M2TW PBEMs possible?

**El Diablo** · 11-20-2006, 20:22

This planned game sounds awesome, but as a non WoS and really a TW newbie I have a couple of questions about the PBEM M2TW mechanics...

You mention that Dukes can attack other factions of their own free will. This could seriously hamper the entire game with a papal excomm.

I have been following the WoS for a while (and enjoyed it very much

) but I did notice that some senators were very agreesive in their desire for conquest. They were often only stopped by the voting from the rest of the senate. One of these types of people starting a rash war could cause a flood of crusades and a rapid end to a good campaign???

It is not as though you could offer the life of the general to the pope in exchange for being recommunicated??

Is there a possible way to have a "senate" style rulership to the game???

**Tamur** · 11-20-2006, 21:06

We could just do an emperor/council setup with no local control. However, I think what everyone sees in this more independent setup is a really excellent chance for some strong roleplaying. Plus we've all been around for a while and know that none of the regulars (at least) would do something childish and stupid for no good reason -- doing something childish and stupid for an in-character reason is a completely different matter

**Lucjan** · 11-20-2006, 21:39

Actually El Diablo. I put a test run up with a few players and the rules outlined, they're a little disorganised as some came to me later than others and they weren't incredibly well organised by us here either, but to answer your concerns about over aggressive generals. Here's the clause from the rules passage in the other post I made to adress that.

"Any Player may declare war with a 2/3 vote of support from the rest of the dukes, in which case the involved dukes order the moves of their ducal army in any way they see beneficial to the Empire or whatever way an Imperial decree may command them."

This allows war to break out without Imperial Declaration, as it often did occur, but still requires a strong margin of support and doesn't guarantee Imperial aid unless the Emperor feels Imperial lands themselves are threatened (or, naturally, unless he supports the war to begin with). Heck, it doesn't even guarantee that the "supporting" dukes will actually send any soldiers to war, they just need to vote in favor, the instigator may get trashed and have to clambor amongst his "supporters" for aid.

**El Diablo** · 11-20-2006, 21:43

My point exactly. If your general is a "raving loon" etc. and thinks that the papal armies to the south are full of easter bunny wannabes then....

"To war, to war, these bunnies are no match for our armies, even that one in the back with the tall hat on... oh hello Mr Pope"

EXCOM'ed.

But then again if the armies of the pope are made up of Easter Bunnies then hey... easy pickings

But would the point of this game be to only have experianced people in it??

I would like to particpate but not in the general leading army sence.
The picking of when and where to pick fights/retreat has never been my strong point and I am sure I could learn alot for some of the more experianced members here.

**Lucjan** · 11-20-2006, 22:32

Well El Diablo we've reserved a place for players like you!

Let me try to readress your concerns though.

With a 2/3 requirement of support from all the other players for a duke to go to war with one of his neighbors, it will be highly unlikely that war-hawk mighty joe down in whereverland is going to convince another 5 players out of the 9 playing (these figures are solely for the sake of argument) that it's a good idea to go to war with those bunnies, risk excommunication, defeat if they don't want to actually send military aid, and the shame of being defeated by bunnies..just to make mighty joe feel good about himself. Now on the other hand, I could see players, specifically those close to the region with a chance of taking it with their ducal army, hopping on the oppertunity to take a trade rich Venice that's been weakened and isolate by Hungary or Milan. I don't however see everybody rallying behind mighty joe's bunny war.

This game is for everybody, not just for experienced players. But it's largely about politicing too not just the medieval game itself. It's about working together, compromising, and when necessary butting heads with others to get your way. A weak Hamburg won't support a war with a mighty Denmark because some warmonger in Vienna thinks it's a good idea, and the players will usually listen to the person closest to the area in that kind of a situation. Particularly with movement distances for armies being as short as they are in M2 (which I prefer to the immensely long travelling distances of rome's armies). Hamburg is more likely to try to boost support for an attack on rebel Magdeburg, which would gain Hamburg more strength if he can take Magdeburg with his army, and form a better protection against Denmark for the whole of the HRE if Hamburg gets stronger.

As for you!

We can put you in the game as a count.

Count's participate in the game by voting yes or no on passing edicts, voting for the emperor, setting the tax rate in their towns and offering their opinion in the council. But be ready to argue, we're a roudy bunch. Typical senate "discussions" usually looked a little something like this.

**El Diablo** · 11-20-2006, 23:53

Please "Count" me in then. Sorry that was poor...

Ohh and as a further to the Papal Easter Bunnies. They had full armour upgrades and armour piercing marshmellow eggs.

There was fur and chocolate everywhere...

**Lucjan** · 11-21-2006, 00:05

Alright, once our test run is over and the full game officially starts, we'll put you in as a Count!

Just let me know what kind of avatar you'd like. For a count it's preferable you'd be taking something like a diplomat or a bishop, maybe even a spy for counterspying if you'd like. Just so we can leave Generals open for the Dukes.