Open challenge: Duel to the Death

[Grog]

Grog vs ATPG Turn3-5

Jihad is building up a bit of steam, annoyingly fell 1 pixel movement short of sieging aleppo and acre with my holy armies..ho hum

Antioch is now in turkish hands and I am eyeing up my 'allies' byzantine. I screwed some florins from Hungary to fund a bit of development. Economy slowly picking up, few niggles here and there but nothing that can be smoothed out soon enough..

No sign of the Roastbeef's armies yet..*looks around in a paranoid manner*. Spies online.

Oh, and backstabbed Byz as they were in the way.

Eqypt refused my rude diplomat's offer of alliance so trouble brewing down south too..

[Askthepizzaguy]

ATPG versus Grog, Lands to Conquer 3.1
England vs Turks
Turn 6
Strategy: Expansion
Current Priority: France, Rebels, Denmark

All of the British Isles except Edinburgh have been conquered or under seige. Rennes, Bruges, Marseilles, Caen, Antwerp all under seige or owned on the mainland. Scotland is paralyzed by Papal-sponsored peace and alliance with us, France is paralyzed by a marriage alliance, still we expand.

A crusade has been called against Vilnius, which should allow us to conquer Denmark, Poland, Russia, and the Holy Roman Empire.

At some point we may become excommunicated, but we have ballista under construction to allow us to conquer many provinces in a single turn, before his Holy-moleyness gets involved.

The Turks have a distinct advantage of having Catholics aplenty to target whilst England cannot crusade if excommunicated. Therefore, we are somewhat forced into a semi-expansionist/turtle role.

How will ATPG fare when maximum blitzosity is denied as an option, against perhaps the second best blitzer of all time? We shall see. For now, the graphs favor us...

[Grog]

Grog vs ATPG Turn6

Strike and fade war with Byzantine going well. Adopted general gathering troops to take nicacea and constantinople. Thessalonica sieged. Spies staring to move west.

Egypt under attack from the Turks, walked into alexandria after map info exchange showed it empty, do pass go, do collect 2k florins for free, plus egypt sieging a heavy rebel Jerusalem so won't get back in time to save Cairo from the green horde.

In other news, Batu the mini Mongol begins his sailing holiday in the Med somewhere...

[Askthepizzaguy]

ATPG versus Grog, Lands to Conquer 3.1
England vs Turks
Turn 9
Strategy: Expansion
Current Priority: France, Rebels, Denmark

We have amassed a huge fighting force, one of our more worthless stacks stands ready to annihilate the Scots as soon as the Papal warning is no longer in effect (2 turns), we have assembled a massive force ready to take Paris and Bordeaux as soon as the crusade is over, and we have allied with all other relevant nations.

The simple fact of relying on the Pope for crusading ability leads me to believe that I will lose this match... I have foreseen it.

I cannot face the Turks without expanding into Catholic lands, I cannot expand into Catholic lands without angering the Pope, I cannot anger the Pope and call a crusade, and I cannot face the Turks without the ability to crusade. Against such a skilled foe, these major setbacks are in fact mortal wounds.

Graphs indicate the Turks have taken the lead in most categories, yet the size of our armed forces is still greater than theirs. We can only hope their jihad ends soon, or we will fall hopelessly behind in development.

Edge: Turks

All is not lost yet, as I plan for a sudden devastating wave of expansion after my crusade against Vilnius is over, taking an excommunication if necessary, then offing my king and trying to make pretty puppy dog eyes and sweet kissy faces at the Pope to try and regain his good side.

I seem to recall that you can blitz through the pain of an excommunication if you're good enough, and rack up enough glory points to offset the public order problems. With France and Scotland destroyed, I should attain some glory and fear bonuses.

Killing the king is as simple as ramming him against my enemies without a bodyguard, and being granted a reprieve by the Pope, I will simply use my diplomatic magic to restore relations.

It's going to take huge risks and massive gambles, but England MAY have a shot at not being obliterated right away.

[Ferret]

ATPG versus Elite Ferret, Broken Crescent
ERE vs Kwarezmian Shah
Turn 21
Strategy: I seem to be blitzing now...just very slowly
Current Priority: Great Seljuks

22,000 florins were gained in the sack of Rayy, after my betrayal, I wonder who you will decide to stay allied with?

[Grog]

Grog v ATPG Turns 7-8

Well England owe Sicily a few crates of Vintage Bordeaux. Batu the MiniMongol was destroyed by a sicilian standing army in ai moves turn 6, mainly my mistake as I camped on Palermo island rather than the heel of Italy, bad luck. I lost a good general and 5-6 units of cheap troops, I was hoping for a roaming pope to whack and cause some havoc with Englands crusade. My 4* diplomat has been sitting on vilinus for last two turns trying to bribe them off, no luck yet..

War with Egypt, Byzantine and other actions all going well. I made a few stupid moves that slowed me a turn or two, although you have to hold back a touch when relying on autoresolve defence..

I should hopefully finish Egypt next turn or two, they are currently hiding in Jersualem while their lands burn.

Economy is getting better, spies should be seeing England soon. assassins online soon. Economy/Pop beginning to show inklings of a boom. Starting to get a few Imans trained to convert the faithless barbarians of the west..

Military tech centres are developing nicely in a few classified areas, should be able to train snap armies of quality troops in various parts of the turkish empire should the need arise.

Hopefully find some florins for further development before my Jihad ends, stack is prepping near Baghdad for assault soon.

[Grog]

Grog vs ATPG Turn9

The "Sword of the East" Jihad is progressing well. Constantinople under siege which will finish Byzantine. Egypt is on the ropes. Secondary wave fronts in training . Spies deep into Europe. Second jihad target is nicely buffered. Assassins online when first Jihad ends..

Economy beginning to boom, Population booming. Some disorder but dread and glory bonus in the next 1-2 turns will sort this. Capital relocation to Istanbul soon.

Operation "Scorched Earth" is now being enabled. Central Europe and the Med will soon descend into seething chaos and entropy.

Over four nightfigher generals now. Over four 6-star+ commanders. A few dreadlords in training..

Long campaign Victory estimated turn 16-18.

Will England fight on against the Turkish Fury?

Some spoilers:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Ragusa falls to the Turkish Horde. Although I outnumbered them, the 'odds' were 2:1 against me. Luckily their general was in the castle and the standing army outside, so it was easy to splinter and rout them with a demented general and 2 HA's while the ghazis and mercs stormed the gates. Lost a few mercs to venices general before he was swamped.


'Sword of the East' Jihad nears conclusion...


Faction Rankings, blitzometer turned up to 11...