What I Played Today: June 15

Europa Universalis III

I am still France! Things are going pretty well, actually. England came at me again, dropping off a bunch of bros and trying to retake some land, but I knocked them down again, and then I turned around and sent a tiny army onto their island, taking Wessex. At the time they didn't really have a standing army, their resources being threatened by a large rebel contingent, and when I asked for the fourteen time if they would please just give me those two lands I want, they finally agreed, and now things are going great again. Managed to Annex another of my vassals, and I have a feeling that things are about to get shitty real fast, as Burgandy is noticing me doing all this and has been placing its armies at my borders.

What I Played Today: June 13

Europa Universalis III

France will overcome! I had reset to before my losing war, and instead Portugal ends up calling war against Morocco, and since they are my allies, I decided to help, sailing a small regiment to go hang out and kick Morocco around for fun. It was going pretty well, until Portugal decides they are done beating the crap out of the Muslims and stop the war, which somehow causes me to lose like 10 points of prestige! What the hell, guys?

So instead I started a war with England, because I am insane, and also they are squatting on my territory, the jerks. Somehow, starting the war doesn't cause things to cascade desperately out of control. I managed to lose all my ships against England's superior navy, but I've got enough guys on the ground that they have trouble getting through my defenses, and I managed to beat back any armies they send at me. I successfully start squating on the two provinces they stole from me, and managed to end conflict with the majority of England's allies, it's just a matter of England giving up their pride and letting me have my provinces back. I'm not sure it's going to happen, so I got to keep building up my armies in case they start coming at me in force again.

What I Played Today: June 12

Europa Universalis III

I finally annexed Orleans, didn't expect that to happen, so that's cool. The French state was looking in pretty good shape, and then one of my allies went to war. I have an alliance with them, it would be dickish of me not to help. And then...

So I go to war with my ally's enemy, who just happens to be allied to...England and Castille, my two main competitors. Castille is allied to Portugal, so Portugal tilts, breaking their alliance with me, and my ally backstabs me and we are suddenly at war as well. So I'm at war with 8 different countries, and suddenly have a war on three fronts. Then England sends a spy into one of my newer regions and incites revolt, so I've got an enemy inside as well. In other words, I'm pretty boned, nobody is willing to sue for peace, and my armies and cities just start falling. It was kind of a shit show, all because I was just trying to help a friend. Luckily I have a save before it all went down, so, let's retry this.

What I Played Today: June 5

Europa Universalis III, Trials Evolution

France! I'm forcing all my people to go to church, so that it will easier to make them all happy and the Pope will like me. I don't know how that works exactly. Nothing else to report.

Also I'm 9 medals away from the last set of tracks in Trials, and it is taking forever to get where I need to go. All of the levels are super hard, and and I need to do them faultlessly. Ug. Maybe I'll just do a bunch of tournaments to get those last medals.

What I Played Today: June 4

Europa Universalis III

Had a little time to play some Europa. Still France, still isn't 1410 yet, but I did win a war, that was pretty awesome. I decided I had had it with Provence, chilling on my rightful territories on Maine and the other one, so I started a war with them...and ended up at war with the entire league. Oops. My first mistake was that I didn't notice that Provence in fact had three territories, not two, and the third one suckerpunched my lower territories, along with the Naples army. So while I had Maine pretty much under wraps, the war kinda stalemates as we traded cities. But my army was bigger, and once I could, I marched my army over their faces, eventually getting Provence to cede the two territories I wanted and the rest kindly called it off.

Turns out another country saw a weakness in Provence and stole their last territory, wiping them out completely. So...I will have to watch my flank. One weird thing that happened during the war is Tuscany, who I never saw a troop from but was technically at war with because of the league, sent me a peace offering in which I would concede defeat and send them money. I said no, of course, but I found that a pretty cocky thing to do. "Hey yo, I know you're fighting my friend, and that's too bad, but I think you lost to me! Yeah, that's it."

What I Played Today: June 3

Trials Evolution, Europa Universalis III

Played more Trials. I keep on trying to defeat the Gigatrack. You can imagine how that has been going. It wouldn't be that big of deal if it was just really long, but it also has some obnoxious as shit jumps as well. And occasional just some really steep climbs. Steep climbs are really starting to burn my brisket, they are everywhere and they are hard. Also, maybe it was just the heat this weekend, but my Xbox froze on me twice, the second time so badly that I had to unplug it to turn it off. No major problems though, so that's good.

Also spend a couple of years being France in Europa Universalis III. It is taking forever to get Orleans to join me. I'm trying to get Brittany to join my empire, and they don't like me. So...because I was bored and mad at England, I claimed a war of reconquest against those dicks and marched over to the land that they stole from me before the game started. My morale seemed good, and I started a siege, but I figured the siege could go better, so I scrolled up to my ships to bring them down and start a blockade, when I noticed there was an English ship up there with 64 units on board. I immediately quit the game and hoped it didn't save.

What I Played Today: May 31

Agricola, Europa Universalis III

I played a game of Agricola, because I felt like it. I'm still winning, in this one I managed to get quite a bit of stone, so that helped. I also worked really hard to keep my food up, so I wouldn't have to worry about that later, and was pulling in 2.5 food for free every turn!

Also played some more Europa Universalis III, which is a long damn name for a thing. I decided to try to French in 1399, when they weren't France yet. There a lot of little duchies and stuff for me to lord over, and while I'm the main power in the area, England is stronger than me and sailing around. Right now the goal is obviously to unite all these dumb little regions into a single France. And that will take at least 100 years in a game that moves at the speed of about a day every five seconds (at the slowest mod, but still), so...it'll be a while.

What I Played Today: May 30

Europa Universalis III

There was a huge sale on Amazon for a bunch of strategy games that I really wanted to try out, and with the pack they were selling, I also got a credit for a strategy game that I heard was really good. So I got a ton of strategy for $20, and I planned a bit.

I started with Europa Universalis, because it had the largest range, and that seemed the most interesting to me. There's a lot of systems here, with state management and diplomatic options and various state ideas and simple combat and oh dear my mind is blown. I gave it the college try, going through the tutorials which didn't help at all. I wanted to avoid the dogpile that is Europe, so I tried out the Aztecs! And the Aztecs suck! They have no money, no research, and they aren't even that good of friends with their immediate neighbors. Before I can adapt a new national idea, I have to have government level 4. Currently have government level 1, and at my current rate, I can't afford an upgrade to level 2 for another 100 years. Yeah. So maybe I'll go play as France or something. Still, seems really interesting.

Also, I have discovered that my graphics card has a serious artifacting problem! That's what caused the issue with Portal 2 a while back. So...considering purchasing a better PC, because screw this video card. Problems: expensive, moving soon. Positives: No more goddamn triangles, and will have it build by a professional, instead of goddamn Best Buy.