of a war?
A: They are not, and I wasn't at war at the time. The revolution was really forced on me because of the techs I chose to research, you can research lots of stuff and manage to keep your people happy, just means you cannot go very far down some paths. If I hadn't been paying attention to my public order the revolution would have taken me by surprise as the clamour for reform was building quicker than I expected.

-8-
Q: In addition to this, did you simply start with just a bunch of rebel troops with the Royalists chasing you down or did you have some infrastructure to aid in your hostile takeover?
A: You have an army spawned for you if you side for the rebels and that is it. You then have to take your capital in order to win.

-9-
Q: and did you attack denmarks mainland or norway?
A: Mainland, I later sent a force against Norway.

-10-
Q: Did you played it on "Easy", "Hard" ?
A: Normal.

-11-
Q: Did you play on highest settings in your computer?
A: Quite high settings, and yes it looks pretty.

-12-
Q: My first question is, how does a revolution wokr? do you choose from a pop-up wether your loyal or rebel? and then, does a rebel army spawn etc?
A: Pop-up, you choose which side. See earlier answers for army spawning.

Teil: 2

-13-
Q: As posted earlier, I would like to know if Iceland has a city/harbour or resources (I.e. is it a full-blown province)?
A: Full blown province.

-14-
Q: Does the fact that you had a revolution in Sweden trigger the Danes (being a monarchy) to attach you?
A: Probably a combination of that(as differing goverment types affects diplomatic relations) and the fact the revolution did weaken me temporarily.

-15-
Q: As you were vastly outnumbered in the battle with the Danes, what tactics did the Danes (AI) use?
A: Lines, outlanking.

-16-
Q: Say something about a powerfull ally you gain...and mean prussia And now say they only raided a trade route because they haven build much up...which mean they are actually not powerful
A: Early game they were powrful, but trouble with Poland has stopped them from becoming as powerful as Denmark.

-17-
Q: Did Prussia declare war on Denmark when Denmark declared war on you?
Was the trade route rading of prussia like those harbour attacks in mtw 2???
A: Yes when you have war declared on you, you can call your allies to join you. Prussia did join me. If they hadn't, they would have broken their alliance with me. If you attack someone and you call your allies to help but they do't join, they don't break alliance as it is not as severe as not helping to defend you. Trade route raiding is different to blockading, you can actually attack the trade routes you see on the map and reduce the enemies income.

-18-
Q: Are there a limit to how big arme you can have? beside money.
A: Do you mean per stack or on a faction basis? If per stack it is 20 units as in previous games. If on a faction basis, maintaining armies is expensive.

-19-
Q: What happens if you fail to take/hold your capital during a revolution ?
A: You lose.

-20-
Q: But what did the flag look like, is it possible u could post the pic of it? Maybe along with your campaign map?
A: Sorry guys no pics.

-21-
Q: But what happens to the other settlements in the empire, after the battle in Stockholm? I mean, is that all that is necessary for the revolution? A battle in the capital?
A: A revolution is a fight for control over your government, so it only happens in your home region.

-22-
Q: is there a limit on how many traderoutes you may have? if yes, how many?
A: Yes the limit based on number/level of your trading ports.

-23-
Q: Are you an beginner or do you play often TW games? I'm more a modder and if I should play against a human pro, so I would completely loose, but I think M:TW has not diffucult AI.
A: Been playing since M:TW came out, wasn't until Rome I started modding fully. So I'd say I was a TW veteran.

-24-
Q: Do you think your campaign is/was difficult to play or do/did you watichng tv, phone, do your work and play E:TW?
A: It is tough.

-25-
Q: Seems CA favorite faction is Sweden. Why? Think to read someone else from CA played it too (was it you?).
A: Well Sweden do have an interesting start position. Personally my favourite factions are Britain, United Provinces, Sweden, Prussia.

-26-
Q:How did you make a contact with Marathas from the start of the game or is it possible to make contacts with every country from the start ?
A:You can contact everyone through the diplomacy screen.

-27-
Q:What were the reactions of the other countries when your revolution become successful or are there any reactions to revolutions in the game ?
A:It affects diplomatic relations based on government type.

-28-
Q: Are there any effects of revolutions like nationalism and what are the advantages and disadvantages of revolutions?
A:Advantages - change of government, Republic generally better for researching some techs. Disadvantages - you do not have as much control over Ministers as in an Absolute Monarchy, and the upper class don't tend to be too happy so now have another group to work hard on keeping happy.

-29-
Q: What did you do to royal family ?
A: There is a lovely video that illustrates what happens, though it stops before any parts of bodies are detached.


Teil: 3

-30-
Q: Is there a reson you did not look to expand overseas first? e.g. Denmark-Norway controlling ocean access? or bad relations with GB?
A: Just wanted to secure Scandinavia first, my plan did involve eventually using Iceland as a base from which to send troops to the Americas.

-31-
Q: Makes it sound like an upper class revolt is possible, this raises the question would they place a King/Queen on the throne or just continue as a Republic? (I would assume a consitutinal moaacachy is the likely result).
A: Yup if Upper Class revolt and you are a republic, and they win revolution you become a monarchy again.

-32-
Q: What is Russia doing in all this?
A: Hostile but busy fighting in Crimea.

Teil: 4

-33-
Q: Do Denmark-Norway have Greenland?
A: No, Greenland is not on the map.

-34-
Q: Did you notice how Denmark-Norway was behaving? (throughout the campaign), did they sit and wait for you to take action? or were they busy in other places?
A: They were building up, think they got into a few wars as well.

-35-
Q: "over 4500 Danish troops", does this number refer to one or to more than one stack?
A: More than one stack.

-36-
Q: What is going on at sea during your campaign - apart from the prussian privateering?
A: Don't know really as I had not been paying much attention to my navy, though I do know lots of activity going on in Trade Theatres.

-37-
Q: How many soilders where there on 1 unit card? on huge setting?
A: Depends on the unit.

-38-
Q: Are the provincial improvements permanently destroyed by occupying armies?
A: No they are damaged, and no slot can be permanently destroyed.

-39-
Q: Prussia remained your allies through the revolution? Is this common? Will you have the option to break your alliance with a country if they have a revolution?
A: Government type does affect diplomactic relations so you can see some factions break alliances with you or look for the first opportunity to break the alliance. Revolutions do not wipe your diplomatic standings, after the revolution finishes you have the same ones as you started. The changed in governmet type though may affect things from then on.

-40-
Q: How many money did you got (or lost) each round (approximately) ? I mean How many money did you got with your capital city and other cities ?
A: Don't know exactly, but enough to keep me growing at a good pace.

-41-
Q: Annexing an entire nation in just one war would would cause the enire northern Europe to declare war on you at once?
A: No but it would annoy a lot of them and the Russians/Poles would probably declare war on me soon afterwards.

-42-
Q: How do you get a constitutional monarchy?
A: You have to start out with one, or have an upper class revolution in a Republic. Though that should more correctly be Middle Class as they are technically the upper class of a Republic(each government type has 2 classes in it). Just used to referring to "upper classes" for all government types as it is what we refer to them as internally even though that is not what you see on screen.

-43-
Q: are the 12 colonies still ruled by Britain?
A: Don't know how things were going in America.

-44-
Q: Who is regarded as the greatest seapower/land army/ richest?
A: Haven't checked, but from what I saw Britain would most likely be greatest sea power and richest. Biggest land not sure. Can't check as the build has changed since I played this campaign and save game no longer works. only thought to write about it after that had happened.

-45-
Q: How much did you have to pay the Russians to keep them friendly and how big was your treasury at the time?
A: Nothing, they were just busy elsewhere, though I'm sure they would have attacked me soon.

-46-
Q: If you have your ships in a line of battle and want them all to fire a broadside, if you select them all and hit one of the broadside buttons will they all fire?
A: No you can't do that in a group or multiple selection, you have to do that for each ship individually.

-47-
Q: How long did it take you to get from 1700 to 1720 (real time)?
A: This was over several days of play broken up by work, wouldn't know the total time.

-48-
Q: If your empire is a monarchy on the brink of revolution, and a neighbouring faction goes through a successful revolution, can that cause the revolution to start in your empire?
A: Don't know, will ask a programmer tomorrow(at home now).

-49-
Q: Is there any way to tell which trade agreement would be more profitable other than actually signing one?
A: Don't know, will check tomorrow.

-50-
Q: Have Sweden special troops? Like as winged hussars, mamluks etc...
A: They do get a Finnish unit beginning with H who's name I cannot pronounce, i'll get that tomorrow at work as well.

-51-
Q: How does the game stop you from simply plastering the countryside with improvements, such as schools? Is there a limit? Or are the prohibitively expensive?
A: Well you only have a certain amount of slots in a region, and some can only be say farms or mines. And for the ones you could build one of multiple buildings in, each building has its benefit. For example I could have tried to fill as many slots as possible with schools, but it would have massively effected my income, happiness in the province and appearance of rakes.

-52-
Q: when we build an improvement do we chose its place on the campaign map or will it appear in a preset position ?
A: Preset positions.

-53-
Q: how many prestige points did you receive after the 40 turns you described? And the other major powers?
A: Don't know. Can't check as the build has changed since I played this campaign and save game no longer works. only thought to write about it after that had happened.

-54-
Q: Are Ottoman Emp. and Sweden allies at the beginning?
A: No.

-55-
Q: jack how is the swedish going?
A: It has finished where I left the report,

-56-
Q: From what you wrote, it seems your people can get angry at you if you spend too much of your research capacity on military tech instead of domestic tech, so I thought of a situation which I would like to see if you could answer for me.
Lets say Im playing as the US and it is a Republic. I spend 100% of my research slots on things that make the people happy and just focus on growing instead of fighting wars. But one day Great Britian starts a war with me and I dont have much military tech to fight them off with, so I start shifting my research off the domestic tech. Will the population get mad at me now, even though before a war effort was needed I treated them very well? OR, will they develop a sense of nationalism and pull together to do everything they need to do to fight off Great Britian, and not be angry with me for now researching mostly military tech?
The question is not based on a specific strategy I intend to take, personally I will try to find the balance between military/civilian tech; but it is more to see how the actual civil engine functions, and if it is that in depth.
A: Most of the clamour for reform comes from Philosophical research which enabled me to research faster and build higher level schools. However, doing so builds a lot of clamour for reform quite quickly. You could for example play as an Absolute Monarchy, only research a few Philosophical techs to speed research up a little and then spend the rest of the game researching other things.

-57-
Q: after you take out denmark, could you take on russia or are they too powerful ?
A: I could have taken them on in a war, but I doubt I would have gained much as they were powerful.

and that is all answers for now, possibly some more later today and some more tomorrow.

Und Fortsetzung folgt... (hoffentlich noch heute)

April 2008 http://pfannenstiel.blogger.de/stories/1102655/ und November 2008 http://pfannenstiel.blogger.de/stories/1267806/
haben wir von Pfannenstiels Welt bereits versucht möglichst genau vorherzusagen, welche Fraktionen es nun in Empire schaffen werden. So sieht es nun wirklich aus:

Halbwegs offiziell bestätigt:

1. Großbritannien
2. Frankreich
3. Spanien
4. Portugal
5. Marokko
6. Barbareskenstaaten
7. Niederlande
8. Bayern
9. Rheinland
10. Savoyen
11. Venedig
12. Genua
13. Italienische Kleinstaaten
14. Österreich
15. Preußen
16. Sachsen
17. Hannover
18. Württemberg
19. Polen-Litauen
20. Schweden
21. Dänemark
22. Kurland
23. Krimkhanat
24. Osmanisches Reich
25. Russland
26. Georgien
27. Persien
28. Tarku-Kleinstaat? (genauer Name unbekannt, neben Georgien)
30. Huron
31. Irokesen-Föderation
32. Sioux
33. Cherokee
34. Mogul-Reich
35. Marathen-Konföderation
36. Piraten

Rebellenfraktionen:
37. Belgien
38. Schottland
39. Norwegen
40. Griechenland
41. Norwegen
42. Afghanen
43. Punjab Staaten
44. USA

45. Sizilien
46. Irland
47. Serbien
48. Ungarn
49. Walachei
50. Moldawien

Veröffentlichungsdaten und Aktivierungszeiten:

Wenn du Empire als digitalen Download erworben hast ...

Du wirst deine digitale Version von Empire am Dienstag den 3. März ab 18:00 MEZ/09:00 PST aktivieren und spielen können. Das Preload wird, wo möglich, 48 Stunden vor diesem Zeitpunkt beginnen.

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Du wirst deine im Laden erworbene Ausgabe von Empire am Mittwoch den 4. März aktivieren und spielen können.


Wie können die exklusiven Einheiten in Empire: Total War™ freigeschaltet werden?

Wenn du die Special-Forces-Edition von Empire: Total War™ erworben oder eine exklusive vorbestellte Ausgabe über teilnehmende Einzelhändler erhalten hast, musst du eine Verbindung zum Internet herstellen, deinen Code bei Steamworks einlösen und dann ganz einfach deine Einheiten zum Spiel freischalten.

1.)Installiere Empire und den Steam-Client wie in der Anleitung des Spiels beschrieben.

2.)Starte den Steam-Client und wähle "Ein Produkt bei Steam aktivieren …" im "Spiele"-Menü.



3.)Gehe die Aktivierungs-Hilfe des Steam-Produkts durch und gib, wenn danach gefragt wird, den Code des Produktes an.







4.)Die Einheiten werden dann unter bestimmten Bedingungen in der Einzelspieler-Kampagne/Kampf-Modus und im Multiplayer-Modus von Empire erscheinen - mehr hierzu findest du unter ‘Wann und wo erscheinen diese Einheiten im Spiel?’.


Wann und wo erscheinen diese Einheiten im Spiel? (Einzelspieler)


3 Vorbestellungs-Einheiten :

USS Constitution:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du als USA spielst und deine Technologien ausreichend fortgeschritten sind. Sie kann auch von gegnerischen Fraktionen gekapert werden.
Totenkopfhusaren:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du als Preußen spielst und deine Technologien ausreichend fortgeschritten sind. Brandenburg muss außerdem zu Preußen gehören.
Dahomey-Amazonen:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn das Gebiet von Nordafrika erobert wurde.

6 Special-Forces-Einheiten :

Bulkeley’s Regiment:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du als Frankreich spielst und/oder Irland kontrollierst.
Ghoorkas:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du das Gebiet von Kaschmir kontrollierst, vorausgesetzt du erfüllst die Anforderungen dieses Gebiets.
Corso Terrestre Guerillas:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du als Spanien spielst und deine Technologien ausreichend fortgeschritten sind.
HMS Victory:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du als Großbritannien spielst und deine Technologien ausreichend fortgeschritten sind. Sie kann auch von gegnerischen Fraktionen gekapert werden.
Ottoman Orgelkanone:
Diese Einheit erscheint, wenn du als Ottomanisches Reich spielst und deine Technologien ausreichend fortgeschritten sind.
Rogers Rangers:
Diese Einheit erscheint im amerikanischen Szenario, wenn du Großbritannien spielst und deine Technologien ausreichend fortgeschritten sind.


Wann und wo erscheinen diese Einheiten im Spiel? (Multiplayer- und Einzelspieler-Kampf-Modus)

Wenn du diese exklusiven Einheiten korrekt über Steam freigeschaltet hast, stehen sie im Multiplayer- und Einzelspieler-Kampf-Modus zur Verfügung, wenn du für die entsprechenden Fraktionen spielst.


Muss eine Verbindung zum Internet aktiv sein, um Empire: Total War™ spielen zu können?

Du musst mit dem Internet verbunden sein, um Empire: Total War™ über Steamworks zu authentifizieren. Wenn du das Spiel im Einzelspieler-Modus spielst, benötigst du keine Internetverbindung.

Wenn du die neuesten Updates und exklusive Einheiten herunterladen, oder Empire: Total War™ im Multiplayer-Modus spielen möchtest, muss eine Verbindung zum Internet vorhanden sein.


Müssen zusätzliche Programme heruntergeladen oder installiert werden, um Empire: Total War™ zu authentifizieren?

Steamworks aktiviert und startet dein Exemplar von Empire: Total War™. Sofern du Steam nicht schon installiert hast, findest du alles, was du zum Spielen benötigst, auf der "Empire: Total War™"-CD, und die Installation wird wie gewohnt Schritt für Schritt durchgeführt.


Treten Schwierigkeiten bei der Installation oder der Anwendung des Steam-Client auf?

Dann gehe auf die offizielle Support-Seite von Steam: support.steampowered.com


Treten Schwierigkeiten bei der Installation oder der Anwendung von Empire: Total War auf?


Dann geht auf die Support-Seite von SEGA: www.sega-europe.com/support.
____________________________________________________________________

Ich hoffe ich konnte euch einige fragen hiermit beantworten und wünsche euch viel Spaß beim Spielen von EMPIRE Total-War.

Land

Elite Light Infantry:

Light infantry forces form a skirmish line to slow the enemy advance and keep their own line unmolested by enemy skirmishers.
Whether they are called light infantry, jaegers, tirailleurs or chasseurs à pied, it is the job of these men to screen the main battle line, harass the enemy and, if possible, pick off important men in the enemy’s ranks. Unlike their fellows in the line infantry, light infantrymen are trained to think for themselves, use the ground and cover intelligently, and not fight in rigid lines. Instead, they form a loose skirmish line and fire independently at their own designated targets. The effect is a constant, low-level barrage rather than the crashing thunder of a volley but the effect is quite deadly as officers and sergeants are picked off and removed from the fight. Against cavalry, however, their best defence is to withdraw to their own battle line.

Historically, the Austrians were widely regarded as producing the finest light infantry forces in Europe. Other nations did catch up, but in the case of Britain and France it was their experiences in fighting in North America that persuaded them of the wisdom of light troops. Battle lines were simply impossible to manage in the dense woodlands, and largely pointless against the native tribes!




Grenadiers:

Grenadiers are large, strong men, armed with muskets and carrying bags of bombs to hurl at the enemy’s ranks.

Explosive grenades are one of the oldest types of gunpowder weapon, and one of the most dangerous to use. Grenades are a simple cast iron ball, with a fuse sticking out of the top. Fuses are notoriously unreliable, and grenadiers can die as their own bombs explode prematurely. Yet no matter how terrifying grenades are for the throwers, they are infinitely worse for the targets! Grenadiers see themselves as elite, and occupy the place of honour at the right of the line on parade. They have good reason: only large, brave men become grenadiers, because it takes a big chap to throw one properly. Even their uniform makes them look bigger thanks to the pointed grenadier’s cap; a tricorne gets in the way of a good throw.

Historically, grenadier regiments and battalions began as ad hoc assault forces. All line infantry regiments had grenadier companies; collecting these sub-units gave commanders a useful group of heavily armed, aggressive and skilful soldiers. Grenadier companies remained in line infantry regiments after the creation of grenadier regiments, but they abandoned grenades. Instead, each grenadier company became a “heavy mob” of the biggest and strongest soldiers in a regiment.


24-pounder Howitzer Foot Artillery:

Howitzers send shells plunging into enemy formations and over defences, making cover irrelevant.
Howitzers fall somewhere between guns and mortars, the other main artillery types. They have a limited mobility, like guns. Like mortars, they do not fire straight at the target, but send shots high into the air to plunge down on a target (and over anything in the way). By angling the barrel and changing the propellant charge used, howitzers have an impressive flexibility in shell trajectories. Experienced crews can lob explosive shells and incendiary rounds with great accuracy into a “beaten zone”, making life utterly miserable and very short for anyone within it. In close action, they can fire canister rounds directly into enemy formations, like giant sawn-off shotguns.

The term foot artillery applies because the gunners walk into battle alongside the draft animals. Like all artillery, the weight rating of these howitzers refers to the size of shot fired; a 24-pounder is worthy of respect!

Historically, howitzers – like many artillery pieces – were far from standardised weapons in the 18th Century. Shells and spare parts from in one foundry did not always fit another foundry’s pieces, even if the calibre was nominally identical. It took a good deal of effort and argument to get foundries to standardise barrels and ancillary equipment, even in one country.


Clansmen

These fierce Highland warriors intimidate all enemies with their wild skirling attacks and barbarous apparel.
Highland clans are the last tribal society in Western Europe. Men fight for their chieftains because they are expected to defend their clans’ honour and lands. They fight for these in the same way that they have done for centuries: with the broadsword and buckler, pistol, and Lochaber axe. There is little that regular line troops find as disturbing as the sight of a clan bearing down on them, screaming their hate and defiance. Highland Scots are brave, hard men.

Historically, the clans were destroyed as a military force at Culloden in 1746, by both British regulars and other, loyalist clansmen. The romance of the clans died on the field, along with a great many men who hurled themselves into a storm of lead and cannonballs armed with nothing more than swords. The clansmen were then repeatedly betrayed and used by their own chiefs, and then eventually driven off the land when sheep became more profitable. Highlanders were forced to scatter across the world, taking their fighting traditions with them.

Wasser

Sloop

A sloop of war is usually ketch-rigged with two masts. These small vessels handle well in restricted waters.

The ability to navigate in exceptionally shallow or dangerous waters makes sloops very useful in such seas as the reef-strewn waters of the Caribbean. They can also operate without the need for extensive onshore naval facilities nearby. They are also extremely useful as fleet auxiliaries, carrying out communications tasks and vital inshore scouting work, and can hunt down smaller prey such as privateers and small enemy cargo vessels. A sloop-of-war (sometimes a corvette in French service) is a different vessel from a civilian, merchant sloop, having a flush deck, two square-rigged masts, guns, and a larger crew.



Historically, a post captain would rarely command a ship this small. The commanding officer was the “master and commander” (this is the origin of the modern naval rank of commander), and held the formal rank of lieutenant. Captain Cook RN commanded HMS Resolution, a sloop converted from a collier (coal ship), on his epic Pacific voyages and was highly satisfied with its performance. Sloop captains could be aggressive: before his promotion to post captain, Thomas Cochrane commanded the 14-gun HMS Speedy and managed to capture “El Gamo”, a Spanish xebec of 32 guns with a crew six times larger than his own!


Fifth Rate

Frigates are single-deck warships, used for a variety of tasks thanks to a combination of good handling, firepower and endurance at sea.
“Fifth rate” is a Royal Navy term for the largest of the single-deck frigates, square-rigged ships that carry some 44 guns, usually no heavier than 12-pounders. Originally a French design – but quickly adopted by the other European powers – the frigate is used for pursuit, convoy protection, commerce raiding and reconnaissance work. The design’s excellent sailing characteristics and good handling, especially in inshore waters, make it a useful addition to any blockading fleet. The frigate’s ability to operate far away from a home port also makes them it a useful cruiser, carrying the fight to the enemy in unexpected waters.

Frigates can have the advantage over larger, two-deck ships in rough waters. A frigate captain rarely has to worry about his gun deck taking on water, and can therefore fight in conditions that leave bigger ships at a disadvantage. However, fifth rates are not powerful enough to face battleships. They have the speed and handling to stay out of trouble; they do not have the strength of construction to survive a pounding! Against sloops, brigs and merchantmen, however, they are deadly. This makes them excellent postings for officers hungry for prize money and glory.

Frigates captains made splendid role models for fictional heroes: Thomas, Lord Cochrane earned a fortune in prize money, gained the nickname “le loup des mers” (sea-wolf) and was the inspiration for fictional heroes Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey.


Razee

A razee is a robust frigate, created by cutting the top deck off a larger ship of the line.
Frigates are a vital part of any balanced sea-going fleet. They are cruisers that can operate independently and are swift enough to hunt down enemy merchantmen. the chance for prize money makes them popular postings among officers and men alike!

One way of creating a large, powerful frigate is to take a two-deck ship of the line and, in effect, saw off the top deck creating a single-deck frigate. The first result is that a 64-gun ship can now only carry 44 guns, but the ones that remain are the heavier than those normally found on a frigate, typically 32- or 24-pounders rather than the expected 18s! The second result is that the razee retains the strong timbers of the original 64, making it a robust ship in combat. Thirdly, having lost its upper works, the new ship generally handles rather well under sail. All this work takes time and valuable dock space, of course.

Historically, one of the most successful razees was HMS Indefatigable, commanded by Edward Pellew. In the company of another frigate, Pellew took on - and defeated - the Droits de l'Homme, a French 74, in 1797. During the next year or so, Pellew and the Indefatigable went on to take a further nine vessels.


First Rate

The first rate is the largest type of “ship of the line of battle”, intended to be the centre of any fleet. These are very expensive and powerful vessels.
While these warships are among the most powerful vessels afloat, they are poor sailors, being both slow and unresponsive. This is not a serious shortcoming because, armed with around 100 cannons firing 32-, 24- and 18-pounder balls on their three decks, they can fire a terrible and destructive broadside. They carry a crew of over 800 sailors, gunners and marines and have more artillery than most land armies. Their cost, however, is a drawback and few navies can afford to build or maintain more than a handful of them.

Historically, first rates were never common, and hardly ever sent to overseas stations. They existed purely to fight in set-piece battles, and were not used for mundane duties such as protecting merchantmen, policing the seas and hunting down privateers.

Gebäude

Star Fort

The basic concept of a star fort is that at least one, and preferably many, field of fire should cover every part of the defence and the approaches to the fort. These killing zones can be extended and made even more deadly by, at the very least, a long sloping glacis around the fort for the attackers to scale. The glacis need not be very steep at all, but the attackers face an uphill struggle with no cover at all, under murderous fire ever step of the way. The glacis also acts as a passive defence, a sloping armoured earthwork for the fort proper. Beyond the glacis a hidden counterscarp awaits: a retaining wall (sometimes with firing positions for the defenders) that drops down deep ditch that must be crossed before the actual approaches to the fort are even reached!
All of these defences are before the military architects add additional ravelins (detached triangular bastions or gun positions) in front of the fort’s own walls and hornworks and crownworks (both elaborations on the basic bastion design). The whole effect, when viewed in plan form, is baroque in its complexity, each projection of the central star giving the defence another firing position towards any attacking force. Wall length is limited to that which can be covered by flanking musket fire, as experience showed that a fort with only cannons in its defence could be taken when the cannons were knocked out




University

Education is vital for those who wish to enter the professions, or make their way in government using talent alone. A good, well-trained brain is an excellent substitute for birth and social connections. A young gentleman’s studies can be wide ranging, and need not be tied to any particular faculty or subject area – an awarded degree or doctorate is proof enough of intellectual achievement.
Historically, in Europe at least, the established church controlled most universities, either through paying for them or by laws requiring the tutors to take holy orders. Sir Isaac Newton was very unusual in that he didn’t take orders when he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge (a post currently held by Stephen Hawking), arguing that the post required the holder to spend time on science, not the Anglican Church. However, the requirement for teachers to accept Church doctrine did mean that universities had a socially conservative outlook. While scholarships were available, students had to have money to attend, reinforcing this conservatism. While wild, threatening ideas about the world and the way it worked did emerge from universities, the institutions were rarely radical or revolutionary breeding grounds.




Trading Port

Shipping goods of any kind by land is difficult and expensive. Any item that has to travel more than a few miles goes by ship wherever possible.
Most roads are simply terrible, and bulk cargoes (such as coal) must go by ship anyway: it is the only way of moving goods cheaply and relatively quickly. It also makes the whole world a marketplace, even if the customers are not sure what to make of the goods they are being sent (British merchants insisted on exporting heavy woollen cloth to India for years, even though there was no obvious market for it).

Coastal trade can also be very profitable. For example, a “cheese fleet” did nothing but shuttle back and forth between London and the northwest of England, bringing Cheshire cheeses to the London market. By a happy accident of geology, Cheshire had rock salt mines that provided a preservative for the local cheese to make the sea journey to London. Although salty, this was undoubtedly healthier than most food on a gentleman’s table in the 18th Century!




European-style tenanted farms

Tenanted farms can only generate so much income from rents. With an increase in town size, and an increased demand from industry for agricultural products, it is more profitable to have herds of animals, not a gaggle of tenants. Meat and wool demand increases rapidly as towns grow. Apart from any other considerations, moving people off land also creates large areas where landowners can indulge a passion for hunting. While this generates little income, it does give social status.
The “Highland Clearances” are probably the most famous example of a forced change to land usage on a large scale. Contrary to popular belief, Highland clan leaders carried out most of the Scottish clearances, driving their own kinsmen and clans into exile. The chieftains needed to pay for the sophisticated life that they could have in Edinburgh and London by reinventing themselves as Scottish gentry. Sheep simply earned more money than the crofters did.

Technologien

Fougasse

This defensive weapon is a landmine constructed by military engineers and fired by the defenders lighting a fuse.
A fougasse consists of a pit, sometimes dug at an angle, with gunpowder packed into the bottom and suitably wrapped to keep it dry. The hole is then backfilled with rubble and stones, taking care not to break the fuse, creating a huge “canister shot” weapon. Any enemies caught by the explosion are blown to smithereens by the blast. Damp, of course, will cause the fougasse to misfire, like any other gunpowder weapon.

Historically, a later and nastier, refinement used a flintlock mechanism to fire the charge. As well as making the explosion more reliable, this allowed military engineers to turn the fougasse into a booby trap. A piece of twine tied to the trigger acted as a tripwire: an unfortunate booby then stumbled and fired the device into himself and his nearby comrades.

During the 20th Century, the fougasse was refined into a flamethrower by burying oil drums on top of the explosives. And at the time of writing, the fougasse remains in use, as only one of the IEDs (improvised explosive device) used by insurgents against occupying forces in Iraq.




Square Formation

A defensive posture for musket-armed infantry units, creating an impassable wall of steel to fend off cavalry attacks.
As the name suggests, this is four two- or three-rank lines of infantry arranged as a hollow square, with everyone facing outwards. It is a version of the obsolete pike “hedgehog”, making any cavalry charge a suicidal exercise. Bayonets are fixed to muskets when appropriate and possible.

Forming a square requires good order in the ranks. The outer companies of an infantry unit in line have to “fold back” to form the sides and back of the square, without losing cohesion in the process. The unit colours take up station in the centre, a final rallying point should the square be broken. It is also possible to form larger squares with more than one unit.

The square is, of course, a tempting target for enemy artillery. Whether it is better to form square in the face of cavalry and risk an artillery barrage, or stay in line to mitigate artillery fire and risk a cavalry charge can be a tactical conundrum!

Theoreticians argued infantry could defeat a cavalry charge by firepower alone. Brigadier General Richard Kane (later Military Governor of Gibraltar) remarked, “If a body of Foot have but Resolution and keep their Order, there is no Body of Horse dare venture within their Fire…” but for him that fire was to be delivered from a square, not a line. He was arguing for discipline as the key to success.




Platoon Firing

This firing plan for musketry ensures an infantry unit keeps up a continual barrage of shots against an enemy.
Nearly all line infantry carry smoothbore, muzzle-loading muskets. These take considerable time to reload after firing: anything up to a minute for poorly trained or nervous troops. During that time, the enemy can close or return fire unmolested. In the time it takes to reload, a unit can be cut down, its half-loaded weapons useless in the face of an aggressive foe. It is sensible to make sure that not everyone in an infantry unit is reloading at the same moment; this, in turn, means that not everyone should be firing at the same time.

Platoon fire is a way of dividing a unit into smaller groups that each fire, reload and fire again in turn. The result is a “rippling fire” down a line formation and, as the last platoon fires its muskets, the first is ready to fire again. A unit can always give some fire to the enemy at all times, even if this is less than a complete volley. When more than one unit is involved all the troops in every first platoon fire, followed by all the second platoons, and so on, creating several rippling barrages down the battle line.

The word “platoon” in this context does not have the modern meaning of being a sub-unit of a military company. Platoon assignment to what was a “fire group” was made on an ad hoc or informal basis, and could mean a whole regiment being assigned to a “platoon”.

Frankreich-Spanien kann die Rolle einer westeuropäischen Kolonialsupermacht übernehmen die ihresgleichen sucht und wohl so schnell nur in Form England-Frankreich oder England-Spanien ähnliche Alternativen findet. Beide Alternativ-Optionen sind allerdings strategisch nicht dermaßen gut positioniert.

Aber neben den Kolonialmächten ringen wie Preußen oder Österreich auch "landgestützte" Nationen um die Vorherrschaft auf dem europäischen Festland. Ohne die Ressourcen der Neuen Welt ist das zwar schwieriger, aber dafür ist man auch frei von Kolonialkriegen mit Indianern und den Briten. Wer also eine andere Strategie verfolgt und weiß dass die Kontrolle über Europa im Grunde auch Kontrolle über die Welt mit sich bringt, kann gänzlich andere Wege einschlagen.

Verbünden sich diese beiden Erzfeinde kommt es fast einem Regelbruch gleich: Russland und das Osmanische Reich könnten die Welt beherrschen.

Ein Dolchstoß ins Herz Europas
Gemeinsam entledigt man sich Georgiens, sowie des benachbarten Kleinstaats. Während man kurz darauf die Kriminsel einnimmt und in Galizien einfällt. Von dort zieht man weiter nach Weißrussland.

Der Drang nach Westen
Die neu erworbenen Provinzen sind wichtig, denn in den nächsten Zügen gilt es diplomatisch für ein ruhiges Hinterland zu sorgen, denn gemeinsam können Türken und Russen Österreich, sowie Polen langsam aufsaugen und schließlich den Kampf mit Schweden, sowie dem dänischen Norwegen aufnehmen. Danach können die deutschen Kleinstaaten rebellieren soviel sie wollen, nachdem handstreichartig die Überreste Österreichs, sowie Preußen erobert wurden. Und fertig ist die osteuropäische Supermacht-Allianz.

Ein Eiserner Vorhang fällt über Europa
Nächster Halt, Italien. Im Alleingang könnten die Türken nun italienischen Stadtstaaten kassieren, es sei denn man überlässt dann doch einige Mittelmeerhäfen dem russischen Freund oder dieser verlegt aus dem schwarzen Meer eine Invasionsflotte an die italienische Front. Fällt Italien endgültig, ist der Weg frei für den Marsch über die Alpen, während zeitgleich aus dem Osten und Norden eine dreifache Zangenbewegung erfolgt, die uns bis an die Tore Frankreichs führt.

The history of Europe over the last centuries can be seen as the history of the Ottoman Empire and a few annoying, small nations that thwarted Ottoman ambitions. Ottoman power is unmatched in its extent and grandeur, straddling the traditional trade route between Europe and Asia. The Ottomans also have power over the whole of the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.
This Turkish, Islamic empire supplanted the Orthodox Byzantine Empire in the 15th Century and since then it has had a continuing, if not always whole-hearted, ambition to expand further westwards into the heart of Europe. In living memory Turkish armies have reached the gates of Vienna, Austria, only to be turned back by the steadfast defenders. Turkish expansionism has always been a part of palace politics: when a Sultan has felt secure at home he has attacked Europe; when a Sultan has felt threatened by his Janissary military commanders, he has sent them to attack.
The Ottomans face challenges but within these are great opportunities. The army and navy look old fashioned compared to those of some states, but the soldiers of the Sultan are numerous indeed. Strategically, the Empire is in a potentially strong position: the Balkans are a natural bastion to defend Istanbul, and a possible springboard for conquest into central Europe. There may even be valuable allies to be found among Austria’s rivals: the authority of the Pope to stop his European flock making treaties with infidels is all but gone. Control of the Mediterranean would allow a Sultan to do as he please with the smaller European powers. And to the east, the route to India offers the chance of riches.

Sweden dominates Scandinavia and the Baltic, a Northern European empire that is the legacy of the incomparable warrior-king, Gustavus II Adolphus. Even though he died in battle at Luetzen in 1632, the army that he created helped Sweden profit from the seemingly endless religious struggles of the Thirty Years War. The nation emerged from that conflict immeasurably stronger in military terms, and able to invade its Baltic neighbours at will. This military power did, however, cost money and Swedish lives. Neither of these commodities is available in abundance, and the prudent stewardship has been necessary too. Charles XI, however, has left an impressive arsenal in place for his son, should he wish to take up the sword; and Charles XII has an obsessive interest in soldiering.
As the new century dawns, Sweden is a strong, aggressive state, surrounded by jealous rivals from whom she has taken territory in the last hundred years. To the east, the Russians would like unhindered access to the Baltic, and therefore Western Europe beyond. To the south, Poland-Lithuania wants its lost lands back. To the west, the other Scandinavian nations want independence or an end to Swedish domination of the Baltic.
In all these potential threats, however, lurk opportunities for those bold enough to seize the chance. Individually, Sweden’s rivals are not quite as threatening as they might appear: Russia is huge, that much is true, but incredibly backwards. There is no reason why the Baltic, as a Swedish “Mare Nostrum”, cannot become the basis of a new Northern, Protestant empire. Sweden’s armies are the equal of any in Europe, and her navy is not without resources and skill. With a home empire secured, who is to say that an overseas empire cannot be taken and held too?

France has had fifty years of military and administrative excellence under Louis XIV, the Sun King and his servants. They achieved this in spite of a backdrop of strife and rebellion sparked by France’s involvement in the Thirty Years War. Louis and his able ministers, Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin, were able to steer France away from the feudal struggles that hampered growth, and they created a centralised government where the King’s power is absolute.
In 1700, France is the pre-eminent power in Western Europe, with an unrivalled army, vast colonies and a King who is respected and feared by all, both at home and abroad. Few nations pose any real threat to his well-equipped armies and heavily fortified borders.
The French Bourbon dynasty is strong, even though Louis XIV is aging. There are sons and relations aplenty, with legitimate claims to many titles. To the south, the lack of a Hapsburg heir in Spain – and the feeble-mindedness of Charles II – means that a Bourbon could one day rule in Madrid. A course of action that brings this about has much to recommend it. Of course, not all offshoots of the Hapsburg line are weak as their Spanish cousins. The Austrian Habsburgs, and other European nations, may not be entirely willing to see a Frenchman or French nominee as King of Spain. No matter.
France is surrounded by possibilities, and beyond Europe there are other continents to conquer and colonise: New France in North America, and the riches of India. The untrustworthy British may have to be swept aside or crushed, but what is wrong with that?

“Muscovy”, as its rulers have previously called it, is a sleeping giant, with age-old traditions and ways of doing things. Here, the feudal way of life has become so entrenched that the serfs are as tied to the land as cattle, and with almost as few rights. It is a vast, deeply conservative and religious country: Mother Russia and the Orthodox Church are the two pillars of national belief. The Tsar may be the father of his people, but by tradition and practice he is a stern parent. Ivan the Terrible was well named, and he has not been the only ruler with an iron will. Russia needs a strong hand controlling the “Third Rome”, the true home of Christianity (according to the Orthodox Church) after the fall of Byzantium.
Now, however, Russia is changing, awakening. It is beginning to look outwards, towards the best that the rest of the world has to offer in terms of ideas, culture and might. These things must be introduced carefully, to avoid the ills of free-thinking that beset some Western nations. When Russia does fully realise its strength, however, it will be formidable indeed. It has boundless resources to draw upon, and the steadfast courage of its people to bolster its armies. It can be a formidable foe, and a difficult one for an enemy to attack. One thing that Russia does have is endless space, and the lack of apparently defensible frontiers actually becomes a defence in itself. Invaders can be lured deep into the steppes, and left to the mercies of “General Winter” and Russia’s endless, empty lands.
To the west lies the wealth of Europe and access to the wider world through a port on the Baltic. That the troublesome Swedes are in the way is a bonus, for they will have to be crushed! To the south, there are fellow Slavs and Orthodox Christians in the Balkans to be incorporated into a Greater Russian empire. The infidel Turks have lands and wealth aplenty too, but possibly the strength to defend them.
And beyond, there is a wider world awaiting conquest by the sons of the Mother Russia.