Blitz All Challenge

[Csargo]

I've been wanting to try doing this, but I'm not quite sure what faction to use. Any suggestions?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Status of campaign:

Warning: VICTORY IMMINENT!

Turn number 23, 92 provinces taken. 14 provinces remaining. All crusader stacks approaching final targets.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My victory will be before turn 30.

Edit: turn 24... 2-3 turns away from victory. (estimated victory at turn 26-27)

[phonicsmonkey]

yowzer, that is FAST

[Askthepizzaguy]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

ALL HAIL BLITZ MASTER ASKTHEPIZZAGUY, RECENTLY CROWNED HIGH COMMANDER AND BLITZKRIEG WARFARE CHAMPION!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

49 Generals by turn 28
44 Cities
62 Castles
218 Battles Won
34 Battles Lost
Regions Controlled: 106
Year: 1134

Turn number 28


My championship title has been restored. It reads as follows, as it always has.

"Master tactician, holder of walls, sacker of cities, great crusader, superb diplomat, pious and pure, intelligent, witty, faithful and charming, Praetor of Rome, Emperor of Byzantium, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, lord of Spain, France, Milan, Venice, Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Timbuktu, King of the Britons, Defeater of the Saxons, sovereign of all England, Patron Saint of War, Beloved Ruler of all Europe, Greatest Generalissimo of all time, and a damn fine lover to boot." -Me, regarding myself.

I will update my signature line. Thanks go to Master Grog, for giving me the much needed challenge to my claim to the throne. Respect and admiration goes out to you. Detailed AAR will follow.

To any challengers to my throne: Turn 27 victory is possible. Just VERY difficult.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I can't wait to start writing the AAR... that campaign will be smashing. I have all the save files and all the images captured.

There are roughly 500 images so far. It will take forever to build this particular AAR thread. But hopefully enough people will be interested in viewing it that they will give me feedback.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

pizzaguy, you surpass yourself

Indeed. This particular campaign was absolutely unbelievable, especially to myself. I am strongly convinced that this record will stand for a while. I don't think I can improve upon it.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

yeah, thats some really good playing keep us informed on your epic campagins

The in-depth campaign reports are coming soon... over 500 images to load... thank you so much for your interest!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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: 

Turkey 1.3 VH.VH
Objective: 106 province Jihad, military conquest.

Houserules:
-No allies
-No active diplomacy (map info/traderights allowed from AI diplomats)
-No debt
-No assassins
-Passive spies
-Sack/Ransom everywhere
-Massive multiple Jihad armies

Impressive Turkish run. That looks quite competitive! I look forward to any reports you might post! I will answer your questions more in depth later on, with my AAR. Or just private message me.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The power of the turn 1 jihad is not to be underestimated. If there were Muslims in Scotland I suspect Egypt would be the blitz faction of choice.

Did you pick Vilnius for your first jihad? I'm not a big blitzer, but I wiped out the eastern part of the map in 30 turns with Egypt's first jihad to Vilnius. Sack Jerusalem, Iconium, and Constantinople, and that's just turn 3.

I know you were referring to Grog, but in my campaign, I chose Antioch as my crusade target. I needed to point the crusade eastward, and Antioch was one of the few the Pope would let me pick. On version 1.02, it's extra hard to get perfect papal relations. It takes a LOT more money to bribe him. Especially on Very Hard/Very Hard.

This was close enough for a quick crusade, which allowed me to build up massive troop levels and position my chessmen all over the board for a quick French checkmate. The biggest stumbling block to success is France, being the next most massive Catholic nation and your irritating neighbor. I knew I needed a ONE TURN K-O of France.

I still got excommunicated.

I had to slay all the popes and build my own Pope just to get reinstated. Then I needed massive bribing florins. THEN I GOT EXCOMMUNICATED BY MY OWN POPE.

Needless to say, I replaced him rather quickly with yet another sword through the head.

I fought THROUGH my excommunication by racking up massive territory and slaying several factions. That gave me the glory and fear bonuses I needed to counter the excommunication. Keeping Jerusalem was difficult, but I did it. Excommunicated and everything... with only a bare minimum garrison, as I needed to slay Egypt NOW, not later.

I didn't think it was possible, but the excommunication gave me the boost I needed. I wasd able to attack EVERYONE with impunity, and I scored a massive coup against Venice by having them ambush a crusading stack. They were destroyed the very next turn, thanks to Pope's excommunication of Venice.

Venice was the only excommunicated Catholic faction in the entire campaign. That's what I call bad luck...

Not that it held me back.

Oops, better save some for the AAR. I have LOTS more to tell you. Surprising stuff.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I've been wanting to try doing this, but I'm not quite sure what faction to use. Any suggestions?

HRE is the only faction you can do it with and make a new record.

I also recommend France due to their large standing army. But you can't beat the HRE.

Danes, Milan, England, Venice, all will give you a run for your money. Yes, I said Danes. A quick coup with your princess on turn one gives you 3 extra provinces.

PS- Did not buy one single province. Did not use spies to open gates. Used ballista VERY sparingly.

[phonicsmonkey]

Incredible, blitz-tastic action ATPG

you have made me feel sorry for the poor little AI (PLAI)



(I posted this on the current campaign thread but it really belongs here)

[Ramses II CP]

Congrats ATPG!

The AI never even knew what hit 'em. Imagine if the old HRE had conquered all that territory in sixty years. Technically possible within the lifespan of a single King!

I love that in your final shot you caught the Pope staring at the rubble of Rome. Wonder when he'll grab his placard and start marching around St. Peter's square.

Impressive stuff, I'm looking forward to the AAR.

(Excessive smiley drive engaged )