The March of Time - A Stainless Steel 6.4 hotseat

[phonicsmonkey]

https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6986/asdezk.jpg
(graphics by Myth)

Welcome to The March of Time, a hotseat campaign in the Stainless Steel 6.4 early campaign, using Savage AI and with real recruitment disabled.

Public diplomacy can be conducted in the courtroom thread (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?138517-The-Sands-of-Time-MoT-diplomacy-thread).

The game will be played with 15 human players as follows:

1. Venice - slysnake
2. Sicily - Myth
3. Genoa - Ignoramus RIP turn 7
4. Denmark - RexLegend
5. Fatimid Caliphate - phonicsmonkey
6. Cumans - Rougeman
AI. France (formerly LooseCannon1)
7. England - Zim
8. Poland - Gaius Octavius Caesar
AI. Byzantine Empire (formerly Ezilkannan) RIP - turn 9
9. Moors - Nightbringer
10. Lithuania - Nigel
11. Kievan Rus - Mithridate
AI. Norway (formerly deguerra) RIP - turn 6
AI (but skipped). Khwarezm (formerly Silvershield)


Players should observe the following rules while playing the game:


Battles may be fought or auto-resolved at the players' discretion.

No reloading the save to create a different outcome.

Each player has 48 hours to complete his turn, post the save game to this thread and alert the next player in line by private message. If the deadline is missed the Admin may skip his faction or he can be subbed by an ally. Extensions will be granted on reasonable request.

Do not recruit General's Bodyguard units. These may only be created by adoption, marriage, natural birth or man of the hour.

Do not attack ships in ports.

Armies boarding ships in ports can't stay there for more than one turn.

Don't leave blockaded ports without beating the blockading ships first.

Do not exploit the naval movement bug (to avoid this always select your navy by clicking on the ship on the campaign map and not by selecting the unit cards.)

Don't stack merchants in armies or forts to get more than one to stand on the same resource (Merchant Fort)

No surrounding armies or agents to destroy them, either by occupying the tiles around the army or agent or by deliberately blocking all exit routes from the province in question. An escape route must always be left for a retreating army, except where that army has arrived by boat and has no contiguous friendly territory to escape into. (Surround & Destroy)

Don't use repeated offers for bribe to increase your faction leader's dread.

Enable "Unlimited men on battlefield" in order to not abuse when leading battles vs the AI.

Armies that are defeated in battle by a player that comes after them in the turn list may not move the following turn. This is to make it fair for people who are defeated by players that come before them in the turn list, and thus lose all their movement points

Armies that are defeated in battle may not be attacked on the following turn, as they are banned from moving, either by the game mechanics or by the rule above. They must be allowed to move first, or must be reinforced. If the defeated army retreats to a settlement or fort, this rule does not apply.

In order to assist with the observance of these rules, please post the list of defeated armies in the game thread when uploading the save for the next player.

Ballistas can't open anything, catapults can open wooden walls, trebuchets or better can open anything.

Assassins are allowed to target anyone except family members but players are limited to one assassination or sabotage attempt per turn. It must be the first action they do, before they spend money or do anything else. If a successful assassination or sabotage is questioned by a player the game admin will load the relevant save and attempt the assassination. If the results are different there will be penalties for cheating.

Spies may infiltrate cities to open the gates as well as perform other spying actions but players are limited to one attempt per turn. It must be the first action they do, before they spend money or do anything else, OR the second action if they are also attempting an assassination / sabotage in the same turn. If a successful spying attempt is questioned by a player the game admin will load the relevant save and attempt the action. If the results are different there will be penalties for cheating.

No crusades or jihads to be called or joined.

No buildings to be destroyed for cash under any circumstances.

No trading of provinces solely to receive free troops. If you trade provinces, make sure they have no garrison prior to the exchange.

No deliberate deals that would put you in debt above -10,000 florins

No making vassals of AI-controlled factions.

Due to the Kwaz player leaving the game there are now special rules concerning that faction:

It is forbidden to interact with the Kwaz in any way - they should be considered to be not a part of the game at all and their territories are not part of the map.

So, no-one can take any of their lands or attack any of their armies or agents. No diplomatic deals are allowed with the Kwaz including trade rights and map swaps.

Exceptions:

- if their armies and agents are in your lands you may attack and destroy them.
- if your victory conditions include territories currently held by the Kwaz you may take them and any territories along the way, but only if your other victory conditions have already been satisfied.

If there are any questions about the rules please ask the admin before playing the turn. In addition to the rules players are requested to abide by the spirit of the game and avoid exploiting the game mechanics on the campaign map to gain an unfair advantage. If a particular action is not specifically banned but is suspected to be an exploit please raise the issue in the thread before proceeding to play the turn. An extension will always be granted in this circumstance.

Please note that there are considered to be no exploits on the battle map. Any and all actions on the battle map are permissible.

Grace period:

The first turn will be a grace period in order to give players the chance to organise their troops, cancel AI recruitment and construction and prepare for the battle ahead.

During the grace period, which will last one turn:

- Do not recruit troops, agents or hire mercenaries.
- Do not take any aggressive actions towards any human controlled faction, including agent actions.

The first save, for Venice, is attached to this thread.

Enjoy the game!

[Myth]

The problem with not taking aggressive actions vs the Ai is that some AI nations have stacks right next to or actually besieging human towns. The AI under such circumstances will never accept a ceasefire (and if it does, it will just break it when it gets to play its turn). For example, If I skip now the ERE will take one of my towns and possibly wipe out a full stack near it as well since it has siege equipment. The grace period IMO should apply to players only.

[Nightbringer]

I would be agreeable to this as I have similar situations. If others are seriously opposed to this I will now force the issue though.

[Rougeman]

maybe a.i. armies can be attacked if its in a threatening position? like if its in range to attack a settlement or fort etc

[phonicsmonkey]

maybe a.i. armies can be attacked if its in a threatening position?

Ok, let's make the grace period apply just to human factions.

Myth, the ERE is human controlled (Ezilkannan has them)! That means during the grace period he can't assault you but I think he should be able to maintain the siege if he wants to. After all you are first in the turn order so you'll have the drop on him once the grace period expires.

Anyone have a problem like this where the besieging human faction is before them in the turn order? Let me know and I'll make a ruling.

[slysnake]

Agreed, this sounds reasonable.

Sicily 2805

[SilverShield]

i exchanged some words with Phonics. kinda made me thinking about the whole thing again. tho the way im thinking about all that remains i lastly am just punishing myself if i wasnt playing the game because of that so im back for kwarz. horse power all the way


i just checked the rules. the thing with just having one spy action per turn lastly makes opening gates kinda impossible. the chances for one spy opening the gates of anything are pretty slim. even two are seldom doing the trick already but two is better than one. so imo we are doing better if we limited it to two spy actions a turn at least

[phonicsmonkey]

Welcome back Silver! I'll make the Kwaz playable when it comes to my turn.

As for the agent rules, they are intended to make reloading to create a different outcome impossible.

It's because of the way that random actions work in this game - the random seed is generated at the start of the turn NOT when you try the action, but before, which means if you perform an action, then reload and perform the exact same action it will have exactly the same outcome time and time again because it is using the same random seed which is not reset by reloading.

Then once you have performed that action a new random seed is created which determines the chance of the next action succeeding or failing.

So if you fail an action, then reload and try a different action first it will reset the seed and then you can try the original action again. In this way it's possible to, through trial and error, keep reloading and trying different actions in different combinations until you get the result you want.

Hence in my rules you have to do the assassination first and the spying action second at the very start of the turn, to ensure that reloading won't help you and that it can be independently verified. You are only allowed one of each to stop you from trying different ones in combination over and over.

Test it yourself if you like, to prove it works.

As for the spies opening the gates, this rule doesn't stop you putting more than one spy in a settlement, but it's going to take you at least one turn per spy to do it.

Which will slow the game down and make it difficult to break through defensive lines without siege equipment. This is exactly the outcome I'm looking for.

Everyone's castles and cities are developed enough to produce siege equipment, so I think this is ok.

Let me know if anyone disagrees but to be honest the only other way I would have it is to ban spies from opening the gates at all, because they are overpowered in the game and it's impossible to tell if someone is cheating by reloading or just very very lucky.

[deguerra]

Nup, agree with the rule 100% phonics. Also thanks for the random seed explanation. I'd long suspected something similar was the case, but was never quite sure how it worked.

[Nightbringer]

so do battles use a separate random seed. I have known agents work this way, but never been sure if their seed is separate from that for battles.

[phonicsmonkey]

so do battles use a separate random seed. I have known agents work this way, but never been sure if their seed is separate from that for battles.

I'm not sure but it's easy to test. Just save, AR a battle, note the results. Then reload, try an agent action, the AR the same battle and see if the results are different.

[Nightbringer]

Ya, that would work, if I were less lazy :) I was hoping someone else had already done that. I'll give it a try sometime in a SP game and post the results.

[phonicsmonkey]

Ya, that would work, if I were less lazy :) I was hoping someone else had already done that. I'll give it a try sometime in a SP game and post the results.

Based on the reloading discussion over at TWC I would say it does work that way.

I should be clear too that if you have already infiltrated several cities or forts taking one turn at a time to do so, then you can definitely open all those gates in the same turn if the game will let you. The rule doesn't restrict that. Those odds are set for the particular turn and don't use the random seed in the same way as the spying attempts do.

[Myth]

1. Spies can open the gate on the same turn and it's happened about 30% of the time for me when I used to do that in SP. They are not that relevant now that we all have Trebuchets anyway.

2. There is much less leeway for the AR calculator, though it does vary as well. AR battles are linked with the random seed, it's one random seed for everything. However, the outcome for each action changes based on other actions done. So, for example, if you attempt to assasinate a character and fail, you can move another agent or an army, or fight a battle, and then try it, and this time the result will be different. It is possible for one to load many times untill they find a "winning" sequence of acitons that will let them succeed on a given random check.

I've had battles be close defeats, but then i've loaded and the only thing i've changed was I won another battle first, and then did the problematic one and presto - clear victory. This happens very rarely though. What I've noticed however, is that if your attacking general has Night Fighter, the odds of you winning the battle are much greater if you "flash" (select and deselect the NB icon) the night battle option. Don't ask me why, I have no idea. Overall though it's not possible to severly influence the autoreseolve results with loading - a stack of archers will never beat a stack of Dism. Chivalric Knights.

[Rougeman]

nvm

[phonicsmonkey]

the odds of you winning the battle are much greater if you "flash" (select and deselect the NB icon) the night battle option..

This game is so weird and buggy, I have no idea why I spend so much time on it!

[ArcturUs]

The problem with not taking aggressive actions vs the Ai is that some AI nations have stacks right next to or actually besieging human towns. The AI under such circumstances will never accept a ceasefire (and if it does, it will just break it when it gets to play its turn). For example, If I skip now the ERE will take one of my towns and possibly wipe out a full stack near it as well since it has siege equipment. The grace period IMO should apply to players only.
You got a full stack right next to that settlement and you are before me in turn order. Like phonics said, I think you would be able to hit first and probably beat them back. I won't be assaulting the settlement since its against the rules, but I may continue the siege, since even if i drop it i wouldn't be able to move my stack away I think, as they are caught up near the settlement. :wall: :wall:

[Myth]

I have to assess the situation and then I'll approach ceratin players for diplomacy. You're welcome to do it as well. I usually cover my diplomacy prior to the start of the game but I have not had the time for this one.

[ArcturUs]

I think at the present situation, I should be making deals with a lot of players (since I seem to be the only person at war with almost every single nation out there). I will be sending out diplomats and pms to some players, but I will keep it at war with some factions, just for fun :P

[slysnake]

I think at the present situation, I should be making deals with a lot of players (since I seem to be the only person at war with almost every single nation out there). I will be sending out diplomats and pms to some players, but I will keep it at war with some factions, just for fun :P

You should have seen what it was like taking on the Holy Romans in the 1200's for Wrath of Khan, I think my only allies when I started were the Moors and the only factions I were not at war with were the Russian factions to the far east and England I think lol..

[ArcturUs]

You should have seen what it was like taking on the Holy Romans in the 1200's for Wrath of Khan, I think my only allies when I started were the Moors and the only factions I were not at war with were the Russian factions to the far east and England I think lol..
You mean WotK2? I play the moors in that :P

[Myth]

I took a rebel settlement - first blood for me! :clown: (though there was no actual fighting involved, it was empty)

Denmark up. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9604)

[RexLegend]

Fought with small army of HRE on Stettin region. Second(?) blood for me >:P

Fatimid Caliphate up. (http://www.sendspace.com/file/195t7n)

[deguerra]

Any chance we can get a diplomacy thread phonics?

[phonicsmonkey]

sure thing, be right with you...

Cumans are up

[SilverShield]

im not really getting this whole "seed" thing. so every spy action changes the entire game? its pretty blown then



Welcome back Silver! I'll make the Kwaz playable when it comes to my turn.

As for the agent rules, they are intended to make reloading to create a different outcome impossible.

It's because of the way that random actions work in this game - the random seed is generated at the start of the turn NOT when you try the action, but before, which means if you perform an action, then reload and perform the exact same action it will have exactly the same outcome time and time again because it is using the same random seed which is not reset by reloading.

Then once you have performed that action a new random seed is created which determines the chance of the next action succeeding or failing.

So if you fail an action, then reload and try a different action first it will reset the seed and then you can try the original action again. In this way it's possible to, through trial and error, keep reloading and trying different actions in different combinations until you get the result you want.

Hence in my rules you have to do the assassination first and the spying action second at the very start of the turn, to ensure that reloading won't help you and that it can be independently verified. You are only allowed one of each to stop you from trying different ones in combination over and over.

Test it yourself if you like, to prove it works.

As for the spies opening the gates, this rule doesn't stop you putting more than one spy in a settlement, but it's going to take you at least one turn per spy to do it.

Which will slow the game down and make it difficult to break through defensive lines without siege equipment. This is exactly the outcome I'm looking for.

Everyone's castles and cities are developed enough to produce siege equipment, so I think this is ok.

Let me know if anyone disagrees but to be honest the only other way I would have it is to ban spies from opening the gates at all, because they are overpowered in the game and it's impossible to tell if someone is cheating by reloading or just very very lucky.

[deguerra]

im not really getting this whole "seed" thing. so every spy action changes the entire game? its pretty blown then

Yes. In theory, any spy/assassination action can change the 'randomness' of the turn to follow. Kinda weird, yes. Not the weirdest thing about Medieval 2 though.

In hotseat games, we therefore require that turns be done in a specific order: Assassination - Spy - Everything else (are we switching to Spy - Assassination - Everything else phonics?). This is not to somehow change the outcome of the game (though potentially it does, but seeing as we'll never know, it doesn't matter) but so that the outcome can be replicated. That is, if someone attempts to cheat, but follows the same order, the result will be the same (thus defeating the point of cheating). And anyone else can replicate the exact results by following the order (thus catching cheating if someone does not follow the order).

It is all a bit convoluted and technical, but you don't really have to worry about it. Just follow the simple order and otherwise play as normally.

[phonicsmonkey]

(are we switching to Spy - Assassination - Everything else phonics

Yes, I'll update the rules when I get a chance - I'm crazy busy with work this week


Just follow the simple order and otherwise play as normally.

Yesssss, trust the monkey....

[Rougeman]

2832

[LooseCannon1]

England's up (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9615)

[Zim]

Eastern Romans up

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9619

[ArcturUs]

i have completed the turn but i need some time to put it up. so give me an extension of 1 day.

[Myth]

https://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1334/asdnh.jpg

[Nightbringer]

https://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1334/asdnh.jpg

wow, that is awesome!
did you make it Myth?

[Myth]

Yes, I did it in about 40 minutes while in the office. I have been away and the only thing left to add was the text, as per Monkey's request. I made the WOTK2 image as well.

[deguerra]

Wicked!

[phonicsmonkey]

Looks great Myth, thanks! It's now gracing the OP

[Myth]

And now a version that spells it "hotseat" and not "hotseast" :)

https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6986/asdezk.jpg

[phonicsmonkey]

And now a version that spells it "hotseat" and not "hotseast" :)

https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6986/asdezk.jpg

Even better!

[ArcturUs]

Moors (http://depositfiles.com/files/nttsvzwyw)

[Nightbringer]

lithuania!
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9627

[Nigel]

Hi guys,

I am still having problems with getting the patch 1.05 installed (I only purchased the game recently).
Will open a separate thread (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?138643-Problem-patching-M2TW-Kingdoms-(Gold-Edition)-to-patch-1.05&p=2053388802#post2053388802)in the technical section and hope to get it fixed eventually.
In the meantime, perhaps Phonicsmonkey or the player coming after me can do my turn and play a "conservative" round - just build some economic buildings and put the army in a defensive position.

I hope to be able to make it to the next turn, but dont want to hold up the progress.

[phonicsmonkey]

I'm trying to help Nigel but I'm not very techie so if anyone else has any advice please do chime in.

In the meantime I'll play the first turn for him some time over the weekend, unless someone else wants to have a go. Remember the grace period and the fact that I'm going to be disbanding the TO armies when it comes to their turn.

[LooseCannon1]

@Nigel-after reading your other thread and the 1.05 patch readme you appear to have the right version for you game. Did you un-rar the patch into the Med2TW file? If I remember correctly that's where it has to be to recognize the kingdoms.exe and for its setup.exe file to work properly. The patch's readme does not tell you how to install it-fabulous CA quality control.

[phonicsmonkey]

Norway is up

[deguerra]

This is going to be wacky fun. Several of you have received choice in-game message. I hope they give you as much pleasure to read as they gave me to write (I am thinking here particularly of France and Denmark).

Khwarezmian Shadom is up.
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9635

[SilverShield]

looking good there. thats becoming a good game

also i hired a mercenary ship. withdrew my army from constantinople. this army was totally stuck and given that im having my turn the very last that was okay

swabia? up
http://depositfiles.com/files/gerwzqwky

who the heck is swabia? is that venice? if i got it right it was the venice emblem but im kinda unsure there. im sending a pm to slysnake who is playing venice

[phonicsmonkey]

who the heck is swabia? is that venice?

yep

[slysnake]

My kingdom seems to occupy southern Germany, which is where Swabia historically once was; thought a name-change would be nice :)

EDIT: Sicily 2912

[Myth]

All of the ERE forces that were besieging Naples have been defeated. Most have been slaughtered, the rest cannot move next turn. Denmark up. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9640)

With only one assassination attempt per turn don't you think it feasible to allow the targeting of FMs?

[phonicsmonkey]

bump

Rex?

Myth, we can do that if no-one objects

[Ignoramus]

Sorry guys for not replying before - I got swamped with end of semester uni stuff. Is there any chance I could sneak in? (if not that's fine.)

[phonicsmonkey]

Sorry guys for not replying before - I got swamped with end of semester uni stuff. Is there any chance I could sneak in? (if not that's fine.)

I'm sure we could accomodate you - which faction did you want?

[slysnake]

Right, Rex is away on holiday until saturday morning. Whilst I COULD sub him, he hasn't given me precise instructions, so it would be good if Rex could play his turn himself. Are you guys alright waiting till then? If not I'm alright with subbing him...

[phonicsmonkey]

I'd prefer if you could sub him as it's been a few days already. It's early in the game so unlikely to be a crucial turn for him.

You have his pw?

[slysnake]

Rex told me that he is going to try and play his turn on his laptop tonight.

[RexLegend]

I'm very sorry to keep you guys waiting for long time. Turn will be done within hours.

[deguerra]

Hold up guys. Phonics just informed me that I built units and recruited mercs during my first turn, which I wasn't supposed to do. I had realized that myself and redid my turn...but obviously submitted the wrong save game. I'm very sorry for the holdup, but I'll have to go again.

[phonicsmonkey]

wait up, I'm going to see if we can resolve it without replaying since so many others have had their turn since.

Everyone, did anyone else forget about the grace period? Pipe up now please if so.

[deguerra]

Well I'm certainly happy to disband anyone I recruited, so long as you trust me to do so. It does create another financial issue for me though.

[phonicsmonkey]

It does create another financial issue for me though.

It's amazing what you can do with the console

[Ignoramus]

Hi phonics, is the HRE available, or Genoa?

[phonicsmonkey]

both are - which would you like? have you looked at the save with the starting position?

[Nightbringer]

wait up, I'm going to see if we can resolve it without replaying since so many others have had their turn since.

Everyone, did anyone else forget about the grace period? Pipe up now please if so.

wait, oops, I completely forgot about not recruiting troops on the first turn. I played as though it was only not attacking other players. I can easily disband those troops I did recruit as it wasn't that many, but I am very sorry for this. I have been really busy lately and just wasn't thinking.

[Ignoramus]

Ok, I think I'd like to take Genoa if I may.

[phonicsmonkey]

wait, oops, I completely forgot about not recruiting troops on the first turn. I played as though it was only not attacking other players. I can easily disband those troops I did recruit as it wasn't that many, but I am very sorry for this. I have been really busy lately and just wasn't thinking.

If this is going to cause a problem for anyone please pm me and I'll see what I can do to sort it out.

[slysnake]

Ok, I think I'd like to take Genoa if I may.

Your inbox is full :)

[Myth]

Having recruited units on the first turn creates problems. Even if such are now disbanded and the players refunded via admin console, they will loose their recruitment pools. RR/RC even when turned off in the SS launcher, still sets built-in limits to the unit pools. Basically those factions that did this would be weaker.

In regards to Genoa being human controlled - i picked Sicilly hecaused i expected the ERE and Genoa to be AI lead. Changing the balance in my region post-factum is something i'd like to avoid if possible.

[phonicsmonkey]

Basically those factions that did this would be weaker.

A price they pay for having ignored the grace period - doesn't seem too unreasonable does it? Unless you have a better idea as to how to straighten this out?


In regards to Genoa being human controlled - i picked Sicilly hecaused i expected the ERE and Genoa to be AI lead. Changing the balance in my region post-factum is something i'd like to avoid if possible.

I'm sorry Myth but I said all along that Igno could join any time. Also you sent me your top three preferences and you didn't know at that point which faction you would get or which Igno would pick, so it's not quite accurate to say you picked Sicily on that basis.

In fact I always make it a rule that players can join at any time, it makes the game more interesting and for the Throne Room to be successful we must be inclusive and involve people if they are interested in playing.

Actually I picked the Fatimids thinking the Kwarezm were going to be AI-controlled and I would be able to gobble up all their lands, but it didn't stop me from letting Silver join the game.

[Myth]

Ok fair enough. Btw check the productiin charts for last turn to see if anyone made units. We can' check for agents but the armiea show up in the faction rankings charts for both production and military strength.

I have an idea for the recruitment pools but it requires you custom spawning armies via console, complete with the armour and chevrons they would get at that settlement, and then charging the player for the recruitment cost. However you'd have to keep track of every unit that has been creared on turn 1. That's a lot of work...

[Ignoramus]

Hi Myth, sorry if I've spoiled any plans. But I think Genoa will be the weakest controlled human faction, so don't feel too threatened - you're a good player!

[Myth]

No worries Igno i welcome having you in another game and I was expecting you to join CoG! as well. Thank you for the compliment but it is because you are good yourself that i tried to get you further away from my starting lands ;) However Monkey has it far worse than me now that he mentioned it... Btw the beauty of fought battles is tyat even a seemingly weak faction can turn a war around with good skill on the battle l map.

Btw i apologize for any mistakes but i'm logging on via my Galaxy S and the tiny virtual keyboard is rather small for my sausage fingers :)

[phonicsmonkey]

Everyone, if anyone finds they have accidentally recruited troops or agents during the grace period, please do not move them in this coming turn. They will be free to move in the next turn, the one in which they would legally have arrived if they were recruited on turn two.

Unless they are likely to be directly involved in a battle on turn two in which case please pm me and I'll arrange something. This goes for opposing players who notice illegal troops of factions they were planning to attack on turn two - pm me and let me know.

[slysnake]

Everyone, if anyone finds they have accidentally recruited troops or agents during the grace period, please do not move them in this coming turn. They will be free to move in the next turn, the one in which they would legally have arrived if they were recruited on turn two.

Unless they are likely to be directly involved in a battle on turn two in which case please pm me and I'll arrange something. This goes for opposing players who notice illegal troops of factions they were planning to attack on turn two - pm me and let me know.

Sounds like a good solution :)

[Nightbringer]

Sounds like a good solution :)
Yes it does, I am just want to apologize again to everyone for blanking out on that.

[deguerra]

And me.

I imagine I will have to disband a number of troops: def. Oslo with Denmark knocking at the door, and potentially Antwerp and whatever the Frisian town is called, depending on what France and Denmark are doing in that area. Let me know, you two, how we can best work that out.

And again, sorry for the hassle.

[RexLegend]

Fatimid's turn (http://www.sendspace.com/file/6zbkej)

Fought bloody siege of Stettin and conquered it. Oslo is also taken. This is going to be indeed wacky fun!

[Ignoramus]

Can anyone let me know who I'm at war with, so I can do some diplomacy before my turn?

[phonicsmonkey]

Man it's fun being thrown into the midst of it like this...two massive battles fought so far and more to come...

Igno I made genoa human-controlled and added some cash so you'll have ~30k in the treasury like everyone else - take a look at the starting position in the save I uploaded to the recruitment thread, you'll see your diplomatic position there.

[Myth]

You're allied to me (Sicilly) and you have some Crusading stacks in Africa.

[Ignoramus]

Ok, thanks. Will access the original save soon.

[phonicsmonkey]

Cumans!

Five massive battles on my first turn, this is going to be one hell of a ride.

Adrianopolis and Nicaea fell to the armies of Islam, the Basileos of the Eastern 'Roman Empire' met a nasty end with three of his family members.

Captains Dositheos and Daniel cannot move next turn (they were near Adana, in case their stacks show up with different names now).

I'll post in the diplomacy thread and send some pms maybe tomorrow, Mrs Monkey needs me now..

[Myth]

The might of the Fatamid Caliph is truly formidable, as are the hordes of the Moors and the Kwarezmian Shah!

I'm surprised the Muslim nations did so well under AI management.

[Rougeman]

3015

[LooseCannon1]

England up (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9657)

[phonicsmonkey]

Two guys have contacted me to say they'd like to join this game - does anyone object if we add new players? The Rus could probably handle a human player and possibly Poland or Hungary - any objections?

[Nightbringer]

none here, of course, that is the other side of the map from me.

[slysnake]

I'm Venice, so I don't have any problems with a Polish or Hungarian player joining :)

[Myth]

The more (far away from me) the merrier!

[RexLegend]

It's ok, as long as they don't poke their nose into my backyard :D

[Nigel]

I am fine for them to join.

They should just keep in mind that I am currently at war with the Rus.

Poland and Hungary are close to me, too. But with those countries I will probably be seeking a peace agreement of some sort or other.

[slysnake]

I second that!

[phonicsmonkey]

Ok guys, Mithridate is going to join the game as Kiev and Gaius Octavius Caesar is joining as Poland. Welcome to the game guys!

I'll enable their factions and fix up their treasuries now and post a new link for Zim to use.

[Nightbringer]

Welcome!

[Mithridate]

Welcome!
Thank you, Looking forward to test my mettle against you guys! :charge:


Can anyone let me know who I'm at war with, so I can do some diplomacy before my turn?
Same for the Kievan Rus please, The sooner i can start scheming the better ^^

[Zim]

Poland

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9663

[Gaius Octavius Caesar]

Hello guys, thanks for the invite.

[Gaius Octavius Caesar]

Byzantines up next
http://www.gamefront.com/files/20963687/MoT-2-Byz.sav

(sorry for the double post but the forum didnt allowed me to post links at 0 posts)

[ArcturUs]

Moors up! (http://depositfiles.com/files/qfxfml0yo)

[Nightbringer]

The Romans were unwise to anger the Sultan, their destruction of a Moorish army has been avenged.

In other news, Aragon now takes its place as the second faction I have destroyed in as many turns. All would do well to beware, for I have run out of ai factions, and surely one of you shall perish on turn 3!

Well... maybe not,
especially since I am only officially at war with the Romans.

Lithuania up!
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9665

[Nigel]

Ok, I did my turn. A few smaller skirmishes with the armies from Novgorod. Nothing spectacular so far.

Here is the file for Kiev.

3045

[Mithridate]

Norway

3063

The Cumans have rejected our generous offer of unconditional peace, as a consequence two invading armies have been destroyed, and two Cuman castles are under siege. We shall repeat our offer of peace, but now with punitive terms. The brave general Stephan Byakont fell to a treacherous arrow when occupying hordes of HA for our heavy cavalry to flank, he will not be forgotten and we shall sing of his glorious deeds!


Screens saved just in case.

[phonicsmonkey]

The TO has been disbanded and is just a couple of FMs which Lithuania can kill off.

So Nigel should play their turn until they are dead so he can hasten their demise.

[Mithridate]

Teutons played, could not kill them off sadly. Still outside the walls.

sent PM to norway

[Nigel]

Same effect here.
I can not move the two "armies" of single FM bodyguards.
When I attack the castle, it says close defeat, before the first arrow is fired - then ends the siege, but I still cannot move them.
Schould be no problem though. I can probably kill them off when my next Lithuania turn comes on.

3078

[Mithridate]

Same effect here.
I can not move the two "armies" of single FM bodyguards.
When I attack the castle, it says close defeat, before the first arrow is fired - then ends the siege, but I still cannot move them.
Schould be no problem though. I can probably kill them off when my next Lithuania turn comes on.

3078
Its because theyre only cavalry and a bug allows you to attack regardless, all you can do is decide if you want them outside the walls waiting, or hiding in the woods. And as you most likely know you cant move them since they have made an action in a hostile zone of control.

A tip to kill them: Get one unit of spears, more if possible outside the walls. Then control the FM, ride them round n round inside the spear formation and they drop like flies :2thumbsup:

[deguerra]

Ok.

1. Regarding my illegal recruiting, I think I am ok without disbanding units. I recruited in Norway and Friesland/Flanders. Those bits of Norway which Denmark could have reached (i.e. Oslo), has been taken already. Denmark did not attack Friesland this turn, and I refrained from attacking from Friesland/Flanders so that I could have recruited any of the troops there by next turn anyway.

2. The Danish army besieging Nyköping in Sweden has been defeated (just), and cannot move. They retreated back to their ships.

I think that is everything. Does that sound alright, especially to you Rex? If you've got any issue at all, feel free to raise it with me anytime!

If so, then Khwaz are up: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9674

[phonicsmonkey]

That sounds good to me deguerra, except that if Rex has an issue he should raise it with me in private first, like he did before.

[deguerra]

Yes, absolutely. I understand why that makes sense. Just saying to keep on raising things with you, and then if need be me. I screwed it up and I want to give him a fair game.

[RexLegend]

It's ok.

[phonicsmonkey]

Yes, absolutely. I understand why that makes sense. Just saying to keep on raising things with you, and then if need be me. I screwed it up and I want to give him a fair game.

You are a gentleman of honour deguerra - just don't be too nice to him now he's invading you!

[SilverShield]

svabia up
http://depositfiles.com/files/0ggppptk8

[slysnake]

Sicily up :)

3094

[Myth]

Genoa up. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9681)

[phonicsmonkey]

bump

[Nigel]

errm, who is playing Genoa?

according to the list on the first page it is:
1. Venice - slysnake
2. Sicily - Myth
3. Denmark - RexLegend
4. Fatimid Caliphate - phonicsmonkey
...

[slysnake]

Isn't it Ignoramus? Or am I getting confused with another of the many hotseats I am currently partaking in? >.<

[phonicsmonkey]

Yes it's ignoramus

[RexLegend]

I hope I can play my save before weekend starts...

[phonicsmonkey]

skipped, sorry Igno but the show must go on

Denmark!

[RexLegend]

Took Uppsala, it was left empty. Fought minor battle with remains of armies of HRE. (Don't worry Poland, I'm not attacking you)
Took also Gröningen with autoresolve. I was too lazy to play massive battles this time.

Fatimids turn. (http://fs03u.sendspace.com/processupload.html)

[phonicsmonkey]

some error with that link, could you please upload it somewhere else instead?

[RexLegend]

Here (http://www.upload.ee/files/1820847/MoT_3_Fatimids.rar.html)

[phonicsmonkey]

Cumans are up

[Rougeman]

3131

[LooseCannon1]

Time flies when you're having fun. England up (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9701) I'll probably be needing maximum time on all my turns for the next month.

[Zim]

Things are a bit busy with work and the holiday. Could I get about a day's extension?

[phonicsmonkey]

Of course mate, no problem

[Zim]

Bah, worked Thanksgiving and no turkey.

Poland

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9706

[slysnake]

Bah, worked Thanksgiving and no turkey.

Poland

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9706

Talking about Thanksgiving....

Keep stuff like that to the backroom please. :bow: Zim

[Gaius Octavius Caesar]

Byzantines

[ArcturUs]

Moors (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9712)

P.S: Octavius, I would really love it if you could send the link to the save along with ur pm, instead of sending just a reminder.

[Nightbringer]

Lithuania up!
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9713

[Nigel]

Kiev is up.

Captured my first castle from the AI.

But one of those pesky Teutonic Order family members escaped me with a handful of their body guard units. Hope someone else can finish them off before they get all too annoying.

3167

[RexLegend]

Bump

[Mithridate]

Teutons up

Terribly sorry im so late with my turn, the notification got lost in a heap of diplomatic role playing chatter...
sent pm to admin since there are no Teutons.

Eidt: Pm sent to Nigel, seems like i missed him with like 5 minutes -.-'

[phonicsmonkey]

Nigel is controlling the Teutons while he kills them off

[Nigel]

Ah, sorry, Mithridate. I just posted here and forgot to send you the PM - my bad.

In any case, I tried to get rid of the Teutons finally, but they are pretty resistant.
There is only 1 Family Member left now, with 6 men as bodyguards, but they are stuck somewhere lesser Poland and cannot move, because they have spent all their movement points. We may yet have to wait another turnd to get them out of the game.

Anyway, I move ahead to Norway:

3194

[Mithridate]

Ah, sorry, Mithridate. I just posted here and forgot to send you the PM - my bad.
No worries on my part, we are but human. (a mantra communal workers seems to repeat incessantly...)

How goes the war in Scandinavia?

[deguerra]

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9729

Khwaz up

[Nigel]

Hi guys,

I just want to let you know that I will be away from the keyboard during next week Mon - Sat.
Hope I won't miss any crucial events (like the Mongols re-emerging in the market square of my capital city).

[phonicsmonkey]

Could you please pick a sub to play your turn while you are away and leave them with instructions and your password?

[SilverShield]

i got that turn done its just that the mongols are getting killed off first

[SilverShield]

alright venice up

http://depositfiles.com/files/dux2e15sj

[phonicsmonkey]

When the Mongols turn comes up please send it to Silvershield

[slysnake]

alright venice up

http://depositfiles.com/files/dux2e15sj

"We are sorry, but all downloading slots for your country are busy." is the message I keep getting from that download site. Maybe you could either upload to the .org's service or use Sendspace?

[phonicsmonkey]

here it is

[RexLegend]

Oh dear... Again my turn probably comes in weekend. Well, thought to let you guys know that I'm away in this weekend (I'm always away) so you can expect little delay. :)
And no, I'm not letting someone to sub me.

[phonicsmonkey]

Oh dear... Again my turn probably comes in weekend. Well, thought to let you guys know that I'm away in this weekend (I'm always away) so you can expect little delay. :)
And no, I'm not letting someone to sub me.

Thanks for letting us know and I'm happy to grant you an extension this time if necessary.

However I will not do this every weekend so please think about who can sub you if this happens in future. Otherwise I'll have to start to skip your turn once the 48 hours are up.

Sorry if this seems harsh but in a big game like this it's important to keep things rolling. Even if everyone takes their allotted time and no longer we will only see one turn per month!

[slysnake]

Thanks for letting us know and I'm happy to grant you an extension this time if necessary.

However I will not do this every weekend so please think about who can sub you if this happens in future. Otherwise I'll have to start to skip your turn once the 48 hours are up.

Sorry if this seems harsh but in a big game like this it's important to keep things rolling. Even if everyone takes their allotted time and no longer we will only see two turns per month!

Worst case scenario, I may have to sub him :)

[phonicsmonkey]

Worst case scenario, I may have to sub him :)

Are you going to play your turn first?! :laugh4:

[slysnake]

Are you going to play your turn first?! :laugh4:
Yeah, give me a sec, this turn is hectic for me >.< Will be done in a couple of hours :)

EDIT: Here it is ^^ 3233

[Myth]

Genoa (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9750) up.

Bari has been liberated from the oppression of the mad Basileos, and another Roman castle is under siege.

[RexLegend]

Oh come on...

EDIT: Does Ignoramus even know that he got skipped last time?

[Myth]

I'm not sure he even remembers he is in this game...

[phonicsmonkey]

Cool it guys, I'll send him a pm

[Ignoramus]

Hello guys,

Sorry about missing my first turn. If you give me another couple of hours I'll get my version of SS fixed and get the save done. Apologies all.

Ig.

[Ignoramus]

When I try downloading the Genoa save, all I get is a page full of scrambled code. :dizzy2:

[Myth]

Works fine for me. Do you have a popup blocker on? Try another browser.

[Ignoramus]

Works fine for me. Do you have a popup blocker on? Try another browser.

It's odd, I've downloaded RAR's before and they haven't mucked up. Could you upload it as a zip file?

[Myth]

Try this. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9761)

[Ignoramus]

It works. Thanks! Will do the save now.

[Ignoramus]

Denmark!

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9764

[RexLegend]

Oh great... I have to reinstall game on laptop if I want to get game working. Don't expect it done before Saturday, busy day tonight...

[phonicsmonkey]

Oh great... I have to reinstall game on laptop if I want to get game working. Don't expect it done before Saturday, busy day tonight...

Why don't you ask sly to sub for you if it's a hassle for you to play this time?

[slysnake]

Why don't you ask sly to sub for you if it's a hassle for you to play this time?
He told me not too long ago that he's finished the turn and that he just needs to upload in the morning.

[RexLegend]

Well, turn was also crucial and its been weeks since I got my last turn. Here. (http://www.upload.ee/files/1900630/MoT-4-Fatimids.rar.html)

Took Antwerp with spies and two armies, Nyokeping with single stack. It's now Norway's decision what he does with his remaining stack in England (probably attacks mainland) and rest of stacks in Norway, 2 cities left. War should be over soon :)
Also sent some ingame messages.

[phonicsmonkey]

Cumans are up

I took Rhodes and Nicosia for the Caliphate. Admirals Tarasios and Efdaimon of the ERE were defeated and cannot move nor be attacked next turn.

[Rougeman]

3300

[Nigel]

Hello Phonics,

are we donig a break for the Christmas holidays or just going on as usual?
Or perhaps a prolonged turn period would work well for that time.

I myself will be away from Friday onward and should be back online on 29th of December.

[RexLegend]

I'd support Nigel about Christmas holiday break and I'd add up New Year's Eve. :)

[phonicsmonkey]

Hello Phonics,

are we donig a break for the Christmas holidays or just going on as usual?
Or perhaps a prolonged turn period would work well for that time.

I myself will be away from Friday onward and should be back online on 29th of December.

I won't be strictly enforcing turn deadlines over the holiday period but if people want to think about talking to their allies and arranging subs where they know they'll be out that'd be great

[Nigel]

Sounds good.

Merry Christmas and Season Greetings to everyone and all the best for the New Year. :xmas:

[phonicsmonkey]

You too Nigel, Merry Christmas everyone!

It's been three days and it's not the holidays quite yet so I might skip this later to keep things moving as much as possible

[LooseCannon1]

Sorry, guys, I've been too busy with other things so i'm going to have to drop out of this one. I know one turn a month is so hard.:laugh4: Have fun!!

[phonicsmonkey]

Sorry, guys, I've been too busy with other things so i'm going to have to drop out of this one. I know one turn a month is so hard.:laugh4: Have fun!!

Ok buddy, no problem and thanks for playing - will you continue in WotK2 as well or do we find another player there too?

Anyone want to sub for France while we look for another player?

[Nightbringer]

Ok buddy, no problem and thanks for playing - will you continue in WotK2 as well or do we find another player there too?

Anyone want to sub for France while we look for another player?

Be warned, I am about to lay down the smack on them. :)

And thank you for playing while you did Loosecannon1!

[RexLegend]

Perharps should I play as France this turn until we find someone else?

EDIT:Did turn, no offensive attacks done. Well, better than skipping. Here's England's save (http://www.upload.ee/files/1915823/MoT-4-England.rar.html)

[Nightbringer]

subbed on Zim's request, Bruges taken, other than that nothing of much note.

poland!
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9803

[Zim]

With that announcement England is pressing their claims on the north of France.

[deguerra]

Hi guys.

Just to let you know I will be in Germany for most of Jan and unable to do my turns. I'm happy for anyone to sub/take over, and I'll see how things are when I get back.

[Gaius Octavius Caesar]

Byzzies!
http://www.gamefront.com/files/21142033/MoT-Byz-4.sav

[RexLegend]

Don't worry deguerra, just let armies of Denmark to take over your cities and you don't have to worry about this hotseat anymore. >:)

[ArcturUs]

Moors (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9807)

I need someone to sub me since I will be busy with my exams until Feb. I won't be able to play till they get over.

[phonicsmonkey]

Ezil, can you nominate someone? Most of us are at war with you!

[ArcturUs]

well someone whos not at war maybe, Caesar or LooseCannon1

[Myth]

Soo... Who have we lost here? Did I get this correctly, that Rogueman gave up on the ERE?

[Nightbringer]

I will do my turn tonight.

[Nightbringer]

lithuania up,
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9813
and about france, maybe we should just have people sub them rather than giving them a new player, they are being attacked from 3 different sides and as far as I know don't have help coming.

[phonicsmonkey]

about france, maybe we should just have people sub them rather than giving them a new player, they are being attacked from 3 different sides and as far as I know don't have help coming.

sounds like a candidate for the AI if you ask me, why bother subbing if they are getting kerbstomped? I'll switch them next time my turn comes up

[Nigel]

Ok, I completed my turn.
Here is the savegame for Kiev:

3355

[Mithridate]

Teutons up

Moscov have been taken and is nove under stron, wise kievan rule!

[Nigel]

Teutons done.

To eliminate them I charged the only surviving unit (Grandmaster with 37 men bodyguard) against a Polish army.
Ceasar, this hopefully did not cause you too much damage, but it was the only army within reach.
And hopefully they are out of the game now for good.

Norway is next:

3357

[phonicsmonkey]

sorry, Norway is deguerra right? We don't have a player for them but I'll see if I can sub this evening while we look for one

[phonicsmonkey]

I'm sorry to say it but poor Norway is doomed - I have switched it to AI

Khwarezm is up

EDIT: Now the holidays are done let's get these turns really rolling again - I'm going to be strict on deadlines and skip anyone who misses them without notice

[Myth]

Er, you might want to remind those of us who could have simply missed the PM, or didn't get one

[Nigel]

Er, you might want to remind those of us who could have simply missed the PM, or didn't get one

I agree with Myth and - speaking for myself - I would be happy with a somewhat lenient policy of sending a reminder PM plus another day grace period. Even though gamespeed seems to be slow, a 2-day window is quite narrow and we are probably getting to a point where having your turn skipped can be really painful for some players. Also, the long time between turns makes it convenient for some behind-the-scenes roleplaying action.

So as long as we make sure the game does not come to a halt, I personally would not mind waiting some additional time for a fellow player.
My two cents, anyway.

[slysnake]

I agree with Myth and - speaking for myself - I would be happy with a somewhat lenient policy of sending a reminder PM plus another day grace period. Even though gamespeed seems to be slow, a 2-day window is quite narrow and we are probably getting to a point where having your turn skipped can be really painful for some players. Also, the long time between turns makes it convenient for some behind-the-scenes roleplaying action.

So as long as we make sure the game does not come to a halt, I personally would not mind waiting some additional time for a fellow player.
My two cents, anyway.

Can each of us not just have a designated person who can sub a player who misses their 48-hour deadline??

[phonicsmonkey]

Can each of us not just have a designated person who can sub a player who misses their 48-hour deadline??

I would love that - feel free to designate someone and I will contact them to sub when the deadline is up with no explanation

As for Myth and Nigel's comments, in practice I am rarely at home when the turn deadlines come due (timezones you see) and so I usually have time and I'll always try to remind someone if their turn is up and they haven't played. But if I get no response I'm going to skip turns rather than wait days.

These games are more fun for everyone if they keep moving - if they continually stall it's my experience that people drift away and lose interest and I want to avoid that happening.

You guys can all subscribe to this thread and keep up to date with it that way, pm or no pm!

[Myth]

Well designated subs work but sometimes it's better to have an actual ally in that game to sub, and do specific things you instructed. As a rule of thumb, if you want to be a successful HS general you have to anticipate your IRL barriers and designate the best possible sub for each game, rather than burden one player to do it all for you (and subsequently, force him to make decisions for your faction without knowing everything abut your position in that game if he doesn't also participate in it).

Honestly I'll allow any of the .org regulars to sub me in a game so long as we have explicitly and undoubtedly been declared allies (done via PM more often than in public). Failing that, a .org regular who isn't in the game, a staff member or the admin for the game can do it. The thing is though, I think everyone trusts Monkey and Zim to do a fair and unbiased job at subbing a turn (hell, having Monkey sub you as a HA race I would consider an advantage) but both are quite busy IRL and can't be bothered to constantly sub every Tom, Dick and WarlordConqueror1996.

However their titles as Mods makes them more trustworthy in the eyes of other players (IMO again). Perhaps senior members, content managers, mods and any other can actively offer their assistance in such cases? Cecil, Nigel and other TR regulars who are also senior members could (along with myself) offer subbing services for games we are not in? Even better if the player left us instructions on how he would like things to progress on his turn.

I also propose special cases for extensions to be reviewed by the admin of a game or failing that - by Zim or Monkey. There are just those turns that absolutely cannot be risked and one must play for oneself.

[SilverShield]

guys give me a slight extension here just did a turn and im leaving town now im having this up as soon as im back tomorrow

[phonicsmonkey]

guys give me a slight extension here just did a turn and im leaving town now im having this up as soon as im back tomorrow

thats fine, thanks for letting us know

[SilverShield]

im not making it back home today we still got stuff going on here. actually its better im dropping from this one. i got lots of stuff going on right now too lil time for the game these days and its just turn four in this one more easy leaving this one than another one. im sure one of those smaller factions is going down within the next turns so naturally someone is up for an heavy weight. its still the right moment for someone else taking over and implementing his own grand strategy. enjoy guys

[Myth]

Strange I'd have thought the K-Shah has the highest chances of victory on this map. It's a well developed corner faction with no Mongols to pester it. You only need a dozen more towns to win it.

[phonicsmonkey]

By my count we have lost four players in the last month.

Norway and France have been switched to AI.

Kwarezm and ERE are open for new players - please help me to find replacement players among anyone you know. I will update the recruitment threads here, in the Citadel and at the TWC.

In the meantime I will sub the Kwarezm. We don't have a sub for the ERE.

[Myth]

With Sicilly, Egypt, the Moors, Venice, the Cumans and the K-Shah all attacking the ERE I thnk it has lower chances of survival than France. On my front (Italy and Greece) I have mauled three full stacks and now am just taking cities and castles as if I were plucking daises. Perhaps switching them to AI would be better? They had a crappy position to start with (I was surprised someone even bothered with them) and now they're pretty much boned.

Even if anew player comes and asks for peace, undoubtedly they would still lose a 1v1 with either Sicilly, Venice or Egypt. And this seems more like a landgrab now than a proper war, so who would give them peace anyway? No IC or OOC reason to do it :knight:

[RexLegend]

France actually has lower chances than ERE. You just don't know the amount of armies that are dispatched to rampage poor French. Without great player, there is no chance ;)

[slysnake]

bump!

[phonicsmonkey]

I'll try to do this tomorrow, sorry

[phonicsmonkey]

Swaaabia

[slysnake]

Siiicily

3421

[Myth]

Genoa. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9841)

[Ignoramus]

Danemark:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9842

The Republic of Genoa announces that it has repealed its alliance with the Republic of Swabia and issued a declaration of war concerning a dispute over territory in Italy.

[RexLegend]

Rollin' all the way!

Fatimid's turn. (http://www.upload.ee/files/1989172/MoT-5-Fatimids.rar.html)

In next turn, one faction less and time to grab some France.

[slysnake]

Danemark:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9842

The Republic of Genoa announces that it has repealed its alliance with the Republic of Swabia and issued a declaration of war concerning a dispute over territory in Italy.

May I ask what disputed land this is over? Swabia has no such intentions of seizing any Italian lands - if you believe this to be the case, then I must say that you have been heavily misguided in your judgement. Diplomacy is still on the table since Swabia does not desire war, but if you so dearly wish to pursue the path of war, then that is the fate that you shall inevitably have to suffer yourself at the hands of Swabia.

[phonicsmonkey]

Just thinking ahead, if the Kwaz end up being unoccupied and we have to switch them to AI I think it would be unfair for me (or anyone else ie. the Cumans) to be able to target them because by doing so one could win the game without having to fight other humans.

There are a few territories of theirs in Anatolia which I think it is reasonable for me to target as they are interspersed with mine, but after that is sorted I'm considering declaring them sacrosanct and maybe leaving them human-controlled and just skipping them each turn so they don't have any bearing on the game.

I'll also check my VCs when I play my turn in case I need any of their other provinces for victory - if that were the case I think I would be reasonable to allow me to take those and any in a direct line between my lands and those targets.

What do you guys think of that?

This won't apply of course if a human player can be found. I usually allow three turns to pass before making a ruling like that but in this case as the game is moving slowly I might make a decision sooner.

[Myth]

Definitely have them be human controlled.

[phonicsmonkey]

Definitely have them be human controlled.

Sorry, do you mean you agree with my plan if we can't find a human player?

Another option is that someone else the game could switch to play them, or maybe deguerra / Ezil could take them over on their return.

[Nigel]

I think it is a good idea to make sure that no one can win the game just by conquering the Kwaz, if we cant find another player. Neutralizing them by having a human player skip their turns should work. But also, while it makes sense for yourself to be able to get some more of their provinces, maybe this would make sense for e.g. the Cumans as well.

Perhaps we can do it the other way around and say: those 12 central Kwaz provinces are out of bounds. The others (scattered or border provinces ) are free to be taken by anyone.

Still, if deguerra or Ezil want to take them over, that would be even better.

[phonicsmonkey]

Cumans are up

[Rougeman]

3449

[phonicsmonkey]

Oops, I thought I set them to Ai already. I'll do it later.

[Rougeman]

oops :confused:

[phonicsmonkey]

I have asked Zim to help out as I'm away for the weekend.

In other news aazard will join the game as the Khwarezm Shah.

Welcome to the game aazard!

[Nightbringer]

Welcome!

[Zim]

Welcome aazard!

Maybe I'm just rusty but I had a problem turning France to AI. Doing it from the save there turn was up on led to a crash, so I skipped it. Then I tried it after playing my turn and received a funny error saying in the game's current state factions could not be reset to AI and suggesting maybe a diploamtic scroll was open. Should have done it from the middle of my turn instead of a faction turn screen I guess. I'll get back to it further along in this round and get it done.

Poland is up.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9868

[Gaius Octavius Caesar]

Prague, the last imperial city, fell this season and the HRE is no more.

http://www.gamefront.com/files/21201096/MoT-Byz-6.sav

[Nigel]

I thought the Byz were out of the game already.

If anyone can give me their password, I should be able to just skipp thier move today and upload the game for the Moors.

Edit: Ezil, I hope that is in your interest. I dont mean to be mean and bypass you if you do still want to play them.

[slysnake]

I thought the Byz were out of the game already.

If anyone can give me their password, I should be able to just skipp thier move today and upload the game for the Moors.

Edit: Ezil, I hope that is in your interest. I dont mean to be mean and bypass you if you do still want to play them.

I think it's fine with Ezil - if I remember rightly he said he had to leave due to exams? If he's in the UK, exam season is about half way so far, so if he really wanted to return he could, but then again, would there be anything left for him to return to? XD

[Myth]

The ERE is pretty much dead with me and Phonics taking about half of their cities already and Venice and the Moors joining in the fray as well. Last I heard the Cumans could get in on the action too so.., Yeah. Just skip them or switch them to AI though the AI will spawn free stacks...

[Nigel]

... though the AI will spawn free stacks...

In that case ít would indeed be best to just keep skipping them.
The same would be true for the Teutonic Order, too. I killed off their last unit (Faction Leader) in the last turn, but was somewhat surprised when nothing happened and the game just went on like normal. I guess we really would not want to have new stacks of them appearing again and again.

Well, I would need the Password of the Byz to skipp them. If anyone can give it to me, I can help move this along. Not sure though, if anyone other than Ezil has it. Perhaps we will just have to wait for Phonics to do it.

[Myth]

The TO are both a Horde and an Emergent faction. To kill them off permanently all their agents need to go as well as their settlements and armies. Failing that they will keep spawning halfstacks ad infinitum. This is only a problem in Early though.

[RexLegend]

Moderator could enter console command: surrender_regions "teutonic_order"
This should do the trick. If this is already done before, then command won't work and faction gets glitched.

[phonicsmonkey]

I'll switch the ERE to AI when i get home, as well as France. It's not fair to have them passive, free stacks or no.

I'll also try that console command Rex, thanks for that.

[Nigel]

.... It's not fair to have them passive, free stacks or no.

Actually, that is true. Their opponents would benefit much more from them beeing passive than beeing led somehow - even if it is just by the AI.
Good point, Phonicsmonkey.

[phonicsmonkey]

Moors

[deguerra]

I'm sorry to say it but poor Norway is doomed - I have switched it to AI


Doomed? AI? I think you've been colluding with those dastardly Danes! Did you not see my grand master plan unfolding before you, leading to sure-fire domination by the norwegian Viking over the continent. Hmph! :clown:

But honestly, I thought I still had a least a turn or two worth of fight in me? Did Denmark really get to my western Norwegian armies that quickly?

Either way, congratulations to him and apologies that I could not put up a better fight and in person (though on second thought, those two may have been mutually exclusive). I'll let you guys know when I'm back from Germany if there's still a need for another player.

[phonicsmonkey]

But honestly, I thought I still had a least a turn or two worth of fight in me? Did Denmark really get to my western Norwegian armies that quickly?

My assessment was based on the fact that you had no siege weapons or spies and no way to recruit either. With his armies massing on your border in forts and at sea on ships, with siege equipment and with only a couple of your settlements left I didn't see any outcome except the inevitable death of Norway.

Sorry if I underestimated your capabilities!

[Nightbringer]

lithuania!
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=205&id=9883

[Myth]

This game has several very powerful factions and alliances going on. At some point we will have a world war I reckon. :yes:

[RexLegend]

Doomed? AI? I think you've been colluding with those dastardly Danes! Did you not see my grand master plan unfolding before you, leading to sure-fire domination by the norwegian Viking over the continent. Hmph! :clown:

But honestly, I thought I still had a least a turn or two worth of fight in me? Did Denmark really get to my western Norwegian armies that quickly?

Either way, congratulations to him and apologies that I could not put up a better fight and in person (though on second thought, those two may have been mutually exclusive). I'll let you guys know when I'm back from Germany if there's still a need for another player.

Sure-fire domination? Doubtful. Mainland Norway would had fallen within 2 turns even when you had moved two stacks into defence or attacked Oslo. Don't know about plans you made with your army on Britannia. You would had no other choice but to land on mainland Europe and re-take either Groningen or Antwerp, otherwise your last army of Britannia would had sunk with pesky fleet of yours. Even if you would had tried to move army across shores of Britannia or Europe by moving it with ship(s), problems would occur with transportation via sea afterwards. (I think i've been playing too much strategy games like Vic2 and EU3)

After all, it was you who wanted challenge in beginning of game by choosing Norway. I just took my chance :P

[Myth]

Norway had pretty sizable forces on England AFAIK.

[phonicsmonkey]

Norway had pretty sizable forces on England AFAIK.

Hope I didn't make the wrong decision - it's not too late to switch it back and sub the faction properly if we think it has legs.

[RexLegend]

Yes, Norway HAD 4 quite sizeable stacks on Britannia at very beginning. 3 were departed to Antwerp/Eikundarsund AFAIK (I failed to sink carrying fleets, thats how I know), one stack is confirmed to have been remained on Britain. Or was it 5?

[phonicsmonkey]

Yes, Norway HAD 4 quite sizeable stacks on Britannia at very beginning. 3 were departed to Antwerp/Eikundarsund AFAIK (I failed to sink carrying fleets, thats how I know), one stack is confirmed to have been remained on Britain. Or was it 5?

it's not so much about how many there are as what they are made of, how well they are supported by essential units like catapults and spies, and whether there is money for forts

[Myth]

At the start of the game they seemed formidable but not enough to take on England's massive hordes of quality troops. Spies, siege units and forts I don't know. Though catapults can't open stone walls so unless he had trebs the point is moot.

[Nigel]

I completed my turn, but Mithridate (Kiev) has asked me to sub him.

As his turn is right after mine, I will carry on but will probably need "his time", i.e. another 48 hours to do so.
Hopefully by Thursday evening I should be able to upload the savegame for the Khwarezm (unless we want to get Norway back in).

[Nigel]

This is the upload for Kiev.

Phonics, if you can reset the pw, I can sub Mithridate (or, if he comes back soon enough, he can still play it himself).

3481

[phonicsmonkey]

reset and sent to Nigel with the pw cleared earlier today

[Nigel]

Here is the turn for the new ruler of the Kwarezmian Empire.

Welcome aazard!


3486