Blitz All Challenge

[Askthepizzaguy]

1. All old world provinces (106) must be taken by a certain turn number.

2. The current record is 28.

Score: (turn number)

75: Fair
65: Decent
55: Good
45: Very Good
35: Exceptional
28: CURRENT RECORD
Below 28: Show me proof, and the title is yours.

Version: 1.2 Vanilla
No mods. No cheat codes. No mercy.



Hints:

Ballista weren't used, much.
Spies can't move fast enough.
The Pope is your friend.
Catholic faction.
Captain promotions.
Endless recruitment.
Excommunication equals death... unless you can survive!
Diplomacy before you backstab.
Troops will be lost to desertion.

[zaher]

I started as Sycily and took Constantinople by turn 9 but got dissapointed by fact that lack of manegement bored me and stopped:dizzy2: Fun was with my princess - she got charm 9 at age 20 .

[Paradox]

Now here's a great challenge, I'm gonna have to try this.

[Askthepizzaguy]

I started as Sycily and took Constantinople by turn 9 but got dissapointed by fact that lack of manegement bored me and stopped:dizzy2: Fun was with my princess - she got charm 9 at age 20 .

Management is still possible. But since most of your resources will be focused on military concerns, troop recruitment, military buildings, agent recruitment, fast expansion, and so forth, the economic side of the game will not happen until you've taken about a third of the map or so, and then only for purely selfish gains like building ports for a quick trade boost.

Sicily isn't a good faction for this. They will not be able to crusade through many excommunicated Catholic factions, a key element to rolling up the map.

I recommend England or France, as I've personally completed the challenge with them. However, I feel it is possible to do so with the Holy Roman empire, Venice, Spain, Portugal, Milan, Poland, and Hungary. Maybe Denmark.

The key is owning all of central Europe very quickly, as crusades to the corners of the map take care of the rest. I found the best way to do so was a mix of ending crusades with 4 or 5 stacks inside Catholic territories, then massively backstabbing them, or crusading and abandoning the crusade after capturing a settlement, thus turning all those troops into non-crusading units for a while.

You will need to be fielding roughly 15 stacks ASAP. By the end of the game, you should have at least 25 offensive stacks, and of course militias keeping order at home.

You will go into debt, but you must conquer your way out of it. Troops are more valuable than florins.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Now here's a great challenge, I'm gonna have to try this.

Are you armed with the knowledge of crusading loopholes in vanilla?

1. you have 10 turns to leave a crusade and join it again. Use this wisely.

2. ending a turn inside a freshly captured settlement, and leaving a non-crusading general or captain in command of the garrison turns all crusading units into non-crusading garrison. Which can be used against Catholics. Basically, with good management against Muslim, Orthodox, and excommed Catholic settlement capturing, you can crusade through and against fellow Catholics.

3. You can move in any direction you like for 10 turns. If you wish to avoid troop loss to desertion, leave/join the crusade again.

4. Leave/join/leave/join until your chivalry is at maximum. Doesn't help you except in battle and keeping settlements from rebelling, though.

Also:

5. sack, sack, sack, sack, sack.

6. Exterminate only as a last resort to prevent rebellion.

7. Don't get excommunicated. I've said it before, I say it again. But dance on that thin blue line as much as possible.

8. Popey needs a bribe.

9. Promote captains against rebels and wandering enemies.

10. Every single general must be his own crusading stack.

11. The ten turns between crusades are critical. You must keep the Pope happy and keep your troops healthy. Sack your way out of debt or nearly out of debt. Then bribe him again and do another crusade, and have every available troop join.

12. Massive levels of free troops is the ONLY way to win.

13. Adopted generals tend to pile up after a while. keep recruiting militia troops and mercenaries so they can join the crusade as well, and split off into 2 or more stacks.

14. A large crusading army versus rebels. Take half of your stack, no general, and attack. Promote the captain. Join the crusade.

Now you have two crusading armies for the price of one.

15. Even if you know how to do it, it is a maddening race against time. You do not have a moment to spare, and you never ever ever have enough troops.

16. If you need additional hints, I'm here.

PS: Stunningly, most of those loopholes continue to work even in the patched versions, and later versions of Lands to Conquer. Blasphemy? No, just the harsh truth. Only one that I am aware of that got fixed is the free chivalry for joining and leaving the crusade over and over.

[Paradox]

Is disabling fog of war considered to be a cheat? How can I promote captainss? I never knew I could do that.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Is disabling fog of war considered to be a cheat?

I did my campaign without doing so.

However, if you feel it will help you, by all means. Just make sure you note that when you post your completed campaign screen. I do not feel it will give you enough of an advantage to make the challenge significantly easier. As said previously, even if you know what you need to do, doing it is difficult. Planning is tricky here. You cannot have one front. You will have many, many fronts.

Every single turn, every single general, captain, agent, and unit MUST be doing something to capture a settlement, or preparing for a crusade. It will take 2 or 3 crusades to win.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Promoting captains:

1. Have more territories than generals (roughly)

2. Have a captain-led army win a battle against a standing army (rebel or not... but not seige situations)

3. Have the battle odds be nearly even

4. I have found that auto-resolve works wonders, but I cannot say whether your odds of nabbing a general improve.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Proof that it can be done:
(England)

Now witness the final destruction of the alliance, and the end of your insignificant rebellion.

FIRE AT WILL, COMMANDER!

KABOOOOM!

Oh no! That thing's operational!

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0235.jpg

Turn 49: Beginning the final assault against all remaining provinces. For the sake of brevity, only one photo per turn until the last turn.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0249.jpg

Turn 50: Enough troops to stomp the Turks? Perhaps I should send more.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0255.jpg

Turn 51: Egypt has one province left, as does Hungary and Russia.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0261.jpg

Turn 52: My forces arrive at the heart of the Ottoman empire. It does not look like they have the manpower to defend themselves.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0265.jpg

Turn 53: And Russia goes down without a fight.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0273.jpg

Turn 54: With Russia destroyed, the Egyptians are next. I prepare to backstab the papacy.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0275.jpg

Turn 55: The last remnants of Egypt are gone. The Turks are down to one province. Baghdad has enough forces to repel my initial assault.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0279.jpg

Turn 56: The Turks are crushed, and the crusade ends. Imperial forces swarm towards Baghdad. Meanwhile, Arguin, the remaining African province, and probably the most isolated and worthless piece of expletive deleted in the game, is about to be crushed.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0282.jpg

Turn 57: I finally give the Papacy what they deserve for years of annoying messages about not attacking my fellow Christians. I am officially excommunicated at long last this turn...

But wait! I OWN the college of cardinals. Does the Pope seriously think I will let him live?

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0286.jpg

Turn 58: Baghdad falls to the glorious Empire.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0288.jpg

Here is a display of the public order bonus in Rome, even at maximum taxation, due to both my glory bonus, the way I strike fear into the hearts of men, and by the authority of my ruler. I make Rome my capital on the final turn.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0289.jpg

A glimpse at the finances of my glorious empire. I may be deficit spending now, but by the time the Mongoloids arrive, my army will be sleek, streamlined, and all surplus troops will be eliminated. Also, I can finally spend money on improving my provinces.

Rest assured, in about 15 turns, I will be making perhaps 50,000 florins per turn. All I need to do is cut my massive, redundant armies in half.


https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0290.jpg

A display of the final score of my game. King Rufus, my original faction heir, conquered the entire world during his lifetime.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0291.jpg

How I got un-excommunicated. Hint: I own all the cardinals. My official relations with the Papacy are now Neutral. I guess they finally got the hint that it is unwise to challenge my rule. The millions slaughtered along the way might have been a clue.

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/askthepizzaguy/0292.jpg

For those of you paying attention, here it is: The original faction heir of Scotland, still sitting harmlessly next to my still undefended Dublin. I told you at the very beginning that they would never, ever move. I guess the Canmores are (slang term for part of the female anatomy, plural).

Now nothing left to do but wait for the Morons and the Timids to arrive.

Only now, at the end, do you understand... You will pay the price for your lack of vision.

Now, young Skywalker... you will die.

Bwahahahahaha!!!

For more info see thread:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=87236

[Hoplite7]

While it is true that the AI crusades don't desert (your explanation for using crusader exploit), the AI only uses one crusade. So you have several times their advantage by having several non deserting crusades, especially against the already lackluster AI of unpatched M2tw, as the English...

Not trying to be negative, but I think it seriously devalues the accomplishment of world conquest if you have 9 strong, free armies steamrolling across Europe. Without the crusader glitch you would be -50000 in debt...

Again sorry for being negative, but this is a discussion forum after all, and conquering the world with massive armies with zero upkeep just seems more like a race to get to every settlement by turn 58...

[Askthepizzaguy]

While it is true that the AI crusades don't desert (your explanation for using crusader exploit), the AI only uses one crusade. So you have several times their advantage by having several non deserting crusades, especially against the already lackluster AI of unpatched M2tw, as the English...

Not trying to be negative, but I think it seriously devalues the accomplishment of world conquest if you have 9 strong, free armies steamrolling across Europe. Without the crusader glitch you would be -50000 in debt...

Again sorry for being negative, but this is a discussion forum after all, and conquering the world with massive armies with zero upkeep just seems more like a race to get to every settlement by turn 58...

Indeed, that is precisely what is being attempted and accomplished by those actions.

I currently play a much more fair and difficult game, LTC on VH/VH, with multiple restrictions and house rules. See Medieval 2 Total War for Independence for more details.

The purpose of the campaign on the blitz all challenge is to roll up the map as quickly as the program allows, without modifying the game. Yes, it is exceedingly unfair for the AI factions. However, your enemy is not the AI, but time.

Time is the demon you must slay, and it is a far more worthy adversary than any computer opponent. If you doubt it, I will refer you to anyone currently accepting this challenge.

It is indeed a challenge, even if the AI is not. The difficulty comes from your own mistakes and bad planning, not from the incompetent AI.

To give the AI a fair game I encourage you to join me in my quest for Total independence!

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=97557

It's much harder on the player and retains the spirit of trying to conquer the map quickly to meet conditions, but you are at a severe disadvantage as your conquests will turn rebel and not assist your empire's expansion. And all loopholes and dirty tactics are erased.

That may be more to your liking. This particular thread is about pure and simple slash and burn as quickly as conceivably possible. The achievement is not world conquest, but world conquest by turn number X.

That is the challenge, not the conquest of territory, but of time.

[Barbarian]

Nice, I am eager to try this. But in the very end I will have to be excomunicated, to beat papal states.

[Philbert]

What happens to the papacy afterwards? Obviously a new pope will be selected out of your cardinals (again) but won't he whine for you to give him a new shelter?

What would happen if you kill off all your priests (send them on boat and disband? Does that work?) Then there are no more pope candidates.

[Paradox]

That brings up an interesting point, but I don't think it's possible to disband priests.

The auto-resolve option is my only choice, as the battles are too good for my computer, so I'm just going to have to rely on numbers and weapons, no outsmarting the AI in the battles this time.

[ReiseReise]

He meant disband the boat, not the priest. I believe you get the "You cannot disband a naval unit unless the passengers can disembark!" message. But I could be wrong.

[Paradox]

I'm pretty sure you do get that message, as I've been getting at times when trying to get rid of my useless units who were remnants of a past crusade. The Papacy will never die, they cannot, there has to be a college of cardinals.

[Grog]

Hmm, couple of queries for ATPG:

1/ I see you recommend a catholic faction to accomplish the goal. I assume this is due to tighter logistics in western europe (territory density) to give an early boost to conquest coupled with easy availability of heavy infantry to push up autoresolve? I was thinking of trying this with the turks, but could see this putting me at an initial disadvantage over a catholic faction.

2/ Spies and sieging. Do spys travel at crusade stack speed when contained within a crusade stack? or is the stack limited to spy speed? Also, do you settle for taking 2 turns to take each settlement (building siege on site vs logistics/time constraint of training siege engines and lugging them about etc), or do you run spies ahead of your expansion paths to allow spyrushing of settlements?

I'm thinking of giving this a go, and am tempted to use poland or hungary for a bit of variety. (played england/france/HRE in the last few long games, so fancy a change)

[Paradox]

1.Catholic factions are better because their cities are all right by each other, while the Turks, Egyptians, and Moors often have to go through a great distance to breach a city.

2. I don't think so, the only people who obtain advantages on a crusade are the ones whom you chose to participate in, spies aren't generals.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Nice, I am eager to try this. But in the very end I will have to be excomunicated, to beat papal states.

Yes, but as the sole remaining Catholic faction, you will OWN the college of cardinals. You will most likely destroy the Pope himself in the process of taking Rome, and you will elect the new Pope and he will lift the excommunication the very next turn, especially if you bribe him with tribute. He's your Pope, after all.


What happens to the papacy afterwards? Obviously a new pope will be selected out of your cardinals (again) but won't he whine for you to give him a new shelter?

What would happen if you kill off all your priests (send them on boat and disband? Does that work?) Then there are no more pope candidates.

The Papal States never die as a faction. Somewhere, there's always a boat ready to land with Papal armies on it. Even if the college of cardinals is empty.
It's not a mater of concern, as the point is to simply take his provinces.


That brings up an interesting point, but I don't think it's possible to disband priests.

The auto-resolve option is my only choice, as the battles are too good for my computer, so I'm just going to have to rely on numbers and weapons, no outsmarting the AI in the battles this time.

You can kill priests even if you can't disband the boat by attacking rebel navies and losing. But what would be the point? It's unneccessary. The Papal States never die.


He meant disband the boat, not the priest. I believe you get the "You cannot disband a naval unit unless the passengers can disembark!" message. But I could be wrong.

I think that depends on the version and mod.


I'm pretty sure you do get that message, as I've been getting at times when trying to get rid of my useless units who were remnants of a past crusade. The Papacy will never die, they cannot, there has to be a college of cardinals.

You can eliminate every single priest in the game. Therefore the college can be emptied.


Hmm, couple of queries for ATPG:

1/ I see you recommend a catholic faction to accomplish the goal. I assume this is due to tighter logistics in western europe (territory density) to give an early boost to conquest coupled with easy availability of heavy infantry to push up autoresolve? I was thinking of trying this with the turks, but could see this putting me at an initial disadvantage over a catholic faction.

2/ Spies and sieging. Do spys travel at crusade stack speed when contained within a crusade stack? or is the stack limited to spy speed? Also, do you settle for taking 2 turns to take each settlement (building siege on site vs logistics/time constraint of training siege engines and lugging them about etc), or do you run spies ahead of your expansion paths to allow spyrushing of settlements?

I'm thinking of giving this a go, and am tempted to use poland or hungary for a bit of variety. (played england/france/HRE in the last few long games, so fancy a change)

1. The point of the Catholics is the ability to crusade through excommunicated Catholics, Orthodox cities, and Muslim lands more easily. It's impossible to Jihad through Muslim lands. Also, since most of the map is Catholic, it is much easier to obtain and HOLD all provinces. Yes, the tighter city density (France/HRE/Italy/Hungary/Poland/Spain as a bloc) makes blitzing early very possible.

2. Spies, in the vanilla version 1.2, which I accomplished this feat in, do not move as fast as crusading generals. Like artillery, they slow down your armies.

Since you can quickly move to a city and seige it, take it next turn and move quickly to the next, artillery and spies are unneccessary. Totally unneccessary.

Ok OK I did use ballistas to take Paris and Rheims both in one turn with one stack. If you HAPPEN to be able to recruit a ballista, and it is near the enemy, you can use it. But honestly, your core territories are usually too far away and your armies are moving too fast to make ballista useful.

Spies are a different story. They can help you after your initial crusade, and by then, you have spies recruited. But still, I didn't use them much.

They CAN be useful to take out entire factions BEFORE the Pope excommunicates you or warns you, in a single turn. Gotta be quick!

Position your crusading stacks to take advantage of the sudden end of a crusade, when it's over, spies open gates and you wipe out an entire faction in a single turn.

Checkmate.

[Paradox]

You mean if I take over the College of Cardinals, all priests from there will be under my control and I would be able to control them around in the map?

[Csargo]

I think I'll try this a little later today.

[Askthepizzaguy]

You mean if I take over the College of Cardinals, all priests from there will be under my control and I would be able to control them around in the map?

If you are the sole remaining Catholic faction, your priests, if any, will automatically be considered for the College. That is how you own it.

You will be able to control your cardinals even after they are promoted, so yes, you can control their fate.

[Paradox]

You can control the pope too right? Because I've been seeing Pope Gregory on the campaign map right now.

[Askthepizzaguy]

You can control the pope too right? Because I've been seeing Pope Gregory on the campaign map right now.

The Pope is always of the faction Papal States. Unless you are playing as the Papal States, you cannot control the Pope directly.

The Papal States are a horde faction, which means they cannot be eliminated if their last city is taken. And if there is a priest or cardinal on the map, there will be a Pope soon.

I haven't been able to play as the pope without modding the game, and I havent destroyed the Papal States completely.

[Grog]

Ok I have started a blitz all challenge for a bit of fun.

I'm using HRE, VH/VH vanilla 1.3, long campaign.

Empire report, turn 10:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn10faction.jpg


Faction: 19 territories occupied and green. Sieges on Thessalonica, Bruges and novgorod are underway for assault on turn 11. Also have stack half a day north of rebel kiev, and my prince is moving another stack around the swiss alps. King and another general are conducting inter-empire activities for a few turns to commence soon.../whistle

Crusade to Antioch is underway from turn3. Perfect relation with papal states. Loose alliance with denmark.

War with venice, Byzantines, Russia. The Poles are looking a bit frisky but I'm a prime position to multi-crush them in a turn or two.

Financially, things are looking fairly sound:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn10financial.jpg


Also, had a cracking battle to severely damage Russia before siegeing Novgorod:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn10vsRussia.jpg


Hopefully get a few more turns done later tonight..

[Grog]

Empire report, turn 20:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn20faction.jpg


30 provinces held, but it all went a bit shaky in the 'teens. I basically expanded a bit far out and suddenly faced a five front catholic offensive whilst all my chaps were off crusading :2thumbsup:

This probably put me back quite a few turns, but heyho, down but not out. Lots of messy militia defenses for a few turns and a few heroics saw things tighten up again. Antioch fell on turn16, Pope is still bribed but now at 'untrustworthy' rep. War with 7 factions.


Empire report, turn 30:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn30faction.jpg


55 provinces held. France, Milan, Poland, Russia destroyed. Byzantines broken. 16 crusade stacks in operation on 7 fronts (3 in russia, 5 in turkey/mideast, 1 northafrica, 1 in greece, 3 in spain, 1 en-route) whilst 3 non crusade stacks finishing building for offensive on portugal/spain, british Isles and to backstab Danes. Logistics are underway to build captain led island-hopping militia to grab islands in the med.

Crusade vs Gaza launched turn26. Considering ending this earlyish if progress remains good, may need a late crusade to reach dongola and possibly finish egypt. I'll see where I am around turn 35/36...

On a sidenote, this playstyle is a lot of fun, and much harder than it looks :egypt:

[Ramses II CP]

Watch out for an earthquake at Jedda, permanant movement penalty there would slow you down for just one province.

I think floods/eqs are a risk for Arguin too.

:egypt:

[Askthepizzaguy]

Empire report, turn 20:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn20faction.jpg


30 provinces held, but it all went a bit shaky in the 'teens. I basically expanded a bit far out and suddenly faced a five front catholic offensive whilst all my chaps were off crusading :2thumbsup:

This probably put me back quite a few turns, but heyho, down but not out. Lots of messy militia defenses for a few turns and a few heroics saw things tighten up again. Antioch fell on turn16, Pope is still bribed but now at 'untrustworthy' rep. War with 7 factions.


Empire report, turn 30:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn30faction.jpg


55 provinces held. France, Milan, Poland, Russia destroyed. Byzantines broken. 16 crusade stacks in operation on 7 fronts (3 in russia, 5 in turkey/mideast, 1 northafrica, 1 in greece, 3 in spain, 1 en-route) whilst 3 non crusade stacks finishing building for offensive on portugal/spain, british Isles and to backstab Danes. Logistics are underway to build captain led island-hopping militia to grab islands in the med.

Crusade vs Gaza launched turn26. Considering ending this earlyish if progress remains good, may need a late crusade to reach dongola and possibly finish egypt. I'll see where I am around turn 35/36...

On a sidenote, this playstyle is a lot of fun, and much harder than it looks :egypt:

Yes, I always thought pure blitz warfare was very fun. But in order to do it in record time, you really must dig deep to pull off a brilliant campaign. It is not as simple as taking everything you have and attacking. There are many tactics you must use to generate forces out of thin air, keep hundreds of thousands of troops moving at no cost, deal with massive, massive debt at the end of crusades, fight on every single concievable front simultaneously, often times taking on entire empires with an undermanned and underpowered stack of mercenaries for the explicit purpose of destroying them quickly without any backup.

Advice: The sooner you can take on the British Isles, the better, Grog. And you have to conquer even that last nasty little annoying worthless province in Africa as well, Arguin. I am thinking that a crusade against either the Moors or the Egyptians is inevitable, but you have time left only to choose one, and you must make that choice well.

There are still many provinces to be taken in Africa and the middle east, and without sufficient speed and forces... you may not make it.

Redouble your efforts to take all of Africa, the middle east, and Britain.

You are close to the ideal 2 provinces for every 1 turn mark. Every turn from this point onward should average at least that many.

However, I do believe if you cannot break my record, you will come close. You seem to have successfully applied the principles and strategies that I myself have used.

Bravo! I am enjoying this campaign.

[Grog]

Empire report, turn 35:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn35faction.jpg


74 regions are now under my despicable rule, 19 provinces captured turn 30-35 :smash:

Sieges are currently in place on: Gaza (2 stacks), damascus, mosul, baghdad, timbuktu, edessa. (crusade stacks)

Crusade stacks in waiting (:inquisitive: ): Stockholm, Inverness, Lisbon, Iraklion (2), Tunis.

Non crusade armies: stack in bruge shipping to york turn 36/37. Stack at arhus hiding in woods. mini merc ship army at oslo harbour. Stack of cheap militia and ballista south of rome 'guarding' province 108.

3 other generals rushing around the map making mischief.

Turn 36 was the mother of all bloodbaths, took me hours of hack and slay. (still have to finish it, off to do it in a mo).

Next plans are: Dump 70% of troops after gaza falls.
37-40:
Ship 2 heavyish stacks from iraklion - alexandra.

Drill master general starts timbuktu to arguin with horse only. inf to follow or be recruited at destination.

Drill master takes all horse to dongola (couldn't rent a ship in jedda, or he be halfway there already...)

Tri phase assault on british isles and scandinavia to complete by 40-41.

Scilily should fall <40.

3 stacks should seal spain by 41-42 (4 castles and 3 towns also max recruiting).

Hopefully get Cairo/rome at 45, if not crusade 3 comes active turn 46... :whip:

I learned a lot from mistakes in my first crusade and tiptoeing around catholics too much, 3 diplomats on rome and none elsewhere served me well :yes:

Anyway, I'll hopefully get this done in a day or two, then post some more stuff.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Most impressive.

At this rate it seems possible for you to smash my record. We shall see how things go!

Are you playing on VH/VH?

[phonicsmonkey]

Go Grog Go Grog Go Go Go!

:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:

[Grog]

Empire report, turn 40:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn40faction.jpg


97 territories are now under my despicable rule.

The armies are on final marches to Arguin and Dongola. 3 Naval fleets have 2 stacks en-route to Tripoli. England and spain are in the final throes... tick tock tick tock...

[Grog]

Empire report, turn 43:

What's this? The pope excommunicating me, after all I've done for him?


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn43excom.jpg


How ungrateful, still might have something to do with the HRE stack attacking Rome :laugh4:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn43rome.jpg


Rome falls. Pope Gregory is not amused.


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn43PopeGregory.jpg


Victory, turn 43, all 106 old world provinces captured:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn43faction.jpg
:smash: :whip: :2thumbsup: :skull: :inquisitive:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitz_turn43Victory.jpg


Mines a double pepperoni with extra jalapenos :clown:

[Csargo]

Excellent Grog, really amazing.

[phonicsmonkey]

All Hail Grog, the New King of Blitz!

:applause:

[Askthepizzaguy]

EDIT: post deleted

[phonicsmonkey]

I can see the pics

atpg, your screenshot of victory with England shows 106 provinces, not 108

:inquisitive:

[Askthepizzaguy]

Indeed!

Forgive my oversight. 106 it is.

But I still cannot see the pictures.

Yes, the pictures are simply little white boxes with X's in them. Perhaps photobucket's bandwidth was exceeded?

Or whichever site you use?

[Askthepizzaguy]

At long last the pictures are now viewable.

...Impressive. :beam:

Most Impressive. :grin2:

(notes record has been shattered to pieces... not even close) :shocked2:

AAARRRGGGGHHHH!!! :dunce:

THE SHAME!!! THE SHAME!!!

[Askthepizzaguy]

ALL HAIL BLITZ MASTER GROG, RECENTLY CROWNED HIGH COMMANDER AND BLITZKRIEG WARFARE CHAMPION!

Former Blitzmaster ATPG presiding over the title ceremony

Master Grog:

Not only have you shattered my record, but indeed you have demonstrated a mastery of blitz warfare that I did not think was possible. You managed to shave not one or two, but several turns off of my time. You truly have applied the lessons and principles of which I can only claim a small amount of credit for teaching the members of the forum.

Before I was the master, I was but the learner. Now I am the learner again. I would be most pleased to hear your advice on blitz war, that I might make a reasonable attempt to match your incredible achievement.

But for the here and now, you are to be rewarded with the only tangible evidence of your blitz mastery other than the proof itself demonstrated here today to me, the former blitzmaster.

Grog, for a long time, no one could credibly claim or prove that their campaign map skills were better than mine. But you have easily demonstrated your abilities are superior. My official blitzmaster title, indicating my status as champion of the realm, is hereby bequeathed to you, until such time that I can defeat your record or at least match it and share in the victory.

My previous title:

"Master tactician, holder of walls, sacker of cities, great crusader, superb diplomat, pious and pure, intelligent, witty, faithful and charming, Praetor of Rome, Emperor of Byzantium, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, lord of Spain, France, Milan, Venice, Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Timbuktu, King of the Britons, Defeater of the Saxons, sovereign of all England, Patron Saint of War, Beloved Ruler of all Europe, Greatest Generalissimo of all time, and a damn fine lover to boot." -Me, regarding myself.

I can no longer claim this title. It is yours.

__________________
"Master tactician, holder of walls, sacker of cities, great crusader, superb diplomat, pious and pure, intelligent, witty, faithful and charming, Praetor of Rome, Emperor of Byzantium, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, lord of Spain, France, Milan, Venice, Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Timbuktu, King of the Britons, Defeater of the Saxons, sovereign of all England, Patron Saint of War, Beloved Ruler of all Europe, Greatest Generalissimo of all time, and a damn fine lover to boot." -Master Grog, true champion of blitz warfare

[Grog]

War Marshall Grog steps up to the podium. His basic chainmail armour is soaked with the blood of a thousand vanquished foes, and torn with the cut of a thousand blades. His ageing but powerful frame is ruined with many war wounds and scars of battle.

As he approaches the poduim, a ragged cheer arises from his ramshackle armies of peasants, pilgrims, drafted Militia and bloodied mercs. A nod of acknowledgment silences the loyal troops of the Holy Roman Empire.

He turns to the crowded hall, surveys the assembled host with a steely glint in his eye. A hush falls over the room.

Raising one mailed fist high in the air, he bellows "TURTLE POWER" before collapsing stone dead...

:turtle:

[Grog]

On a more serious note, I could certainly write a book or a least a fat thread on what I learned playing this campaign, so I'll just do a basic assessment of where I varied from the ATPG blitzkrieg Theorum.

Ok first off faction and difficulty. I used HRE on VH/VH standard vanilla 1.3 (1.2 with kingdoms).

Why HRE?
I wanted a castle-based catholic faction. I planned on 1:3 castle:town ratio for quick mailed knights everywhere. Also, they have good centralish position, can snag a lot of rebel land off the bat if you are quick. Once you have 15+ territories in western/central europe you are unstoppable.

However the main advantage is proximity to rome, but you start with no diplomat and princess is way up north. So turn 1 I build a townhall at bologna, turn 3 train diplomat, turn 4-5 get alliance/perfect then call crusade. I got lucky here as papal states diplomat approached florence (captured turn2) in turn 3 AI moves, so I grabbed alliance and perfect then and called crusade to antioch turn 3. (note: secure initial tribute: usually accepts 100/5 gift after gift 100 + gift map info, then incrementally increase gift to 100/10, then open offer provinces to perfect)

Why VH/VH? well I always play all my battles VH, so no worries there. I chose VH for stategic map as this makes the AI stupidly aggressive, which works to my advantage tbh. I'll expand on this later.

[Askthepizzaguy]

On a more serious note, I could certainly write a book or a least a fat thread on what I learned playing this campaign, so I'll just do a basic assessment of where I varied from the ATPG blitzkrieg Theorum.

Ok first off faction and difficulty. I used HRE on VH/VH standard vanilla 1.3 (1.2 with kingdoms).

Why HRE?
I wanted a castle-based catholic faction. I planned on 1:3 castle:town ratio for quick mailed knights everywhere. Also, they have good centralish position, can snag a lot of rebel land off the bat if you are quick. Once you have 15+ territories in western/central europe you are unstoppable.

However the main advantage is proximity to rome, but you start with no diplomat and princess is way up north. So turn 1 I build a townhall at bologna, turn 3 train diplomat, turn 4-5 get alliance/perfect then call crusade. I got lucky here as papal states diplomat approached florence (captured turn2) in turn 3 AI moves, so I grabbed alliance and perfect then and called crusade to antioch turn 3. (note: secure initial tribute: usually accepts 100/5 gift after gift 100 + gift map info, then incrementally increase gift to 100/10, then open offer provinces to perfect)

Why VH/VH? well I always play all my battles VH, so no worries there. I chose VH for stategic map as this makes the AI stupidly aggressive, which works to my advantage tbh. I'll expand on this later.

I never play on anything besides VH VH. What would be the point? Hurt me plenty.

Your biggest differences IMHO were the faction of course (I did 50 provinces by turn 16, myself with the HRE) and the destination of your initial crusade. You chose Antioch with HRE, I chose Cordoba with France/England.

I dont think I made any real mistakes other than the choosing of Cordoba for the crusade. I think if I had chosen HRE and done antioch I would have had more success.

You made the better choices; I feel our blitzing ability is rather even. There's only so much you can do in a single turn, and the maximum with the HRE clearly bests the maximum of England. They start with more and are closer to the Pope.

But again, congrats. I have changed my sig line to reflect your victory.

[Grog]

Basic overview of campaign objectives/timeline:

From the start I planned to do this with two crusades, I took a lot of ATPG advice on-board, but I didnt read either of the tactical threads (although I remember some of them in part from first time round, and I did look at the 'win' screens), mainly as i didnt want to bias my expectations. However a lot of the advice ATPG gives on this thread is very sound, especially the exploitation of crusade mechanics.

I didnt know for sure I'd beat ATPG's 58 turn mark until about turn 30 I'd guess (as detailed above). If you had asked me between turn 10-20 I'd have doubted it..nearly quit at this point.

I knew to get a good start I'd need early crusade, pure luck saw this called turn 3 as detailed above. This means 3-13 I have free armies to play with and move in any direction, so I'd thought to use this to make early in-roads to russia and try to capture most of Byzantine before establishing a strong base at antioch (I am a dab hand at mastering antiochearly). My mistakes here were sparse mercs east of Thorn, so northern stack became really threadbare breaking russia.

Also, Milan/Poland/Hungary all chose this time to attack so things were a bit strained for a while, I ended up circling my crusaders back to the eastern front and ravaging poland/hungary as Antioch fell. Milan I beat off with a constant attrition of town milita and fake sieges to hurt their economy (read 1 chap with a ladder heh), before finally dumping a heavy post-crusade stack on Milan/genoa.

So basically turn 1-10. I managed 1.9 province a turn. turn 11-20 this fell to just 1.1 turn as I needed to get things under control. So in reality, I did relatively turtle for a short period (and hit a few rebels here and there to get more generals etc) just to get things stable and get my economy kicking to fund a truely stupendos second crusade plus asscociated invasions.

Now this brings me onto early financial/economy objectives. HRE is a powerhouse ecomonically once you have the northern ports and italian cities all joined. my power house objective for turn 20 was castles at Hamburg, thorn, bern/innsbruck, Bran with everything in the middle of that a town. I mostly accomplished this and had a fairly powerful economy cooking along. i even built quite a few farms and markets etc. In the whole 36 turns, I was only in debt once, less than 2k florins..

(blitz-hint: only build outlying dirt roads when YOU need them, make the AI chuff along in the mud until you are ready to go that way.)

By the time crusade 2 was launched (turn 26) I had done some farily heavy prepping so that turns 26-36 would see me break the world or lose. I initally launched over 10 generals, at one point I had 16 crusade armies in operation, each in a different non catholic province. (I'll do a seperate post on armies and fighting later.)

Crusade two was lauched for Gaza. Now why Gaza you ask? wll my masterplan was to explode in all directions on crusade two and smash the world with the plan being that at turn 36 any remaining army could turn for gaza and suffer minimal deserting losses on path of destruction (the AI really has no idea what to do! stacks flying past everywhere!). therefore the plan was to use the early part of crusade 2 to reach bulgar/timbuktu/baghdad which i more or less achieved, then snap in and crush everything east and south :2thumbsup:

I also used the last few turns (31-36) of free crusade movement to position heavy stacks on inverness/stockholm/lisbon/iraklion for a MASSIVE attack once the crusade was won on 36 (use all your crusade movement, win crusade, then attack everywhere.

Ok so why did I leave UK and spain till late? Sacking Income plain and simple. If I blitz them early, poor income to logistics ratio. By destroying them 'late game' I get 8-20k a city cha-ching pays for everything and a few abbeys etc.

Once crusade armies drop off the organic expansion path at the end of the crusade , just disband any spare straight away.

the last turns 40-43 were really waiting on the final push on arguin/dongola and quelling the last sparks of resistance on the british isles, have to say,england made me work for it more than any other faction.. (Byz did well too, I just out-logistics them)

I'll post some more on military and battles next, then do logistics/general stuff.

[Askthepizzaguy]

The man knows what he's talking about. Glad to see my suggestions helped.

You've taught me a thing or two. I thought it would take 3 crusades, and with France/England it does take that many. I am intrigued.

I will see what I can do with the HRE, as soon as I get in some more practice and lay waste to all imperial forces in my War for Independence campaign with Sicily.

I have much to do in this game. This will take time. At least I'm no longer bored with the game.

I highly encourage all players and readers of this forum to try my challenges.
Even if you cannot beat mine or especially Grog's score, just do your best and have fun for goodness sake.

It helps me in particular to swallow my pride and realize that only one person can truly be the best of them all. The rest of us just have to strive for our PERSONAL best.

Mark my words... I WILL improve MY personal best and shatter MY record as well.

58 turns for ATPG? I don't think so. My new goal is 45. I believe it is attainable for me to come close to Grog, but to be honest, beating him looks dicey.

[Askthepizzaguy]

You must have used ballistae effectively. I never really included them in my blitzes except for Paris/Rhiems for England and Bern for France.

I see now that the non-crusading middle portion MUST include them to avoid excommunication and cause severe damage to the enemy.

True, Grog?

And spies... I'm thinking more spies.

[Grog]

Yep, just two crusades. I really think a high 30's win is possible, if you call crusade turn3. I got caught up with logistics and unexpected resistance toward the end somewhat, although as mentioned this was offset by sacking income from Spain/england.

Another thing I would do is make Inverness/Arguin+dongola/Jedda/Bulgar first crusade 'targets' (or be there at crusade drop off) with a mid east province as the target (I just like antioch, easy to defend and grab alepo/adana, keep one as castle = insta powerbase to repel egypt/turks). Castle the lot then reverse-smash back into the world.

I'm going off to dig up screenshots and make a military post next (be a while),so heres a little teaser:

You have all of northern france. england have Caen.
Your army is general, 2 cav, 3 varied spear, 6 trash (various peasant bows/cheap milita), and is just inside the border north of Angers.
England has 4-5 units in Caen and a toughish 14 stack a move out.
No more troops available.

How do you lay siege to Caen that move without the roaming stack attacking your siege army next turn?

[Askthepizzaguy]

perhaps you could distract the big stack with your general, as he is a high priority target. Move your general and position him close to the big stack, and just so that the big stack cannot attack both targets.

If I know my AI, they will fall for the bait. What was your answer?

[Grog]

You must have used ballistae effectively. I never really included them in my blitzes except for Paris/Rhiems for England and Bern for France.

I see now that the non-crusading middle portion MUST include them to avoid excommunication and cause severe damage to the enemy.

True, Grog?

And spies... I'm thinking more spies.

Hmm used ballista/siege late in spain, although I wasn't really rushing here as my timeline was locked by Arguin/dongola by this time (ie: I knew I had spare turns to win spain/england)

Didn't use spies much at all 9no more than 5-6 i think) and then they were passive.

I do cav/inf splits. ie: cav will rush a place and build siege, inf arrives next turn to push in. works ok in western europe. ie: for dongola I just rushed cav stack direct after Gaza fell, and picked up 2 loads of tribesmen a turn or so out to siege with.

I also do fake sieges occasionally (mainly for economic/mischief reasons), or deliberatly siege understrength to draw a sally then push in that turn. Lost count how many times I used Pilgrims to push gates in..

As for other agents:

2-3 diplomats on rome. I had 2 on rome, then 1 shadowing the pope as well later on. I quite often needed 3 diplomatic sessions in the later turns to keep pope happy.. Start every turn on perfect too.

Anyway off to get some battle shots uploaded. :smash:

[Grog]

perhaps you could distract the big stack with your general, as he is a high priority target. Move your general and position him close to the big stack, and just so that the big stack cannot attack both targets.

If I know my AI, they will fall for the bait. What was your answer?

I throw one peasant into the 'wrong' side of the AI army box, then place one peasant slightly off the road between the AI stack and caen.

On the AI turn, they first HAVE to clear the zone control peasant, then they will attack the peasant on the road, their victory pushes them off the road. whats that, no movement left? Siege!

A bit down and dirty, but it worked for me :juggle2:

[Askthepizzaguy]

Understood. I had a general idea as to what was required, no pun intended.

Your method is useful and relevant. It has been added to our own.

[Grog]

Heres a few of my better battles, in chronological order.

Throughout these battles please note the 'quality' of my armies, and with this in mind I had to develop some fairly unconventional tactics, although heavy use of general/mailed knights is prevalent.


Novogrod falls to a fairly shaky sally:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle1.jpg



Routing russia on the steppes:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle2.jpg



Punishing the Byzantines (I hid in the woods mostly..)
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle3.jpg



Punishing Milan after they stole Venice from me.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle4.jpg



More beatings for Milan to retake Venice.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle5.jpg



Militia and Mercs defend Thessolonica!
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle6.jpg



Crunching into Milan
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle7.jpg



Thessolonica Holds!
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle8.jpg



More beatings for Milan
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle9.jpg



War begins on france
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle10.jpg



Crazed castle defence in spain vs pavise/dfk
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle11.jpg



Second crusade, autoresolve win..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle12.jpg



Venice destroyed by overwhelming autoresolve..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle13.jpg



Fairly critical battle to 'break' spain
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/HREblitzbattle14.jpg


I autoresolved about 40%-50% of battles in all, usually if 2:1 or better in my favour (I frontload stacks spears, bows then cav). These are a selection of some of the tighter critical battles I had to fight. I'm still amazed by what can be achieved with relatively rubbish troops :whip:

[Askthepizzaguy]

I'm still amazed by what can be achieved with relatively rubbish troops :whip:

Its not the shoes, man. The most well armoured troop in the world with the best training and the slickest uniform and Nike shoes can't cut it in this game when fighting a band of peasants and archers led by a decent general.

In Rome, I used to just use bands of peasants and equites and a general and lay waste to everything. In this game peasants are nearly worthless, but militia fills in the gap.

By the time anyone gets fully plated, advanced troops, the rest of the world has decent troops as well. it's a catch 22.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Hey Grog...

I just realized my personal record of 50 provinces taken by turn 16 puts me as a serious contender to your 106 provinces/43 turn record, as by turn 20 you had 30 provinces.

Interesting!

I think I will actually attempt to smash your record, Grog. Wish me luck!

Proof that 50 can be taken by turn 16-


I managed 50 provinces by turn 16, but I forgot to take Rome, so it doesn't count.
The proof is here in the save file.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/n5083o

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z148/itsthepizzaguy/0001-2.jpg

Although, theoretically I could still take Rome and beat the 20 turns... but I don't see the point.
I still have all the save files from each turn, so if anyone wants to see this turn by turn, I can send you a link.

[TevashSzat]

I used to do alot of blitzing myself, and might be tempted to join you guys if it werent for the fact that I dont have M2TW installed anymore.

I think HRE is probably the best starting faction, but Milan may be a close second due to its proximity to Rome, you can get a very early crusade and the initial northern Italian cities might give you enough momentum to counter the fact that you start off with less provinces.

Also, the fact that Italian spear militias simply rule help alot too since you can probably get through fights with alot lower odds than if you standard HRE haggard crusade stacks

[Askthepizzaguy]

If one is to use a faction like Milan to blitz, it only makes perfect sense to do what I did in my Danish campaign and barter the mindless AI into giving up the 3 central HRE provinces, or perhaps all 4 if you can do it.

You can use diplomacy to make up for the cash drop for the next 4 turns.

This way, you have a massive starting position comparable to the HRE, and the superior militia troops of Northern Italy. However, that's taking a gamble. You might need that money for troops.

[Grog]

Ah, the joys of an afternoon off work !

Anyway back to Blitzkrieg theorum. I could see you beating my record tbh. I'm fairly sure I could beat it myself. As said above, I did tiptoe around the catholics too much early on, which cost me logistical time/effort. In retrospect I would bribe the pope much harder with more diplomats and completely override excom threats from the off.

One aspect of fast blitzing your fellow catholics is to be on perfect popeometer when you attack, on on perfect after you attack, the same turn. Hence multiple diplomats on rome. With this technique I must have failed 30+ 'do not attack this faction' pope missions and never came near to excom. I found the cheapest bribe is tribute, increased incrementally as a gift the same turn. Also, make sure you get popemeter perfect+allaince and first crusade called before going to war with catholic neighbours..

As for other diplomacy, aside from an early marriage alliance with the danes for a northern trade partner I simply didnt bother. All territory I gained was with battle, and I didnt make a florin from selling anything to the ai.

All battles were sack/ransom. I had a few riots here and there at times, but no rebellions.

HRE vs Milan as a faction: I'd still pick HRE. I found the key to getting fast control in outlying places is to make them castles (religious conversion too slow). I had 40+ castles at the end to my blitz, mainly for cheap control (motte/bailey+1 peasant). Also HRE can blitz rebels harder at the start, Milan has to do away with toughish AI HRE at the start to gain heartland europe fast.


On the general overview, I still think the priority for first crusade is antioch, whilst using crusade speed to hit the 4 outlying corners of the old world, whilst simultaneously carving out an economic heartland with non crusade armies.. You also want to draw your armies in a broad arc across the world. I would dedicate some all horse crusade stacks early(200 ships when needed) on to fly to the outward points of the world, rent a gang of thugs and make a castle. I'd also dedicate 2 stacks to sweep up through russia, my single stack ran out of gas at moscow last attempt.

On a seperate note, I'm thinking of trying Turkey VH/VH with Initial aim of capture all initial catholic/orthodox major castles with first Jihad drop-off, then play a global skirmish/raid game on the cities using HA/cav until Jihad 2..

:smash: .

[Askthepizzaguy]

Yeah I dont actually recommend Milan for a blitz speed record campaign. The HRE is the only faction capable of total domination of the map in record time.

Milan is a purely "for fun" faction.

So far I have some 23 provinces by turn 8. I intend to double that to 50 by turn 16 or less, and double that to 100 by turn 40 or less, and finish off anything that remains in the final turns. I suspect I am now a true contender for the crown again.

Not only do I have 23 provinces, but I have massive amounts of troops (some 3 stacks ready to completely annihilate the British Isles, non crusading)
I also already have a general ready to take off for Arguin from Marrakesh, and my King is assaulting Spain with crusaders. Russia is about to fall completely, as their armies are no match for my two crusader stacks, one of which has devastated all but a few troops in Norvgorod. I have troops moving into position to take Poland, and a crusader stack heading towards the target, Antioch, which is currently in Vienna, and has just split in two, allowing a Byzantine campaign. I am redoubling my forces with additional knights, militiamen, mounted seargents, and I have built ballista to assist with my Italian campaign in progress, under the command of captains atm.

With 3 corners of the map already under my control at turn 8, all that remains is a push towards the crusade target, with 6 turns remaining of absolutely free movement and joining the crusade. I intend to keep my crusade alive until it becomes a severe burden, and then I intend to backstab as many of my allies as possible.

I've also accomplished a daring feat: I've nabbed about 7 allies and sold them a bill of goods I will never deliver. Mostly maps and offers to assault, plus an inordinate amount of military accesses (on their part and mine). This eliminates Zone of Control difficulties for my neighboring nations, allowing me to push through them quicker.

When my massive backstab begins, all alliances will end and the pope will be fuming. However, I intend to bribe him to sleep as blitz theory demands.

My only qualms about this plan are that I have invested in fairly top-heavy strategy... I intend to take the northwest and northeast parts of the map easily, as well as the west, followed by Spain if possible, all during the post-crusade lull... however, I have few troops on the Middle Eastern front thus far. Hopefully my Russian troops, Italian troops, and Polish/Byzantine troops will meet up at Antioch or at least head in that direction in the next 6 turns, or time will be lost forever.

I will take my crown back with this campaign...

:knight:

PS- I have a very difficult battle versus El Cid the Chivalrous with an undermanned and underpowered half-stack of garbage troops and a weak general. This will be a close victory, if it is to be a victory at all... this battle will nab me my 24th province by turn 8.

[Grog]

I eagerly anticipate the battle/empire reports :2thumbsup:

Seriously, with diplomatic wrangling + heavy alliance trade partners you should outburn my economy. My betting on what you have acheived so far, if you manage to placate the pope whilst backsatbbing all europe, high 30's win is on the cards :egypt:

[Askthepizzaguy]

Turn 12- 32 provinces taken.

The war against the Byzantines has begun, with the loss of their great King and soon a castle in Asia Minor will fall. They have approx. 3 stacks of good troops in Constantinople region, so I cannot do a direct assault with my lead stack. More stacks to follow.

The Moors are gone, and Timbuktu has been taken with a crusading army. Iberia is beginning to fall, as I decided not to assault El Cid and focused on destroying the Moors... now I am back to finish off El Cid. Spain and Portugal will fall, but I can take my time, as I have generals in the region that are not on crusade, as well as castles.

Nottigham is the sole British Isles province remaining, with a full stack of garbage troops. I have 3 stacks in the region already, all on crusade. I intend to end my crusade by taking Rennes and Bruges with 2 stacks, proceding south with my third stack.

I have a general in Scotland on crusade which is recruiting troops to wipe out any remaining resistance should I fail in my assault against England.

I have two diplomats at the Pope, but I havent been able to open negotiations yet, and my rep is at abysmal. I hope he does not threaten excommunication, however at this point it doesnt matter. England and Byzantium are my only at war factions, and I can take England in 7 turns with one stack if need be. No worries there.

I have a crusading general in Bolga-Vulgar region all by himself, ready to recruit mercs once the crusade ends. I also have 3 crusading generals in the greater Russian region, one set to retake Norvgorod en route (it rebelled. I don't care. I lose no time retaking it as I have a general en route) and another is wiping up the middle of Russia.

I am massing forces in the middle of the HRE to take nothern italy and poland. I have many knights already assembled, I need to promote a captain which I should do next turn.

I have assaulted Milan and I have troops blocking the bridge. Genoa is the sole Milanese province remaining. Venice hasnt backstabbed me yet. Their loss...

I intend to take Sicily with a crusading stack en route to the Holy land, when the crusade ends. My lead stack will control the end of the first crusade. I still have 2 turns remaining of free movement and joining. I expect severe economic difficulties when the crusade ends.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Also posted on "Current Status of your campaign" thread.

Copied and pasted here, as it pertains to the Blitz All Challenge.
===========================

Current Faction: Holy Roman Empire
Current Campaign: Blitz All Challenge (fastest 106 province win)
Current Difficulty: Very Hard/Very Hard
Version info: 1.02 Vanilla

Current Status:

Provinces held: 45
Battles won: 59
Battles lost: 9
Generals: 19
Under seige this turn: 10 provinces

Turn number: 12

https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh177/daniel_albert1983/0188.jpg

Arnold the Crusader takes the Holy City of Antioch! 190 units of crusading troops suddenly halt their advance towards the target... and like chessmen, they have been ordered into position. We are now ready to strike!

10 provinces are now under seige, and if we can somehow placate the Pope (relations are now perfect) then perhaps we can TAKE 10 provinces next turn, giving us 55 provinces in a mere 13 turns, over halfway to the end of our Challenge.

Realistically, that is not possible. At least one of our seige armies will be attacked and cannot maintain the seige, and another has a nearly insurmountable battle to fight and win. Yet another seige is a waiting game, as neither side can force a victory. Soon they will surrender.

I have armies in all 4 corners of the globe. Russia is gone, and the rebels in that region are being smashed. The Moors are confined to Algeria, their armies destroyed, and Timbuktu is under fire. The Holy land has just been raided, and 5 armies are in position to wipe out France in a single turn and also one is harassing the English. Venice is on the verge of defeat, the Byzantines are on the ropes, Milan is destroyed, Sicily is about to be crushed, Denmark is ready to die in two turns, armies are in position to attack Poland and Hungary next turn, and overall, the situation is bleak for those who would resist us. The Turks and the Egyptians are the only factions remaining with any sizeable force that could resist us for several turns.

https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh177/daniel_albert1983/0213.jpg

If I took Rome this turn I would have won a Long Campaign victory in TWELVE TURNS. (and if I had planned to do so, I could have. I am taking Naples this turn with ballistae.)

That smashes my previous record of 16, and puts me far ahead of the reigning champion's 30 provinces by turn 20.

This campaign is a legend in the making. My only, ONLY challenge is making sure the Pope does not stand in my way. The pointy-hat is the only thing standing between me and a 35 turn victory.

Current mood: Bloodthirsty :skull:
This campaign will be soon made into my ultimate AAR.

[phonicsmonkey]

pizzaguy, you surpass yourself

:2thumbsup:

[cassu]

yeah, thats some really good playing :beam: keep us informed on your epic campagins

[Grog]

Fairly brutal blitzkrieging :smash:

I look forward to seeing the inward crush from the 4 corners!

On the backstabbing of your catholic friends, I found it best to start on perfect each turn with the pope (as you mention you are), and let it drop 3 ranks before topping it up with a diplomat to perfect. This should allow you around 8-10 offensives/turn without actual excom using 3 diplomats on rome.

I would like to know more about your initial build up and how much you 'wrangled' through diplomacy. Did you buy much land initially? Also, rough estimate of florins gained through diplomacy? I found getting enough stacks launched on first crusade awkward, simply could not recruit enough troops/mercs fast enough in the initial few turns. Although as I stated earlier on the thread, I basically ignored diplomacy and concentrated on military expansion.

Do you think you'll need a second crusade to finish? 45/12 at drop off is very impressive, but still a fair bit of marching to do at non crusade speed for the next 10 turns, esp if turks have yet to build roads.

Taking antioch turn 12 I guess would be well within your first crusade timeframe, I am assuming postioning was at a point to make the second crusade sooner rather than ending the first one late?

Anyway, good blitzing, I shall enjoy the AAR :skull:

On a seperate note, I'm having quite a lot of fun with my turkish campaign:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_32faction.jpg

Turkey 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies :2thumbsup:

[Galain_Ironhide]

Fairly brutal blitzkrieging :smash:

I look forward to seeing the inward crush from the 4 corners!

On the backstabbing of your catholic friends, I found it best to start on perfect each turn with the pope (as you mention you are), and let it drop 3 ranks before topping it up with a diplomat to perfect. This should allow you around 8-10 offensives/turn without actual excom using 3 diplomats on rome.

I would like to know more about your initial build up and how much you 'wrangled' through diplomacy. Did you buy much land initially? Also, rough estimate of florins gained through diplomacy? I found getting enough stacks launched on first crusade awkward, simply could not recruit enough troops/mercs fast enough in the initial few turns. Although as I stated earlier on the thread, I basically ignored diplomacy and concentrated on military expansion.

Do you think you'll need a second crusade to finish? 45/12 at drop off is very impressive, but still a fair bit of marching to do at non crusade speed for the next 10 turns, esp if turks have yet to build roads.

Taking antioch turn 12 I guess would be well within your first crusade timeframe, I am assuming postioning was at a point to make the second crusade sooner rather than ending the first one late?

Anyway, good blitzing, I shall enjoy the AAR :skull:

On a seperate note, I'm having quite a lot of fun with my turkish campaign:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_32faction.jpg

Turkey 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies :2thumbsup:


:jawdrop: lol

[Ramses II CP]

The power of the turn 1 jihad is not to be underestimated. If there were Muslims in Scotland I suspect Egypt would be the blitz faction of choice.

Did you pick Vilnius for your first jihad? I'm not a big blitzer, but I wiped out the eastern part of the map in 30 turns with Egypt's first jihad to Vilnius. Sack Jerusalem, Iconium, and Constantinople, and that's just turn 3. :laugh4:

:egypt:

[Csargo]

I've been wanting to try doing this, but I'm not quite sure what faction to use. Any suggestions?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Status of campaign:

Warning: VICTORY IMMINENT!

Turn number 23, 92 provinces taken. 14 provinces remaining. All crusader stacks approaching final targets.

https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh177/daniel_albert1983/0321.jpg

My victory will be before turn 30.

Edit: turn 24... 2-3 turns away from victory. (estimated victory at turn 26-27)

[phonicsmonkey]

yowzer, that is FAST

[Askthepizzaguy]

https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/askthepizzaguy2/600px-Banner_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empe.png

ALL HAIL BLITZ MASTER ASKTHEPIZZAGUY, RECENTLY CROWNED HIGH COMMANDER AND BLITZKRIEG WARFARE CHAMPION!

https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/askthepizzaguy2/0389.jpg

49 Generals by turn 28
44 Cities
62 Castles
218 Battles Won
34 Battles Lost
Regions Controlled: 106
Year: 1134

Turn number 28


My championship title has been restored. It reads as follows, as it always has.

"Master tactician, holder of walls, sacker of cities, great crusader, superb diplomat, pious and pure, intelligent, witty, faithful and charming, Praetor of Rome, Emperor of Byzantium, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, lord of Spain, France, Milan, Venice, Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Timbuktu, King of the Britons, Defeater of the Saxons, sovereign of all England, Patron Saint of War, Beloved Ruler of all Europe, Greatest Generalissimo of all time, and a damn fine lover to boot." -Me, regarding myself.

I will update my signature line. Thanks go to Master Grog, for giving me the much needed challenge to my claim to the throne. Respect and admiration goes out to you. Detailed AAR will follow.

To any challengers to my throne: Turn 27 victory is possible. Just VERY difficult.

https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/askthepizzaguy2/800px-Flag_of_Germany_28state29_svg.png

I can't wait to start writing the AAR... that campaign will be smashing. I have all the save files and all the images captured.

There are roughly 500 images so far. It will take forever to build this particular AAR thread. But hopefully enough people will be interested in viewing it that they will give me feedback.

[Askthepizzaguy]

pizzaguy, you surpass yourself

:2thumbsup:

Indeed. This particular campaign was absolutely unbelievable, especially to myself. I am strongly convinced that this record will stand for a while. I don't think I can improve upon it.


yeah, thats some really good playing :beam: keep us informed on your epic campagins

The in-depth campaign reports are coming soon... over 500 images to load... thank you so much for your interest!


Fairly brutal blitzkrieging :smash:

I look forward to seeing the inward crush from the 4 corners!

On the backstabbing of your catholic friends, I found it best to start on perfect each turn with the pope (as you mention you are), and let it drop 3 ranks before topping it up with a diplomat to perfect. This should allow you around 8-10 offensives/turn without actual excom using 3 diplomats on rome.

I would like to know more about your initial build up and how much you 'wrangled' through diplomacy. Did you buy much land initially? Also, rough estimate of florins gained through diplomacy? I found getting enough stacks launched on first crusade awkward, simply could not recruit enough troops/mercs fast enough in the initial few turns. Although as I stated earlier on the thread, I basically ignored diplomacy and concentrated on military expansion.

Do you think you'll need a second crusade to finish? 45/12 at drop off is very impressive, but still a fair bit of marching to do at non crusade speed for the next 10 turns, esp if turks have yet to build roads.

Taking antioch turn 12 I guess would be well within your first crusade timeframe, I am assuming postioning was at a point to make the second crusade sooner rather than ending the first one late?

Anyway, good blitzing, I shall enjoy the AAR :skull:

On a seperate note, I'm having quite a lot of fun with my turkish campaign:


https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_32faction.jpg

Turkey 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies :2thumbsup:


Impressive Turkish run. That looks quite competitive! I look forward to any reports you might post! I will answer your questions more in depth later on, with my AAR. Or just private message me.


The power of the turn 1 jihad is not to be underestimated. If there were Muslims in Scotland I suspect Egypt would be the blitz faction of choice.

Did you pick Vilnius for your first jihad? I'm not a big blitzer, but I wiped out the eastern part of the map in 30 turns with Egypt's first jihad to Vilnius. Sack Jerusalem, Iconium, and Constantinople, and that's just turn 3. :laugh4:

:egypt:

I know you were referring to Grog, but in my campaign, I chose Antioch as my crusade target. I needed to point the crusade eastward, and Antioch was one of the few the Pope would let me pick. On version 1.02, it's extra hard to get perfect papal relations. It takes a LOT more money to bribe him. Especially on Very Hard/Very Hard.

This was close enough for a quick crusade, which allowed me to build up massive troop levels and position my chessmen all over the board for a quick French checkmate. The biggest stumbling block to success is France, being the next most massive Catholic nation and your irritating neighbor. I knew I needed a ONE TURN K-O of France.

I still got excommunicated.

I had to slay all the popes and build my own Pope just to get reinstated. Then I needed massive bribing florins. THEN I GOT EXCOMMUNICATED BY MY OWN POPE.

Needless to say, I replaced him rather quickly with yet another sword through the head.

I fought THROUGH my excommunication by racking up massive territory and slaying several factions. That gave me the glory and fear bonuses I needed to counter the excommunication. Keeping Jerusalem was difficult, but I did it. Excommunicated and everything... with only a bare minimum garrison, as I needed to slay Egypt NOW, not later.

I didn't think it was possible, but the excommunication gave me the boost I needed. I wasd able to attack EVERYONE with impunity, and I scored a massive coup against Venice by having them ambush a crusading stack. They were destroyed the very next turn, thanks to Pope's excommunication of Venice.

Venice was the only excommunicated Catholic faction in the entire campaign. That's what I call bad luck...

Not that it held me back.

Oops, better save some for the AAR. I have LOTS more to tell you. Surprising stuff.


I've been wanting to try doing this, but I'm not quite sure what faction to use. Any suggestions?

HRE is the only faction you can do it with and make a new record.

I also recommend France due to their large standing army. But you can't beat the HRE.

Danes, Milan, England, Venice, all will give you a run for your money. Yes, I said Danes. A quick coup with your princess on turn one gives you 3 extra provinces.

PS- Did not buy one single province. Did not use spies to open gates. Used ballista VERY sparingly.

[phonicsmonkey]

Incredible, blitz-tastic action ATPG

you have made me feel sorry for the poor little AI (PLAI)

:cheerleader::cheerleader::cheerleader:

(I posted this on the current campaign thread but it really belongs here)

[Ramses II CP]

Congrats ATPG! :germany: :7gangster: :uhoh2:

The AI never even knew what hit 'em. Imagine if the old HRE had conquered all that territory in sixty years. Technically possible within the lifespan of a single King! :shocked2:

I love that in your final shot you caught the Pope staring at the rubble of Rome. Wonder when he'll grab his :end: placard and start marching around St. Peter's square.

Impressive stuff, I'm looking forward to the AAR. :2thumbsup:

:egypt: (Excessive smiley drive engaged :clown: )

[Askthepizzaguy]

Congrats ATPG! :germany: :7gangster: :uhoh2:

The AI never even knew what hit 'em. Imagine if the old HRE had conquered all that territory in sixty years. Technically possible within the lifespan of a single King! :shocked2:

I love that in your final shot you caught the Pope staring at the rubble of Rome. Wonder when he'll grab his :end: placard and start marching around St. Peter's square.

Impressive stuff, I'm looking forward to the AAR. :2thumbsup:

:egypt: (Excessive smiley drive engaged :clown: )

Thanks Ramses! I look forward to continuing my Sicilian war for independence campaign on LTC VH/VH. This was more of a diversion. That campaign is HARD!

Currently: Resizing images to fit your screen. Beginning preliminary photobucket upload.

over 500 images.... D'oh!

[Grog]

Top quality Blitzkrieg ATPG, the crown is yours once more :egypt:

I shall look forward to the AAR, but we may as well keep this thread going for generalist blitzkrieg discussion :laugh4:

I think HRE with antioch first crusade is probably the most optimal blitz faction. Antioch is a strong city, is the easiest in holy lands to defend ie: less pressure from egypt, and Byz/turks usually too busy knocking lumps out of one another to bother with it early.

HRE as a faction, while a bit clunky have a great central position, can build a fast economic heartland from rebels etc. They also start with decent standing armies and plenty of Florins. Also as ATPG notes, any other faction other than france/HRE is going to struggle initially due to having to cut down AI France/HRE for euro heartland early, whilst getting pope to perfect for fast crusade, not easy.

On my Turkish game, yeah it's going fairly good. First time playing the turks in M2TW, plus they have more logistics problems early on and weaker economy/position than HRE. I've made quite a few mistakes/misjudgements already ie: knowing what I know now, I could be faster earlier etc. Should be a <40 victory, maybe 37ish if englands crusade fails vs Toulouse. I will post a lighthearted AAR but I seriously reckon low-mid 30's is possible with one of the Islamic factions using my houserules.. Btw Siphai's/turkomans make this a lot of fun. I called first Jihad constantinople, second Jihad rome. I'm also having a few more issues controlling the larger catholic cities for the first few turns, such is life :wall:

Anyway, top work ATPG, I shall look forward to the AAR :2thumbsup:

[Monsieur Alphonse]

:cheerleader:
"Master tactician, holder of walls, sacker of cities, great crusader, superb diplomat, pious and pure, intelligent, witty, faithful and charming, Praetor of Rome, Emperor of Byzantium, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, lord of Spain, France, Milan, Venice, Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Timbuktu, King of the Britons, Defeater of the Saxons, sovereign of all England, Patron Saint of War, Beloved Ruler of all Europe, Greatest Generalissimo of all time, and a damn fine lover to boot." -Me, regarding myself. :cheerleader:

We only can bow to you Lord of War :bow: :bow: :bow:

[Grog]

Ok, not a new record by any means, but I had a bit of a blast in my Turkish attempt and set a new personal best, so thought I would share the experience. :smash:

Turkey 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies :2thumbsup:

Long campaign victory: Turn 24

106 provinces: Turn 40



Turkish empire report, Turn 5:


9 provinces captured: Sieges on Thessalonica, Edessa. Jihad called turn3 vs Constantinople, 3 armies join turn4. Turks can call Jihad from turn1, but forces are spread a little too thin for any benefit, so I opted for a few turns training/logistics etc.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_5faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 10:

19 provinces captured, Sofia,Sarkel and Jersusalem under siege, plus I have a few more Jihad armies now. Plan is to get over to Bulgar, break most of byzantine and get on down to Egypt way for Jihad drop off.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_10faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 15:

31 provinces captured, first jihad ends. Idea now is to use sacking income to build for next Jihad turn24. Florins a bit tight, but no debt so far. Had a full Venice stack drop out of Fog of War at my Ragusa siege and thump me silly heh, but the fools left it ungarrisoned so my beaten stack ran in next turn..still had a few turns of aggrovation here.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_15faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 20:

37 captured, fairly slow going but building well for second jihad. Retaking Bran yet again :inquisitive: Catholics getting a bit sensitive over my 'grab all catholic castles' strategem it seems..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_20faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 25:

46 captured. Jihad 2 launched turn24 vs Rome. long game victory turn24. Zagreb, vienna, Helsinki, Tripoli under assault. Stack enroute Timbuktu-Arguin at Jihad speed. Things going pretty well now, bit of grief from Russia, so I skipped round them for now. Starting to rip into euro heartlands.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_25faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 30:

69 provinces captured, Bologna/Bern/Metz/Dijon/Bordeaux/Hamburg under assault. Jihad 2 going well so far, still having trouble getting enough generals/troops along the 'burning line', even though recruiting heavily everywhere west of constantinople, florins np now, can't spend it quick enough troopwise..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_30faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 35:

94 provinces captured, rennes/edinburgh/dublin under siege. jihad 2 ends around 36, tied in by logistical errors from ~10-15 turns ago now. With my florins from turn 25 on could have won this by 35 with better planning, but hey-ho such is life :beam:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_35faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 40:

Marrakesh falls turn40 for the 106th province. I had 105/38 which is a bit annoying, but can't be bothered to replay through the last 10 turns or so to change this, so turn 40 win it is :smash:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_40faction.jpg



General Overview on Blitzing as Turks.

-Iman can call early Jihad (turn1), but I called it turn3 while I assembled some armies

-Turkey has a fairly tough start for this, 4 spread out provinces, mostly poor and fairly weak land armies, so not too much to work with initailly. Also, don't get many decent infantrys early, so autoresolves fairly weak. (I did over 50% autoresolve this campaign, mainly overwhelmings)

-I was fairly happy with first 20 turns, didnt really get enough generals and the few I got were mostly in the wrong areas. In retrospect I would plan my primary/secondary/tertiary wave fronts better and move generals back more to gather/reinforce. At one point I had 4 chaps near Riga when I needed them Italy/UK mainly due to Rus/Poles putting up more resistance than anticipated, plus poor merc recruitment.

-I used a high castle/city ratio again, mainly for control in the back of beyond, plus it helps for Sipahis/turkomans everywhere

-I should have gone heavier on my logistics/pulled more generals back 20-25. could take 5 turns or so off the total time doing this.

-I would plan secondary wave reinforcement of captured catholic cities better next time. Plus the problem of my expansion path (capture 3/4 of world then push into last NW europe 1/4 to finish) means that everything you build is behind you :inquisitive: The HRE 4 corner crush works better.

-I think the general blitzing logistics rule of 'start everything yesterday' is the one I have most trouble with, I'm too much of a penny pinching micromanager still :beam:

So there you go, miles from ATPG's 28 turn/106 province win, but beats my previous HRE attempt :2thumbsup:

[Askthepizzaguy]

Ok, not a new record by any means, but I had a bit of a blast in my Turkish attempt and set a new personal best, so thought I would share the experience. :smash:

Turkey 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies :2thumbsup:

Long campaign victory: Turn 24

106 provinces: Turn 40



Turkish empire report, Turn 5:


9 provinces captured: Sieges on Thessalonica, Edessa. Jihad called turn3 vs Constantinople, 3 armies join turn4. Turks can call Jihad from turn1, but forces are spread a little too thin for any benefit, so I opted for a few turns training/logistics etc.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_5faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 10:

19 provinces captured, Sofia,Sarkel and Jersusalem under siege, plus I have a few more Jihad armies now. Plan is to get over to Bulgar, break most of byzantine and get on down to Egypt way for Jihad drop off.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_10faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 15:

31 provinces captured, first jihad ends. Idea now is to use sacking income to build for next Jihad turn24. Florins a bit tight, but no debt so far. Had a full Venice stack drop out of Fog of War at my Ragusa siege and thump me silly heh, but the fools left it ungarrisoned so my beaten stack ran in next turn..still had a few turns of aggrovation here.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_15faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 20:

37 captured, fairly slow going but building well for second jihad. Retaking Bran yet again :inquisitive: Catholics getting a bit sensitive over my 'grab all catholic castles' strategem it seems..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_20faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 25:

46 captured. Jihad 2 launched turn24 vs Rome. long game victory turn24. Zagreb, vienna, Helsinki, Tripoli under assault. Stack enroute Timbuktu-Arguin at Jihad speed. Things going pretty well now, bit of grief from Russia, so I skipped round them for now. Starting to rip into euro heartlands.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_25faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 30:

69 provinces captured, Bologna/Bern/Metz/Dijon/Bordeaux/Hamburg under assault. Jihad 2 going well so far, still having trouble getting enough generals/troops along the 'burning line', even though recruiting heavily everywhere west of constantinople, florins np now, can't spend it quick enough troopwise..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_30faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 35:

94 provinces captured, rennes/edinburgh/dublin under siege. jihad 2 ends around 36, tied in by logistical errors from ~10-15 turns ago now. With my florins from turn 25 on could have won this by 35 with better planning, but hey-ho such is life :beam:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_35faction.jpg


Turkish empire report, Turn 40:

Marrakesh falls turn40 for the 106th province. I had 105/38 which is a bit annoying, but can't be bothered to replay through the last 10 turns or so to change this, so turn 40 win it is :smash:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turks_40faction.jpg



General Overview on Blitzing as Turks.

-Iman can call early Jihad (turn1), but I called it turn3 while I assembled some armies

-Turkey has a fairly tough start for this, 4 spread out provinces, mostly poor and fairly weak land armies, so not too much to work with initailly. Also, don't get many decent infantrys early, so autoresolves fairly weak. (I did over 50% autoresolve this campaign, mainly overwhelmings)

-I was fairly happy with first 20 turns, didnt really get enough generals and the few I got were mostly in the wrong areas. In retrospect I would plan my primary/secondary/tertiary wave fronts better and move generals back more to gather/reinforce. At one point I had 4 chaps near Riga when I needed them Italy/UK mainly due to Rus/Poles putting up more resistance than anticipated, plus poor merc recruitment.

-I used a high castle/city ratio again, mainly for control in the back of beyond, plus it helps for Sipahis/turkomans everywhere

-I should have gone heavier on my logistics/pulled more generals back 20-25. could take 5 turns or so off the total time doing this.

-I would plan secondary wave reinforcement of captured catholic cities better next time. Plus the problem of my expansion path (capture 3/4 of world then push into last NW europe 1/4 to finish) means that everything you build is behind you :inquisitive: The HRE 4 corner crush works better.

-I think the general blitzing logistics rule of 'start everything yesterday' is the one I have most trouble with, I'm too much of a penny pinching micromanager still :beam:

So there you go, miles from ATPG's 28 turn/106 province win, but beats my previous HRE attempt :2thumbsup:

THAT is the spirit, folks.

I invite all to try the unlikely, to beat the HRE challenge, but hey... ALL THE OTHER FACTIONS ARE WIDE OPEN. Beating my England and France records should be simple.

(58 England, 57 France) Go ahead and crush those records. Use the strategies myself and Grog laid out.

And if you're that crazy, the HRE will always be there.

[Good Ship Chuckle]

How do you make sure people aren't cheating?

[Csargo]

It's called trust ~;)

[Askthepizzaguy]

How do you make sure people aren't cheating?

Part of what I do for proof is I take screen shots, and lots of them.

It's absolutely ridiculous to post over 600 screenshots if you're cheating, because the only person you're impressing is yourself.

Also, I do the challenge myself. And for those that beat me, I ask them vaguely what they might be doing differently. After all, I've shared my secrets.

If they cannot explain their victories, then I know something is up.

Yeah, and trust I guess. But there's no reason to trust, because there is nothing official really about being Blitzmaster. No one has given me any award. It's basically an award I gave myself.

[Ramses II CP]

As ATPG pointed out, what would be gained by cheating? Most of us have a pretty good idea what's possible in the game and if it seemed like someone's claim was outlandish you could always go test it yourself. The Challenge is less of a 'who is better' kind of thing, and more of a 'check out this cool thing you can do' kind of thing. A way of pushing the limits of the game's design. Hence why ATPG and some of us others do AARs (Digging yours BTW ATPG, even though my creaky old browsing machine can't even load it :laugh4: ) and stories based on our campaigns.

:egypt:

[Askthepizzaguy]

As ATPG pointed out, what would be gained by cheating? Most of us have a pretty good idea what's possible in the game and if it seemed like someone's claim was outlandish you could always go test it yourself. The Challenge is less of a 'who is better' kind of thing, and more of a 'check out this cool thing you can do' kind of thing. A way of pushing the limits of the game's design. Hence why ATPG and some of us others do AARs (Digging yours BTW ATPG, even though my creaky old browsing machine can't even load it :laugh4: ) and stories based on our campaigns.

:egypt:

My advice on loading it...

ummmm pretty much I can't load it either. But once it stops loading photos, hit the refresh button and the old photos might remain and the newer photos might begin loading properly. Even with my massively impressive connection it takes me two loads to get them all properly.

I think there is officially one broken photo link. I'm too lazy to go fix it, as it's nothing special to look at.

[Grog]

Well I had a lot of fun with my Turks game, so gave it a go with the Moors :smash:

Moors 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies

Moors empire report, turn4:


Well a fairly sparse start for the Moors. 3 weak provinces, flimsy treasury, 3 generals, of which the sultan is not long for this world... obvious answer is to call a jihad on constantinople :2thumbsup:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_jihad2.jpg

So end of turn 4, 6 provinces captured, slowly building...
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction4.jpg


Moors empire report, turn8:

Turn 8, 12 provinces captured, Spain gone, Portugal about to fall. The heavy castle at palermo secured to underpin expansion plans. Pushing on towards byzantine lands and into western europe and British isles next few turns:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction8.jpg


Moors empire report, turn12:

22 provinces captured. Progressing well towards arguin. Stack near constantinople. War on British isles, crushing france soon, sizing up HRE.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction12.jpg


Moors empire report, turn16:

Constantinople falls turn 14:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_jihadwin14.jpg

39 provinces held. It's time to push eastward now and grab the euro heartlands while building for next jihad on turn 24. Cash is a bit tight, but lots of troops on the burning line.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction16.jpg


Moors empire report, turn20:

53 provinces held. Central Europe mostly locked down. Pushing into Turkey. Planning for holylands/Egypt. Gathering/logistics building up for Jihad launch on turn 24.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction20.jpg


Moors empire report, turn24:

The second Jihad is lauched against Novgorod. Plan is to arc across Eastern europe and Russia, then snap up to finish at novgorod/bulgar/holylands..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_jihad24.jpg

63 provinces captured. Things are going fairly well at start of Jihad 2, not much cash but plenty of troops on the go..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction24.jpg


Moors empire report, turn28:

Pope gregory not impressed with me, so calls a crusade on Rome. Not many catholics left to answer...1000 mile eastern front saw to that :inquisitive:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_crusade26.jpg

89 provinces held. Stack headed for jedda. fast horse stacks rushing through Russia, with inf following, conquest of the Holy lands begins (4 heavy armies land at Acre next turn) Tick tock...
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction28.jpg


Moors empire report, turn32:

Long victory at turn 29, this may be possible turn 17-18 if set as main objective. This was fairly academic for me having 90+ provinces when Jerusalem fell..
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_victorylong29.jpg

Novogrod falls to my merciless Sultan's Jihad:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_jihadwin32.jpg

106 provinces held, 32 turns :2thumbsup:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_faction32.jpg


:clown:

[Askthepizzaguy]

Not bad at all, Grog. I myself was never too good with the Moors, but then again I never really played as such.

4 turns shy of the current record is a great achievement! Given the yuck that the Moors start with...

I hereby crown you Moorish Blitzmaster!

[Ramses II CP]

The biggest problem with the Moors IMHO is that you have to wait for gunpowder to get their best units. For anything else I'd rather be Egypt or Turkey.

That's an impressive blitz with 'em though. They're one of the 'harder' factions to play VH/VH. :laugh4:

:egypt:

[Grog]

The biggest problem with the Moors IMHO is that you have to wait for gunpowder to get their best units. For anything else I'd rather be Egypt or Turkey.

That's an impressive blitz with 'em though. They're one of the 'harder' factions to play VH/VH. :laugh4:

:egypt:

Yep, the Moors unit roster was just starting to look interesting as the game finished, and yes the turks are better by miles early game. Sipahi/Turkoman vs desert cav, whose your money on? I have not played as egypt yet so cannot comment :egypt:

Still the desert cav are very fast, so great for when you want to make sure you kill/capture every single man of a city/castle garrison AI reinforcement when hitting an army by a settlement to allow same turn rush in.

Also, a few units of desert cav can cause some reasonable damage to marching mailed knights/generals etc, although in conflict all other horse faction units send them packing in fairly short order. I just used 2+ generals in most serious stacks as my heavy cav with desert cav support, by the time I had the moors next level cav available it was virtually all done. My general units were regularly cut down to the slim end of single figures, although I only lost 10 or so generals overall.

I again relied on mercs wherever I could grab them. I rolled western europe fairly early so only spears/xbows available. The Jihad recruitable troops are only consistant in the south and east, although a wall of Ghazis rolling down the hill into the enemy as my generals smash into the flanks/rear usually worked wonders :smash: .

My main strategy for the Moors was to fight as few battles as possible (179 wins total for 106 province), I did this by basically rushing past and attacking weakspots wherever possible, relying on secondary waves to snuff out hotspots that develop. In the screenshots above you can see at various points I had 'hotspots' at bruges, nottingham, zagreb etc ie: AI had strong enough army that it was easier to rush past and draw them after me, then hit them with a secondary wave army :laugh4:

An example of my 'light' miltary style with moors. My first Jihad is to Constantinople. I only send 1 general+ 7 mixed units. His objective was to capture most of north african coast+ palermo etc, grabbing troops wherever then take constantinople singlehanded around 12/13.

Ok but Byzantine has a fair bit of land to raise cash from, and decent-ish armies early on, but they are usually fighting turkey/venice/hungary by turn 10 on VH, so I am gambling on 3-5 garrison + small floating army on Corinth as they have moved armies north/east. I get 4 units.

Sieging/sacking Corinth makes AI byzantine head its free armies down towards corinth by land/sea. However, I have now hopped back on my merc cog and sped across to rebel smryna? (castle below nicea). siege/sack creates another hostile border with Byzantine. They divert armies again, and also land a small HA army and siege corinth. I ignore it.

I then step my general out of the jihad stack and grab more non jihad mercs, these are set off to cause mischief/reinforce corinth. I then rejoin stack and sail on constantinople (I always coast hop with jihad/crusade armies ie: end of each turn on dry land). As I siege constantinople with a full stack, a captained HA unit 'false' sieges Nicea to draw any Byzantine loose armies - most of their forces are 2 turns out from constantinople that I can see...

Finally, constantinople falls on turn 14 as the Jihad ends, Byzantines turn and rush back to retake constantinople, but by now I am sieging Nicea properly after a quick hop on my speedy little cog! Byzantine Ai is really dithering now so I snap back and take Thesslonica with a weak garrison before they can defend in strength. Disheartened, the Byzantines trudge back down through Turkey to their last remaining Island..

On a final note, never underestimate the power of an enraged faction leader :furious3:


So after leaving my newly promoted general to oversee the siege of london, my Sultan heads north with a loyal family member engage in a spot of falconry and see the lie of the land (ie: check notts garrison and see if any mercs in reigon, spys too slow to keep up)

Suddenly I am ambushed by a gang of merry men! I actually clicked a bit nearer to nottingham than intended, and could have withdrawn, but the 'odds' made me go for it:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_ambush12.jpg

Still after a tough fight, my faction leader emerges bloody but victorious:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_victory12.jpg

Victory has its price...
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/moors_death12.jpg

[Grog]

General Grog approaches the weapon rack. He ponders his choices, whilst scratching his recently healed decaptitaion scar.

Taking up the HRE rapier, he makes a few idle swishes in the air, smiles, then replaces the weapon back in the rack. Then his eyes alight on a curved eastern scimitar. Grinning, he takes it from the rack, turns on his heel and shouts "Horse Archers, the more the merrier" as he strides out to meet his captains...


Turks 1.3 Vanilla VH/VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No debt
-Minor spying and diplomacy
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies

Turkish Empire Report, turn 5:

Jihad called Turn 2 against Baghdad. Turn 1 was used to form up armies for this.
9 provinces taken by turn 5, starting war on the Byzantines while Jihad stacks head to Russia and the Holy Lands/Egypt.

Turks always slow for the first few turns as they need to overcome economic/logistical problems of the east...

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T5_faction.jpg


Turkish Empire Report, turn 10:

Jihad vs Baghdad is successful turn 9. I needed a fast first Jihad to carve out a base economy, and to get me north/west far enough to overcome logistics. Now we have 10 turns to build for Jihad 2...

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T9_jihadwin.jpg

31 provinces captured by turn 10. Sultan Jalal begins the long dusty trek to Timbuktu, leaving the empire in the safe hands of his dreaded son, Mustafa. Starting to tie up the NE/SE map corners. War on moscow. Southern Italy is taken, rome captured, armies head north and west into europe/med.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T10_faction-1.jpg


Turkish Empire Report, turn 15:

Long campaign Victory turn 14 as Sofia falls, after a two front curve and switch attack on byzantines.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T14_victory.jpg

45 provinces captured by turn 15. My armies spreading into Europe. Sultan Jalal nears timbuktu.
SE locked. NE getting close. Skirting round Russia for now and ravaging westwards. HRE being rushed. Florins a bit scarce, all buillding work dried up a few turns back, its all going on troops atm for Jihad 2 turn 19...

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T15_faction.jpg


Turkish Empire Report, turn 20:


The second Jihad is called on novogrod on turn 19. I just wanted somewhere the AI would not get to before me, plus I always get held up in Russia :beam:

63 provinces captured by turn 20, but the Jihad is in full flow now. stacks pushing ahead to danes/brits, creating a nice patchwork blitz effect. My plan is to zerg in, grab all NW europe castles then explode everywhere! Bloody big fight vs Hungary soon, poles on the ropes, russia surrounded.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T20_faction.jpg


Turkish Empire Report, turn 25:


The world falls to the Turkish Horde, turn 25, 106 provinces :smash: :laugh4: :whip:

Note: 106 provinces taken in 155 battles won and <40 generals :inquisitive:

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T25_faction.jpg

The second Jihad is won at Novogrod.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T25_jihad.jpg

Faction rankings, turn 25:

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Grog_M2TW/Turkblitz_T25_overall.jpg

Die Infidels! :clown:

[FactionHeir]

Necromancy is bad :no: