Le Fay Enchantress Campaign - Legendary

Lucifer

Well, I said I'd play the campaign of the Lady, Le Fay Enchantress. So, here she is. Starting off in our capital of Carcassonne. We have a damsel to help us, and I'll be sending her south, towards Estalia, to find any incoming threats. We also start off at war with Yvresse, so need to be extra vigilant.

We have an exellent trait to start with: "In Her Lady's Name", which gives us five extra peasants for our faction It also give us greatly reduced upkeep for Grail Guardians, and a much needed casualty replenishment rate of +15%.

For our research, we'll begin with the chilvalric code, and then onto "The Safer Woods Decree", which will aid us against Beastmen incursions.

This time, I am going to build a smithy first, and go for better upgraded soldiers for our army to recruit. I will also use the commandment: "Venerate The Lady", which gives us better control of +10, and +2 to untainted land. The Rally Field will come next.

My strategy:
To upgrade our army as fast as possible, and to also contain the Wood Elves and Beastmen. I will aim to secure the high seas, and south of the border if necessary. I will immediately begin with disbanding older peasantry units and replacing them with upgraded troops for the core of our campaign army. This will be needed should our army need to deploy overseas to distant lands and beyond. I will also aid our fellow Bretonnians whenever possible.

My opening move:
I need intel south of the border, and our agent can help with this, while I begin the rapid upgrading of our army. Beastmen, Skaven, and the undead are reportedly near. I will also seek better relations with those around me.

The Errentry War, has begun.

Lucifer

Log 2-3

With the building of the Rally Field now underway. Our damsel crossed the border into Estalia and discovered The Dread Fleet of Count Noctilus, and found a Beastmen herd heading our way. This herd appears to be led by Khazrak the One Eye. So for now, I will camp my army at our capital until new battalions of upgraded troops arrive.

Orc incursions are also reported to be in effect now. I'm going to have to be extra vigilant.

Lucifer

Log 4.

Skaven! Have been found, and the Beastmen herd of Khazrak the One-Eye, has razed Bilbali, and Count Noctilus, has made landfall near Bilbali also.

With the Rally Field complete! New, and better battalions of troops can now be recruited into our army. Soon, our army will be a force to be reckoned with, and I will be putting it to good use.

I have secured non-aggression pacts with Paravon and the Border Princes south of here. I will try to calm relations with the Wood Elves, as I feel I may need their help and vice-versa, later on.

Lucifer

Log 5.

My agent reports that Tobaro has been razed by another Beastmen herd, and that Count Noctilus has colonized the ruins of Bilbali. Although, not yet at war with the undead, they pose a great threat to all, and must be put to rest. A Grail Shrine will be soon needed, and the Errentry War, will be felt across Bretonnia.

With battalions of new troops and archers now flocking to our army, I feel we're nearly ready to face any challenge, or any threat.

Lucifer

Log 5-8

The Beastmen have begun raiding our lands and our army, now near full strength, marches to fight them.

Our army proved decisive in the attack and Khazrak the One-Eye has been wounded in battle. His herd, for now, are no more. With the threat of Orc incursions increasing, our army now marches back to our capital. My agent reports Estalia have re-colonized Tobaro, and that Count Noctilus is raiding Estalian lands. When possible, I will send my army to aid them.

Combat_Wombat

In my first legendary campaign with her, I made the mistake of trying to go after the knife ears around turn 8. Don't do dat.

Lucifer

Log 9.

As we march back the capital, we see it is under seige. A Goblin raiding force has attacked the capital and I now rush to face them.

With the Goblin raiders decisivly defeated, they retreat to the north. I will pursue them, but for now, my army must rest. Construction of our town expansion will be done in a few days. Another Beastmen herd has been reported heading our way, and Count Noctilus is sieging, Magritta. I feel, the city will fall soon, and I cannot help them. The distance too far, and the threat to my own realm too great, I cannot risk it.

Lucifer

Log 10-11.

With the Goblin raiders now a distant memory. My army replenshies at the capitcal and another Beastmen herd has been spotted not far from Bilbali. It will not be long before they cross the border into Carcassonne. Magritta, has been destroyed and razed by Count Noctilus. This terror from the deep, must be stopped!

Lucifer

Log 12-15.

With the town of Carcassonne, now complete. I have begun expansion of Brionne to also town status. An Orc raiding force has been destroyed near Carcassonne. A much larger force is reported to be somewhere in Estalia, and unknown forces have destroyed the factions Yvresse and Tilea. Count Noctilus, now controls much of the region of Estalia.

Hopefully soon, I can expand my Errentry War to cover Estalia region.

Lucifer

Log 16-18.

The town of Brionne is complete and I have ordered the construction of windmills, which will help us both with income and growth. The tap room in Carcassonne will also help us secure our territory and reduce the risk of incursions. I have secured a military alliance with Estalia, and a trade agreement that will help us both. With the High Seas Decree now policy, I have begun the Sewer Cleaning Decree. The Skaven, cannot be allowed to undermine my authority here.

A large force from the Ripper-Horn tribe is approaching and Count Noctilis is reportedly raiding the last towns lands of Estalia, Tobaro. I don't think their small army will save them from destruction.

MonochromaticSpider#5650

Lucifer said:

Log 4.

With the Rally Field complete! New, and better battalions of troops can now be recruited into our army. Soon, our army will be a force to be reckoned with, and I will be putting it to good use.

That optimism, mate. And on legendary as well.

But good luck, the Lady campaign is such a slog that I've never managed to get anywhere in it.

Lucifer

Log 19-20.

Khazrak the One-Eye has razed Bilbali, and this is good that the Beastmen and Count Noctilus are at war. War, has broken out between Bordeleaux and The Barrow Legion, and Count Noctilus has defeated the small army and garrison, and sacked Tobaro. The town will surely fall, soon.

The large Ripper-Horn tribe force is passing through my lands, and I'm not sure if my army could defeat them. I am marching now to defend Brionne, should they attack there, and reports of incursions are increasing.

I have secured a defensive alliance with Paravon.

Lucifer

MonochromaticSpider said:

Lucifer said:

Log 4.

With the Rally Field complete! New, and better battalions of troops can now be recruited into our army. Soon, our army will be a force to be reckoned with, and I will be putting it to good use.

That optimism, mate. And on legendary as well.

But good luck, the Lady campaign is such a slog that I've never managed to get anywhere in it.

Its as good as it gets for better troops at this stage in the game. I had a good campaign playing as Bretonnia, on my last one, but far too many enemies invading to actually get a chance to enjoy the game. Which became a bit too tedious unfortunately. It was getting like- fight one turn, defend one turn, and round it went, with more and more enemies joining in.

Maybe it was leading to something broader coming, something on the horizon, with a deeper meaning. It sure felt that way as near the end of my campaign, we had all kinds of enemies stomping all over The Empire and Bretonnia. Skaven, High Elves, various Vampire and Orc/Goblin factions, and also the Norscan invasions and uprisings.

To be honest, it felt like you were not really meant to win it, but perhaps I just never played it right,

Lucifer

Log 21-23.

Disaster!

Before my army could reach Brionne, it was attacked by the larger Ripper-Horne tribe force. I had to retreat, but retreat was ambushed immediately after it. My army destroyed, and Le Fay wounded, a Goblin incursion is now camped near the capital, and I must quickly build a new army.

With now both my capital and town under siege. I cannot recruit and this campaign is likely over.

Lucifer

And in a valiant defeat at Carcassonne. This campaign is over. Short, but sweet.

Reeks#2417

Week-feeble man-things yes-yes

Lucifer

Reeks said:

Week-feeble man-things yes-yes

Lol! Yes, I'll be trying a Skaven campaign next. Can't decide who, though. Tretch, Queek or Skrolk.

Reeks#2417

Lucifer said:

Reeks said:

Week-feeble man-things yes-yes

Lol! Yes, I'll be trying a Skaven campaign next. Can't decide who, though. Tretch, Queek or Skrolk.

Game play wise i find Tretch to be the most "Skaveny" , he got a nice challenging start as well if you prefer that :-)

Lucifer

Reeks said:

Lucifer said:

Reeks said:

Week-feeble man-things yes-yes

Lol! Yes, I'll be trying a Skaven campaign next. Can't decide who, though. Tretch, Queek or Skrolk.

Game play wise i find Tretch to be the most "Skaveny" , he got a nice challenging start as well if you prefer that :-)

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, and no, I don't mind a challenging start. Its part of the fun

RikRiorik#9890

Reeks said:

Lucifer said:

Reeks said:

Week-feeble man-things yes-yes

Lol! Yes, I'll be trying a Skaven campaign next. Can't decide who, though. Tretch, Queek or Skrolk.

Game play wise i find Tretch to be the most "Skaveny" , he got a nice challenging start as well if you prefer that :-)

Tretch has the absolute most Skaveny abilities and faction mechanics. If they do bring on Thanquol I hope they cannibalize him a bit for Thanquol.

BrynjarK#6108

Tretch is the most fun cause its the hardest and your build isn't predetermined for you.

Keklemeshekles

Thanks for your battlereports.

Reminds me of all my Hardcore barbarian attempts in Diablo 3.

tanspan88

Defo tretch - the voice acting is hilarious. Queek is ok, but i found his start position less interesting. Skrolk is too easy, and suffers from lustria being full of ruins to start with

psychoak

The campaign is actually fairly easy, although I wouldn't think everyone makes the same mistakes as here, but there are quite a few issues, and you actually had fairly good luck.

You have three fairly critical errors.

First, and most painful, your choice of initial research. This was essentially delayed suicide, when you were later stack wiped in an ambush. That -100 relations penalty all but guarantees that beastmen will wardec you early in the game. That kazrak was attacking dreadfleet instead was some amazingly good luck, or you'd have had them in your business too.

Second, you worked toward an alliance with a doomed faction. You needn't set yourself at war with the dreadfleet, particularly if you're not taking things away from them. Estalia is essentially worthless. It will never hold up against anything near it. Even the minor skaven faction will cause it's demise, simply through corruption. Kazrak and Noctilus both have free wins against it in AR, so all you do by allying with them, is give yourself enemies.

Third, you treat the incursion wrong. This is free experience and money for the first 20 turns. It's a bit sad really. Get yourself up to at least 15 units, sit encamped next to home, and kill the rebels on their initial spawn. With efficient usage, you can stay healed up indefinitely, killing new stacks every turn. Two or three attacks, per turn, for about 15 turns, gets your lord and hero most of the way to level 20, builds up a nice collection of items and positive traits, and funds your build up with the piddly 800 or so positive income you can sustain.

You also have more minor issues. Using your hero to scout instead of joining the army to gain experience fast. Not taking the building cost and research, or growth commandments, either of which would get you up and running faster. I recommend research and cost, waiting for the second turn to build and upgrade at the outset. With the start you picked building wise, you get access to the upgraded infantry in the same time frame, at a lower cost.

Along with starting stables, instead of going for shielded infantry, you should also upgrade your secondary settlement to three first, which would have given you the shortest path to upgraded farm income and then upgraded archers with the trebuchet line being built at tier 3 in your primary.

This also gets Brionne walls the fastest, which helps for those incidents where a beastman army appears out of nowhere. You can very effectively kill them when they go to siege your minor settlement, by parking in encampment a little inside their movement range next to the river crossing. If they attack, you have the defense buff, and they can't run and hide after. If they don't attack, you fight them on the offense with your garrison assisting. With a few units of knights errant or knights of the realm, and perhaps even your first ROR knight unit, beastmen armies are fairly inconsequential to kill.

With a full or mostly full army, not making enemies that don't need to be made through research and alliance choices, and keeping your casualties minimal by killing the greenskins on spawn, you almost never get war declarations before the incursion timer runs out. It's a very safe first 20 some turns, which you'll end with knights, upgraded archers, artillery, and heavily leveled characters. Your only enemy at that point should be Yvresse, which never attacks, and frequently dies in that time period because of their light cavalry heavy armies doing atrociously in AR.

Focus on confederation research, and you'll be able to snowball pretty hard after a fairly safe start.