Blitzmaster Challenge

[Askthepizzaguy]

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...15#post1955815

There is a new Blitzmaster, Grog, having defeated my previous record of 28 turns.

The new record is 25, and the old thread is linked above. Seems the Turks are the faction to beat, not the HRE.

Congratulations, Blitzmaster!

[Galain_Ironhide]

Congrats Grog

Hail the new Blitzmaster

So when does the crusade to retake the record back begin ATPG?

[Askthepizzaguy]

I'm retiring from the challenge. I do not believe Grog's record can be improved upon, nor do I believe that SirRethCir's 9 turn Long Campaign can be shortened.

Grog is now the reigning champion, and I'm hanging up the sword.

However, when our duel to the death ends, I will have his head once again.

[WarMachine187]

Congrats Grog.You guys are both extremely talented at blitzing.I occasionally do it but i always stop right in the middle.That thread with all them pics on just got me back in to it!

[Askthepizzaguy]

wow! some love for the former champ.

I regret I will slowly fade into oblivion now...

[Grog]

Hail ATPG the Blitzmaster

Ah, but you truely are the overall Blitzmaster still.

Just look at your most excellent exploits in the BC mod, your utter blitz destruction of all opponents that dared face you in the open challenge duel to the death thread. Your current Darklord game is making me develop an evil chuckle (funny servile responses from your 'underlings' too)

You contribute far more to these forums than I ever will for a start..

In fact, this second attempt at a Turkish blitz was inspired by our current duel on LTC. I just thought I'd blast vanilla with the Turks to hone my fighting style and refresh my logistics after seeing your exploits on various threads, and sort of got a bit carried away by the momentum. (for the record, I can't get near your time with HRE, and Egypt are slower than the moors in my experience..)

For this Blitz, I used a similar structure to your HRE rush
ie: Jihad1 turns 2-9,
expansionism and general spawning turns 10-19
Jihad2 turns 19-25.

HRE have a better position in many ways, but Turks Horse Archers are the key here. Drill master general and 8 HA units on Jihad speed cover lots of ground. I rush deep into enemy territory, grab the biggest stack of crossbow/spear mercs, and nab a castle (easy to control). then expand and train from this point. Repeat everywhere and HRE can't match the pace or the turn 2 crusade.

Also, with a half HA stack and two generals as heavy cavalry the Turks can easily defeat any AI full stack early game just through attrition/skirmish and a few well timed general splits/charges, with relatively few losses.

I could go on in more detail , but its easier to post some saves up here if anyone is interested..

Could I beat 25? No idea, I made a few errors here and there, this is always balanced with luck and the AI doing stupid things in the long run.. didnt know I was going to beat 28 until turn 22/23..

Finally, to Factionheir. I apologise for the necromancy of the old blitz thread, but I'd rather stick it there with the rest of my blitzes for prosperity, rather than start a new thread.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Ok....
Grog....

If you think you've made errors...

I request that I challenge your Blitzmaster title one more time.

[Galain_Ironhide]

I knew you wouldnt be able to resist.

[Flying Pig]

Can you give us general tips for blitzing? Nine turns for a whoe campaign... how is that possible?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Sure. I can tell you everything you need to know about blitzing. That's why everyone got together in a very, very official ceremony and... I declared myself to be the blitzmaster.

Where should I begin? You wonder how it is possible...

First of all, it involves the intentional and blatant abuse of the crusade mechanic, but the underlying principle of blitzing is this;

1. You mass all of your forces together in one huge, powerful stack.
2. You rely on your unquestionable superiority over the AI in both campaign management and battlefield tactics to destroy much larger forces than your own, thus smashing your opponent's defenses and sacking his cities
3. This eliminates opponents, adds to your own empire's territory, recruitment, and finances.
4. The AI does not know how to properly assault you. Even a few basic militia can hold the walls against almost any foe. Just bring lots of spearmen and archers, and any settlement can hold except against cannons/artillery, which are too slow to matter against a blitz god.
5. As your empire expands, you fund your own military through pillaging, while your opponents rely solely on taxes.
6. You never ever stop recruiting... ever. Cavalry, spears, infantry, archers, spam them all into existence and continue growing your unstoppable horde. Dont bother with spies or artillery except in rare circumstances.
7. You will go into debt, but if you continue expanding, the budget will balance.

[Warmaster Horus]

Can't spies help for settlements? If there's a chance of them opening the gates, you can win a turn of siege, thus freeing your army, thus letting you expand faster.

But spies shouldn't be relied on. Just recruited when they can.

[Askthepizzaguy]

in some versions of the game, they move fast enough to help. In others, the crusaders move too fast for them to keep up. In that case, you are 99 times out of 100 going to want troops instead of spies.

Same for mobile seige equipment. Although I have found use for ballista in France (Paris) and northern Italy, and a use for a spy with the Turks to take Constantinople one turn faster.

Also, spies can open the gates that turn, but most turns its taking you the entire movement to reach the settlement, so you cannot move on until next turn anyway, and by then, you have ladders and rams and you take the city and move on in one turn.

If you take one city per turn (approx) with an army, spies and ballista will only SLOW YOU DOWN. And they are a waste of money at that point.

[TechStrider]

Well, I certainly hope to give this a go. I have enjoyed following the thread.

A bit more on the rules:

What are the settings made at the beginning of the campaign? Both for Battle and for Campaign?
Are you doing this at default or VH / VH or ??


Are there any other settings that are either part of the 'Official Rules' or recommended?


Thanks