Open challenge: Duel to the Death

[Askthepizzaguy]

Current challengers:

UPDATE!

Ignoramus, France, versus ATPG, Turks (Vanilla 1.3) Waiting on Challenger

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Status: France has crusaders nearing our capital, but we have far more jihadis nearing what remains of France. Turks have a large territorial lead and a much larger standing army. Edge: Turks

Monk, Jerusalem, versus ATPG, Ghorids (BC 1.5) Waiting on Challenger

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Status: Jerusalem has conquered two factions, while the Ghorids claim 6. Ghorids have decisive leads in all categories. Edge: Ghorids

Elite Ferret, Khwarezm, versus ATPG, ERE(BC 1.5) Waiting on Challenger

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Khwarezm appears ready to defend, having accomplished their objectives. Meanwhile, Rome has taken out the Turks, crippled Armenia, Jerusalem, and hurt the Ayyubids, while boxing in the Georgians. The Romans have also launched a deep penetrating offensive against the Caliphate, who is nearly destroyed, with Baghdad captured and huge amounts of mercenaries roam Abassid lands. Due to size of lands and forces, Edge: Rome

Byblos, Spain, versus ATPG, Scotland (Vanilla 1.3) Waiting on Challenger

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Scotland has destroyed England and a Spanish invasion force left by ship to go deal with internal matters. We have declared war on France and joined a crusade that was in-progress. Spain lags behind in all categories. Edge: Scotland

Grog, Turks, versus ATPG, England(LTC 3.1) Game In Progress

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

England is off to a promising start...

Finished Games:
ATPG (Ayyubids) versus Monk (Georgia) Win: Ayyubids
ATPG (Moors) versus Ichigo (England) Win: Moors
ATPG (Scotland) versus TheFlax (England) Win: Scotland
ATPG (Oman) versus TriforceV (Jerusalem) Win: Oman
ATPG (Russia) versus AndyNgFL (Scotland) Win: Russia
ATPG (Moors) versus AntiWarmanCake88 (HRE) Win: Moors
ATPG (Egypt) versus Ibn-Khaldun (Sicily) Win: Egypt
________________________________________


A Junior Member with only one post asked The Ultimate Question; If two players could campaign against each other, who would win, The Turtle or the Hare?

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=89140
The famous original thread is in the link.

As the self-parodying and self-proclaimed "Blitzmaster", I've waged the war of words and argued endlessly that the Blitzer would win all one on one confrontations, barring some really bizarre circumstances like the Turtle starting with half the map already under his control.

Now that I've experienced multiplayer mode in games with up to 16 players, and gotten a feel for how humans behave and what the new strategies required are, I have decided to set aside some time to publicly challenge anyone who wants to play any kind of "slow expansionist/true turtle" game against one of the more infamous blitz players to a one-on-one duel to the death.

Name your faction and version.

1. Medieval 2 Total War; Vanilla, version 1.0, 1.2, or 1.3
2. Medieval 2 Total War; Lands to Conquer
3. Medieval 2 Total War; Broken Crescent 1.5 with quickfixes
4. Medieval 2 Total War; Stainless Steel (with 4.1 patch)

I'll agree to rules that ban exploits, and I will reveal all my movements and publish my save files. I'll agree to host and I'll disable the console. This could be a lot of fun.

I will even agree to take on multiple challengers. Just give me at least 48 hours or more to play my turn, and I'll do the same. It will be like a mini-hotseat. I will also consider duels with other blitzers...

Raise thy sword. You are hereby challenged.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

This could be interesting

But question - If someone wants to play the 'blitzer' side .. would you take the challenge to play the 'turtle' side??

If you can win as a 'turtle' then you really deserve the title "Master of M2TW"

[CountMRVHS]

So, a PBEM? Or is there some other way to do this that I'm not aware of...?

Sounds like fun. Question, though: How will you define "blitz" and "turtle"? Seems like the "rules" for the different playstyles would have to be made explicit.

Is the turtler allowed to take nearby rebel provinces? Can he initiate wars, or only respond once attacked? Is there any limit on the turtler's rate of expansion -- one new province acquired every 20 turns, for example?

How much is the blitzer allowed to tech up? Must he play the entire game only with units initially available?

Essentially, at what point in the game do you stop being a "blitzer" and start being a "turtler", and vice versa?

Ultimately, I see turtling as a way to allow the AI to tech up -- turtling is a way to purposely make the game *harder*, whereas blitzing is a way to make the game faster and easier. My money's on the blitzer, even though I find that style less enjoyable when playing against the poor AI.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

So, a PBEM? Or is there some other way to do this that I'm not aware of...?

Sounds like fun. Question, though: How will you define "blitz" and "turtle"? Seems like the "rules" for the different playstyles would have to be made explicit.

Is the turtler allowed to take nearby rebel provinces? Can he initiate wars, or only respond once attacked? Is there any limit on the turtler's rate of expansion -- one new province acquired every 20 turns, for example?

How much is the blitzer allowed to tech up? Must he play the entire game only with units initially available?

Essentially, at what point in the game do you stop being a "blitzer" and start being a "turtler", and vice versa?

Ultimately, I see turtling as a way to allow the AI to tech up -- turtling is a way to purposely make the game *harder*, whereas blitzing is a way to make the game faster and easier. My money's on the blitzer, even though I find that style less enjoyable when playing against the poor AI.

There will be no real rules restricting play styles, just ones restricting exploits.

I would ask that those who accept the challenge declare that they are turtle, blitz, or moderate, as I have declared a blitz strategy. There are no other house rules.

Basically the idea for the Turtle is to focus on defense, while the Blitzer focuses on offense. The turtle can expand of course, but if they overextend themselves they will be sacrificing defense and the "turtle" strategy. They typically focus on teching up, expanding their trade, creating defensive choke points and preparing to deflect what an invader can throw at them.

If this is not your style, then just declare what you'd prefer. But a while back I debated a great number of people who insisted that turtles had some kind of advantage. Now is the chance to prove which is more powerful. I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

Blitzers tend to go for the high risk, aggressive, quantity of troops strategy. Check out my signature for links to two of my noted campaigns as such. Turtles tend to go for safe, defensive, quality of troops strategy where there are defensive garrisons and watchtowers and navies and merchants and assassins, etc.

Some people tend to balance.

This will be basically a two-person hotseat game, play by email. We can hide our movements or write up the events of our turn as they happen. It could be a spectator sport or a simple private duel, like a chess game.

En garde...

[Monk]

What happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable object?

I like this, be sure to keep us all up to date when/if this happens. I'd be very interested to see how a turtle fairs against a blitzer invasion.

[Ferret]

It all depends on Geography, eg. a turtle Scotland couldn't survive vs a blitzing England but a turtle Scotland may well survive against a blitzing Byzantine, no helpful crusades for them either...

[Askthepizzaguy]

This could be interesting

But question - If someone wants to play the 'blitzer' side .. would you take the challenge to play the 'turtle' side??

If you can win as a 'turtle' then you really deserve the title "Master of M2TW"

I would not choose to play as a turtle, no. But I would accept challenges from other blitzers.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Is This Where I challage ATPG At? If So, Then you just Been challaged By the BHC Emperor, King Of Swissland Pizza!

[Askthepizzaguy]

Antiwarman, I accept your challenge.

I'm preparing a cemetary for all my duel victims. Now you will join the rest...

Declare your version/mod and faction.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Antiwarman, I accept your challenge.

I'm preparing a cemetary for all my duel victims. Now you will join the rest...

Declare your version/mod and faction.

We will See If you finally join the cemetary or will I

(I changed my mind from the e-mail Pizza fyi)

Renaissannce Total War
The Swiss

[Askthepizzaguy]

Lol sorry, its gotta be from mods I own.

I have Vanilla 1.3
Lands to Conquer 3.1
Broken Crescent 1.5 with hotfixes
Stainless Steel 4.1

That's all for now. If you have broken crescent, I highly recommend it!

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Oh come on, you can get a new mod!


Ok Then.


Broken Creset
The Byztaine Empire

The Legendary ATPG .vs. The Legendary {BHC}AWC88,Who Will Win!!!!????

[Jedi Bruno]

Unfortunately I don't have enough time to play against you ATPG. But I would really like to hit you with some nice poisoned arrows...

Edit: I also happen to don't know how to play on Hot Seat games.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Hot seat games are like single player games but played against another human..

You have to add this to your preference.cfg file if you want to play hotseat campaign..

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

[Jedi Bruno]

Hot seat games are like single player games but played against another human..

You have to add this to your preference.cfg file if you want to play hotseat campaign..

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

Ah, so this is how it works... But how do the battles work out?? AI is not cappable of winning a stack of peasants in auto-resolve! Imagine against the hordes of a deranged, bloodthirsty and completely paranoid blitzmaster?!
Do you play by internet or what??
(Sorry lads, but I only used to play on singleplayer)

[Ibn-Khaldun]

In hotseats you can fight only those battles where you are attacker. In order to do that you must change the '1' to '0' in the next line..

from hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 1 to this hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 0

And hotseats are played by mail.. you save after your turn and send the save file to your opponent..
It's better to zip them before you send..

Hotseats are fun.. I played 1 against ATPG and lost.. but it was fun none the less

[Askthepizzaguy]

If you ever want a rematch, I'd love to fight ye. You put up a hell of a challenge and never quit.

Brave men deserve glorious deaths.

[Askthepizzaguy]

So be it.... Jedi....


I must say, you are quite out of line, minion. Unless you want to become the main course at our next human-flesh feast, you will adhere to the thousand year contract you signed when you joined my fan club.



_____________________

Speaking of which, I am still taking applications. Don't any of you innocent mortals want to join my legion of darkness?

[Jedi Bruno]

I have a bad felling about this...

[decimator22]

Turn 3
ATPG (Teutonic Order) vs decimator (Denmark)
Current Strategy: Moderate Expansionist
Current Priority: Conquer the north
Diplomacy: nothing
Military: moving armies to siege las northern city
Recruitment: norse clerics
Building:nothing
Money: red


ATPG in your britannia campaign what faction are you, and chaothix what factions is he.

[Askthepizzaguy]

ATPG versus Decimator
Teutonic campaign
Teutonic Order versus Denmark
Turn 5

Current Strategy: Preparedness
Current Priority: Lithuania (nearing defeat by my hand)
Diplomacy: None
Military: massive
Recruitment: None
Building: None
Money: None

ATPG versus Chaotix
Brittania campaign
Ireland versus Norway
Turn 6

Current Strategy: Massive expansion
Current Priority: Wales
Diplomacy: None
Military: Massing...
Recruitment: Much...
Building: Much...
Money: VAST fortunes made, and spent.

[decimator22]

Turn 4
ATPG (Teutonic Order) vs decimator (Denmark)
Current Strategy: Unite everyone vs the Teutonic Order
Current Priority: try to survive just saw a full stak leader ed by the holchmeister
Diplomacy: alliances
Military:?
Recruitment: ?
Building:?
Money: red

[Merlox]

Hey Atpg! if you ever want to duel on my BC map that i made, you know with no rebels, please contact me! I'll be more than happy to supply you with such, and have you vs another, all the rest AI.