Sinews of War
Empire: Total War - United Provinces Grand Campaign - With Darthmod 8.0
The ruling council of the United Provinces, the stadtholders, begins what it hopes will be a revival of Dutch fortunes with the creation of the Second West India Company. Like its sister organisation, the East India Company, they are tasked with furthering the power of the United Provinces by any means they see fit.
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But to see any success abroad, the people of Amsterdam will have to defend themselves against their many foes on the home front. With a little help from a few rising heroes, they may just be able to turn the tables on their historic enemies...
Watch Episode One
Key Characters
King Willem III
Major stadtholder and de facto leader of the Republic. Also, conveniently, the King of the British Empire, the main ally of the United Provinces.
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Kobus Lodewijks
Newly appointed Director-General of the Second West India Company. Successful, honest and charming, but also rather more concerned with his personal agenda for the company than with orders from Europe.
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Gerard Callenburgh
Veteran admiral who worked for the now disbanded First West India Company. Long left to protest what influence the Dutch still had in the Americas, now he must double his efforts to match the expansion plans of the new company.
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Hendrick van Nassau-Ouwerkerk
An experienced and pragmatic general transfered from Amsterdam to aid the formation of the Second West India Company. Unlike many of his kind, sees the American natives as soldiers equal to his own.
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Jordaan Grotius
Well established Director-General of the East India Company. Of no great ability, nor does he need to be for things in the Indies have been stable for decades. While having absolute authority within the company, he generally leaves military affairs to others.
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Joord Coster
A well-learned but untested general of the East India Company. Suspected by his men to be a hopeless coward, and known by his associates to be an insatiable drunk, he keeps his authority only because nothing tests it.
Geeraard Vos
A mysterious yet talented man who appeared seemingly from nowhere to ensure Dutch military success. Overtly critical of the ruling establishment, he tends to forge his own path, although no one really knows what his ambition truly is.
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Ruud Douwen
A post-captain of the East India Company, famed for his bravery and skill. Responsible for much of the company's gains in the East Indies, despite being the youngest of all the post-captains.
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Adriaan Geiden
A rising commander tasked not only with securing Dutch interests in Europe, but keeping tabs on Vos while he does the same.
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Fun Facts!
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Sinews of War is the longest demonstration of Empire: Total War glitches ever filmed.
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The title refers to the Cicero quote "The sinews of war are infinite money". I chose it because it fits the cyclical economy of the India Companies: need money to wage wars, so wage wars to get money.
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There is reason to believe that Sinews of War takes place in the same universe as both The Tinny of Truth and Massalia Tales - the Dark Artillery Lord encountered in Sinews is spotted fighting at Paris when Napoleon attacks, while Napoleon also mentions encountering ruins of an ancient empire that once ruled half the world when he travels through Marseille.
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