Byzantium playthrough and impressions (no mods)

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This time I opted for a manual build of a legacy fleet. 5 B, 5 CA, 5 CL and a bunch of destroyers. First order of business is to increase dockyard capacity. Austria-Hungary offers a treaty and I naturally accept. I also start spying on Great Britain – there is no tension between us, and hopefully they will have some useful tech. When it comes to research, I raise budget to 10%, and place Armour development, Subdivision and damage control, Ship design and Fleet tactics to High priority.

Tension with Italy is 5 and with France is 4, likely due to treaty with A-H. From A-H I order a battleship with two 10-in gun turrets, but 16 in belt armour, 6,5 in deck armour, 16 in turret face and 9 in turret top. Industrial production soars, but Emperor orders me to build a bunch of cruisers, so I am running a significant deficit. High command gets displeased when I put cruisers at hold, despite having not the money to build them.


I also design new battleship Bosphorus – 3x2 10 in centerline turrets, 24 5 in secondaries, 19 knot speed, 12 in belt armour, 7 in deck armour, 14 in turret face, 8 in turret roof, 2 in secondaries. In 1906., arrangement with Austria-Hungary gets an extension. Strategos is being an idiot as usual, and makes a statement about Great Britain – luckily my tension with them is 0, so I don't care.


I get tech for three centerline turrets, and finally get a dreadnought battleship building. Nothing special – 22 000 tons, 19 knots, 3 x 2 13 in main battery, 14 in turret face, 8 in turret top, 12 in belt, 4 in deck. Soon Britain sells me tech for triple turrets, and I research tech for four centerline turrets, but for now I cannot utilize these advacements. In 1911., tension with Austria-Hungary goes to yellow and I get bigger budget. Same year I have to apologize to bloody Great Britain for one of my ships opening fire on a fishing boat.

New Exarch-class battleship is 31 000 tons and 3 x 3 13 in an all-forward main battery. Tension with A-H rises to 10 after a submarine torpedoes my ship. I immediately start construction seeing how everybody else has more battleships than me. British government however buys a bunch of tech, and hawk party raises my budget.

CA Boukellarion is 10 000 tons, 10 x 8 in guns, 23 knots, 6 in belt armour and 2 in deck armour.


By August 1915., A-H and Spain are both in yellow – tension of 9 and 7, respectively. I also acquire through sale above water tubes on CL, and immediately design a CL with 8 double torpedo mounts – Myrmidon class. My Exarch class battleship is finally finished, and new Basileus class is 31 000 tons, 3x3 13 in all-forward main battery, 10 x 5 in in single turrets, 13 in belt, 4 in deck, 14 in turret face, 8 in turret top, and 24 knot speed. To reduce deficit while building it, I scrap another Constantinople class predreadnought. I also did not mention that my dock size is now 41 000 tons, but such a monster would be too expensive. June 1916., and my fleet is still dominated by predreadnoughts. I also have to manage building 21 submarines alongside it, so I build coastals.


New battleship Nikephoros is 37 800 tons with 9 15-in guns, but I cannot build it yet. Italy meanwhile takes Tunisia. Basileus is also being an idiot again, but I agree with him – having A-H in yellow helps the budget. Treaty with Russia pushes both A-H and Italy into yellow sphere. New destoyer is 1500 tons, 34 knots, 1 5-in guns and 4 triple torpedo mounts. At the same time, another gaffe puts me in yellow with Austria-Hungary, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom. Not that bad, but risky.


And game seems to be doing its best to increase tension. Strategos wants additional 3 battleships, despite neither money nor international situation being available for that. One piece of good news: report arrives that "our shipbuilding industry has developed considerably and is now on par with other nations". Industry may have, but budget did not: I am now tied with Spain for the last place.


Austria-Hungary, Italy and Spain are in yellow. This helped budget a bit, which is 325 million compared to 301 million of Spain. I placed four old predreadnoughts into reserve after asking Spain to do the same. Soon dreadnought Nikephoros II is commisioned, and it turns out it can reach 25 knot speed despite being designed for 24 knots. Overall, I now have fewest dreadnoughts, but more cruisers, destroyers and submarines than anyone else – 61 000 tons of CA compared to 51 800 for GB, 192 000 tons of CL compared to 132 000 tons for GB, and 62 700 tons of DD compared to 52 000 tons for France. I am however thinking of retiring some obsolete ships. Italy goes into orange as soon as my new battleship is commissioned.


New CA Olympos is the first oil-firing ship I built – I forgot I have access to oil. At 14 000 tons, it has 12 x 8 in guns, 6 in turret face, 3 in turret top, 6 in belt, 2 in deck armour. Speed is 29 knots. Now that I do remember that, I decided to redesign Nikephoros with oil firing. New battleship Thalassion is 35 700 tons, 24 knot speed, 15 in belt armour, 4 in deck, 16 in turret face, 8 in turret top, and 2 in secondaries – same as Nikephoros, but with 1 inch more turret face armour. Even so, it is 2 100 tons lighter and 3 200 000 cheaper. At the same time I scrap 22 000 dreadnought Symbalises – thing would be fodder against any serious battleship out there, and with Praetor due in 3 months, I can afford to do that. It is March 1924 now.


What I cannot afford is idiot generals asking for more cruisers than budget can manage. I am not Great Britain, for Deus' sake! Meanwhile, Spain and Austria-Hungary have apparently decided that minesweepers will win the war. And now in 1925., game pushes me to war with Spain, and immediately sets a battlecruiser against my armoured cruiser. Results are, should I say, predictable.


Spanish navy decides to come out in force, but then declines battle despite having 10 battleships to my 7. First battle is battleship action, and Spanish fleet manages to cross my T due to me being focused on battlecruisers. Battleship Valentinian is lost immediately to turret penetration, as is Paleologos – and I cannot remember what turret roof thickness I used on them, or even when I built them. For all I know, they could even have been designs ordered from Great Britain – which would explain whole "ship blowing up" part. Great. Nikephoros II, apparently a newer design, manages to meanwhile survive the attentions of the entire Spanish battle line for some minutes. Overall I lost 5 battleships, sinking only two Spanish battlecruisers. But statistics also reveal that Spanish had 10 BB and 7 BC against my own 7 BB – never good odds. So instead of risking another major battle, I set the entire fleet to raid. Between that and my submarine fleet, Spain immediately experiences shortages – but so does Byzantium.


Of course, then game chooses to force an "unexpected battle". Glorious victory of sinking 1 MS and 4 DD somehow raises hopes of the nation. But with Spain having budget almost 100 million larger than my own, Cyprus gets invaded by Spain with no issue. I cannot avoid battle forever either, and computer immediately sets my armoured cruisers against Spanish battlecruisers.


I manage to secure peace at expense of two points, and focus on rebuilding battlefleet. New 52 000-ton Autokrator battleship – first of that displacement – has 12 15-in guns in all-forward quadruple turrets, 16 5-in guns, 6 3-in guns, speed of 23 knots, 16 in belt armour, 6 in deck armour, 4,5 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top, 1,5 in secondary turrets. Battlecruiser Pyr Thalassion has 8 15-in guns in all-forward quadruple turrets, 16 5-in guns, 6 3-in guns, speed of 32 knots, 13 in belt armour, 5 in deck armour, 4,5 in conning tower, 15 in turret face, 6 in turret top, 1,5 in secondary turrets.


Belisarius is a 15-in battleship. It is 52 000 tons in displacement, with 8 15-in guns (2x4), 16 5-in guns (8x2), 8 3-in guns, speed of 27 knots, 17 in belt armour, 7 in deck armour, 5 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top and 1,5 in secondary turrets. Increased speed and armour are both facilitated by reducing main armament to 8 15-in guns in two quadruple turrets. Originally guns were to be 16-in, but 15-in are of quality 1 while 16 are quality 0, and thus not worth increased weight. Heraclius is the slower and less armoured version of the same, with 12 15-in guns (3x4), 16 5-in guns, 21 knot speed, 16 in belt armour, 6 in deck armour, 2,5 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top and 1,5 in secondary turrets. Nike has 8 16-in guns (2x4) of quality 1, 16 5-in guns, speed of 27 knots, 17 in belt armour, 6,5 in deck armour, 2 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top, 1,5 in secondary battery. All have torpedo protection of 4.


Several random events later, I am at war against Russia and Spain both. I lose CA to turret flash fire. Next scenario is also the kind of bullshit scenarios I have come to hate: two CL against two enemy BC. Next thing I learn is that my CL apparently cannot shoot ****: eight torpedo launchers, three tubes per launcher, and they miss CA from point-blank range. That is what happens when you forget to invest in night fighting training, I guess. Next game, I swear you will see torpedo battleships. I'm not kidding. At any rate I plead peace. And the Emperor again requires four battleships to be built, as if we are bloody Great Britain or US, and is displeased because I do not **** battleships. Apparently in this game Byzantium has all the "intelligence" of 1941. Japan.


And now I have alliance with Russia and war with Spain. I sink two destroyers with no losses – it is a destroyer engagement – but afterwards I lose a destroyer to mine ex machina. In next battle however I at least have a battleship and so manage to destroy a bombardment target. On return, my battleship Heraclius runs into Spanish battlecruiser and battleship. Almost immediately Spanish Viczaya class battlecruiser blows up due to turret flash fire. And then Spanish teleport 4 battleships and 3 battlecruisers and catch Heraclius, which eventually sinks.


Next battle I have a total of 5 battleships. Should be enough, unless Spanish got battleship cloning facility in addition to teleportation device. And turns out, they may not have gotten that, but nightfall happens almost immediately. And since I didn't have destroyers in my fleet, battleship gets torpedoed. Still, for whatever reason, I had caused enough damage to Spanish fleet – one BC sunk, two heavily damaged – that battle counts as victory. Stat screen shows that I had 7 battleships in the battle – but I never saw two of those – while Spanish had 3 battleships and 5 battlecruisers. And I am now left with 4 battleships in active service, while Spanish have 4 battleships and 3 battlecruisers (total force is 9 battleships for Byzantium, 4 battleships and 7 battlecruisers for Spain).


Next battle I have 3 battleships again, plus a DD and a CL. Turns out, I did not have enough destroyers because of idiot Emperor's obsession with battleships and submarines – almost all destroyers are on ASW duty. Which is interesing, seeing how Spain does have destroyers, despite having less submarines and less destroyers than I do. Three battleships lost in exchange for 1 battleship and 1 battlecruiser. Not bad, seeing how Spain again had massive numerical superiority, but not good either. BTW, you know you're f***ed when bloody Spain has 100 million larger budget than you do.


Somehow, Army manages to take Cyprus back from Spain (lost in the previous war). Then game glitches, with entire Spanish fleet parked there and not moving, and I decide to start a new game.

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This time I opted for a manual build of a legacy fleet. 5 B, 5 CA, 5 CL and a bunch of destroyers. First order of business is to increase dockyard capacity. Austria-Hungary offers a treaty and I naturally accept. I also start spying on Great Britain – there is no tension between us, and hopefully they will have some useful tech. When it comes to research, I raise budget to 10%, and place Armour development, Subdivision and damage control, Ship design and Fleet tactics to High priority.
Tension with Italy is 5 and with France is 4, likely due to treaty with A-H. From A-H I order a battleship with two 10-in gun turrets, but 16 in belt armour, 6,5 in deck armour, 16 in turret face and 9 in turret top. Industrial production soars, but Emperor orders me to build a bunch of cruisers, so I am running a significant deficit. High command gets displeased when I put cruisers at hold, despite having not the money to build them.

I also design new battleship Bosphorus – 3x2 10 in centerline turrets, 24 5 in secondaries, 19 knot speed, 12 in belt armour, 7 in deck armour, 14 in turret face, 8 in turret roof, 2 in secondaries. In 1906., arrangement with Austria-Hungary gets an extension. Strategos is being an idiot as usual, and makes a statement about Great Britain – luckily my tension with them is 0, so I don't care.

I get tech for three centerline turrets, and finally get a dreadnought battleship building. Nothing special – 22 000 tons, 19 knots, 3 x 2 13 in main battery, 14 in turret face, 8 in turret top, 12 in belt, 4 in deck. Soon Britain sells me tech for triple turrets, and I research tech for four centerline turrets, but for now I cannot utilize these advacements. In 1911., tension with Austria-Hungary goes to yellow and I get bigger budget. Same year I have to apologize to bloody Great Britain for one of my ships opening fire on a fishing boat.

New Exarch-class battleship is 31 000 tons and 3 x 3 13 in an all-forward main battery. Tension with A-H rises to 10 after a submarine torpedoes my ship. I immediately start construction seeing how everybody else has more battleships than me. British government however buys a bunch of tech, and hawk party raises my budget.
CA Boukellarion is 10 000 tons, 10 x 8 in guns, 23 knots, 6 in belt armour and 2 in deck armour.

By August 1915., A-H and Spain are both in yellow – tension of 9 and 7, respectively. I also acquire through sale above water tubes on CL, and immediately design a CL with 8 double torpedo mounts – Myrmidon class. My Exarch class battleship is finally finished, and new Basileus class is 31 000 tons, 3x3 13 in all-forward main battery, 10 x 5 in in single turrets, 13 in belt, 4 in deck, 14 in turret face, 8 in turret top, and 24 knot speed. To reduce deficit while building it, I scrap another Constantinople class predreadnought. I also did not mention that my dock size is now 41 000 tons, but such a monster would be too expensive. June 1916., and my fleet is still dominated by predreadnoughts. I also have to manage building 21 submarines alongside it, so I build coastals.

New battleship Nikephoros is 37 800 tons with 9 15-in guns, but I cannot build it yet. Italy meanwhile takes Tunisia. Basileus is also being an idiot again, but I agree with him – having A-H in yellow helps the budget. Treaty with Russia pushes both A-H and Italy into yellow sphere. New destoyer is 1500 tons, 34 knots, 1 5-in guns and 4 triple torpedo mounts. At the same time, another gaffe puts me in yellow with Austria-Hungary, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom. Not that bad, but risky.
And game seems to be doing its best to increase tension. Strategos wants additional 3 battleships, despite neither money nor international situation being available for that. One piece of good news: report arrives that "our shipbuilding industry has developed considerably and is now on par with other nations". Industry may have, but budget did not: I am now tied with Spain for the last place.

Austria-Hungary, Italy and Spain are in yellow. This helped budget a bit, which is 325 million compared to 301 million of Spain. I placed four old predreadnoughts into reserve after asking Spain to do the same. Soon dreadnought Nikephoros II is commisioned, and it turns out it can reach 25 knot speed despite being designed for 24 knots. Overall, I now have fewest dreadnoughts, but more cruisers, destroyers and submarines than anyone else – 61 000 tons of CA compared to 51 800 for GB, 192 000 tons of CL compared to 132 000 tons for GB, and 62 700 tons of DD compared to 52 000 tons for France. I am however thinking of retiring some obsolete ships. Italy goes into orange as soon as my new battleship is commissioned.

New CA Olympos is the first oil-firing ship I built – I forgot I have access to oil. At 14 000 tons, it has 12 x 8 in guns, 6 in turret face, 3 in turret top, 6 in belt, 2 in deck armour. Speed is 29 knots. Now that I do remember that, I decided to redesign Nikephoros with oil firing. New battleship Thalassion is 35 700 tons, 24 knot speed, 15 in belt armour, 4 in deck, 16 in turret face, 8 in turret top, and 2 in secondaries – same as Nikephoros, but with 1 inch more turret face armour. Even so, it is 2 100 tons lighter and 3 200 000 cheaper. At the same time I scrap 22 000 dreadnought Symbalises – thing would be fodder against any serious battleship out there, and with Praetor due in 3 months, I can afford to do that. It is March 1924 now.

What I cannot afford is idiot generals asking for more cruisers than budget can manage. I am not Great Britain, for Deus' sake! Meanwhile, Spain and Austria-Hungary have apparently decided that minesweepers will win the war. And now in 1925., game pushes me to war with Spain, and immediately sets a battlecruiser against my armoured cruiser. Results are, should I say, predictable.

Spanish navy decides to come out in force, but then declines battle despite having 10 battleships to my 7. First battle is battleship action, and Spanish fleet manages to cross my T due to me being focused on battlecruisers. Battleship Valentinian is lost immediately to turret penetration, as is Paleologos – and I cannot remember what turret roof thickness I used on them, or even when I built them. For all I know, they could even have been designs ordered from Great Britain – which would explain whole "ship blowing up" part. Great. Nikephoros II, apparently a newer design, manages to meanwhile survive the attentions of the entire Spanish battle line for some minutes. Overall I lost 5 battleships, sinking only two Spanish battlecruisers. But statistics also reveal that Spanish had 10 BB and 7 BC against my own 7 BB – never good odds. So instead of risking another major battle, I set the entire fleet to raid. Between that and my submarine fleet, Spain immediately experiences shortages – but so does Byzantium.

Of course, then game chooses to force an "unexpected battle". Glorious victory of sinking 1 MS and 4 DD somehow raises hopes of the nation. But with Spain having budget almost 100 million larger than my own, Cyprus gets invaded by Spain with no issue. I cannot avoid battle forever either, and computer immediately sets my armoured cruisers against Spanish battlecruisers.

I manage to secure peace at expense of two points, and focus on rebuilding battlefleet. New 52 000-ton Autokrator battleship – first of that displacement – has 12 15-in guns in all-forward quadruple turrets, 16 5-in guns, 6 3-in guns, speed of 23 knots, 16 in belt armour, 6 in deck armour, 4,5 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top, 1,5 in secondary turrets. Battlecruiser Pyr Thalassion has 8 15-in guns in all-forward quadruple turrets, 16 5-in guns, 6 3-in guns, speed of 32 knots, 13 in belt armour, 5 in deck armour, 4,5 in conning tower, 15 in turret face, 6 in turret top, 1,5 in secondary turrets.

Belisarius is a 15-in battleship. It is 52 000 tons in displacement, with 8 15-in guns (2x4), 16 5-in guns (8x2), 8 3-in guns, speed of 27 knots, 17 in belt armour, 7 in deck armour, 5 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top and 1,5 in secondary turrets. Increased speed and armour are both facilitated by reducing main armament to 8 15-in guns in two quadruple turrets. Originally guns were to be 16-in, but 15-in are of quality 1 while 16 are quality 0, and thus not worth increased weight. Heraclius is the slower and less armoured version of the same, with 12 15-in guns (3x4), 16 5-in guns, 21 knot speed, 16 in belt armour, 6 in deck armour, 2,5 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top and 1,5 in secondary turrets. Nike has 8 16-in guns (2x4) of quality 1, 16 5-in guns, speed of 27 knots, 17 in belt armour, 6,5 in deck armour, 2 in conning tower, 18 in turret face, 8 in turret top, 1,5 in secondary battery. All have torpedo protection of 4.

Several random events later, I am at war against Russia and Spain both. I lose CA to turret flash fire. Next scenario is also the kind of bullshit scenarios I have come to hate: two CL against two enemy BC. Next thing I learn is that my CL apparently cannot shoot ****: eight torpedo launchers, three tubes per launcher, and they miss CA from point-blank range. That is what happens when you forget to invest in night fighting training, I guess. Next game, I swear you will see torpedo battleships. I'm not kidding. At any rate I plead peace. And the Emperor again requires four battleships to be built, as if we are bloody Great Britain or US, and is displeased because I do not **** battleships. Apparently in this game Byzantium has all the "intelligence" of 1941. Japan.

And now I have alliance with Russia and war with Spain. I sink two destroyers with no losses – it is a destroyer engagement – but afterwards I lose a destroyer to mine ex machina. In next battle however I at least have a battleship and so manage to destroy a bombardment target. On return, my battleship Heraclius runs into Spanish battlecruiser and battleship. Almost immediately Spanish Viczaya class battlecruiser blows up due to turret flash fire. And then Spanish teleport 4 battleships and 3 battlecruisers and catch Heraclius, which eventually sinks.

Next battle I have a total of 5 battleships. Should be enough, unless Spanish got battleship cloning facility in addition to teleportation device. And turns out, they may not have gotten that, but nightfall happens almost immediately. And since I didn't have destroyers in my fleet, battleship gets torpedoed. Still, for whatever reason, I had caused enough damage to Spanish fleet – one BC sunk, two heavily damaged – that battle counts as victory. Stat screen shows that I had 7 battleships in the battle – but I never saw two of those – while Spanish had 3 battleships and 5 battlecruisers. And I am now left with 4 battleships in active service, while Spanish have 4 battleships and 3 battlecruisers (total force is 9 battleships for Byzantium, 4 battleships and 7 battlecruisers for Spain).

Next battle I have 3 battleships again, plus a DD and a CL. Turns out, I did not have enough destroyers because of idiot Emperor's obsession with battleships and submarines – almost all destroyers are on ASW duty. Which is interesing, seeing how Spain does have destroyers, despite having less submarines and less destroyers than I do. Three battleships lost in exchange for 1 battleship and 1 battlecruiser. Not bad, seeing how Spain again had massive numerical superiority, but not good either. BTW, you know you're f***ed when bloody Spain has 100 million larger budget than you do.

Somehow, Army manages to take Cyprus back from Spain (lost in the previous war). Then game glitches, with entire Spanish fleet parked there and not moving, and I decide to start a new game.

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OK, I forgot to start writing this from the beginning, but first few decades I manage to avoid any major wars so nothing to write about. Also note, I believe that this playthrough is done in a mod where I modded Byzantium to have increased economic growth rate, but no other advantages.

At any rate, there is no war for a long time – I managet it to avoid through diplomacy while somehow keeping 20 prestige. At this point, I have 7 battleships and 4 battlecruisers, but one of battleships is a 28 000 ton piece o' junk. I scrapped it just while writing this, so I have 2 x 41 000 ton battleships (1920 and 1922), 2 x 40 300 ton battleships (same as earlier, but with some weight saiving advantages; launched in 1923 and 1924), and 2 x 47 000 ton battleships (both in 1925). 41 000 tonners have speed of only 24 knots, while both later classes can push it up to 27 knots. I also have four ancient battlecruisers in 30 000 ton, 25 knot class. I have to replace them as soon as possible, likely with new battleships. Two 49 000 ton, 26 knot battleships are being built, and I have designed 27-knot version of the same which will be updated as technology advances. Other than that, I got rid of armoured cruisers which had been around since 1899, and have 14 light cruisers, 56 destroyers – most of them obsolete – and 100 submarines, four times as many as anyone else.

And it is 1925 and the "game is over". I decide to play on. Parliament cuts the budget severely despite France being in orange and Austria and Italy in yellow, but I have enough funds saved up to finish the ships I am building despite being 3,4 million in red each month. Italy proposes budget cuts, just as Parliament authorizes additional funding, but with France in orange I dare not accept. Italians sulk, but are still yellow. A-H does something stupid and we go to orange with them as well, but Italy to brown, and France dances between yellow and orange for no discernible reason.

At any rate, I have 8 battleships with 3 building. Only Italy and France have fewer, but in terms of tonnage I lead Austria-Hungary as well – their 9 battleships mass 293 000 tons, while my 8 mass 354 000 tons. Battlecruisers however close the gap – I only have a few obsolete ones. Disarmament conference brings no results other than reducing my budget, and A-H gets mad for a US spy being in my territory. And now we are at war.

First battle puts my two battlecruisers against two Austrian ones. Almost immediately, Austrian Siebenburgen-class BC blows up due to turret penetration while my BC Dara II is hit by a torpedo, and Ad Decimum is also ambushed by destroyers while setting fire to Voralberg class battlecruiser. Soon my battleships arrive with escorts and Austrians retreat, but Ad Decimum still sinks. I have lost two BC's, Austrians two BC's as well, but I get 221k VP's to A-H's 134k (13k vs 8k post-battle). And Basileus is still upset.

I put 45 obsolete underweight destroyers on ASW/CP. Next battle again involves two of my battlecruisers – at this point I can only conclude that the game is cheating. Luckily Battle Division 8 with three battleships is in support. We run into Austrian Kartnen-class BC and no-ID BB. Both my BC's are torpedoed but luckily neither sink, and battleship division manages to damage an Austrian BC off-screen. I get 80 VP's from my submarines.

Next battle I have 2 BB and 2 BC – game really likely placing my obsolete, dwarvish BC-s in harm's way. To add insult to injury, my BB-s are actually faster than BC-s. Along the way to bombardment target, my fleet nabs quite a few TR-s and MS-s. But I cannot reach bombardment target since it is within exclusion zone of the base. Four MS and a TR sank give me enough points for a marginal victory. At this point, I set my BC-s and 4 700 ton CL-s to task of raiding.

Next fleet battle is massive, with eight battleships on my side. I immediately run into three Austrian BC-s. Austrian ships realize what they are up against and try to escape, but a Kartnen class is immobilized almost immediately. Not long after, Voralberg class is destroyed by turret flash fire, immediately followed by another Kartnen class; but torpedo hits from DD attacks reduce my battleline to 17 knots. Turns out entire enemy battlefleet is out in force, and BB Konstantinos Megas eats a few torpedoes from Austrian destroyers. Konstantinos B and Basiliskos both get hit by torpedoes as well – how the hell is AI sinking any of my submarines while apparently sparing none of destroyers for ASW duties? BB Leon B is hit by a torpedo – I guess torpedo tubes on battleships can be useful, so I add broadside swivel mounts to my next battleship class.

And then I'm sacked.

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This is with significantly weaker version of Byzantium (v5b). This version of Byzantium is based on v5, which is overall much stronger than other versions but trades Egypt for Albania. Version used here however has the lowest starting budget of all the powers – starting budget is 115 million, while even Austria and Spain hover around 130 million (game naval budget as given on map is 18 million, compared to 20 million for Spain and Austria).

And I immediately have to build 5 battleships, so I design a 10 000 ton ship to fill that requirement. After that is finished, I design and order a 20 000 ton battleship from Great Britain. Basileus makes a foreign policy gaffe, and at same time I get three centerline turrets tech. Thus I scrap three predreadnoughts in construction, and order a 20 000 ton dreadnought from Great Britain. Right now (November 1904), I am the only power with dreadnoughts in construction – historically, HMS Dreadnought was laid down in October 1905, so I am 11 months ahead of schedule. When tensions rise, I am asked for opinion, and request a treaty with Great Britain – disarmament conference runs at too high of risk of stopping my dreadnought construction. By May 1905, Italy, Russia and Great Britain are also building dreadnoughts, but all are smaller than my ships.

Great Britain is having tensions with Spain, and I give them unconditional support. Better possible war with Spain than to endanger alliance with UK. War does not happen, but it is close. People collect 50 million for a new battleship, so I now have three dreadnoughts in construction.

Spain hosts international regatta. Since throwing the race reduces tensions with Spain for no prestige cost, I opt for that. BB Iovanos built in Great Britain gives me insight into their machinery. Next I order a battleship in Austria-Hungary, with three triple turrets, of 24 000 ton displacement. In November 1907., I help Russia root out some rebels. A random event raises tensions, though thankfully tensions with GB stay in green, and with AH only raise to brown.

Next request of 10 CL places me 3M into red, but I can manage that until one of battleships is completed. I cannot manage that, but admirals of course have their heads so far in their asses they are sticking out of their stomachs. I reject a disarmament conference, and am at edge of war with Spain. One more event, and war is there.
I manage to sink a CA in the first cruiser action. After that follows a battleship action, with Spain deploying five predreadnoughts against my three dreadnoughts. Spanish fleet temporarily retreats, but a division of my own two predreadnoughts appears, and I have to rush to their rescue. Spanish fleet suffers heavy pounding, but all their battleships make it to nearby Barcelona. Spain gets a minor victory thanks to my predread division that stumbled into their fleet.

Next is battleship engagement at night. I pull back, but my DD still manages to torpedo a Spanish CL. Battle after that I retreat since it is night again and I have battleships in the fleet, but bullshit event generator ends with one of my battleships being torpedoed.

Battle after involves six of my battleships, of which three dreadnoughts. These encounted five Spanish battleships. I eventually manage to corner Spanish fleet into a bay, in which they run around like ants. I cause some damage, and receive some, but night brings an end to the fight, and I pull my ships back due east. Spain gets marginal victory, and I decide to introduce gunnery training in addition to night fighting training regimen. In a cruiser action, Spanish CA escapes. Next battle I loose BB Markianos to torpedo attacks while trying to compensate for Spanish apparent superiority in gunnery. Afterwards, I give a safe passage to a Spanish revolutionary.

In the next battle, Spanish lose Conquistador-class to turret flash fire. Battle overall is ultimate confusion, with next to no command and control possible. I lose battleship which sinks due to torpedo damage – lack of destroyers did me in again. In small engagements however destroyers prove useless, because they do not fire torpedoes at all.

In the end, despite my fleet generally coming off worse in fleet engagements, leading to a serious disadvantage in victory points, Spain is forced to accept compromise peace due to submarine- and raider- -enforced blockade.

In January 1913., I finally have quadruple turrets, immediately followed by the Superimposed B turret. A lot of advancements follow, some due to research, many more due to trade. Destroyer tech for 1100 ton displacement is researched, allowing for a new design with 5 in guns and 6 torpedo tubes in four launchers. Spain is building a BB of 20 500 tons. By March 1915., Ireland has declared independence.

Basileus wants more battleships, and I oblige. Nevermind that Jeune Ecole has proven quite successful in war with Spain, forcing them to negotiation table despite them winning most battles. New battleship is 26 000 tons, despite my docks being 32 000 tons, mostly for budgetary and design reasons – latter being lack of larger guns to mount and availability of quadruple turrets allowing only two turrets to be utilized. Meanwhile 12-gun version is 4x3 configuration proves to be more than my docks could handle – dock capacity is 32 000 tons, while said design would end up at 34 600 tons.

I have to have 5 battleships building, which forces me to scrap the entire predreadnought line. Austria-Hungary asks me to curb naval programme despite having larger budget than me, which I agree to – largely because of that fact. I do nothing, though, and first battleship is completed on time. Basileus then asks for additional 3 battleships. Naturally, they are displeased when I fail to fulfill their insane requirements.

I refuse disarmament conference, but allow Parliament to reduce budget to reduce tensions. Industry improves, and so I order 10 medium-range submarines. UK sells me improved 14 in guns, and by May 1918., I finally get a report that shipbuilding industry has developed and is on par with other nations. Russia nabs Ireland, while I get technology for 1500 ton DD's. I wonder if 33 knots with 10 torpedo tubes is sufficient?
Russia finally sells me improved elevation. I scrap all my battleships being built and design a new one of 31 000 tons – 8 14-in guns, 20 5-in guns in double turrets, 24 3-in guns, 14 in belt, 5 in deck, 15 in turret face, 7 in turret top. Each comes well below 4 million per month, which given my budget is a relief – I manage to afford a destroyer and another submarine along with it. But new secretary then asks for 7 new cruisers. Then I have to stop Basileus from acquiring new yacht, which raises international tensions.

New CA has 16 6-in guns, and its sister class has 9 8-in guns. And of course, game forces a war with Spain. It is February 1920. Spanish navy refuses first few battles. CL Euphemious then encounters two Spanish light cruisers, and sinks one. Next several battles Spanish also refuse, until a raid, in which they lose a CL to an AI force. Next is a convoy raid, in which I sink 7 transport ships with no damage to my own, while avoiding escorting force. By October 1920., food is becoming scarce in Spain due to submarine sinkings of merchant ships.

Next is another light cruiser raid. My two light cruisers encounter Spanish CL, but it escapes. Following that is a fleet battle with my fleet deploying eight BB's. There is no fleet encounter, but Spanish BB is heavily damaged, and so it is my victory. In next battle is a massive fleet engagement. I sink Principe de Asturias class battleship, but lose three battleships. After that, I mostly keep to raiding tactics and avoid fleet battles.

Next fleet battle is mostly balanced in numbers, so I accept, but Spanish refuse. After that, a peace is concluded. I acquire a lot of technology through sales, and next battleship design is a 27-knot version of a previous one, with significantly improved torpedo protection; it comes out at 36 800 tons, but after buying French tech again I have no money to build it. I also acquire double destroyer mounts. Newly designed battleship comes out to 36 400 tons. Next version trades two double 5in mounts for two torpedo launchers, replacing underwater tubes.

Next is superimposed turrets for CL. This allows me to replace other turrets with a crapload of torpedo mounts. Meanwhile understanding with Spain is promoted.
In 1930., treaty is negotiated with Russia. Technology has also advanced considerably. New destroyer has 15 torpedo tubes, compared to 10 for the old design. I refuse to annex Angola in 1937., and I use publicity of Austria-Hungarian spy developed to raise my budget. Attempt at treaty with Great Britain is unsuccessful, but freaks out both Italy and Spain. I get more funds on the account of that, but still place four oldest battleships in the reserve. I rebuild some of the older battleships, increasing speed, or else turret armour. Government manages to lower tensions, but war still starts before the rebuilding programme is finished.

In first battle it is two my armoured cruisers versus two Spanish light cruisers. While I have to run away from an intervening battlecruiser, I manage to sink a light cruiser without any losses. Results screen show me that second Spanish CL had also sunk, and I get 1426 victory points for 134 Spanish.

Next is a fleet battle, with one battleship. I run across enemy battlecruiser in the night, which immediately receives several torpedo hits, but Gratianos is also hit by a torpedo when it attempts interception. Battle is still minor victory as Spanish battlecruiser had sustained heavy damage, and I gain one prestige.

Next battle is two CA vs two CA. Spanish Emperor Carlos class blows up due to a critical hit. Second is sunk as well, and I lose one CA which sinks post-battle. I get 82k points to Spanish 12k. Strategically I gain 5 074 VP and one prestige to Spanish 887 VP. Peace is concluded with my side gaining some concessions and minor territories. Soon Italy takes control of Libya.

"Raising tensions" has me arming for war and actually raising tensions. I decide to build a new battleship instead of rebuilding old battle wagons – for now. Rising threat from Italy gets me additional funding, which I use to rebuild some old battleships.

AT-52 destroyer design is a success, easily surpassing design speed. I continue rebuilding programme, with Basiliskos rebuilt with increased elevation for main guns and speed increased to 23 knots. Right now I have 11 battleships in active service and 6 rebuilding – almost as much as Great Britain, in terms of numbers and tonnage both. I halt construction on one of new battleships to allow rebuilding programme to proceed.

I manage to rebuild some more ships, including most of battleships, but find myself at war against Italy before the programme is finished. Rebuilding programme had been a correct choice – it probably increased fighting power of my fleet much more than gradual introduction of new ships would have. My CA Longobardia rams Italian BC Caio Duilo class (oh, the irony), but being between Italian BB and BC, it immediately blows up due to a magazine hit.

I accelerate construction on two of my battleships. Next design Theodosius C, developed from Ioustinos A, has 17 in turret face. I also order two CL, two destroyers and six submarines. In next battle, my CA Cephalonia sinks Italian CA San Marco class and CL Taranto-class, latter with turret critical hit.

Next is night battle, and Italian CA Ancona blows up due to magazine hit. Italians lose two destroyers, while I lose CA Cephalonia and a destroyer. My main fleet encounters enemy battlefleet; CL Taranto blows up due to a magazine hit. I lose BB Konstantinos to turret flash fire, and Italy loses BC Regina Margerita class to turret flash fire. BB Leon B' is immobilized due to damage, as is Italian BB Conte di Cavour class which had stumbled into middle of my battle line. Multiple enemy battleships as well as my BB Markianos receive torpedo hits. Italian BB Conte di Cavour class is immobilized, and Napoli class blows up due to turret X flash fire. In the end I had lost 2 BB, 1 CA, 4 CL and 5 DD, while sinking 3 BB, 2 BC, 2 CL, 11 DD. Overall victory points are 739 616 to 362 762, and strategic victory points are 41 510 to 20 791. As a result of this battle, I have 14 BB, 23 CL and 40 DD in service to Italian 3 BB, 7 BC, 2 CA, 4 CL and 25 DD.

Next battle is cruiser action, in which I lose two light cruisers. Even so, Italy sounds for peace, with me gaining war reparations and territories – I take only Libya, as Sardinia and Sicily are both greater than allowed value (4) and remaining territories are outside Mediterranean and thus hold no interest to me.
I send a battleship to next flashpoint to increase budget, which gains me enmity of – interestingly – Russia. Same happens when I negotiate a treaty with Italy for five years (it is 1945). I scrap ancient battleship Zenos A', which is too small and slow to properly contribute. I start rebuilding old battleships with torpedo bulges.

Tensions rise with Austria-Hungary, which gives me substantial budget increase. I use it to rebuild almost all battleships with more powerful artillery. I also rebuld most other ships, except for oldest of destroyers which I replace with newer, larger ships. I design two new battleships as well, one essentially a repeat of Zenos A' class with eight 16-in guns, and second one with nine 16-in guns. I scrap all 11 destroyers below 1500 tons, and order 12 new destroyers and 10 submarines instead.
I decide I am not ready for war against Austria-Hungary, and so order 3 battleships. My naval budget is now 1 billion, equal to that of Great Britain. Tensions rise with all states, but Great Britain asks me for an alliance, which I promptly agree to, albeit that reduces my budget. I now have 17 battleships and 7 building. Game ends just before I can pound Austria-Hungary into ground (unfortunately).

Sommary: I had fought two wars, both against Spain (1909 – 1912, 1920 – 1922). My fleet tonnage remained always smallest of all major powers, topping off at 500 000 tons. I sank 10 capital ships while losing 8, 17 cruisers while losing 24, 25 destroyers while losing 26, 12 minesweepers while losing 12, 483 auxilliaries while losing 190, and 39 submarines while losing 87. My end prestige was 28.

[picard]

OK, this is my XYQ game of Rule The Waves. This time, as with the last dozen times, I am using Byzantine Empire mod – but with my own modifications.



This Byzantine Empire gets a lot of bonuses, but somewhat limited, to enable it to deal with potentially crappy strategic situation. Compared to original mod, it gets rapid economic growth, but only for the second half of the game. It keeps "cautious" trait and undeveloped shipbuilding industry. Former is in keeping with Byzantine historical behaviour, which placed emphasis on avoidance of direct conflict, and latter with the fact that it is a Mediterranean power, and thus would have missed out on "exploiting rest of the world" phase. I would have also given it corruption, but have not figured out how to do it.

Budget, for the lack of better options, is based on actual historical economy. Each nomisma was 4,5 grams of gold, so Basil II's yearly income of 5 900 000 nomismata comes out to 26 550 kg of gold. In 1900, gold was 18,96 per troy ounce (31,1 g). Today, each nomisma would be worth 217,87 USD. From 1900., 26 550 kg would be 853 602 troy ounces or 16 184 293 monetary units. Today, 5 900 000 nomismata would be worth 1 285 433 000 USD. So I set historical naval budget to 16 million and game naval budget to 32 million, which is some 33% more than the original mod. I also gave it some bonus technologies as Byzantines were known for crazy tech (some of their enemies even thought they dabbled in magic, and, well... Greek Fire).

Now onto map.



First thing obvious is that I based the Empire on the territory it had in 1025. This means that it loses Egypt, but gains Albania. Croatia was back then not strictly part of the Empire, but was vassal/dependancy, so I gave A-H neutral status.



As it can be seen, naval budget is middling. It is comparable (within 10%) to Italy, Russia and France, larger than Spain, less than Germany and significantly less than Britain. Its strategic position is a blessing and a curse both. Italy is the only immediate neighbour, and only France also has exit to Mediterranean from its home waters. Empire also only has one strategic area to defend, something which no other country can claim, thus allowing it to concentrate forces. However, Great Britain also has its possessions in the Mediterranean, and lack of direct access to Atlantic may well hamper any possible colonial schemes. Since it only has rapid economic growth modifier in the second half of the game, this places it at disadvantage against Germany (which gets REG throughout the first half of the game) and UK (which gets the "global naval power" modifier), both of which also have larger starting budgets. One good thing is there is no USA in this mod since this is a Mediterranean-centric game – due to Byzantium's position, it makes little sense to include USA and Japan, while potentially leaving out Spain, Italy and/or France. However, Mediterranean and Europe in general being so heavily populated also raise the possibility of a war against more than one opponent at the same time.