MTW2 Multiplayer Campaign

I thought it was about time that we started a MTW2 Multiplayer Campaign.

We can hammer out the rules, but obviously all battles would have to be autoresolved.

I'll get the ball rolling by choosing England.

England - Ignoramus.
France - Shoot Me_I Explode
Holy Roman Empire - Ichigo
Spain - Cecil XIX
Venice
Byzantine Empire
Hungary
Scotland - sirnoob
Denmark - gibsonsg91921
Poland - Ramses II CP
Russia
Milan
Portugal
Moors
Egypt
Turks
Sicily - FactionHeir

Faction	Player	Save
England	Ignoramus	MPCX
France	Tristan	MPCX-1
HRE	Ichigo	MPCX-2
Spain	Cecil XIX	MPCX-3
Sicily	FactionHeir	MPCX-4
Scotland	Didz	MPCX-5
Russia	Bob_the_great	MPCX-6
Denmark	pevergreen	MPCX-7
Poland	Ramses II CP	MPCX-8

We can use the 1.2 patch.

hmm by hotseat i presume? ill take denmark

I shall take France, then.

Quite interesting. Ill likely post back once I get back from vacation and find sufficient free time.

So, how exactly does this work?

No mods, just vanilla? Hmm, I haven't tried Poland yet.

I'll be happy to take Poland.

Big, big question is... do we have to handle diplomacy strictly inside the game, or some modification thereof?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuperman

So, how exactly does this work?

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Ditto

Sounds quite intresting but could someone please explain how this works and what I need to edit to get the option ingame?

Its intresting what a little research and searching with turn up.

I believe you just have to copy and past the following lines into your medieval2.preference file, I put it at the top of the file. Then when you start a new grand campain you can select upto all 17 nations, start the game and you will have a hotseat game going.

[multiplayer]
playable = true
hotseat_turns = true
hotseat_scroll = false
hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 0
hotseat_disable_console = 0
hotseat_disable_papal_elections = 0
hotseat_save_prefs = 0
hotseat_update_ai_camera = 0
hotseat_validate_diplomacy = 1

As for the game I would like it if I could command Milan please. :beam:

I wasn't asking about the technical side really, more what are the rules?

No more takers?

I'll take Sicily.
Actually I would recommend some modding (especially king's purse for AI) to make the game more challenging.

psh we dont need that we have humans to worry about

Rules:

- All diplomacy has to be agreed before hand(except declaring war, cancelling treaties, and bribing) with the relevant player, before using a diplomat to carry it out in-game.

- All battles are to be autoresolved. Even against the rebels and non-player factions.

- No reloading of the save-game. If you mess something up on your turn, then tough. No second chances here.

- If you can't play your turn within the 48 hour time limit, then get an ally to play it for you. If you happen to be hated by everyone and have no allies, then your turn is skipped.

By 'skipped', do you mean the AI plays it? I'm not aware it's possible for to just skip a factions turn completey.

you could use the consol and control [faction to be skipped] to make it AI controled and as for me for the glory of scotland:scotland:

::points up the thread to where he volunteered for Poland::

:2thumbsup:

Change mine to Spain.

Are we going to wait for most of the factions to be filled before we start?

Seven people should be plenty imho to start. I would also like to suggest another rule that you can not put merchants in armies and set them on resources to prevent them from being assassinated.

Or pile twenty into a fort in Timbuktu, etc. Let's have a general 'don't abuse exploits' rule, in fact. :egypt:

Another thing I forgot to add:

"No adpting of generals or accepting men of the hour."

You can still manage all settlements, but this makes maintaining you line harder.

Edit: We need at least 10 players for it to be fair. Two major factions, France and the HRE haven't been take yet.

Switch me to France now that its open :2thumbsup:

Speaking of player exploits, what about surrounding agents with military units to destroy them? I personally think that the general unavailability of gathering eight different military units makes it a fair practice, but we should be clear about whether it's allowed.

I think it should be allowed. It will make players more careful about their agents and make them have agents accompany their armies.

It's an exploit though. It's no deal breaker for me either way, but IMHO if you want to get rid of an agent, use an assassin. Perhaps a poll is in order?

We could conduct a poll if you like. My concern is in some situations a good strategic move for your army can eliminate an army anyway.

I think that we can start in a couple of days time. Hopefully before then several new players will have joined.

Let the diplomacy heat up!

I'd join but I have no idea how the Hotseat thing works. :sweatdrop:

As I understand it, we each need to do a bit of copy-paste in a file. That activates the hotseat mode, where you can switch t another faction by using the command console, which you can bring up with the ~ button.

No need for the control command. Just end turn and it brings up the next faction in line (or rather their confirmation screen, so the previous player won't see their stuff)

but if i'm correct, you can't save in that waiting screen.

The console is disabled in hotseat mode. No commands can be executed.

but if u cant save at the waiting screen, all of this is irrelevant. does it autosave on that screen? maybe that would change everything.

It probably does, as the game normally autosaves at end and start of turn. Worth checking out.

i guess u could just rename autosaves from my computer, and it wouldnt be an issue then. when are we starting?

If I figure out how the Hot seat works I'd play as HRE.

This is what you have to do, Ichigo.

From Shoot Me_I Explode's earlier post:

"I believe you just have to copy and past the following lines into your medieval2.preference file, I put it at the top of the file.

[multiplayer]
playable = true
hotseat_turns = true
hotseat_scroll = false
hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 0
hotseat_disable_console = 0
hotseat_disable_papal_elections = 0
hotseat_save_prefs = 0
hotseat_update_ai_camera = 0
hotseat_validate_diplomacy = 1"

I've done some testing, and diplomacy in game is great. You send a diplomat/princess to another faction(just like in a normal campaign), and you can make an offer. When it's that faction's turn, they get to accept/decline/put forward a counter offer.

Any more questions, just ask away.

I urge everyone to heat things up in the diplomacy thread, as the game will start in 24 hours.

Ignoramus:
I would set disable_console to 1 so it cannot be used during the game. We won't need it.

Hotseat automatically disables the console, I think.

It doesn't, unless you set it in the preference. Tried it before.

but in the preference the list of codes u get when surfin the net is usually having console disabled

Do I make another file to paste that in or is there already a file?

medieval.preference.cfg in the main medieval 2 total war folder

You paste it at the top in your medieval2.preference.cfg file.

Like this:

[multiplayer]
playable = true
hotseat_turns = true
hotseat_scroll = false
hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 0
hotseat_disable_console = 0
hotseat_disable_papal_elections = 0
hotseat_save_prefs = 0
hotseat_update_ai_camera = 0
hotseat_validate_diplomacy = 1

[audio]
enable = 1
master_vol = 100
music_vol = 60
provider = Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio
sfx_vol = 100
speech_enable = 1
speech_vol = 100
sub_faction_accents = 1

[camera]
default_in_battle = rts
move = 50
restrict = 1
rotate = 50

[controls]
campaign_scroll_max_zoom = 30
campaign_scroll_min_zoom = 30
keyset = 0

[game]
advanced_stats_always = 0
advisor_verbosity = 3
ai_factions = follow
allusers = 1
auto_save = 1
blind_advisor = 0
campaign_map_game_speed = 99
campaign_map_speed_up = 0
campaign_num_time_play = 108
chat_msg_duration = 10000
disable_arrow_markers = 1
disable_events = 0
english = 0
event_cutscenes = 1
fatigue = 1
first_time_play = 0
gamespy_save_passwrd = 1
label_characters = 0
label_settlements = 1
micromanage_all_settlements = 1
morale = 1
mute_advisor = 0
no_campaign_battle_time_limit = 0
pref_factions_played = 16639
tutorial_battle_played = 0
tutorial_path = norman_prologue/battle_of_hastings
unit_size = large
unlimited_men_on_battlefield = 0
use_quickchat = 0

[hotseat]
autoresolve_battles = 1
disable_console = 1
disable_papal_elections = 1
save_prefs = 1
update_ai_camera = 0
validate_diplomacy = 1

[network]
use_ip =
use_port = 27750

[ui]
SA_cards = show
buttons = show
full_battle_HUD = 1
radar = show
show_tooltips = 1
unit_cards = show

[video]
anisotropic_level = 4
anti_alias_mode = off
antialiasing = 0
assassination_movies = 1
autodetect = 0
battle_resolution = 1680 1050
bloom = 1
building_detail = high
campaign_resolution = 1680 1050
depth_shadows = 2
depth_shadows_resolution = 2
effect_quality = high
event_movies = 1
gamma = 128
grass_distance = 75
ground_buffers_per_node = 4
ground_cover_buffers_per_node = 4
infiltration_movies = 1
model_buffers_per_node = 4
no_background_fmv = 0
reflection = 1
sabotage_movies = 1
shader = 2
show_banners = 1
show_package_litter = 1
skip_mip_levels = 1
splashes = 1
sprite_buffers_per_node = 4
stencil_shadows = 1
subtitles = 0
terrain_quality = custom
texture_filtering = 2
unit_detail = high
vegetation = 1
vegetation_quality = high
vsync = 1
water_buffers_per_node = 4
widescreen = 1

Wait, can you only run one Hotseat game at once? I already have a test one going, and I can't start another one.

the code eliminates itself when u close the game - u have to put it back in again to start another.

can I be Russia or is it too late?

Or better make the pref file read-only. That's what I have to do to keep errorlogs.

As for the code:

[multiplayer]
playable = true
hotseat_turns = true
hotseat_scroll = false
hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 0
hotseat_disable_console = 1
hotseat_disable_papal_elections = 0
hotseat_save_prefs = 0
hotseat_update_ai_camera = 0
hotseat_validate_diplomacy = 1

Note the change from 0 to 1. This eliminates the console during hotseat play and thus any backdoors.

so now, we dont autoresolve battles, console is disabled, papal elections are enabled?

actually, u enabled console. when its at 0 its true.

Er no, when its at 1 it is disabled.
The autoresolve = 0 was set by Ignoramus. Me thinks putting it at 1 forces autoresolve while at 0 I think it lets you choose or so.

I'm gonna have to drop out of this I'm going to my mother's for week or so and I won't be able to play. Sorry.

Bob_the_great: Yes, you're welcome to take Russia.

Ichigo: It's alright, we'll put you last on the play order, which means that your turn probably won't have come up in a week's time.

I though the play order is determined by the order the fractions appear ingame to chose.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ignoramus

Bob_the_great: Yes, you're welcome to take Russia.

Ichigo: It's alright, we'll put you last on the play order, which means that your turn probably won't have come up in a week's time.

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Oh alright Ignoramus. Thanks :2thumbsup:

yeah u cant do anything about the order

You can by rearranging them in the descr.stat folder.

Speaking of which, maybe its a good idea to give the AI extra florins per turn.
Kings purse of 6000 for AI factions makes them not too rich but challenging early on, although they do run out after 50 or so turns.

If you could test several things, FH, that would be very helpful.

Can you test:

1.) Whether you can change the play order of factions.
2.) The best Hotseat settings for our campaign.
3.) The best AI boosts.
4.) The way diplomacy works.

Thanks.

Oh, and can you only have one Hotseat going at once, because I can't start another one.

oo thats clever i didnt think of that

and u can have more than one cuz i have several

The game is about to start.

Unfortunately, the faction order can't be changed. To be fair to Ichigo, I'm thinking of getting a "neutral" player like econ, to play his first turn.

The turn order is:

England
France
Holy Roman Empire
Spain
Venice

Tested.
1.) Whether you can change the play order of factions.
- No you can't
2.) The best Hotseat settings for our campaign.
- As I posted on the page before with the console change
3.) The best AI boosts.
- I will send you the contents of a descr_strat as soon as you confirm the final factions chosen by human players. Just create a new file from that and start the game using that file. Afterwards, you can feel free to discard it.
4.) The way diplomacy works.
- Offer during your turn, close scroll.
- During the other player's turn, they get the popup and decide.
- Slightly annoying that diplomacy isn't instant anymore (it is still with AI)

Oh, and we should all set our individual passwords for our faction. However, we should also post them up in a common space so our turns can be skipped if necessary without halting the game indefinitely.

Also, the way we will play turns is play your turn, press end turn. Then at the next faction's scroll screen, press escape and save. Then upload.

You probably want to create a new topic for OOC discussion of the MP campaign with all rules in first post.
I would suggest amending the rule so that you can only chose an ally to play your turn if you will be away for more than 2 weeks (i.e proxy as in KOTR)
48 hour turns sounds fine, although less would make the game a bit less of a drag. Usually not a problem considering all battles are autoresolved leaving only diplomacy and management. Of course some people may not always be available, but then even 48 hours might not be enough for some.

Well I think we have all the faction's confirmed, except Odin might be playing as Egypt.

Thing is, you have to set the factions to play with at game start, so either we have egypt as AI or as player. Are we thus delaying till he makes that decision?

I havent decided yet If I am going to play, if I do the faction dosent matter its for fun.

Im not clear as to how this works, the cut and paste of code I can follow, but how is this actually played ?

Humor me please.

1. do we all get online at the same time? I have only done battles in STW, never an actual campaign.

2. Is this done via email exchange of a file?

3. Is this done through message board content?

If I have missed it on prior posts my appologies, MP campaigns are completely foriegn to me.

Dont hold up the game on my account, Im honestly curious more then committed at this point.

Of my questions if option 2 is how it is done I will not be participating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ignoramus

The game is about to start.

Unfortunately, the faction order can't be changed. To be fair to Ichigo, I'm thinking of getting a "neutral" player like econ, to play his first turn.

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I'm fine with that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Odin

I havent decided yet If I am going to play, if I do the faction dosent matter its for fun.

Im not clear as to how this works, the cut and paste of code I can follow, but how is this actually played ?

Humor me please.

1. do we all get online at the same time? I have only done battles in STW, never an actual campaign.

2. Is this done via email exchange of a file?

3. Is this done through message board content?

If I have missed it on prior posts my appologies, MP campaigns are completely foriegn to me.

Dont hold up the game on my account, Im honestly curious more then committed at this point.

Of my questions if option 2 is how it is done I will not be participating.

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1. Nope
2. Pretty much, but not via email but via forum download as per sticky thread in the throne room. All files uploaded and stored here.
3. Somewhat. Diplomacy and I suppose any reports are posted up here.

In general, you download a save, play your turn, save the game, upload, wait your next turn.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FactionHeir

1. Nope
2. Pretty much, but not via email but via forum download as per sticky thread in the throne room. All files uploaded and stored here.
3. Somewhat. Diplomacy and I suppose any reports are posted up here.

In general, you download a save, play your turn, save the game, upload, wait your next turn.

---

Thanks for the reply.

this eliminates me from participation at this time. In the future I might reconsider.

On a side @Factionheir: Despite past disagreements (the 1.2 release affair) I wanted to note that I noticed that your a very helpful and considerate board member in many situations. Your Senior Member distinction, is well earned.

:medievalcheers:

Sorry to hear you are not participating. Could have used some Muslim factions to spice things up!
Thanks for the comment btw. To be honest, I already forgot about the 1.2 thingy - actually it doesn't even ring a bell now, but hopefully everything is resolved. :balloon:

dang! i was hoping for more players. o well we can get started goood

So they only thing we have to do is paste the code in the preference file? And if it gets deleted after every game, do we have to do it just once when we first get the save or all the time?

I think only the game creator actually needs the code. I have not tested it, but it would seem logical.

My first turn's done, and it's Shoot Me_I explode's turn.

Save game is called FranceTurn in the PBM uploader.

did you include me in it because my name isn't next to Russia in the first post?

Have you started it as per my instructions via PM?

[edit]
I added the purses as per the first post. If bop wasn't listed there, then you might just have to restart the game with a new file as Russia is currently receiving AI extra cash.

So what should I do with this turn.

Also I think it would be better if we send the turns via email, maybe everyone can pm the person who's turn who is before them there email. I dont know if the admins will like it once we upload a couple hundred files to there site.

i think we have to... this is the best way

Ok, but do I need to wait for a new turn or continue with this one?

I noticed that Ignoramus uploaded the file as "FranceTurn."
Perhaps if you upload a file with the same name as a previous one, the previous one gets deleted? That would allow us to play the whole thing with just one file for every player.

And yes, you do need to wait for a new turn. It has to go full cycle just like in Single Player.

No, I was asking if they made a mistake with the russian player do i need to wait for Ignoramus to start a new game?