The Ultimate Test: The First AAR of E:TW on the .org

[macallan]

See it through to the end! And not just becouse I'm sitting here wondering when the postman will show up...

[Monk]

See it through to the end! And not just becouse I'm sitting here wondering when the postman will show up...

It's crazy from what pever tells me. He had the Crimean Khan backed into a corner but the civilians rose up in defense of their capitol, descending upon his army. The technologically backward Russians fought bravely, but their discipline and tech was weak! They were overwhelmed by mere citizen-soldiers, a truly embarrassing defeat.

The solution can only be, revolution.


...

Sorry.

Actually I suggested pever slug it out with his enemies, Sweden and the Khanate, for a few more turns to see if a winner could be judged. The war seems to be at a stand-still. So i suggested he crank up the taxes and try to incite a revolt, then side with the rebels. The Tsar is weak, the people must stand on their own strength!

[pevergreen]

The Tsar is about 25. Hes a smart guy.

But yeah, what Monk said is true.

The AI won't have a ceasefire because they COULD beat me, its just I keep getting into a stalemate, we both make up new armies, both armies die etc

[SaFe]

The AI won't have a ceasefire because they COULD beat me, its just I keep getting into a stalemate, we both make up new armies, both armies die etc

I really hope this is not just wishful thinking. In time we all know, because i'm sure you'll beat those peasants
It would be nice to hear, if they're more agreeable as your army camps before their capital.

Do us a favor and try this out and not simply kill the faction off, if you can.

Thanks for the information you give out b.t.w.

[pevergreen]

I've been trying to get them to become my protectorate, because I love doing that.

Problem is I cant get them weak enough. On top of that, they are already the protectorate of the Ottoman Empire.

[Strategy]

Some people are saying the AI is greatly improved and offers up a challenge while others say it's just as bad as rtw's. It's really hard to tell who's right as both sides cannot be correct. The only way I can be sure is to get the game myself, but being stuck waiting on the US countdown to unlock isn't exactly easy.

It seems to me this has been the pattern with most TW games - there's always a lot of people saying the game AI is much better this time around right after release, and this continues until the point when people understand the exploits (inevitably, some "get it" earlier than others).

And at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. What matters is whether the game is fun to play (with AI problems and all) or not. Personally, I am most concerned by the extremely slow pace the gameplay in this iteration seems to have (I love grand campaigns - yes - but I do have a life as well...), but being a sucker for this kind of game, I'm going to be getting it anyway.

[Polemists]

I love grand campaigns - yes - but I do have a life as well

See that makes no sense to me, I love the grand campaigns because they are so slow, and take so little of my nights.

You can play a couple turns, a hour, maybe two and have some fun.

Versus say something like CIV IV where you can beat a whole game in 2 hours.

I like replayability. I'd rather not shell out fifty bucks for a 2 hour game, sorry. Just my opinion

[pyradyn]

That is why I play civ on epic hige map with 18 plus civs :P only victory conditions are conquest I like long long games ^_^


Thanks for the Info and screens btw I have to slug out 9 hours of work before I can play.

[Fisherking]

I don’t think I will play the first time on VH/H like you did.

There is a learning curve and seeing the AI in the demo on M let me know that they can do some unexpected things.

I think I will just take it slow and learn the ins and outs before making it VH.

Getting the feel for the diplomatic and economic game before wading in to it seems fair enough to me.

I know I got waxed a few times in the naval demo and have yet to get a decisive victory on the land battle.

Being out of cash and everyone around me trying to grab off my land and stomping my armies is not my idea of fun.

I will play a slow and cautious turtle the first time or two, thank you very much.

Besides, someone has to hunt the Easter eggs!

[pevergreen]

Yup, its not a great idea to jump into it, but I wanted to test it from the end of a stupid new user.

"OMG IM AWESOME! I must pick hardest and hard difficulty cause i never played before. IM SO Pr0."

My previous experience with TW and extensive following of production helped a lot, but I'm still getting the hang of it.

[Strategy]

See that makes no sense to me, I love the grand campaigns because they are so slow, and take so little of my nights.

You can play a couple turns, a hour, maybe two and have some fun.

Versus say something like CIV IV where you can beat a whole game in 2 hours.

I like replayability. I'd rather not shell out fifty bucks for a 2 hour game, sorry. Just my opinion

I guess you meant to say - take so much of your nights. I know it will consume mine (just picked it up on my way home today). And I think you misunderstand what replayability means. Replayability = being able to play the game more than once (a criteria that Civ IV definitely fulfills in my book).

In any case, my point is simply that if I'm going to play a game, then I'd also like to have the satisfaction of ending the game. If it's a good game (with replayability), I'll play it many times. Playing a game 1/3rd way through and then starting a new game because continuing the first would be excruciatingly boring (unfortunately a common issue in "grand campaign" games of all kinds) is not my idea of fun.

But you know... I once had someone explain to me how their dream game would be a Civilization epic with 1 month turns from the dawn of Civilization till today. Tastes differ.

[andrewt]

I like your definition of replayability. I like grand campaigns more than 30 minute RTS style games as well and I always play Civ 4 on the larger maps. However, I think 2-3 weeks of hard playing is enough for a grand campaign. It's a reasonable amount of time to complete one and start a new one.

Pever, what about fighting a more defensive battle against one of your opponents? It looks like you're trying to counterattack and conquer them both. If you could fight more defensively against one of them and pull more resources to the other side, it might make something happen.

[JeromeBaker]

I am so stoked to hear how much a fight the AI put up on VH/H for pevergreen. In all honesty, if you can play a game VH/H your first go around and never feel close to losing, the game wasnt designed correctly for my version of replaybility. As long as a game is challenging I will want to replay it over and over and over.......

[pevergreen]

As I hadn't played before I think I messed up early. I have no money coming in, the world market isnt favouring me.

My peaceful prussia campaign is fun.

[Necceh]

Yeah i had a very similar problem with my Austira game, i basically overlook province development managed to soldier on however as i was only playing on default settings so was able to win battles quite easily despite being slightly outnumbered against the Ottomons.

[Fisherking]

As I hadn't played before I think I messed up early. I have no money coming in, the world market isnt favouring me.

My peaceful prussia campaign is fun.

HAY!

You think you get off that easy after promising an AAR!!!

Oh well….


The moral of the story is boys and girls…Don’t play this game the first time on VH/H

[pevergreen]

You want me to keep the AAR going?

Gimme some feedback, what do you want? Do you want just a list of events that happen each turn or what?

[AussieGiant]

KEEP GOING pev!!

The full monty.

[Kelkschiz]

It would be very nice if you could somehow salvage the situation. An nation overextending itself and then having to recover from that bad position is a very realistic scenario and would be a great feat if you could pull it off. You would probably have to cut your losses on some front. Would sure be interesting to see if you can pull it off ^^.

[Necceh]

The only feedback i'd have for you is that the styles perfect, for my taste at least, i'm not one for role playing or anything, i'm more into reading about other players game experiences as well issues they've encountered and how they chose to go about overcoming them.

If you do decide to carry on it sounds as though your going to have to close one of the fronts down, have you tried sueing for peace with the Swedes? That should afford you enough breathing space to finish off the Crimeans.

[Fisherking]

Yep! Save your bacon old man…

Fight the Swedes into submission while delaying the Ottomans or vise versa…but the south seems to be kicking your butt.

If you want to that is…We can always hear about Prussia on easier settings…

[Squints]

I started as Sweden - no allies, and your two options for expansion by land are either major nations or protectorates of said major nations - Denmark is Ottoman's (or Russia?) underling.

[pevergreen]

Oh no, all my campaigns are either VH/H or VH/VH.

I shall start with Russia again tomorrow, restarting from the point where I ended writing. Hopefully that means the south won't be as bad.

[Rufus]

How did you save multiple screenshots?

[A Very Super Market]

Fraps?

[pevergreen]

Yup, thats what I've been using.

I'm awake and I shall be starting again!

[pevergreen]

Summer, 1703:

Georgia declares war, causing Poland-Lithuania to call off the alliance. The Southern army moves south, intent on finishing the Crimeans off. Sweden is conducting raids around St. Petersburg.

Georgia raids my southern border, Sweden takes St. Petersberg back after the Northern army went out on a training drill (i misclicked them out, full movement)

Winter, 1703:
Northern army sieges St. Petersburg again. Construction on a new school begins, when the prince reports how far behind in technology we are. Cherkassk is being moved on by Georgia and Crimean Khanate, I may lose my Southern border.

Summer, 1704: Crimean Khanate attacks with an army of cossacks, the South army must retreat, outnumbered 1300 to 570.

Winter, 1704: The siege of St. Petersburg continues

Summer, 1705: The Crimean Khanate destroys the entire Southern Army.

Winter, 1705: Research begins in Plug Bayonets, construction of a Grand Southern Army begins.

We fast forward a few years to the Summer of 1709.

My Western Border is secure, held at all parts by Poland-Lithuania. The Swedes are now fragmented around northern europe.

The Crimean Khanate threw up a terrifying defence and managed to obliterate the Grand Southern army.

To pay for the war, taxes were raised, but in the face of strikes and a possible rebellion, they have been lowered.

Ring Bayonets have been distributed around the army, and research has begun on this new mounted infantry "Dragoons". The Tsar has focused all of the greatest minds in his empire on military research.

Dagestan, Georgia and the Crimean Khanate all run free on the southern border and have begun to penetrate deeper into the empire. The Crimeans have launched into the Black Sea, whereas the first russian off land engagement was disasterous. The Swedes annihilated all russian craft.

In line with his new research, the Tsar has ordered that all units shall be nameless. A regiment shall only be bestowed a name for great achievements.

Winter, 1709: Carbines have been perfected. The Swedes still hold a Fur Trader position of ours in the north. The imperialistic Northern Army refuses to give way to the new regiment name orders, citing its many victories. The Prince seems to take a dislike to his ruler.

A new type of ammo for the cannon is being researched. It is unknown what this will bring. A new fleet, though small in planned size, is begun in Ingria.

Summer, 1710: France and Austria are at war. The North army continues towards Abo, in hopes of taking the Swedes to their knees, with only one Region left.

Winter, 1710: A new port emerges! Ingria has founded a second port, doubling the capabilities of the Russian Navy.
The North army avoids the larger Swedish force and makes way for Abo.
They make it, having marched their full distance, so...
Abo is besieged and attacked!

The battle for Abo:

The plan for the assault for Abo was to run for cover. The cannon would lay down supressive fire while the new line infantry would run for the cover of the buildings in town.

The swedes had the same idea.

Brutal hand to hand fighting was seen across the town.

Our Line infantry took the fighting inside all major buildings, outnumbering the Swedes in all of them. The experienced men stood outside and picked Swedish scum off through windows.

We took the town hall and started firing on the Citizens, warning them to clear out lest we kill them all. They would not listen, they stood and fired upon us, so we repayed them in kind. After killing a third of them, they fled.

All that was left was a single strongold of citizens in an outlying house. We lined up and had some target practice. The battle for Abo was won.

Prince Anikita was known to be a Brave Soldier, boosting the morale of his forces by +2.

Research begins on a new formation for our troops, as well as the next stage of military tech buildings beginning construction. Our treasury is at 259 gold. We have begun to recruit some mounted Cossacks.

Summer, 1711: The biggest army in Russians history is completed. Next season it can begin its move south. Canister shot has veen developed, research begins on a way for bigger shipyards to be built. Ships move outside Abo, Finland, in readiness to ferry troops to the final Swedish Region and its Capital. Stockholm, Sweden.

In world news, the Ottoman Empire seems to be the super power in Europe, Spain in the Americas and the Mughals in India.

Winter, 1711: Square formation has been researched, research begins on improving grenades.

The United Provinces and Great Britain have ceased to be Allies, perhaps the time is right to ally with Britain...

Both armies move towards their targets, Stockholm and the Crimean Khanate.

Summer, 1712: Austria and Great Britain are no longer allied...perhaps it is not yet the time to be close with Britain, not when it is losing allies like this.

Hannover is destroyed! They remain no more. Saxony have joined them in the pages of history. Perhaps those still loyal to them will rise up in the future?

Surprise! My Danish allies have besieged Stockholm already! I shall join them in this joyful occasion. It does seem that I am outnumbered by both these armies however. The Swedes have begun raiding my north again, and are sallying out of Stockholm against the Danish. The Prince of Russia decides to support his allies against the weak Swedish scum.

The Battle for Stockholm:

The Swedes have a good defence, cannons everywhere on the wall. The Russian-Denmark forces approach together.

The Prince takes up a command position, in what hopes to be just out of cannon range.

The Danes run to an undefended part of the fortress and throw scaling ropes up and begin the climb to the top, the Swedes rush to defend it, so the Danes keep moving around both sides of the fort.

The danes take the fort, and kill the enemy general. We have not even reached the City yet.

The Danes hold the centre and win, Stockholm is taken!

The Battle in Crimea:

Russia and its general Jan Stoljarov are attacked by all that the Crimean Khanate can muster. Over a thousand Coassacks line up against nearly 1200 Line Infantry. This should be a close victory, but victory nonetheless.

The battle is straightfoward. We intercept the main Crimean line and shoot it to pieces and then we charge with bayonet and horse. The Crimean break and flee.

[A Very Super Market]

Sounds like a lot of fun...

I started out as Russia, got intimidated, and went to good ol' two province Prussia. Hope you don't run me over...

[pevergreen]

Seeing as Prussia is the one that destroyed Hannover and Saxony, I'm kinda scared.

[lenin96]

Who are your next targets in your campaign?