Out of Character thread

Being avatarless doesn't necessarily mean being silent. For example, Ituralde has done a great job as Conrad even though he doesn't have an avatar yet, he even has a transition mechanism in place *cough*. Granted, stories would be difficult, since you'll be switching characters at some point.

Even avatarless, I think now would be a good time to speak up since the Empire has not committed to a certain path yet. You might want to get your two cents in before we sack Rome. :laugh4:

Lucjan, Otto will be responding, I just wanted to see if anyone else wanted to go on the record, like Kagemusha did, before replying.

Edit: The shield bug, AFAIK, is where the shield defense score is only applied to missile defense and not melee defense. In fact some people are saying the shield defense score subtracts from total melee defense. I.E. The better your shield, the worse your protection in melee. I haven't noticed this in game play but I figure it would be tough to tell with early game troops and it does effect both sides in battle.

Second Edit: TinCow's proposal as Max might actually work in-game. Take Rome, kill Pope, donate one of our territories to new Pope. I've never invaded Rome before in game though, I'll have to check it out in my HRE game (~60 turns in and looking very different from KotR at this point) after saving of course.

WOTS started out with far fewer participants than it ended up with. We're actually way ahead of where WOTS was by the middle of the first Consulship. More people will join in with time and as the number of avatars increases, so will the battles to be fought and the interactive nature.

There's actually far more potential for the Diet to influence things here than in WOTS simple because the M2TW diplomatic AI actually works. In WOTS the only way to maintain peace was to avoid a border. Here we can actually get a ceasefire to end a war and allies won't turn on us overnight.

Okey dokey then.

It's more of a series of confirmations, then a question and a suggestion.

An avatar is an actual character in the game being controlled? People without avatars are characters in the diet but not in the actual game being controled Mr Hankerchief?

In what order should I be checking things? This out of character thread is fine, you are obviously just being yourselves talking about all aspects of the game. It's pretty hard to work out what the chronology is when trying to keep up. Please note I have read everything so its more of an organisational check. It's not clear to me.

Because I'm waiting for my OPC machine to be delivered from the states I have no PC at the moment. It seems that unless you have the current saved game downloaded and can read everything you gentlemen are discussing while cross referencing the map at the same time, then most of the edicts and excellent points are lost on me. I can only imagine this is the same for other "readers".

Would it be possible to have a screen shot map (maybe not and I can compeltely understand if it isn't) which is the current "state of the empire" being discussed in each Diet session?

Thanks Chaps

Hey AussieGiant,

Have you checked out the Imperial Library?

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=77335

It's stickied at the the top of the Throne Room forum. It has maps, edict lists, character summaries, and the like. It's a good place to gain a sense of what we're blathering on about.

When I stumbled onto the WotS PBM, I started with the Senate Library, then the consular reports, then the Diet discussions, and I never really made it to the OOC thread. Of course it was huge by that time. You could try the same approach here. I guess you could go by the time stamps on each post if you wanted to try to match up what happened when in the different threads.

Edit: You're right about avatars.

Happy Hunting

Thanks for confirming the avatar thingy and the order of how to read things dlain.

I've seen the Library and that's a big help.

I guess I'm really interested in all the discussion being had so I need a machine and the saved map to be "up to speed" so to say.

Thanks again.

As I don't have a machine would there be any options for joining?

Yes, it's possible to join up without a machine. Just choose a House and you can be signed up as an Elector of it[1]. That way you can vote, discuss in character and be in the queue for an avatar. Most participants are waiting for avatars, so it may not be until you get your machine that one is available for you. If Wots is anything to go by, this PBM should last a fair few months.

TinCow is updating the mini-map in the library at every Diet session, so you should have some information without loading up the save. The Chancellor is also posting reports that keep people current as well. If in doubt about something, ask in the OOC thread first to avoid making an in character goof. I suspect things will become more focussed once we are at war with someone.

[1]It looks like we have lost Pevergreen as the Fourth Elector of Austria, so if you are indifferent between Houses, it might be good to take that slot so that the numbers are balanced.

Hi Econ,

Thanks for the information.

So those maps that Tin Cow has posted up are the actual maps Hankerchief is looking at in the game?

I know it's a hard question to answer econ, but how much time would you think I need to allocate to meet some minimum specs? I certainly have no house preference and I could play it pretty neutral until an avatar is assigned.

I do have a full time job and I would start travelling in early march across the planet for work.

And, I agree entirely. There's a lot of talk going on (excellent) but when the proverbial hits the fan very soon it might get a little more focused :yes:

Hi AussieGiant, basically the ammount of time you put in is up to you. Don't feel pressured to contiually post in the Imperial Diet if you don't have the time. Of course, it gets more immersive if you post more, but even the occasional post is still very acceptable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AussieGiant

So those maps that Tin Cow has posted up are the actual maps Hankerchief is looking at in the game?

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I was referring to the mini-map: the small coloured one in the first post that shows which faction owns what. The map room in the third post won't be updated (it would take too long). Not sure about the state of Empire maps in the first post.

Quote:

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I know it's a hard question to answer econ, but how much time would you think I need to allocate to meet some minimum specs? I certainly have no house preference and I could play it pretty neutral until an avatar is assigned.

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I measure player activity by how many votes they participate in. If you vote at most Diets, that's fine. If players miss a string of Diet votes, I'll assume they've de facto dropped out of the PBM. There's no obligation to pontificate, although the temptation can be irresistible.

An example of a player participating without a savegame was an Upper House member in the WotS PBM, Swordsmaster. He voted faithfully for six months but otherwise tended to keep a low profile. Towards the end, he wandered into the Senate to protest at what he saw as his avatar being neglected and got an ear-bashing from the Consul. A few weeks later, the proverbial whatsit hit the fan and when civil war erupted, he happened to be the nearest general to Rome and the key Italian recruiting grounds. Ultimately it was the army he gathered that defeated the Consul at the gates to Rome. He wasn't alone - another regular without a savegame, Tiberius, joined him in playing an almost identical role.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by econ21

I was referring to the mini-map: the small coloured one in the first post that shows which faction owns what. The map room in the third post won't be updated (it would take too long). Not sure about the state of Empire maps in the first post.

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The state of the empire maps get updated when everything else does: currently every Diet session. They only cover our conquered territories though and starting next session though they will be taken with FOW on.

Hi Econ,

I certainly would take it as a given that voting in every diet is a minimum and I'm pretty sure that no matter where I am in the world, I could allocate time to do that.

I'm pretty sure "carrying on like a pork chop" in the parliamentary sessions would be right up my ally and entirely addictive.:laugh4:

If that's what you'd be happy with then I'm in.

I'm expecting my OPC in 2 weeks.

But as I'm travelling a lot which map is the one for me to look at exactly (sorry I'm being a bit anal)?

Let me know what the position is, and what the hand over process is and I'll start taking a closer look and PM'ing the team I am with.

Cheers
AG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TinCow

The state of the empire maps get updated when everything else does: currently every Diet session. They only cover our conquered territories though and starting next session though they will be taken with FOW on.

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That's a good deal of work so thanks TC.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AussieGiant

I'm in. ...But as I'm travelling a lot which map is the one for me to look at exactly (sorry I'm being a bit anal)?

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Welcome on board, I'll put you down as the Fourth Elector of Austria replacing Pevergreen.

The maps are the three screenshots in this thread:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...31&postcount=1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by econ21

Welcome on board, I'll put you down as the Fourth Elector of Austria replacing Pevergreen.

The maps are the three screenshots in this thread:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...31&postcount=1

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Thanks econ. I'm in. Should I PM pevergreen or do you handle that?

Pevergreen posted here that he was pulling out and someone could take his slot, so I don't think we need worry about informing him. He's welcome to jump back in, of course - it really doesn't matter if he's the Fourth or the Fifth Elector.

On another matter - it's about time for an update from the Chancellor. Can GH or anyone else fill us in on what's happened since last Friday?

Let me extend a warm welcome to you in the name of the House of Austria AussieGiant! As second Elector it is a pleasure to introduce you into our noble House led by Duke Leopold played by none other but Braden. We can use all the assistance we can get and I'm sure you'll make a great additon.


On another note I want to thank dlain for his compliment and can easily return it, he has also done a great job of bringing a avatarless character to life and now continues with Otto von Kassel. Of course the other are also doing a great job and I'm really enjoying this PBM with you guys.

Cheers!

Ituralde

Hi Ituralde,

Thanks for the introduction. Are you german?

It seems everyone has a character name.

Could you list our team?

Braden is clearly Leopold and second son of the Keiser, how about the rest?

Didn't Pevergreen take a name?

Ok Econ so I will just assume that its done.

And yes...how do we know when a turn is compeleted by GH

You can see the list of players in the table in this post:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...81&postcount=1

Some Electors without avatars have taken names, although its not required given that we can't anticipate the name of the avatar that they will eventually get.

The Chancellor posts periodic updates, but there's a trade-off between playing and writing up so he does not post every turn.

So I can just use the title: 4th elector of the House of Austria.

Cool

I'd say that's just about it for the noobie questions.

Thanks for your patience everyone.

Wellcome AussieGiant.Enjoy the game and i hope to see you in the Imperial diet for some Squabling over Empires affairs.:2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Kagemusha

Wellcome AussieGiant.Enjoy the game and i hope to see you in the Imperial diet for some Squabling over Empires affairs.:2thumbsup:

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Thanks Kagemusha.

You can bet your house on that my man!!

I, also, would like to welcome AussieGiant to the game!

:yes:

Aye, welcome to the game AussieGiant ~:cheers:

:balloon2:

Aye, welcome to the PBM AussieGiant! :medievalcheers:

Quick update, since my time is short:

- Braden has the savegame, he is repulsing a sally by Prague.

- Poland took Breslau before I had a chance to do anything.

- Bern will be assaulted the next turn. Get ready, dlain.

- We have *another* female priest on the Stettin conversion mission. :dizzy2:

There's more but that's all I can think of right now. Check out the savegame if you're interested. I'm going to put up a report probably after Bern.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GeneralHankerchief

- We have *another* female priest on the Stettin conversion mission. :dizzy2:

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I think I'll have to work this into my next story. ~:pimp: What's her name and where was she recruited from?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GeneralHankerchief

- Bern will be assaulted the next turn. Get ready, dlain.

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Got it. I have the next few days off so I will have the time.

You guys have any pointers on assaults or taking screenies you'd like to share? I've taken a lot of castles but I haven't done combat journalism before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GeneralHankerchief

Aye, welcome to the PBM AussieGiant! :medievalcheers:

Quick update, since my time is short:

- Braden has the savegame, he is repulsing a sally by Prague.

- Poland took Breslau before I had a chance to do anything.

- Bern will be assaulted the next turn. Get ready, dlain.

- We have *another* female priest on the Stettin conversion mission. :dizzy2:

There's more but that's all I can think of right now. Check out the savegame if you're interested. I'm going to put up a report probably after Bern.

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Great summary thanks a lot GH.

Pissed about Berslau though...ah well

Braden and anyone else that may know.

It is clear we need a castle in the east. Is Vienna's build queue determined by Braden alone? Or do we have to pass that through the Diet as he is seiging Prague?

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Originally Posted by AussieGiant

Is Vienna's build queue determined by Braden alone? Or do we have to pass that through the Diet as he is seiging Prague?

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Governors set out 10 turn build queues - to keep things simple, the queues still stand even if the avatar moves away and ceases to be the governor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by econ21

Governors set out 10 turn build queues - to keep things simple, the queues still stand even if the avatar moves away and ceases to be the governor.

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Hi Econ,

I read in the reports and the only thing I can find is that Braden stopped after 4 turns to assess the situation. As I have not been able to track down the build progress any further I'm just getting a bit worried.

Bottom line; we're hemmed in now Poland has Breslau. That means either they or Venice will attack soon. We need a castle pronto or we'll be sucking soup through a straw :)

Is that being built?