Estonia Suicidal [No Custom AI] detailed Walkthrough

[SuitedQueens]

We start off with frankly weird Assault. Thats default AI logic for you. That because high XP modifier for already major Combat Power makes AI believe they can overcome relatively low Power Garrison, My Custom AI fixes that, but we are playing with default for now.



England sends Peace Treaty. The only reason we were in war is because they casted Start Crusade on me when I got Constantinople from Byzantines in our first war lap. And you know what? Norway is next on the list, but my Relationships with Papal States should save me. I cast Draft Levies in case Byzantines decide to target some region deeper in my territory. If thats the case my AutoGarriosns will be triggered and debuff them heavily.





That a serious stack to be fair. Very sturdy frontline and properly supported. I will post a video as a separate message after that one to showcase the result of this turn because its too long to explain every idea. Video will have comments embedded to provide further explanations.



Our Combat Power/2 of the Garrisons is enough to repel Byzantine smaller stacks that try to escape their doom and ruin my day by getting Just Conquered regions back whom can't put up defenses in that state or targeting Utility Peasants. I hire extra troops to merge with my main stack next turn.





I Disbanded Livonia Vassal forces last turn. But now I have to call them back because Cult Site have to be removed and potential Norvegian invasion might be on the horizon if Crusade RGD succeeds. Our Relentless leader trait almost triggered, but he got saved by Luck stat generated by Elders and Gypsies. I edict for the Large Temple to help Authority and Conversion rates.

[SuitedQueens]

LINK TO YT VIDEO SINCE THIS BOARD CAN'T EMBED PROPERLY

Context on resources and why I don't have even more troops. I was in the gutter on Manpower last 3 turns before Diplo deals didn't go through. Read other comments in the vid carefully.

https://youtu.be/i4DPKjIRq5U

[SuitedQueens]

Another turn with a lot going on potentially, so I will prime video by 2 screenshots. First is that we send as many troops to Constantinople ASAP while cleaning up the last region in our backyard. Last turn we hired a few more troops to fill up the frontage in order to debuff serious Byzantines stack before connecting with my main stack. I hire extra Levies to have enough troops for conquering 2 sets of Plain regions, and later on spit into Hills/Mountains 2nd and 3rd stacks.







We got extra 40 Manpower from Draft Levies last turn, so well played. Our Ruler health degrades to a status where Sudden Death is somewhat common. 2 Disorder tokens left to enter Fractured state. Our Heavy Cav mercs province one region grows to 8 POP, so we get walls there. Thats the last Province we grow to 12 POP, while all others disassembled Food and Health already.





HERE's YT VID with T126 RESOLUTION:

https://youtu.be/ZQ9B14hgnq4

[SuitedQueens]

Mass Abandon happens this turn. We get another token and our Authority from wins outweight harass Sortie losses. Another good thing is that you don't instantly lose a region if opponent didn't have Assault order when you Sortie like in Empires and earlier patches. We hire cheap medium cav to fill up flanking squares for 2nd Plain stacks. Pulling all our forces towards Constantinople to refocus stacks according to the goals.





Previousturn big fights on top of our region cause some Pillaging damage and modifier for 5 turns plus loss of Population. Other than that we get notifications about Mercs disbanding causing Bandits appear on Byzantine Abandoned lands, slaves appearing on Abandoned lands, Diseases on Abandoned lands. We sign Alliance with Zichia (Kessog Chiefodm) and ignore Byzantines pleas for Peace. We gonna be grinding them down for Legacy this time around and more regions to devastate their passive Legacy gains. Collapse is impossible task at Suicidal difficulty. Cumans swoop Byzantines Abandoned region, so I will trade with them on the next turn.

[SuitedQueens]

Our bait region finally falls. This allowed AI to focus their forces and merge them in a single stack, so they won't run away from the future encounters and won't surprise jump me out of the fog. In Anatolia I get unlucky since in the current patches any combat prior to Assault cancels Assault command. Byzantine Rebels remove my status, so on the next turn I will be fighting against Garrison with assigned General, which is not good for sustainability.





We get another Negative token, which is actually a net positive at this point, cuz we want to cycle through Unstable and Fragmented ASAP to lose Legacy negative modifier and Diplo penalties. Extortions from my dear friends keep me afloat with Pillaging gonna join soonish. I try to buy off region in Crimea from Cumans who got permanent control as a thirds side neutral to Byzantines attacking region that I Abandoned. As you can see our Heavy Cav Merc prove indispensable once again. I Allied myself with Slovakia. These types of deals become easier when no Holy Wars rampaging through the lands.







Here's how my rearranged stacks look like with appropriate names and Generals assigned. 2-0 also has +1 Attack in the open, but it will activate only on the next turn. Stay up for the glorious combat at the end of the vid that shows how I extended my line with cheap infantry to put my best units against their Cavalry and weaker Heavy units first.





LINK TO THE VID:

https://youtu.be/0eigL6oqIoM