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Deus Vult: A First Crusades and Kingdom of Jerusalem Game

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Deus Vult: A First Crusades and Kingdom of Jerusalem Game

A great calling has been declared by...
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Skrevski

Skrevski

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Ohio


Deus Vult: A First Crusades and Kingdom of Jerusalem Game

A great calling has been declared by Pope Urban II for a vast crusade to be launched in an effort to help the beleaguered Byzantine Empire that is currently under siege and see the return of recently lost Anatolia. Pope Urban called upon all of Europe and those of faith to must their strength and march to help their fellow Christians and perhaps even see the recapture the Holy Land, the most sacred of lands from the Seljuq Turks. Many took up the call of the Pope and vast armies marched south and east towards the lands of Byzantium.

However, while this was a "holy mission" much transpired along the path as men, woman, old, and even children marched for the Holy Land. Thousands of Jewish descent were killed or attacked along the way as the "Peoples" Crusade lead and instigated by Peter the Hermit was launched in the spring of 1096. Once in the Byzantine Empire, this mob of peasants (as very little trained soldiers had yet joined) saw numerous fights and "disagreements" between crusader and Byzantine with a noticeable souring of relations, however, the People's Crusade continued until their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Civetot in October of 1096 against the Turks. Was all lost already?

The answer would lay in a vast grouping of well-trained soldiers who had been recruited by the Pope all across Europe, this time being made up of trained soldiers, knights, and more importantly, men who knew how to lead, fight, and talk and would show true leadership against the vile Turk. From November 1096 to April of the next year me from France, England, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, and other Europeans assembled under the walls of the great city of Constantinople as four main armies assembled, with many more pledging to follow suit. Some came because it was "God's Will", others came out of greed and in search of wealth and fame, more came as they tried to escape the horrors of Europe and see a new life in the great "Holy Land". Whatever the reason, thousands, estimates of 40,000, now stood ready to march on a campaign and make their mark in history. Great Leaders now stood ready, would their leadership and skill bring a victory that was wished for over three centuries?

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Welcome welcome to Deus Vult! This game is to simulate the First Crusade and perhaps the formation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. I am however doing it a bit differently from other Nation games in that people will start out as already on the Crusade taking over the character of well known Crusaders and their march for the Holy Land. As the game develops it is very possible to see the creation of new realms (as took place in history) and see the rise of player characters! Combat will obviously be a major portion of the game but diplomacy, intrigue, dealing, bartering for supplies (and even soldiers!) will all be a major aspect as well. We might even see the establishment of Holy Orders! I also plan on putting into effect a "Renown" system that can go both ways in either helping you or being a determent based on how high or low your Renown is at the time.

I will also allow PODs if you give me a good reason and I believe it will fit the game. We are here to have fun so a little Alternate history could be in the cards!

Anyways I hope you all enjoy!​

Basically, it goes from 0 to 100 with the better the score the more likely people will follow you, help you in combat, give you favorable deals, and support your claims for when/if you wish to become a true leader within the Crusade/Kingdom. The lower the value obvious will see people shun you, not wish to follow your command, and maybe even flatly refuse to help or follow you into battle.

I'll be giving each lead a value based on how they were view at the beginning of the Crusade, but that can change through your actions!
Faction/Character/Army:

Economic/Trade Activities:
  1. Improving Logistics?
  2. Attempting to gain new coin and supplies for the Crusade?
  3. Attempting to recruit new soldiers to your cause? (How are you doing this? Paying them?, Applying to their devotion to God? ect)
Military Operations:
  1. Defense Operations
    1. How do your forces act on the march?
    2. How do your forces camp after the march?
    3. Do you march each day? Take your time? ect.
  2. Offensive Operations:
    1. Where are you going?
    2. What all are you taking with you?
    3. Who all is in your party (Named Officers/Generals/Knights/Nobles)
    4. Ect.
  3. Subterfuge Operations:
    1. Trying to get information on an enemy? An Ally? How do you do it?
    2. Attempting to do a surprise operation and get one up on your enemy? Sneaking behind enemy lines? Attacking supply lines?
    3. Ect.

Game Rules:
  • First and foremost have fun! Remember it is a game at all times and just enjoy yourselves.
  • Time: Game start will be April, 1097. Passage of time will be fluid in that I won't have an exact time frame and plans will be posted on as I get them and time will move along based on when plans are put in.
  • Claims: Put in three claims and the reason you think you want to play them and why they interest you.
  • Plans: I'll be providing a plan format for you all, it WILL help me if there are groups working together to have ONE plan.
  • Messages: So we all know that messages were carried by messenger in this day and age, so I am going to try and simulate this a bit. When an army or group is together you can assume your messages arrive fine and dandy. It is when you are on campaign or ruling from your newly established fiefdom that it is possible for messages to be delayed or even intercepted. I am not saying this will happen, but be prepared to get an event saying "Your message never arrived!". This is just to simulate the era and have a uncertainty to things.
  • PM Convos: Make sure you include me so that we just are all on the same side and we can help answer questions. If I am not included, that convo does not exist.
  • Discord Convo: So we are using Discord, but I want to make it clear that while planning can happen and I encourage it, it is not official and you MUST submit plans on here in a PM or it will be ignored.
  • Discord Link: Discord - Free voice and text chat for gamers
  • Questions: If you have questions ask them! I will answer to the best of my ability!
  • Lastly, remember it is a game and enjoy please!
Player List:

Main Players to be Claimed:
  • Army of Álmos, Duke of Nyitra (Military Strength: 400 Knights/Cavalry & 3,500 Infantry)
  • Army of Bohemond of Taranto (Military Strength: 500 Knights/Cavalry & 5,500 Infantry):
    • Bohemond of Taranto - @kızıl sultan
    • Guy, Duke of Amalfi and Sorrento
    • Tancred of Hauteville - @Aedan777
    • Richard of Salerno
  • Army of Godfrey of Bouillon (Military Strength: 1,000 Knights/Cavalry & 7,000 Infantry):
    • Godfrey of Bouillon, Lord of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine - @HumanityDark
    • Baldwin of Boulogne - @Cybandeath
    • Baldwin II of Mons, Count of Hainaut
    • Baldwin of Le Bourg
    • Conon, Count of Montaigu
    • Eustace III, Count of Boulogne
    • Gervase of Bazoche
    • Giselbert, Count of Clermont-sur-Meuse
    • Godfrey of Esch, Lord of Esch
    • Reinhard of Toul
    • Werner, Count of Grez
  • Provençal Army of Raymond of Saint-Gilles (Military Strength: 1,500 Knights/Cavalry & 8,500 Infantry):
    • Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse, Marquis of Provence, Duke of Narbonne, and Count of Saint-Gilles - @bigseb31213
    • Adhemar de Monteil, Bishop of Puy-en-Velay, Apostolic Legate - @baboushreturns
    • Gaston IV, Viscount of Béarn
    • Girard I, Count of Roussillon
    • Gouffier I, Lord of Lastours, Hautefort and Tarrason
    • Heraclius I, Viscount of Polignac
    • Raimbaut II, Count of Orange
    • Roman of Le Puy
    • William V of Montpellier
  • Army of Robert of Normandy (Military Strength: 1,000 Knights/Cavalry & 7,000 Infantry):
    • Robert, Duke of Normandy - @Tiberius
    • Arnulf of Chocques
    • Ralph of Gaël, Earl of East Anglia - @JbeJ275
    • Stephen, Count of Aumale
    • Walter of Saint-Valéry
  • Army of Robert II of Flanders: (Military Strength: 600 Knights/Cavalry & 2,500 Infantry)
    • Robert II, Count of Flanders - @naxhi24
    • Baldwin II, Lord of Aalst
    • Gerbod III, Lord of Scheldewindeke
    • Hugh of St. Omer, Lord of Fauquembergues
  • Army of Hugh the Great: (Military Strength: 250 Knights/Cavalry & 2,000 Infantry):
    • Hugh the Great, Count of Vermandois - @bookwyrm
    • Alan IV Fregant, Duke of Brittany
    • Arnout II, Count of Aarschot
    • Drogo of Nesle
    • Rainald of Beauvais
    • Robert of Bounalbergo
    • Stephen of Aumale
    • Walo II of Chaumont-en-Vexin
  • Army of Stephen of Blois (Military Strength: 250 Knights/Cavalry & 2,000 Infantry):
    • Stephen, Count of Blois - @DanMan
    • Éverard III of Puiset, Viscount of Chartres
    • Fulcher of Chartres
    • Hugh I of Le Puiset
    • Miles of Bray, Viscount of Troyes and Castellan of Bray
    • Odo I, Duke of Burgundy
  • The People's Crusade: (3,000 Infantry)
    • Peter the Hermit - @averagename
    • Clarembald of Vendeuil
    • Drogo of Nesle
    • Geoffrey Burel
    • William of Melun
  • Knight Hospitallers: (100 Knights/200 Light Cavalry)​
  • The Byzantine Empire: (More can be added)
    • Caesar Nikephoros Melissenos
    • Caesar Nikephoros Bryennios - @ByzantineCaesar
    • Constantine Euphorbenus Catacalon
    • John Doukas
    • Manuel Boutoumites
    • Tatikios
 
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My Claims is from top to bottom top being preferred
Alexios Komnenos
Godfrey of Bouillon
Peter The Hermit
 
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Raymond of Saint-Gilles-An interesting historical figure with the mixed religious and mercenary motives. With more cunning leadership his large forces could do great things.
Robert of Normandy-The son of William the Conqueror and yet a man who became a flat failure in history with his dreams unfulfilled. Perhaps this time he could recapture some of his father's glory?
Bohemond of Taranto-Among the cleverest of the Crusader Princes, he could have been great if his ambition hadn't exceeded his wits.
 
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Caesar Nikephoros Melissenos: quite probably the second most powerful man of the empire, as Caesar and governor of Thessalonica, married to the Emperor's sister. The Melissenos family is a favorite of mine, Nikephoros sounds like a badass and the family had a large presence in pre-Manzikert Anatolia which they wish to see restored. The downside is that my only known child is an idiot, so I would need permission to introduce other actually competent children.

Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder: said to be the most capable general of his time, now he is a blind badass, with admittedly less resources than his Melissenos namesake and based out of Adrianople. But he comes with a plus of having the badass Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger as his heir.

Emperor Alexios Komnenos: Byzantine emperor and I'm a Byzantinist, need I say more? I put him so down in the list because I'm not sure I'll have enough time to commit 100% to this game - and both of my previous choices are well positioned to overthrow Alexios if his player makes too many bad choices.
 
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Forgive me for if my question is dumb - but from what I recall in the Extra history episodes of the Crusade - Robert II of Flanders and Steven of Blois are technically under the command of Robert of Normandy?

Also - who will be playing the Seljuks?
 
Tiberius said:
Forgive me for if my question is dumb - but from what I recall in the Extra history episodes of the Crusade - Robert II of Flanders and Steven of Blois are technically under the command of Robert of Normandy?

Also - who will be playing the Seljuks?
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They are, but I have them being separate as they had their own forces and things could be very different here :)

I would also play the Seljuks.
 
I will probably wait to do claims until tomorrow to give people time to claim and all. But we have a good spread so far so lets see who all we get :)
 
My claim as we already discussed is Ladislaus I of Hungary, who ITTL did not fall ill and die in the Moravian campaign in 1095. Instead, they managed to resolve the Czech issue and he could commit to the Crusade as he originally intended to, taking Prince Álmos, his nephew, with him.
 
  • Ralph of Gaël, Earl of East Anglia
  • Baldwin of Boulogne
  • Baldwin II, Lord of Aalst
 
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1. Robert II of Flanders
2. Adhemar de Monteil, Bishop of Puy-en-Velay, Apostolic Legate
3. Tancred of Hauteville
 
Godfrey of Bouillon, Lord of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Robert, Duke of Normandy
Hugh the Great, Count of Vermandois
 
Btw, for those that just gave one claim, can you give me some alternates as well? Still haven't decided on anything yet, just like to see my options.
 
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First Claims:
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    • First Claims:

    So here are the first claims, there are a couple that I have to address for, however.

    @Zeller - So after sleeping on it and looking over some things I am having a hard time having Ladislaus I of Hungary live and go to the crusades as it is a pretty big POD. I am okay however with Prince Álmos going on the Crusade and would see a bit less of an issue for the Crusades marching through Hungry.

    @Draorn - Only got one submission from you so wanted to offer you Tancred of Hauteville as he was pretty important and nephew to Bohemond of Taranto?

    Also if anyone wants to trade I will allow it, as long as people agree to the trade.

    Byzantines:

    Emperor Alexios Komnenos - @BritishGrenadier
    Caesar Nikephoros Melissenos - @ByzantineCaesar

    Crusaders:
    Bohemond of Taranto - @kızıl sultan
    Godfrey of Bouillon, Lord of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine - @HumanityDark
    Hugh the Great, Count of Vermandois - @bookwyrm
    Raymond of Saint-Gilles - @Ceslas
    Robert, Duke of Normandy - @Tiberius
    Robert II of Flanders - @naxhi24
    Baldwin of Boulogne - @JbeJ275
    Peter the Hermit - @averagename
    Knight Hospitallers/Gerard Thom - @Shebe Zuu
     
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