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

[pevergreen]

First off, I'm pevergreen. I picked up E:TW about an hour ago.

I have decided to go straight into it, to give me the best view of it all. I skipped the RtI campaign, went straight into the grand campaign. As Russia!

Alright, so details:

Faction: Russia
Roleplay Leader.
Campaign Difficulty: Very Hard
Battle Difficulty: Hard
Prestige Victory.

Keep in mind I've played both the land and sea demo battles twice. I have no knowledge of this time period at all.

My 16 Year old Tsar is a smart little bugger, so straight away he took a look at his ministers. Upon looking at some traits, he realised that his Treasurer...wasn't quite up to scratch. In fact, he was having a negative effect on the economy! Out he went, and in came a nice man, with some bonuses!

In line with the advisers, a small force has been sent to deal with one of our enemies, the Crimean Kharnate. If we take them out, we gain a valuble port. A rake was also sent to spy it out.

The gentleman under our employ was sent to the only learning facility in the entire Empire, helping out researching improved animal husbandry.

Taxes were set to very low for the lower class and low for the nobility to keep everyone happy for a while.

The entire treasury was spent upgrading a farm or two, and then the government buildings!

So ends turn the first.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Sweet. POAST MOAR! :D

[A Very Super Market]

Hooray!

Screenies. I demandeth them

[pevergreen]

Well, I cant find a screenies folder, so I dont think its saving them.

Chapter 2 is coming up, I have my notes.

5 Turns completed, in 2 hours.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

For the demos, I think it saves them to the clipboard but overwrites the previous "print screen". I would assume that applies to the full game too.

[pevergreen]

The world moves on...

Sweden, one of my most powerful neighbours, offers me a trade agreement, demanding 1100 coins for it.

Seeing as though they are unfriendly towards me, and more importantly, they are more powerful, I accept. My treasury is down to less than 300 coins.

The Crimean Khanate attacks me. My first test of strength.

The first Crimean Khanate Skirmish
I am outmatched in terms of numbers and guns. I do have the advantage of nearly 100 horse. The Crimeans run for the cover of the wall, while flanking with their horse and sending a diversionary attack. I sense the division of forces and rush all my infantry into melee with the diversionary force.

In response to this, the horse attempts to flank me and charge Ivan, my General. My horse intercepts them and sees them off. As the melee continues on my left flank, the horse on my right are ordered to charge into the defensive line of the Swedes. Horses jump the wall and charge through the Cossack Infantry, causing them to rout before their close allies can help. it is a small matter of wiping up the remaining enemies. My two forces combine in the centre and charge the General and the last unit of Cossack Infantry.

200 Militia, 100 Cossack infantry and 60 horse against 18 of the Generals bodyguard and 100 Cossack Infantry.

But these Crimeans must be born from hell, as they are not only holding out, but defeating my force.
Ivan senses defeat, and charges into the fray, risking his life to embolden his troops. The enemy flee and are destroyed.

Winter, 1700:

My north army begins to recruit additional forces. As of now it is only a peacekeeping army, but who knows what may happen with the Swedes.

The South army besieges Bakhchisaray, the Capital of the Crimean Khanate. They sally out and are put down, but their numbers cause heavy losses. I have 70 militia, 25 horse and 7 Cossack infantry.

The Swedes declare war on Denmark. I side with the Danes and am now at war with Sweden. They shall regret this.

Summer, 1701:

The swedes attack undefended Petrovskaya Sloboda, laying waste to nearby towns. The North army counters this by taking over the Swedish port. The south army retreats and awaits reinforcements, but is still in enemy territory.

Winter, 1701: An uneventful season, upgrades progress throughout Russia.

Summer, 1702: The Crimean Khanate sidesteps my Southern army and intercepts my reinforcements. Being outclassed, the return to the Ukraine region. The same army then attacks my depleted Southern army, which flees back outside Bakhchisaray, their Capital. Wedged between two forces, out of movement, the Southern Army is attacked. I can't bear to watch it, so I let a Captain command (I auto-resolved. I was outnumbered like 4 to 1) Somehow, the man won! The 1st Regiment and 1st Horse of the Southern army were lost.

On the northern front, the North army besieges St. Petersburg.

A few months after the siege begins, Adam Ludwig sallies out against Prince Anikita Ivanovich, leader of the North Army. The forces are evenly matched.

The Prince takes up a defensive position, having a wall as cover for all 4 of his infantry units. The Prince has deployed out of range of their cannon. I realise I am up against a stronger foe, as Adam has entrenched his cannons, I must concentrate more on technology research!

The Swedes advance on my position, getting hit by a few lucky cannon balls.

A fire-fight ensures, with a unit flanking my left, and my right. I am force into melee by Pikemen, and my horse has to charge the flanking units on the right to keep my cannon safe.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The pikes are eventually routed, the rest of the Swedes fall under massive fire from multiple units. Tactics won the day, in an open fight, my higher quality units may have prevailed, but it would have been a lot closer. St. Petersburg falls under Russian Control.

Winter, 1702:

Road upgrades are ordered in major provinces, and repairs begin throughout Russia. New research is begun, to allow construction of Colleges. The Tsar knows the value of technology.

Thats it so far!

[Gregoshi]

Good stuff pevergreen.

Keep it coming as time permits.

It seems so wrong sitting here out of the loop on the ETW release.

[pevergreen]

And im only finishing turn 5 or 6. So much happens!

edit: alright, its up to where I am now.

Should I venture into the sea?

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

So were you allied with Denmark? (As in, how did that happen...)

[PanzerJaeger]

How would you describe the AI?

Some early reports say it is just as bad on both the campaign map and on the battlefield.

[Monk]

How would you describe the AI?

Some early reports say it is just as bad on both the campaign map and on the battlefield.

Really? I've been reading that on anything Hard or greater, the AI seems to put up a tough fight.

edit: strangely enough, most of the people talking about how poor the AI does either are on normal or simply don't have the game. I think I'm gonna stop reading the .com forums.

[Polemists]

This is all based on opinion. I never thought Attack me all at once=Bad. The fact your in war with two nations in less then ten turns, I think i'll stick on medium.

Still a good read.

[PanzerJaeger]

Really? I've been reading that on anything Hard or greater, the AI seems to put up a tough fight.

edit: strangely enough, most of the people talking about how poor the AI does either are on normal or simply don't have the game. I think I'm gonna stop reading the .com forums.

I'm getting my info from .net. They didn't give difficulty settings, so you may be right. I did read of a guy making peace one year with a weak faction, only to be attacked the next by one or two units... which would be an endimic problem to the game's ai regardless of difficulty I would think.

Looking forward to Orgah's reviews, as they are always the most thorough. That other place is like trying to fish information out of a bunch of kindergarteners.

[Monk]

I'm getting my info from .net. They didn't give difficulty settings, so you may be right. I did read of a guy making peace one year with a weak faction, only to be attacked the next by one or two units... which would be an endimic problem to the game's ai regardless of difficulty I would think.

Honestly it seems to be a mixed bag of impressions.

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.

Looking forward to Orgah's reviews, as they are always the most thorough. That other place is like trying to fish information out of a bunch of kindergarteners.

I know what you mean. Most of the .Orgahs i've talked to have (thus far) been satisfied with ETW, I'll know for sure what I'll be later this morning after my download is done. For now all I can do is wait.

[Polemists]

The other gameday reports i've read have indicated that Medium you can go quite a few turns and only be at war with one nation. Along with all our previous reports (which were on medium). So I don't think you get attacked more on medium. Less actually.

I would think on VH you'd be attacked all the time, but again that's what the VH people seem to want.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

It's not good to read this then:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/blogs/r...=picks;title;1

Some Gamespot blogger is talking about exploiting the AI. :/

Hopefully he's just some clueless hack on easy.

[Fondor_Yards]

Isn't the Crimean Khanate an Ottoman protectorate? You better be prepared for a much bigger fight them...

[pevergreen]

When I started the campaign, i was allied with Denmark and Poland-Lithuania and at war with Pirates, Barbary States, Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire.

Those are just starting wars/alliances.

Got a load of screenies taken. Im getting thrashed on the southern flank, but im holding out alright on the north.

[Monk]

When I started the campaign, i was allied with Denmark and Poland-Lithuania and at war with Pirates, Barbary States, Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire.

Those are just starting wars/alliances.

Got a load of screenies taken. Im getting thrashed on the southern flank, but im holding out alright on the north.

Can't wait for the next installment.

[wumpus]

go-go-go, pevergreen--i'm rooting for your russians! i think, with your tw experience, you have a very good chance of making it. Hawooh.

[pevergreen]

Trying to get 60mb of screenshots uploaded so you can see what I'm up to. I'm not a good writer.

My notes format, and current progress:
pevergreen: summer 1705: Crimean Khanate destroys Southern Army.

edit: I do my note taking in the Group Channel of the ETW steam group we have, so if you want to see as i go, just idle in there and read every so often.

[Monk]

Trying to get 60mb of screenshots uploaded so you can see what I'm up to. I'm not a good writer.

My notes format, and current progress:
pevergreen: summer 1705: Crimean Khanate destroys Southern Army.

edit: I do my note taking in the Group Channel of the ETW steam group we have, so if you want to see as i go, just idle in there and read every so often.

Wait wait.

An AI faction annihilated one of your main armies?

This is getting good. Eagerly awaiting the next installment!

[pevergreen]

Not only that, but it completely outclassed me in production AND tactics in that battle. And I thought I had them utterly beat (1 province left, i destroyed all of their military units, I just couldnt take the city from the citizens (If you didnt know, when you siege and attack, the game gives the defender armed citizens, some melee, some with firelocks. Got a picture coming when they upload.

[wumpus]

Honestly it seems to be a mixed bag of impressions.

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.

imho, it depends really on an individual's perspective--and perception--of what "good" or "bad" AI is. there are some who say the AI of shogun:tw is "good" while others say it's "bad" so it must also apply to the new E:TW. the best way to be sure is to try it out yourself. have fun waiting for your countdown to be consummated, my friend. Hawooh.

[pevergreen]

Pre-battle screen. My Southern Army, just before its defeat.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Diplomatic Relations, my faction selected. I have quite a few enemies. Denmark is my ally, Poland-Lithuania is my trade partner.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Besieging St. Petersburg, also showing the new recruit on general mechanic. First number is number to recruit unit, second is travel time to the stack.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Pre-battle screen for the Second battle of St. Petersburg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Cossack regiment

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My deployment.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Citizens in action!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Cannonballs bouncing and impact on ground.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My Southern Army destroyed.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Showing what you can do when a new town appears.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[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.

Pictures of these various events are above this post.

[lenin96]

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

It's good to see these "minor factions" surviving, the AI can cope with a human playing as a large faction such as Russia, that means good things.

[Sir Beane]

This is great pevergreen .

[pevergreen]

Alright, I'm looking at if I should continue this. Im about 8 turns ahead of where I last wrote and nothing has happened. The first russian ships took to the seas and were destroyed, the Grand Southern Army was destroyed. I have low income, one ally I cant trade with and i seemed to be royally screwed.

Thoughts people?

edit: upon Monk's suggestion, I started to incite a rebellion, by putting taxes high.

[Fisherking]

What happens when you try to make peace with the AI…

One of the factions you are at war with might go for it…or is it like the old AI and will not settle for les than victory or death?