Out of character thread XV

Yes, I suspect that the comand + chivalry/dread bonuses that most of our avatars have are roughly comparable to maxing out unit experience.

Position also had something to do with it. Attacking up hill meant I suffered in the missile duel and the climatic AI charge. MiniEcon had a much easier time in his battle as the enemy attacked him uphill rather than vice versa. Plus the fearsome looking Swiss Guard proved utterly useless in AI hands as their phalanx formation made them too slow.

I did wimp out on the battle at Aleppo - the AI could not cope with the relief/sally - but I did not know it would be so inept and my computer was about to explode (77 degrees centigrade and the whole screen a fearful pink hue). Maybe ban relief/sallies as well as night time battles?

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Originally Posted by econ21

Maybe ban relief/sallies as well as night time battles?

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I won't do that as an absolute rule, though I will consider it in individual circumstances, as I did with the current turn. The relief of Aleppo was easier than it should have been due to my own error. Those two armies should have been next to each other so that they both had to be engaged at once. You can see that was my intention because I banned a night attack in Elberhard's turn description. I'll try not to make that error again, but I'm not displeased with the results. Your army is heavily depleted, you lost your 'Arnolds,' and you are leaving Outremer. Pyhrric victories are something that I have been trying to achieve, and I think that counts as one, so I am a happy man. The same applies, to a lesser extent, to Arnold's battle.

Do not be concerned about whether I will be able to reduce the Reich as much as it needs to be in order to provide a fun challenge for the rest of the game. I have several more methods to ramp up the difficulty that I have yet to implement. You will see them pop up over the next 2-3 turns. All is going according to plan at the moment.

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Originally Posted by TinCow

Do not be concerned about whether I will be able to reduce the Reich as much as it needs to be in order to provide a fun challenge for the rest of the game. I have several more methods to ramp up the difficulty that I have yet to implement. You will see them pop up over the next 2-3 turns. All is going according to plan at the moment.

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http://thousandrobots.com/blog/files/palpatine_02.jpg

"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design."

I find this more appropriate to the situation, actually...

http://www.thatsstupid.net/pie/images/Dark_Helmet.jpg

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb."

Maybe it's a mixture of both?

^_^

This "Arnold" thing for war elephant's is really sicking isn't it :beam:

I must admitt that Arnold is basically a routing machine against Captain lead armies.

If I was personally engaged on a flank the enemy would fight for a little while and then rout.

I'd them move the Duke to another part of the fight and all of a sudden the units on the flank I just left would reconsitute and get back into the fray.

Edit: And TC, you're now, actually, starting to worry me with your "All is going according to plan at the moment" comment.

I think what's really going to make a difference against Players is armor + weapon upgrades. They are more than just the point that is being displayed afterall. :wink:

wow did MiniEcon really fight that battle? He's a tactical genious!

Edit:400th post :beam:

He has a good teacher. I particularly liked the terrible decision that had to be made at the end of the battle. Should be a good write up.

Edit:
econ21: "Son, why did you kill the Pope in cold blood?"
mini-econ: "I learned it from watching you Dad! I learned it from watching you!"

This might be funny only for the Americans in the crowd.

He executed the Pope!?!

:laugh4:

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Originally Posted by Elite Ferret

wow did MiniEcon really fight that battle?

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We fought it "Time Commanders" style - with me on the mouse and him giving me orders (including for the screenshots).

Unfortunately, we played the battle on my earlier save, not Overknight's. So when I found out, I had to refight it alone when MiniEcon was in bed. I suffered twice as many casualties doing it alone as when I did it under his orders. However, using the console was able to mimic the result close enough.

So we are going with the first run for the story and screenshots, but the save works on from the second.

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Originally Posted by Privateerkev

He executed the Pope!?!

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It was a tough one. During the battle, there was a pop-up saying the enemy general had fallen in battle (but no voice over announcement), so we were both a bit shocked and appalled when he turned up on the ransom list.

Releasing him would mean the whole battle achieved nothing.

I advocated ransoming him for bad meta-gaming reasons - if the Papacy had money, Dieter would have the consolation of being rich; if it did not, the mission would be achieved and Dieter would be off the hook in terms of bad traits.

However, MiniEcon rightly could not rationalise such thinking IC, so went with execution.

I am not exactly sure how he is going to write it up, but in previous battles, MiniEcon has been influenced by the end of the Godfather: "Do you, Michael Corelone, repent your sins?" etc and has been asking all his Papist prisoners if they renounced their sins before releasing them. I figure the Pope should just say "No", which obviously would not work out too well for him. :laugh4:

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Originally Posted by econ21

It was a tough one. During the battle, there was a pop-up saying the enemy general had fallen in battle (but no voice over announcement), so we were both a bit shocked and appalled when he turned up on the ransom list.

Releasing him would mean the whole battle achieved nothing.

I advocated ransoming him for bad meta-gaming reasons - if the Papacy had money, Dieter would have the consolation of being rich; if it did not, the mission would be achieved and Dieter would be off the hook in terms of bad traits.

However, MiniEcon rightly could not rationalise such thinking IC, so went with execution.

I am not exactly sure how he is going to write it up, but in previous battles, MiniEcon has been influenced by the end of the Godfather: "Do you, Michael Corelone, repent your sins?" etc and has been asking all his Papist prisoners if they renounced their sins before releasing them. I figure the Pope should just say "No", which obviously would not work out too well for him. :laugh4:

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OCC I don't blame you guys for whacking him since that was the whole point of the battle. I am just amused and curious as to what the "official" IC story will end up being. Maybe make it where Dieter had to make a hard decision for the good of the Reich. "Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" and all that. Reconciliation was so important that it justified a tough decision ect...

It's still funny though... ^_^

Tell Mini Econ that he can contact me regarding initiation at his pleasure. :beam:

All right, I'm taking the save. Time to sally forth and help out.

Battle fought.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/...esults1hl8.jpg
https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/...esults2ag0.jpg

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Originally Posted by GeneralHankerchief

Tell Mini Econ that he can contact me regarding initiation at his pleasure. :beam:

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Hey GH, am I a member? I've never directly killed a Pope in battle, but I did order the death of one while Chancellor. Plus I posted a montage story that went with it.

Just curious. :laugh4:

I'll have to get back to you on that one.

A point in your favor is that you were enough of a :daisy: to order the death of a Pope, but on the other hand it wasn't done for selfish reasons.

Mini Econ also did it for noble reasons, but he actually did the deed himself and plus slaughtered the poor guy after the battle was over.

I'll let you know the council's* decision as soon as it arrives. :tongue:

DISCLAIMER: It is a council of one since there is currently only one member.

Ok boy's.

Battle report for Arnold the Inspiring is up. I focused more on a good speech than the battle on this one.

I borrowed from General Patton and Lord of the Rings.

I love Christoper Lee.

Good result against the Pole Cecil. Polish nobles v militia troops mainly...tough.

Patton and Saruman? Interesting combination. Good choice for inspiration.

I think you nailed "dreadfully inspiring" :2thumbsup:

I am taking the save.

There are two battles remaining to be fought this turn (not including the Battle of the Flemish Crossroads). They are as follows:

Péter von Kastilien:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You have returned to Frankfurt to rescue it from the besieging Danes. The city will certainly fall next year if you do not aid it. Attack now and free the ancient capital of the Reich.

Note: You are now in an area that has 1 unit of Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen (cost 3) and 1 unit of Mercenary Spearmen available (cost 2). Since you have 5 wealth, you may hire either or both if you wish before you attack.

Fritz von Kastilien:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Your raid deep into Danish territory was totally unexpected and you have caught them off-guard. You stand outside the gates of Stockholm, pleased to see that the city is essentially defenseless. As if your luck was not good enough already, the heir to the Danish throne, Godfred, is trapped inside. If you can capture him, the ransom would be exceptionally large.

Note: You gave me free-reign to hire mercenaries. I chose to hire 2 units of Free Company Longbowmen for you (cost 2 each, after your special ability discount), as you were lacking in non-artillery ranged attack. Plus, who doesn't like stakes?
Note 2: Make sure you tell me whether you sack, occupy, or exterminate the city. Do NOT destroy any buildings in Stockholm. If you want to 'ravage' the city, tell me so and I will provide the proper rewards. I don't want the actual in-game buildings knocked down, though, as it will cause long-term harm to the Danish AI. Best to keep them powerful.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1326-8.zip

sweet! my first taste of cataclysm! ill try and fight 'er soon

Was just updating the battle stats and I noticed that there have already been 5 heroic victories this year, with 4 new famous battle markers on the map. Impressive, gentlement.

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Originally Posted by AussieGiant

Good result against the Pole Cecil. Polish nobles v militia troops mainly...tough.

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I must say the AI did a good job keeping the Captain protected. He was behind the main line and next to other troops the whole time.

nice cecil, i owe you one if arnold wont cut off my balls.

its my turn, i call the save!

hit up the stories thread for yet another peter thinking story!

save up - kotr1326a-3.zip or something like that

picture not working!!

tally another to the heroic victory, famous battles list.

Peter vs Grim
1312 vs 1583
lost - 535 vs 793
remaining - 777 vs 790
killed - 431 (357) vs 522 (67)

executed the prisoners, the value was like 3400


edit - AH FUDGE!!!! i took the wrong ****ing save! i dont have time to fight it again. sorry guys idk what to do.

There's plenty of time left before the next turn. It won't start until Monday at the earliest, depending on what happens with the Flemish Crossroads battle. Try to refight it before then. If you do not, you can either skip it or I will fight it for you and attempt to replicate the results you listed above.

If Warluster can't be bothered or lost interest in the PBM, I wouldn't mind sending orders for him instead.

ignoramus needs to recruit new people to the principality of swabia - that thread is looking lonely. also, if he wins the civil war and becomes like a protectorate of the holy roman empire, he should consider renaming it like the Principality of Flanders or the Principality of Belgium, to avoid confusion with the Duchy of Swabia.

My orders were sent, I was quite busy yesterday with selling heaps of my stuff.

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If Warluster can't be bothered or lost interest in the PBM

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THat won't happen, I quite enjoy this PBM.