Time Commanders - 9th Oct 03

[The_Emperor]

Ok that was interesting.

I thought the AI was good in that one, it was playing as Julius Caesar against Pompey (Spelling?) the great.

The Team started with good ideas early on, talking about using the high ground and the depth of their army with a local fighting advantage of 3 to 1, using the river to protect their left flank.

Sadly the loudest guy took control again and strung out the army, he didn't know what was going on where or who was controlling what.

Caesar attacked the teams scouts early on before they were done, and then moved his army in when the chaotic deployment was underway. He moved away from the river exposing his weak left flank but it wasn't exploited.

The team had good quality Eastern Cavalry but it was wasted and often used in head-on charges with Caesar's hard core infantry and slaughtered. They had the numerical advantage over Caesar but he had the more experienced troops.

Ultimately the army was spread too thin and the battle was engaged with even fighting in the center with the other half of the army too far away from the battle.

When the Cavalry was routed caesar outflanked the team charging downhill into the rear.

What was really funny was when part of the team's army was routed and ran for the woods to hide until the battle was over Nice feature I feel.

Still it was Great Stuff

[frogbeastegg]

'Twas a battle of mixed halves:

"Graduates of Nottingham University, Britains educated elite" - I like that, note taken for future usage. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif "Congratulations, you lost 56,000 men" - Nottingham University? Never heard of them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

Good plan to start with, let down by poor execution and general arguing and disharmony.

Many good improvements to the programmes formula, still no improvement to the teams.

Good example of tactical AI nous, bad example of tactical human nous.

Stepping away from that the AI and programme performed well, shame about the team really. Highlights:

The background setting section at the beginning. This section of the programme has really improved, now it is informative and very nice to watch what with the re-enactments via the RTW engine. Loved the shots of the javelin throwing legionaries.

The idle animations. Sharp eyes may have noticed an archer stood scratching his leg while they waited to open fire.

This weeks main lesson: Don't let a Jamie Oliver look alike command a battle.

Comedy moment of the week: The team opened fire with their archers - and shot their own men in the back Oooppps

Stupid moment of the week: Let's see, we've got this cavalry which is no good against infantry in a head on charge so lets charge those legionaries head on :Two minutes later: Now half of our cavalry is dead because we charged the infantry head on let's send some more to attack head on :Several minutes later: Let's send the rest of our cavalry to attack the infantry head on It hasn't worked with the last 4 units but they got unlucky or something

Froggy's verdict on the programme: http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Froggy's verdict on the team: http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (frogbeastegg @ Oct. 09 2003,21:41)]Comedy moment of the week: The team opened fire with their archers - and shot their own men in the back Oooppps
Oh yes that was funny wasn't it... those archers had three units between them and the enemy Thier arrows dug deep into the backs of the guys in the frontline even before they entered melee


Quote[/b] ]Froggy's verdict on the programme: http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Froggy's verdict on the team: http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

I agree with you there, perhaps we should get a team organised? (just don't tell em you've played TW) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[frogbeastegg]

Don't the teams have to have a name? Our team could be called the ORGanisation Putting the team together would require much traveling and we would have to fake a really good cover story. Presenter: "So how did you meet?" ORGanisation: "We are all Medieval: Total War adicts from a Total War fansite, no wait you didn't hear that We are um, er, members of a book group Yep that's it - we read books. A lot of books. And we have nothing to do with computers at all, in fact we don't even know what a computer is"

The idea is sound though - does anyone know three friends willing to enter with them and take orders? We might be able to get a good team on then.

BTW: Does anyone know who the technicians are? Are they from any TW websites or are they 'private citizens'?

[The_Emperor]

Na I was just kidding... but I would like to see a half-decent team on there sooner or later.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Quote[/b] (frogbeastegg @ Oct. 09 2003,22:37)]Don't the teams have to have a name? Our team could be called the ORGanisation Putting the team together would require much traveling and we would have to fake a really good cover story. Presenter: "So how did you meet?" ORGanisation: "We are all Medieval: Total War adicts from a Total War fansite, no wait you didn't hear that We are um, er, members of a book group Yep that's it - we read books. A lot of books. And we have nothing to do with computers at all, in fact we don't even know what a computer is"

The idea is sound though - does anyone know three friends willing to enter with them and take orders? We might be able to get a good team on then.

BTW: Does anyone know who the technicians are? Are they from any TW websites or are they 'private citizens'?
Didn't CA do a competition where the prize was getting to be a Tech on the program?

[RisingSun]

Why nt tell em youve played TW? They might be grateful to have some experienced people on the show.

[Sir Chauncy]

Actually I noticed something from this episode that I am suprised no one has noticed here. There was a clear difference in the formation and discipline of the armies, with Caesars far more experienced force actually doing what they were told quicker and getting back into formation faster than Pompeys less well trained force. Is it possible that this is going to be a feature of the game or was it just the way it worked out? It would be quite simply Awesome (note capital letter) if the experience of troops was represented not only in their fighting ability but in their ability to be commanded in the field.

This is thinking on the fly here so should not be taken as read:
Maybe as legionaries, not being able to 'turtle' until rank 2 or something? Or some chance, like the impetuous units in Medieval where there is a risk of them charging, how about having a chance (that decreases with experience or training) of them not doing what they are told? -terrible grammar here but I am in a hurry.

This happened to some extent with the units that refused to come out of the trees and fight because they were scared. What do you all think?

[Shono]

Quote[/b] (RisingSun @ Oct. 10 2003,01:54)]Why nt tell em youve played TW? They might be grateful to have some experienced people on the show.
Just dont get your ass whipped http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Frankymole]

I heard from someone who works at the BBC that there is some kind of filtering system to ensure experienced wargamers/TW players are not used. Apparently it would give an unfair advantage.

It turns out that the players don't know which battle or which side they'll play before the cameras roll, either. So no preparation beyond general background reading is possible - they can't research their battle (unfair advantage, you see).