BC mod Hotseat Duels.

[Merlox]

I'm pretty new to the hotseat environment, Doing lots of local hotseats with friends, most of them for duels, but not as fun, getting to see there base, the random punch when you kill an army of thiers, yeah. I have started a few online hotseats as it is. My first hotseat duel against Askthepizzaguy. Some how he got me to play against him after he told me that he would do a game where he is the weakest nation of all time vs one of the strongest nations. But yes, I am now currently wanting to train myself on some other people, the veteran’s of hotseats in a duel, 1vs1, This will be alright practice, Not against the ultimate of blitzkrieg... ATPG. but, yeah!, good training on an enemy with less blitzing skill.

I'll accept duels from ANY person, just as long as we can sit down, and get alot of turns in before one decides to go afk. I do have a windows live messenger, Merlox@live.com . It work's pretty well from files there, and ofcourse, and yeah. We'll work something out for time, But please.. I like duels for fast pace,

Name your faction and version.

Medieval 2 Total War; Broken Crescent 1.5 with quickfixes
(If I could get Road to Jerusalem to work, I’d love to play that as well.)

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. If players wish to set it so we both have to post an honest truth about what we did on our turn, I accept on that as well. just in this format.

Merlox vs Player BC 1.05 with hotfixes.
Faction against Faction
Turn # summary
Strategy: What ever you are doing.
Current Priority: What ever you think is best.
Movement: a quick summery of all of your troop movements
Diplomacy: What ever you do with a diplomat or go to war. such
Military: what you build / losses, win, such.
Build info: what you build
Agents recruitment: what you hire for agents.

Any ways, I'm hoping that a few of you will challenge me, I will gladly accept a duel from anyone, It will prolly be extremely fun, and since I’m not as skilled as ATPG, We can expand just a tad bit more.
See you in the matches!
~Merlox

[Chaotix]

Hey, Merlox. I'm pretty new (actually completely green except for a few local hotseats) to hotseating, but I'd like to try it, especially since I really have nothing else to do right now. I don't have BC, but I do have M2TW, Kingdoms, and the Retrofit Mod. I would challenge you to a M2TW 1.3 duel right now, but I need some help as to how to actually set up the hotseat. First of all, vanilla M2TW doesn't run hotseats (at least for me), so it'd help if you could explain that- maybe you meant the retrofit mod? Second, how are we going to send the saves to each other? Do we just email them, or upload them somewhere? You can PM me if you want.

Well, anyway, if you can answer those questions for me, I'd be happy to duel you with whatever rules you suggest to get some hotseat experience for myself.

[Merlox]

Setting up a hotseat game in a non hotseat game is pretty easy to be honest, All you gotta do is put
(Copy and Paste exactly what is below this)

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

Into your Current mod or unmodded version of your game's CFG file that should be in where you installed your game, You need to open with option under the right click and do it with note pad. Paste all of the [hotseat] into it. (If the file has a [UI] Selection, MAKE SURE you put it above it, or that's at least what people always tell me. lol, Though, if your file doesn't have that ui, then it's perfectly fine to put it any where.

For the save files, Using some kind of messenger program is prolly thE gratest if you are looking to knock down alot of turns quickly, If you have Windows Live Messenger, My thing is Merlox@live.com It's a very quick easy program, get on, send a thing to me, we can get the time things download as well.

Also, I didn't mean refroit or how you spell its name mod. =p I'm /alright/ at kingdoms, but i'm more focused into the Broken Crescent 1.5 quick fix mod, or The Long Road mod. Both from what I hear are supereb mods, I though, dislike the V mod. (It would be my last resort I guess.) But, Please do take out the Broken Crescent Mod! It is 697 MB big, but you'll enjoy this mod very much! A VERY large map of boundries of mostly on the middle east, but goes all the way to constantinople (I think thats how you spell it, lol) to all the way to the western part of India, and also there's The Long Road mod which is basicly a more detailed version of the origional Medieval Total war 2 map. More towns, smarter AI, more stuffs.

Any ways. I would love to do a duel, but please do check out the mods first that I sent that is right under here!

Broken Crescent Mod : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=140857
Broken Crescent Quick Fix update : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=142288
Broken Crescent Fraction Info : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=97742

The Long Road, I don't know the exact forums off my head, but if you go to www.twcenter.net/forums I think you would be able to find it there if you looked around!

Best regards to you and Thank you for taking an interest! If you have any more questions, please feel free to post it, PM me, or Windows live messege me! Thanks!
Merlox~

[Chaotix]

Thanks, Merlox. I actually know a good amount about BC already, but I never got around to downloading it. I've also been following ATPG's duel thread, but knew I would get destroyed if I challenged him , so when I saw your thread I thought it might be cool to play someone else. In any case, I'll see if I can download BC (it'll probably take a while, I've got a slow comp.) and then maybe we can set up a duel. Just to let you know, I'm not great with the Eastern/Horse Archer factions, but I suppose there's always KoJ for some good heavy infantry.

Oh, and for saves, is it possible for me to just email you at that live messenger account from my aol account? I don't have windows live messenger.

EDIT: I tried the method for making a hotseat campaign, and it recognizes the text, i.e. no fatal error, but there's no option for a hotseat. Is BC already hotseat-enabled?
EDIT # 2: I sent you an email at your account from mine. Is Windows Live messenger just another email/IM service? Odd that I've never heard of it, considering my comp runs Windows XP...

[Merlox]

I got your email fine, We can do it just like that, And, BC is not hotseat enabled at the start, you just gotta copy+ paste that dumb [hotseat] into it and then it will work as a hotseat, instead of single player, and yes there is a vista update as well if you get a fatel error on vista, but any ways,

THe funny thing is, just go to single player, and then grand campain, then click on some multi factions.. notice that they will all blink...!? XD yeah, it replaces single player campain with hotseat. pretty useful,

[Chaotix]

All right, that's good. I'll probably have BC all ready by late tomorrow, and then I'll want to play around with it a bit, see which faction is good for me, and then Tuesday (or 2 days from now if your not in the US) we can start the hotseat, if you want. You have my email address from the email I sent you, right? If not I'll PM it to you.

[Askthepizzaguy]

There's no guarantee I can destroy anyone if I pick a faction that sucks, like Scotland or Russia in the regular games and the Rajputs in BC.

[Chaotix]

I think I'm gonna start off slow, ATPG. I've seen just about all your blitz threads and what you're capable of, and I'm not sure I'll be much of a match for Merlox. But if you want, I'll duel you after I finish the one with Merlox, or sooner if it drags on... but for now it hasn't even started!

[Ferret]

His blitzing tactics don't work as well against a human though, we can fight back.

*Hides before ATPG sees I still haven't played my turn, I will soon I hope!*

[Chaotix]

Hey, guys, I've installed BC, but it's not running. whenever I click the short cut it comes up for a split second and then closes. I actually managed to get it to work once- but that was without the patch. I reinstalled twice, and it just doesn't work with the patch on. You guys got any suggestions? sigh.. if not, I might have to play on vanilla M2TW..

EDIT: Never mind, I got it running, but I didn't realize the 5 or so other quickfixes on that page. Are you using those too, Merlox?

[Merlox]

Good!, Now, for the qustion, is it Broken Crecent 1.5 with quick fixes? if it is, then we can play, all it just has to be is that 1.5

[Chaotix]

Yeah, 1.05, w/ all the Quickfixes on that second site you linked to. I haven't had much time to play campaigns yet, but if you still wanna start soon, that's ok- I might just be a little slow to start. Maybe we should lay out the rules of engagement? Here are my preferences, and I'll compromise with yours:

- VH/VH (unless you want to do easier, that's fine), Manage all cities, Battles w/ Time limits.
- I assume you guys have been fighting battles manually, right? Should we force autoresolve on battles against each other?
- No merchant forts
- No cheating (obviously)
- No reloads?
- I think we should pick factions that have at least 1 faction in between, that way there's no automatic size advantage when we finally attack each other.
- We use your method of posting basic strategy- although we can withhold info if we are at war...

If you've got other ideas, we can add to this or change it. I was thinking of picking the Kingdom of Georgia for my faction, but you can have it (if you want) if you can point out another faction besides KoJ or ERE that doesn't rely on Horse Archers

[Merlox]

Auto resolve just mainly finishes the battle on manpower and such, alot people don't like it, You can be any countries, if that is how you want, I will be a country on the eastern side of the map, You may have Kingdom of Georgia, ERE, or KoJ, I need to know which one though.

Reloads are only really ok if your starting army goes rebel with out any reason. ya know?, also, with spies and assassin's % of sucess, a player can keep on reloading until a spy of assassin gets what ever they want, even with a low%!

The only reason why i want there to be posting is you know, just keep the people outside of the game to know how the progress is going with our game, ya know?

[Chaotix]

Ok. I'll take Georgia, then. The real point of the autoresolve question was what happens if one of my armies fights one of yours, or vice versa. Should we still be allowed to play out the battle, then? I don't mind either way, it's your call.

Also, let me know, in a post here when you send me the save, especially because (I think) the factions are arranged so that mine will go first, if you're picking an Eastern faction.

[Merlox]

Ok, you got the kingdom that you wanted, The save has been sent by email, Please post when your turn is done! Thanks

[Chaotix]

Merlox, the save is an rar file.. not .sav- I put it in the "saves" file, but it won't show up when I load the game.

Gah. I don't know how to convert it.
Can you just send the .sav file instead of the weird RAR one?

[Merlox]

.Rar is just a compresser type file.. it compresses it about 2/3rds of the way down, pretty usefull to have, i'll resend the .sav file, but you maybe should download some type of compresser files. :o

Few hours later: I go check up, you havn't responded, wtf? it's just the first turn!?... I notice a 2nd webpage.. and there is the email with the attachement.. still not sent.. argh -_-; sorry mate.

[Merlox]

Sorry, I sent it. Yeha, didn't mean to totaly ignore you like that.. i clicked attached adn i wa slike, WOO, (walks away) lol. X_X;

[Chaotix]

Lol, no problem. I sent you your turn.

Turn 1
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding and building, making money.
Current Priority: Killing rebels.
Diplomacy: Alliance with the Roman Empire
Military: Sacked Yerevan for 2000 with a spy
Build info: Barracks, a wall upgrade, and a port
Recruitment: Nothing
Money: 1000 and dropping

Bah, a little annoyed at the battle I just fought. The enemy captain, alone, with no help, killed about 50 of my archers. No exaggeration.

EDIT: I gotta go eat. May not be done by the time you finish, but I'll try to get back on tonight. This is a shared computer...

[Merlox]

Turn 1
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding
Current Priority: Borders
Diplomacy: Trades with Ghazis
Military: Sacked castle Pepi or what ever for 3600 with a spy
Build info: Bar + Mosque + Dirt Roads
Recruitment: As many troops as i can
Money: 3000

Easy enough, First time in history for me that the spy worked in the 1st turn, I feel awesome.

[Chaotix]

Heh, I felt the same way when my spy worked, too, except he died this turn. And I don't have the cash to recruit another. And I just realized that if the rebels sally out this turn, my heir probably won't make it. Ah, I'm gonna have to pay more attention...

Turn 2
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding and building, making money.
Current Priority: Killing rebels.
Diplomacy: Trade rights with the Turks
Military: Besieging another town
Build info: Same
Recruitment: Nothing
Money: 500

Uneventful turn.

[Merlox]

Well, My Spy died as well, so no hard feelings.

Turn 2
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding
Current Priority: Killing Ghazies
Diplomacy: Nothing
Military: Besieging 3 provinces., War with the Ghazies
Build info: Nothing
Recruitment: Spy
Money: 200

[Chaotix]

Turn 3
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding and building, making money.
Current Priority: Killing rebels.
Diplomacy: Alliance with Armenia
Military: Besieging Dvis... again
Building: still the same
Recruitment: very little, retraining
Money: 1000

I got thrown off from the siege, but my faction heir survived (phew!). I'm now besieging with the stack that couldn't get there before. Don't think they'll sally, my army is much larger.

[Merlox]

Turn 3
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding
Current Priority: Killing Ghazies
Diplomacy: Trade with the kwazhans
Military: Captured 3, Besieging 4 now provinces., War with the Ghazies
Build info: Bars, Roads, and Mosques
Recruitment: Spy, Lots of mercinaries.
Money: 6k

[Chaotix]

Turn 4
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding and building, making money.
Current Priority: Killing rebels.
Diplomacy: Trade rights with the Ayyubids
Military: Sacked Dvis for 3000 (small town!)
Building: Brothel for more spies- I'm all out.
Recruitment: Retraining spearmen, recruiting levies
Money: 500, but positive income now.

Had an awesome battle at Dvis where I killed 70% of the army with arrows. My next target, Ani, has stone walls, it'll be my toughest conquest yet, especially with these crappy starting units

[Merlox]

Turn 4
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding
Current Priority: Expanding
Diplomacy: Trade with the Sindhs, Peace for the Ghazies... for now..
Military: Captured 3, One of them sallied back, general still alive though, Beseiging 2 atm
Build info: more, Bars, Roads, and Mosques
Recruitment: Spy, Lots of mercinaries.
Money: 8k

[Chaotix]

Turn 5
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding and building, making money.
Current Priority: Killing rebels.
Diplomacy: Alliance with Kypchaks
Military: Besieging Ani
Building: Nothing
Recruitment: Spy, retraining spears
Money: None!

I got no cash left, but if I got 3000 from sacking a town like Dvin, I wonder how much I'll get for sacking a city...

[Merlox]

Turn 5
Merlox (Ghorids) vs Chaotix27 (Georgia)
Strategy: Expanding
Current Priority: Deciding where I want to expand next
Diplomac:War with Ghazis-Ghazies Destroyed. War with Chupt raphutes-Chupt Raphutes Destroyed
Military: Captured 2, Besieging 1 now provinces.
Build info: Bars, Roads, and Mosques
Recruitment: Spy, Lots of mercinaries.
Money: 3k

[Chaotix]

Merlox, can ya send me the save?

[Merlox]

.... god damnit i did it again man, I'm sorry, -_-; I did the same exact thing, i did attached, then walked away, expecting you to email me again. I look back up, and it has the unsent email right there... T_T