Blitz All Challenge

**Grog** · 01-31-2008, 18:20

I eagerly anticipate the battle/empire reports

Seriously, with diplomatic wrangling + heavy alliance trade partners you should outburn my economy. My betting on what you have acheived so far, if you manage to placate the pope whilst backsatbbing all europe, high 30's win is on the cards

**Askthepizzaguy** · 01-31-2008, 19:48

Turn 12- 32 provinces taken.

The war against the Byzantines has begun, with the loss of their great King and soon a castle in Asia Minor will fall. They have approx. 3 stacks of good troops in Constantinople region, so I cannot do a direct assault with my lead stack. More stacks to follow.

The Moors are gone, and Timbuktu has been taken with a crusading army. Iberia is beginning to fall, as I decided not to assault El Cid and focused on destroying the Moors... now I am back to finish off El Cid. Spain and Portugal will fall, but I can take my time, as I have generals in the region that are not on crusade, as well as castles.

Nottigham is the sole British Isles province remaining, with a full stack of garbage troops. I have 3 stacks in the region already, all on crusade. I intend to end my crusade by taking Rennes and Bruges with 2 stacks, proceding south with my third stack.

I have a general in Scotland on crusade which is recruiting troops to wipe out any remaining resistance should I fail in my assault against England.

I have two diplomats at the Pope, but I havent been able to open negotiations yet, and my rep is at abysmal. I hope he does not threaten excommunication, however at this point it doesnt matter. England and Byzantium are my only at war factions, and I can take England in 7 turns with one stack if need be. No worries there.

I have a crusading general in Bolga-Vulgar region all by himself, ready to recruit mercs once the crusade ends. I also have 3 crusading generals in the greater Russian region, one set to retake Norvgorod en route (it rebelled. I don't care. I lose no time retaking it as I have a general en route) and another is wiping up the middle of Russia.

I am massing forces in the middle of the HRE to take nothern italy and poland. I have many knights already assembled, I need to promote a captain which I should do next turn.

I have assaulted Milan and I have troops blocking the bridge. Genoa is the sole Milanese province remaining. Venice hasnt backstabbed me yet. Their loss...

I intend to take Sicily with a crusading stack en route to the Holy land, when the crusade ends. My lead stack will control the end of the first crusade. I still have 2 turns remaining of free movement and joining. I expect severe economic difficulties when the crusade ends.

**Askthepizzaguy** · 02-05-2008, 06:28

Also posted on "Current Status of your campaign" thread.

Copied and pasted here, as it pertains to the Blitz All Challenge.
===========================

Current Faction: Holy Roman Empire
Current Campaign: Blitz All Challenge (fastest 106 province win)
Current Difficulty: Very Hard/Very Hard
Version info: 1.02 Vanilla

Current Status:

Provinces held: 45
Battles won: 59
Battles lost: 9
Generals: 19
Under seige this turn: 10 provinces

Turn number: 12

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Arnold the Crusader takes the Holy City of Antioch! 190 units of crusading troops suddenly halt their advance towards the target... and like chessmen, they have been ordered into position. We are now ready to strike!

10 provinces are now under seige, and if we can somehow placate the Pope (relations are now perfect) then perhaps we can TAKE 10 provinces next turn, giving us 55 provinces in a mere 13 turns, over halfway to the end of our Challenge.

Realistically, that is not possible. At least one of our seige armies will be attacked and cannot maintain the seige, and another has a nearly insurmountable battle to fight and win. Yet another seige is a waiting game, as neither side can force a victory. Soon they will surrender.

I have armies in all 4 corners of the globe. Russia is gone, and the rebels in that region are being smashed. The Moors are confined to Algeria, their armies destroyed, and Timbuktu is under fire. The Holy land has just been raided, and 5 armies are in position to wipe out France in a single turn and also one is harassing the English. Venice is on the verge of defeat, the Byzantines are on the ropes, Milan is destroyed, Sicily is about to be crushed, Denmark is ready to die in two turns, armies are in position to attack Poland and Hungary next turn, and overall, the situation is bleak for those who would resist us. The Turks and the Egyptians are the only factions remaining with any sizeable force that could resist us for several turns.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

If I took Rome this turn I would have won a Long Campaign victory in TWELVE TURNS. (and if I had planned to do so, I could have. I am taking Naples this turn with ballistae.)

That smashes my previous record of 16, and puts me far ahead of the reigning champion's 30 provinces by turn 20.

This campaign is a legend in the making. My only, ONLY challenge is making sure the Pope does not stand in my way. The pointy-hat is the only thing standing between me and a 35 turn victory.

Current mood: Bloodthirsty

This campaign will be soon made into my ultimate AAR.

**phonicsmonkey** · 02-05-2008, 10:58

pizzaguy, you surpass yourself

**cassu** · 02-05-2008, 17:18

yeah, thats some really good playing

keep us informed on your epic campagins

**Grog** · 02-05-2008, 18:15

Fairly brutal blitzkrieging

I look forward to seeing the inward crush from the 4 corners!

On the backstabbing of your catholic friends, I found it best to start on perfect each turn with the pope (as you mention you are), and let it drop 3 ranks before topping it up with a diplomat to perfect. This should allow you around 8-10 offensives/turn without actual excom using 3 diplomats on rome.

I would like to know more about your initial build up and how much you 'wrangled' through diplomacy. Did you buy much land initially? Also, rough estimate of florins gained through diplomacy? I found getting enough stacks launched on first crusade awkward, simply could not recruit enough troops/mercs fast enough in the initial few turns. Although as I stated earlier on the thread, I basically ignored diplomacy and concentrated on military expansion.

Do you think you'll need a second crusade to finish? 45/12 at drop off is very impressive, but still a fair bit of marching to do at non crusade speed for the next 10 turns, esp if turks have yet to build roads.

Taking antioch turn 12 I guess would be well within your first crusade timeframe, I am assuming postioning was at a point to make the second crusade sooner rather than ending the first one late?

Anyway, good blitzing, I shall enjoy the AAR

On a seperate note, I'm having quite a lot of fun with my turkish campaign:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: