Poland-Lithuania (ETW Faction)
| Poland-Lithuania (ETW Faction) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Poland-Lithuania |
| From Game: | Empire: Total War |
| Religion: | Catholic |
| Culture: | European |
| Playable: | |
Poland-Lithuania is one of the 11 playable nations in Empire: Total War's Grand Campaign. It is also a major faction in the game.
Contents
Game Description
The kingdom of Poland and Lithuania is a rather old nation with a long history. As a result, its citizens are proud of their heritage and will defend their country at any cost. The country lies between two major powers - Sweden and Russia. Both Sweden in the north and Russia in the east are strong countries and always willing to expand if their neighbours show any signs of weakness. However, Poland has as many possibilities as it has enemies and problems. As opposed to other European kingdoms such as France, Poland is not ruled by an absolute monarch and the people can influence the country's actions. While this can be a cause for trouble it is also a source of strength for the country.
While Poland's geographical size is a symbol of power, it also weakens the kingdom as its borders are long and its forces thinly spread. Since Poland is surrounded by foreign nations, wars on multiple fronts are possible. In order to avoid this, the country has to use diplomatic means to form a web of alliances. However, established powers like Sweden or Russia might not even be the biggest threat to Poland's existance. The young Prussian kingdom is trying to expand and the Polish might become its first victims. Therefore, Prussia should be watched carefully, despite its seeming insignificance and weakness.
Overview
Poland-Lithuania has some decent cavalry, such as the Winged Hussars. The rest of their army is thoroughly average. In the early game, the Polish-Lithuanians do have access to Pandours, a weaker substitute for light infantry, giving them an advantage over other countries for quite some time as light infantry are only available in the mid to late game.
Starting Position
Poland starts the game with five regions in the European theater. While the Polish region West Prussia borders the Baltic Sea, the rest of the country is landlocked. Warsaw is Poland's capital and its most important city. In the east, the Polish have a long border with Russia. In the southeast, they have a short border with the Ottomans and their protectorate on the Crimea. To the south and southwest, Austria borders Poland. Lastly, Poland also borders Prussia and the Polish protectorate Courland in the north.
Poland doesn't have any colonies, neither in the American nor in the Indian theater. However, its position on the European continent is rather strong to compensate for that. Furthermore, both Saxony and Courland are Polish protectorates. While this of course brings along responsibilities as well, it also strengthens the Polish position considerably. Sooner or later, other nations will declare war on the Polish protectorates (most likely Prussia and/or Austria on Saxony and Sweden on Courland), forcing Poland-Lithuania to either declare war on major powers to defend their allies, or to abandon them. Both options have their merits and dangers.
Poland is surrounded with potential enemies. To the West, the rising military power of Prussia covets West Prussia, thereby uniting its lands and depriving Poland of a port. To the South, Austria wishes to expand into Poland's lush farmlands. To the East, Poland's temporary ally Russia may reevaluate the worth of having Poland as an ally soon. Poland must be careful in making its enemies and allies, lest it be swept away by the flood of troops poised at every border.
Victory Conditions
Short Campaign
Capture and hold 15 regions by the end of the year 1750, including: Lithuania, Brandenburg, Poland, Belarus & Volhynia, Austria, and Galicia & Podolia.
Long Campaign
Capture and hold 25 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: Lithuania, Brandenburg, Poland, Belarus & Volhynia, Austria, Galicia & Podolia, Sweden, and Rumelia.
World Domination
Capture and hold 40 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: Poland.
Basics at start
- Protectorates – Courland, Saxony
- Allies – Denmark, Russia
- Trade Partners – Russia, Prussia, Courland
- Enemies – Barbary States, Pirates
- Religion – Catholic
- Government – Constitutional Monarchy
- Ruler – August II (King)
- Population – 7,213,790
- Prosperity – Moderate
- Prestige – Weak
- Treasury – 6000
- Technology - None
- Missionaries – Zachariasz Wincek (Galicia & Podolia)
- Rakes – Pawel Wojs (Poland)
- Gentlemen – Stanislaw Lukasiewicz (Poland)
Europe Theatre
Warsaw, Poland
- Starting Buildings – Barracks, Government Council, Conservatorium, Cannon Foundry
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 2,537,597
- Wealth – 1850
- Religion – Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Swietokrzyskie Farmland (Peasant Farms), Vistula Farmland (Peasant Farms), Cracow (School), Lodz (Craft Workshops Weavers)
- Later Villages/Ports – Lublin (Village), Bialystok (Village)
Vilnius, Lithuania
- Starting Buildings – Governor’s Residence, Conservatorium
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 830,847
- Wealth – 1400
- Religion – Catholicism 70.0%, Protestantism 30.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Sudovia Farmland (Peasant Farms), Daugava Farmland (Peasant Farms), Gardinas (Coaching Inn), Dinaburg (Craft Workshops Weavers)
- Later Villages/Ports – Kaunas (Village), Brest-Litovsk (Village)
Minsk, Belarus & Volhynia
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 706,142
- Wealth – 1450
- Religion – Catholicism 60.0%, Orthodox 40.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Zytomierz Farmland (Peasant Farms), Grodno Farmland (Peasant Farms), Babruysk (Craft Workshops Weavers)
- Later Villages/Ports – Vitebsk (Village), Homyel (Village), Pinsk (Village)
Gdansk, West Prussia
- Starting Building – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 1,291,974
- Wealth – 450
- Religion – Catholicism 45.0%, Protestantism 55.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Pommerania Farmland (Peasant Farms), Elblag (Craft Workshops Weavers)
- Later Villages/Ports – Bydgoszcz (Village), Poznan (Village), Gdynia (Port)
Lwow, Galicia & Podolia
- Starting Building – Magistrate, Settlement Fortifications
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 1,847,230
- Wealth – 2050
- Religion – Catholicism 70.0%, Orthodox 30.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Ternopil Farmland (Peasant Farms), Turka Forests (Logging Camp), Rzeszow (Craft Workshops Smiths)
- Later Villages/Ports – Brody (Village), Kaminiec (Village)
Units
Poland fields a typical European army, similar to that of the surrounding states. The country's army consists of units such as line infantry, light infantry, hussars, militia and several standard artillery units. Later on, Poland will be able to build stronger units such as guards and household cavalry. The Polish army is nothing special and generally rather average. This is shown well by its line infantry which is a jack of all trades but master of none. Therefore, a general will have to rely on his own abilities and sheer numbers.
Since Poland is a very land based nation, its navy is nothing special and consists of the standard lineup which most other factions share. The Polish fleet includes trade ships, weaker ones such as brigs and sloops but also strong first and second rate frigates.
Special Units
Winged Hussars are Poland's unique unit in the game. The heavy horsemen are famous throughout Europe and strike terror into the hearts of Poland's enemies. Although the 18th century is dominated by muskets and bullets, Winged Hussar charges haven't lost their effectiveness.
