Out of character thread XIV

[AussieGiant]

Aer you guy's #$%^#@$ing kidding me!!??

Jan got married!!

I wish I had #$#$ing nuclear weapons!!

[Privateerkev]

Aer you guy's #$%^#@$ing kidding me!!??

Jan got married!!

I wish I had #$#$ing nuclear weapons!!

One of the many reasons I find this so awesome. Now if Jan gets a boy soon, that will be icing on the cake. It would be even better if he names him Arnold. ^_^

"fat dumpy stuck up Jan" gets married while "chick magnet Arnold" gets shunned at the alter. I love this game.

[StoneCold]

TC, Econ, with the news blackout, will we be getting a new update on the Imperial Library? For people without the game, aka. me, it is very difficult to imagine the state of the empire as of now without a map. I can't imagine going another 10 turns without one... :P

[econ21]

TC, Econ, with the news blackout, will we be getting a new update on the Imperial Library? For people without the game, aka. me, it is very difficult to imagine the state of the empire as of now without a map. I can't imagine going another 10 turns without one... :P

Funny you should mention that... TinCow was just saying that - with all the gamesmastering he will be doing - he will find it hard to update the library. Would anyone like to volunteer to do it for him in 1320 and 1340? If someone could take screenshots of avatars and upload them somewhere, TC or I could edit them into the library as required. There's also a fair bit of other material needs updating - I think Factionheir helped out with that last time.

But don't worry, the news blackout is for 1318 only. After that there may be some funky stuff going on in the saves (like Matthias in Timbucktu), so people probably should not post about it unless their character would know or TC has approved it. But the "do not load the save" instruction is for 1318 - the present turn - only[1].



[1]Now that Overknight has fought his defensive battle we are officially in 1318.

[Northnovas]

Funny you should mention that... TinCow was just saying that - with all the gamesmastering he will be doing - he will find it hard to update the library. Would anyone like to volunteer to do it for him in 1320 and 1340? If someone could take screenshots of avatars and upload them somewhere, TC or I could edit them into the library as required. There's also a fair bit of other material needs updating - I think Factionheir helped out with that last time.

I will do that just how often are the screen shots taken so many game turns/years? I just don't go through every save but if there is an event to an avatar of every 5 turns an updated photo I can do that and save it for future editing.

[Tamur]

Updated the active duty list, I'll be out of commission till Friday night GMT.

[econ21]

I will do that just how often are the screen shots taken so many game turns/years? I just don't go through every save but if there is an event to an avatar of every 5 turns an updated photo I can do that and save it for future editing.

Thanks, Northnovas. The library is updated every 10 turns, so we are due an update in 1320 when TinCow takes over and 1340 when the cataclysm is scheduled to end. The tedious part is that characters have some many traits, one screenshot does not catch them - you have to take several of each character, scrolling down the traits, and then edit the first to overlay subsequent ones. However, there are only about 18 avatars.

[TinCow]

I will do that just how often are the screen shots taken so many game turns/years? I just don't go through every save but if there is an event to an avatar of every 5 turns an updated photo I can do that and save it for future editing.

It is done every 10 turns (every formal Diet session) and the next one is due in 1320, which is also the start of my phase of the cataclysm. Taking the screenshots is not very time consuming. It is pasting them together to make single images that show all the traits and retinue for each avatar that takes up the most time. Some avatars, like Hans and Arnold, require 5-6 screenshots each just to make a single Bio mugshot.

The info itself will actually be far easier for me to update now. It was a pain before because I had to write it all down on paper or tab out every time I wanted to see where an avatar was located or how old a child was. Since last month I have gotten a new laptop and a wireless network at home, so I can post from that while still keeping the gaming running on my desktop: much faster. If someone could take care of the mugshots, I would be a very happy bovine.

[Northnovas]

I will take the avatar profiles then and have them accessible for downloading when need.

[TinCow]

I would just like to point out that next turn (1320) will be the 120th turn of the game. That is exactly the number of turns that WOTS lasted before the Civil War. As such, when the cataclysm is over, KOTR will officially have exceeded WOTS in in-game length, as well as real-time length (which I believe we passed some time ago).

[GeneralHankerchief]

Wow.

Big round of applause guys. It's been amazing.

[Northnovas]

Wow.

Big round of applause guys. It's been amazing.

I will second that!
Not knowing about WOTS which appears to be the benchmark for PBEM this is amazing the strength of this game. It's hard to believe the real time length of the game and we still have steam to go.
I think a lot has to go to the participants, gamemaster(s) and the contributers of the outgame post like the library, history that record the the play of the game.

[Warluster]

Wow, its been going for a while. How long has this game been going, and how long did WOTS go for?

[Ignoramus]

Why are we moving on before the Battle for Normandy is finished. Because it's unfair, becaue Hans is getting closer, and Imperial armies are building up in Brugges, Caen, and Rheims.

[TinCow]

The Battle of Normandy began at the end of 1316, which means neither side could have moved after the battle anyway. 1318 will not end until the battle is over with, which means the victor will still be able to utilize their full plans for the year. It doesn't really matter what order the rest of the events transpire in. econ21 is simply managing them in the most efficient way he can to keep things moving. At this point, the Battle of Normandy is the slow down, so he's preparing the rest of the game so that it can instantly move on once it is over.

[TinCow]

Nice story, GH. And everyone else too. The entire story thread has been very impressive lately. I think some of those Mead Hall people could learn a thing or two in here...

[econ21]

Why are we moving on before the Battle for Normandy is finished. Because it's unfair, becaue Hans is getting closer, and Imperial armies are building up in Brugges, Caen, and Rheims.

Caen is yours, Ignoramus, but like the rest of the Reich it recruited nothing last turn (thanks to Theodora )[1]. Even at the best of times, Bruges and Rheims just recruit militia and under my stewardship only enough to keep up with desertion really.

I am taking the Battle of Normandy to occur in 1316 (I know Factionheir suggested the move at the end of 1314 but the battle took time to take off). I know you are temporarily in a stasis field, but whoever wins will will get a move in 1318. Unless I hear otherwise, I am assuming if you will tag Bruges then head for Rheims; Warluster will tag Caen.



[1]I lie - Fritz recruited a bucket load of troops thanks to the expedient of sacking his own city.

[econ21]

I've made most of the moves for 1318. Only the Swabian battle characters remain.


There are two offensive battles:

Dietrich von Dassel (GeneralHankerchief):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: You can strike at the rear of the Byzantines besieging Bologna. You have hire some mercenaries, but many ran away when they saw the size of the enemy army. Even your fanatics have deserted you. Their fanaticism apparently left something to be desired. However, half the enemy army is peasant rabble and, if you think it necessary, you could call on the services of the Venice garrison to support you.

King Jan (Privateerkev)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

IC: Two regiments of Byzantine cavalry were on patrol when I took Antioch at night. I would be grateful if you could hunt them down with as many or as few as your men as you judge necessary. Matthias's army should be able to reinforce, but obviously try to minimise his losses. If my army gets involved, please look after me new Arnolds.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1318-2.zip

News embargo remains in place for the rest of this turn.

I think the moves I have made for everyone are uncontroversial EXCEPT Fredericus Erlach (Stuperman). I put him on a merc boat and sent him alone to Ajaccio. There he hired two merc crossbows and is training three regiments of dismounted knights. He will likely be besieged there on and off the cataclysm, so if he does not want to be there - tell me and I'll teleport him back to Italy. However, from Stuperman's in character comments, it sounded like the sort of thing Fredericus would want to do. I put Lothar in charge of BHAG and set him towards Florence, which is under threat. I figured with Lothar and Dietrich in north Italy, Fredericus was not really required.

I will not be able to end turn until the Battle of Normandy is over. I aim to resolve phase 1 on Friday night; phase 2 on Saturday night. But that will require Ignoramus and Warluster providing orders for phase 1 on time and for phase 2 during the interval between Friday and Saturday nights. If the latter is a problem because of limited weekend internet access, let me know and I will adjust the deadline.

[GeneralHankerchief]

My fanatics have deserted me???



I loved those little guys. They killed the Pope!

I'll fight in a couple of hours.

[econ21]

My fanatics have deserted me??? I loved those little guys. They killed the Pope!

Sorry, the dice gods are cruel. I've been disbanding XP8 knights and all sorts.

[Stuperman]

After reviewing the save (I think I should know what I am up against), I'll stay on Ajaccio.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Taking the save now.

[RoadKill]

Okay econ you have to continue to take control of Lorenz Zirn still, I still cant solve the problem with my MTW 2. Could someone help me out. In "My computer" it knows that the MedTW2_1 (D:) disc is in the DVD-Drive, and even the MTW launcher pop ups, like what the hell, but when I click play the DVD-Drive makes a weird Techno noise and says that I either don't have the disc in or that I have inserted the wrong disc this is starting to fustrate me.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Battle fought. As OK has probably discovered, a plus side to all of these strange full-stack Byzantine armies is that they're... well... not that good. Chain rout made me feel like I was back in RTW.

1:1 odds, prisoners executed.



http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1318-3.zip

PK, it's all yours.

[Privateerkev]

PK, it's all yours.

Got the hand off, save is mine.

[AussieGiant]

One of the many reasons I find this so awesome. Now if Jan gets a boy soon, that will be icing on the cake. It would be even better if he names him Arnold. ^_^

"fat dumpy stuck up Jan" gets married while "chick magnet Arnold" gets shunned at the alter. I love this game.

LOL that's pretty funny.

[FactionHeir]

Sorry, the dice gods are cruel. I've been disbanding XP8 knights and all sorts.

are you telling me you disbanded my knights can you shipped from Outremer?

[Privateerkev]

AG: Don't worry, I'm sure Arnold will find true love...ur...true rodgering?...ur...true...something?

Here is the save. Will pm report to Econ. Got an extra dread point but it is buried in Jan's many many layers of chivalry so you won't even notice. ^_^

Have 2 dread points but 13 chivalry. So Jan is simultaneously the "patron saint of knights" while being "cruel and cunning". I love how traits jive together.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1318-4.zip

[econ21]

are you telling me you disbanded my knights can you shipped from Outremer?

No, they teamed up with Bavarian Household Army Otto to make it safely out of Greece (with no navy to protect them, they have had to ride from Thessalonica). But I have separated them so that TinCow can identify them. You will have to liase with him to make sure they continue on to Swabia.

You PMd me to ask about your forces. Hans has a newly recruited Teutonic Knight regiment, but he has also just tagged Staufen which has a town militia, DFK and armoured swordsman. Ruppel has a DFK and three armoured swordsmen. The Prinz's army has been really hard hit by desertion - hence the absence of crossbows and veteran cavalry. Without taking the troops recruited at Innsbruck, you would have no army to speak of.

As OK has probably discovered, a plus side to all of these strange full-stack Byzantine armies is that they're... well... not that good. Chain rout made me feel like I was back in RTW.

When I gifted settlements to the Byzantines, they created weird monotone garrison armies of the kind of mercs available. I added a balanced half stack to each to try to mask this incongruity. You just beat the Sicilian garrison, which was 10 peasant archers. The Outremer ones are rather scarey - 10 heavy cavalry - so we've been trying to avoid open field battles. I've also created more balanced armies that should provide more of a challenge.

One thing I can't do is create good generals to lead them, so that might explain the chain routs - along with your dread.

[econ21]

Battle report for Antioch up.