Alemanni PBM

[TinCow]

I am starting a new thread as per the discussion in the old thread. I have no problems organizing this, but I just tried the Alemanni in SP and got my ass handed to me twice in a row within a few turns on VH/VH. The first time I was just plain erased and the second I managed to take a couple towns but ended up bankrupt and besieged with no prospects for relief. This means two things: 1) I think the Alemanni will be very interesting to do a PBM for and 2) I shouldn't take the first turn.

We will be playing with the following rules:
Must use patch 1.6
10 years (20 turns) per person
Large Unit Size
Battle Timer On
Difficulty: VH/M

Since we start with only 1 settlement, the first couple players may have relatively short games. However, due to the 20 province victory requirement, it will probably take a decent number of players to finish. I have no problems recycling the first couple people later in the rotation if they feel they want a go at a more developed empire as well.

Due to my cowardice, I shall start the order off with Simon, as he volunteered in the other thread. I don't want to presume too much so I will limit the starting order until more people post. First come first served after this.

Play Order: (* = current turn)
Simon Appleton *
TinCow
Dutch_guy
Zomby_Woof

[Zomby_Woof]

I'm in.

How about a hard campaign with battles on the very hard setting and with battle timer off. What unit size are we using? My computer can handle up to large with no problem but with huge settings and massive armies + reinforcements I find things can get bogged down.

[econ21]

Well, I don't presume to be a better player than TinCow, so I propose we play on VH campaigns/M battles. I like M battles anyway, as the unit match-ups are more intuitive and it sounds like the poor Alemanni might need a break.

I'd go for large unit size and the battle timer on (sometimes I am just begging for a battle to end and it was quite interesting to lose a siege recently because I was too slow).

I'll get to work on it tomorrow night.

[Dutch_guy]

we should indeed do Vh ( campaign ) and medium battles , otherwise we just give the AI all those rediculus bonusses, which just is just as fun as it is fair.

battle timer... don't know , don't mind either way.

Also the players should be required to make the necessary free time to play, or else the other players will suffer from that person's lack of discipline on the matter - not meaning you should get it done in a mere day or so.
PBM's should be played as fast as possible and should uploaded right when the player is finished.

[TinCow]

Ok, large unit size, battle timer on, and VH/M. After all, we're looking for an interesting write-up, not to get our butts whooped in the challenge to end all challenges. The original post has been updated to reflect this and Zomby_Woof has been added to the list. Unless there are other issues to resolve, I think Simon can start whenever he wants.

[econ21]

OK, I've finished my ten years. The save game has been uploaded as Alemmani_273S.zip. The situation is fairly self-explanatory - we have taken 3 more provinces, but are still very much a fledgling kingdom, locked in a struggle with the WRE. The Vandals are quite nearby, but we have concluded an alliance with them.

TinCow, I've left you with a lot of freedom where to expand next but be careful - even on VH/M, the WRE has teeth and our economy is weak.

Write up to follow over the weekend.