Out of character thread XV

[AussieGiant]

It's been very good TC!!

In reality the real damage is going to be done in the second half of the crisis phase.

I've gone a through a few options once we "reconvene" in a formal capacity and I can truly say that we will have an enormous challenge even once things return to a semblance of normality.

The actions taken by various people to date will most certainly have ripple on effects well past the official end of the period. This will more than likely hamstring our ability to recover.

[Tamur]

I'm thoroughly enjoying watching the Swabian war, curious about the fate of Outremer, and very excited about the coming siege battle. And indeed, it's very nice to have all possible options open for Fritz to exploit. Very well done TinCow, no suggestions here.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Ditto on what everybody else has said here.

I'm still concerned about our ability to recover, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now I'm just enjoying the Reich's descent into Hell.

[AussieGiant]

I can't see the save until Friday afternoon Swiss time.

Am I right is saying that the unofficial reports I'm getting from others is that some of these stacks TC is throwing up are just #$#ing ridiculous?

[TinCow]

A major financial error was pointed out to me by Cecil XIX. I forgot to deduct 6 wealth from Edmund Becker which was dispersed to Duke Lothar, Duke Arnold, and Duke Peter (2 wealth each) to compensate for the 'excesses' of the Prague merchants. Thus, the new wealth standings for these 4 people are:

Edmund Becker: 5
Lothar Steffen: 15
Arnold: 14
Peter von Kasilien: 9

I have changed this in the turn report, but I wanted to post it here so that people would be aware of the edit.

[Northnovas]

I can't see the save until Friday afternoon Swiss time.

Am I right is saying that the unofficial reports I'm getting from others is that some of these stacks TC is throwing up are just #$#ing ridiculous?

YES!!!!
I send a PM with options unaware you could not see the current map. When I am back home this afternoon I will send you a quick screenie.

[Privateerkev]

We are now at the halfway point of my phase of the cataclysm, and 3/4 of the way through the entire thing. So, if there are any comments or suggestions on the way I'm running this, I would like to hear them. Are things balanced enough? Too hard? Too easy? Too boring? Am I neglecting some areas/people? Feel free to speak your mind.

This cataclysm has been ing awesome!

The increased options have provided a whole lot more opportunities for character development. And people have been taking advantage of that. I'm seeing the avatar's personalities fleshed out way more than they had been in the past. This provides even more roleplaying opportunities. It will be interesting to see how these personalities interact when the cataclysm ends and certain outlets are eliminated/limited but that is a comment and not a concern.

I just want to say that I think everyone stepped up and have really been on their game lately. This has been a rich experience and will either rejuvenate the game or make us go out with a bang. Either way, it's been a heck of a ride.

[FactionHeir]

What they said.
The cataclysm is very enjoyable, although personally I would have loved to see it last another 10 turns. Of course that would be asking a bit too much from both TC and Mrs. Total War Widow () who have been sacrificing considerable quality time for us. BIG THANK YOU here. If anyone else would like to continue it, they would have my full support (or if you need a hand, I wouldn't mind co-GMing).

Generally, I find we ought to have more defeats against the AI. We lost a few regions, but mostly due to lack of player intervention and not due to overwhelming AI. Thus, I would enjoy seeing some more difficult battles that require a lot of skill to win (i.e. losing more than half your army) rather than easy chain rout battles.

[StoneCold]

Seems to me that a few avatars, esp. those group together for the defense of Budapest, are not much in the game other than providing support for Karl? Maybe TC should not place that big multiple stacks there but disperse the Hungarians?

[TinCow]

Generally, I find we ought to have more defeats against the AI. We lost a few regions, but mostly due to lack of player intervention and not due to overwhelming AI. Thus, I would enjoy seeing some more difficult battles that require a lot of skill to win (i.e. losing more than half your army) rather than easy chain rout battles.

I've ramped them up this turn and will continue to do so when I want battles to be hard. My 'tough' armies are now full triple gold chevrons with max weapon and armor upgrades. Here are the locations of the 'tough' armies I created for this turn:

Near Bologna - Byzantine army
Rheims - 1 of the 2 French armies
Antwerp - Danish garrison boosted as above, though not to the max
Magdeburg - 1 of the 2 Polish armies
Near Ragusa - Venetian army
Budapest - 1 of the 2 Hungarian armies
West of Stockholm - 2 Danish armies, 1 is invisible because it is in ambush
Bordeaux - 2 French armies, designed to try to eliminate Portugal, not directed at the players.

More will be generated as needed in the future, though I will still use un-upgraded or less upgraded armies (or a mix, like at Rheims, Magdeburg, and Budapest) when I want the battle to be less of nail-biter.

Seems to me that a few avatars, esp. those group together for the defense of Budapest, are not much in the game other than providing support for Karl? Maybe TC should not place that big multiple stacks there but disperse the Hungarians?

I have repeatedly given them all options to break out on their own, but they have refused. They are staying there on their own, not because I am preventing them from leaving.

[FactionHeir]

It should be interesting to see how the AI acts, now that the files are working for you actually :)

Can't look at the save currently, but I would strongly recommend the army compositions I posted for the AI

Again, great work!

[StoneCold]

TC, I know you give them options to leave but the enemies stacks are too strong that they realized that if they leave budapest will fall so they stick together.

But if multiple stacks are menacing different cities and that a core group cannot reach all of them, it will force them to split and also generate more territorial losses?

Maybe this turn you will be able to force them to accept the loss of Budapest and retreat but they will probably try to remain together due to the lack of an effective army themselves if they strike off on their own.

[TinCow]

But if multiple stacks are menacing different cities and that a core group cannot reach all of them, it will force them to split and also generate more territorial losses?

I'm one step ahead of you. From the 1328 turn report:

In addition, scouts report worrying news. The Hungarians appear to be trying a new avenue of approach. While Austria’s defenders are pinned down at Ragusa and Budapest, an expeditionary force is marching from Sofia through the undefended Austrian lands. If they are not stopped, they will eventually drive right through Zagreb and into the heart of Austria.

Fear not, what I have planned for 1330 through the end of the cataclysm will make people really feel the strain. So far it's been easy.

[StoneCold]

Hahah, ya, I notice that for Lorenze.

GM trash talking again? :P

[econ21]

I've updated the "state of the Reich" table to the best of my ability:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...01&postcount=2

Let me know OOC if there are errors. The idea is to use it as a record when we come to the post-cataclysm reconstruction.

[TinCow]

Krakow was taken by Russia, not Poland. Also, I do not really consider Stockholm to be part of the Reich. When I wrote up Fritz's report, I listed it under his controlled provinces with some notes, then just deleted it. Fritz has essentially just raided it and is going to move on. It's more of a Verginius-style plundering expedition than a conquest.

[Cecil XIX]

If Russia took Krakow, why is it Polish now?

[Privateerkev]

Russia took Vilnius (finally) and Poland took Krackow.

[TinCow]

Er... right. That's what I meant.

[Privateerkev]

Er... right. That's what I meant.

But of course you did.

But, how on earth did you finally get Russia to take Vilnius? Did you leave crates of vodka sitting in the town square to tempt them in? They spent years just walking right by it...


And econ: According to the cataclysm report, Lothar made Erlach count of Genoa.

[FactionHeir]

I think its because the files I gave TC finally work

[TinCow]

I think its because the files I gave TC finally work

The AI is still ridiculously bad. Thorn is still sitting empty with armies all around it. Sicily didn't take Ajaccio, even though it has two armies on the island and the citadel is empty. The French totally refuse to move on Caen and both Denmark and Poland refuse to besiege Stettin, even though the place is pitifully defended and they have huge armies next to it.

[FactionHeir]

I ended turn and they did it though :p
Give em a turn time.

Btw, may I suggest that AI armies be given triple silver at most when they are already getting weapon and armor upgrades? Triple gold pretty much never routs unless you are high dread and even then only if the unit is down to less than around 5% strength.

[TinCow]

Btw, may I suggest that AI armies be given triple silver at most when they are already getting weapon and armor upgrades? Triple gold pretty much never routs unless you are high dread and even then only if the unit is down to less than around 5% strength.

If you guys start losing, maybe I'll turn it down. Until then, if you don't like the odds, I suggest you retreat.

[Northnovas]

Issuing a tactical withdrawal from Budapest sending you a pm.

[gibsonsg91921]

I'm guessing it was in the gonad's where the smashing occurred.

Yep, right in the Venetians' sorry little ovaries.

[AussieGiant]

NN,

I got your PM's. Carry on there General, it's your theatre of war!! :)

Gibson...I've seen the Venetian stack and it has balls the size of "Arnold's" in it

...and when I say "Arnold's", I'm talking about the one's thathave a trunk and weigh 4 plus tonnes!!

[Privateerkev]

...and when I say "Arnold's", I'm talking about the one's thathave a trunk and weigh 4 plus tonnes!!

There's a joke in there somewhere. I'm just too tired to formulate it. ^_^

[Warluster]

I'm going to be away for a few days, so don't get angry if I don't reply to PM's.

[RoadKill]

Tincow you are making it hell for Lorenz.