Out of character thread XIX

[econ21]

It's best to put up a placeholder - there isn't really a downside. Excellent job so far, BTW. And I know what you mean about no time to take screenshots - my first battle with the Mongols was like that. I think I only wrote one word of notes throughout the battle - "hell".

[Cecil XIX]

There is indeed a downside because if a person reads the thread when the placeholder is up the thread will still be marked as read when the actual battle is posted, or if another post has been made after the placeholder it clicking 'go to next unread post' will end up skipping the battle. Then you have to make an announcement in the OOC thread to make sure everybody knows.

[StoneCold]

Just making an OOC announcement in this thread with links to the report then. It will also be easier for us people with limited computer resources to view the reports post by post than for it to load up the entire page of the Battle Report thread.

[OverKnight]

If people don't want to load the entire battle thread, individual battle posts are linked in the history. You spend less time waiting for the pics to load.

Alternatively, writers, as a courtesy, could post links to their battle in the OOC thread once they're done, whether there was a placeholder or not.

Edit: These super stacks remind me of the Mongols, elite troops that don't break. Our approach has been similar as well, gang up on them or seek choke points.

[FactionHeir]

On reserve duty now. Should be able to check on the forum daily except for weekends however.

[TinCow]

Yikes. Between deaths and reserve players, we're actually getting a bit thin on the ground in KOTR.

[Warmaster Horus]

I'll be taking the next Steffen to come of age. I believe that's in 4-5 years...?

EDIT: of course, I should have read the thread first. Didn't see your post econ21, so, yeah, I'll take one of 'em.

[AussieGiant]

Yikes. Between deaths and reserve players, we're actually getting a bit thin on the ground in KOTR.

That's the linear emotional path I follow each time I look at the screen.

[AussieGiant]

AND DAMN IT, I KNEW I HAD AN UNEASY FEELING ABOUT STACKS WITHOUT AVATARS!!

How do we know when an avatarless army stack is cured of the plague?

Anyone...? It just occured to me that we don't, and the only way to find out is to stick it in a city or castle or attach a avatar to it and see what happens.

[Ramses II CP]

The announcements at the start of the turn regarding the plague tell you the names of infected captains, though I don't know the full mechanics of the matter.

[AussieGiant]

The announcements at the start of the turn regarding the plague tell you the names of infected captains, though I don't know the full mechanics of the matter.

Ok that's starting to make sense. I hope that works...

[TinCow]

Apologies for the late update on Lukas Godwinson. I hope the recent "new post" icon in the Mausoleum didn't panic anyone.

It is worth noting that of the 37 deaths recorded in the Mausoleum, only 12 have been from old age. KOTR is definitely far more lethal than WOTS ever was. WOTS only had 10 deaths total, including one agent, and only 7 of which were 'unusual.' Even though the two games went on for about the same number of turns, that 7 compares to 25 for KOTR.

[Zim]

Tincow, would you happen to know if we had more non natural deaths during the cataclysm or after? It seems like we're catching up in the immediate post-Cataclysm period.

[TinCow]

Tincow, would you happen to know if we had more non natural deaths during the cataclysm or after? It seems like we're catching up in the immediate post-Cataclysm period.

Deaths in the first phase of the cataclysm (1300-1320):
Arnold Scherer (never assigned) - In battle
Friedrich Scherer - In battle, but intentional
Siegfried von Kastilien - Scripted

Deaths in the second phase of the cataclysm (1320-1340)
Ansehelm von Kastilien - In battle, but intentional
Dietrich von Dassel - In battle
Hans - In battle
Jan von Hamburg - In battle
Jan von der Pfalz - In battle
Wolfgang Hummel - In battle

Deaths in the Post-Cataclysm phase (1340-Present)
Elberhard - In battle
Karl Zirn - Old Age
Lorenz Zirn - In battle
Dieter von Essen - In battle
Friedrich Karolinger - In battle
Lukas Godwinson - Plague

So, the first phase of the cataclysm did not have any involuntary deaths of a player's avatar, since both player controlled deaths were intentional by their owners. The second phase of the cataclysm had 5 involuntary deaths of a player, which is the same as the post-cataclysm period, if Karl Zirn is excluded. So, yes, this Chancellorship has been just as lethal as the Cataclysm itself. Given the nature of the spawned stacks and the lack of a "Hand of God" to spontaneously generate troops or teleport people out of danger, this is not surprising to me.

[econ21]

The difference, though, is that post-cataclysm we are being killed by the AI rather than by each other.

I think the AI is more lethal now partly because of the absence of the catalysm's safety nets. But also because in the catacylsm, we were almost forced to give ground. Now we are being more aggressive but paying a price.

Speaking of which, the AI is only one turn away from another top up of troops. And we are just one turn away from the next Diet - it seems to have crept up on us.

[Northnovas]

That did creep up! I thought we were just plodding along and now another Diet Session and election a turn away. Could be interesting considering some of the edicts proposed to capture settlements were not fulfilled.
I guess that shows our standing compared the past. We would be looking further beyond the newly conquered lands with new edicts to to expand for more territory.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Part III is up.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=240

[TinCow]

I would encourage a bit more leniance on army generation next time it happens. We've been fighting tooth and nail to get back what we once had, but if you omit Prinz Dieter's conquests, which were mostly unopposed, we've re-conquered very, very little so far. After 60 years of retreat and defeat, a bit of forward movement would be welcome. The novelty of the triple gold armies is also starting to wear off.

[OverKnight]

Second!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Uh. Third.

[gibsonsg91921]

Fourth. I was afraid my inability to command would be exposed by a triple gold, but it's too late for that. It was exposed by a regular army.

[AussieGiant]

Declined with a comment.

If we don't replace the Triple Golds with Silvers and Bronze then watch...once they have been taken out we will expand rapidly.

[econ21]

Personally, I like the balance under AussieGiant's stint - it's been very challenging.

The reason for the difficulty may have been the plague rather than the AI stacks per se. The plague has slashed our trade income and so most areas have had to get by with limited reinforcements to armies that were already depleted by the cataclysm. If we get back to pre-cataclysm income levels, we will be able to pump out good units from our many Citadels and the AI will be much less frightening. That will be a bit of a shame, to be honest, as I think the balance is better when we are tightly constrained.

On the gold stacks, I only created one per faction - to represent elite formations to be feared. Silver or bronze buffs are needed though, to balance the good stats of our generals.

[AussieGiant]

Gentlemen,

Completely OOC; I was hard pressed organising everyone operationally, due to plague issues and that will continue...plus there was basically very limited amounts of cash.

I personally like it, but I believe good old Arnold is going to unfairly be labelled a Chancellor that did not achieve much in the global scheme of things...therefore expect some follow up from the old fellow.

[FactionHeir]

Personally, I like the balance under AussieGiant's stint - it's been very challenging.

The reason for the difficulty may have been the plague rather than the AI stacks per se. The plague has slashed our trade income and so most areas have had to get by with limited reinforcements to armies that were already depleted by the cataclysm. If we get back to pre-cataclysm income levels, we will be able to pump out good units from our many Citadels and the AI will be much less frightening. That will be a bit of a shame, to be honest, as I think the balance is better when we are tightly constrained.

On the gold stacks, I only created one per faction - to represent elite formations to be feared. Silver or bronze buffs are needed though, to balance the good stats of our generals.

As long as there aren't any ridiculous full lancer stacks or other full cavalry stacks, I'm happy.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Or horse archer stacks.

[FactionHeir]

I can imagine a full stack of vards being difficult, but HAs are very easily defeated by our crossbows, and the AI doesn't use them smartly at all (cantabrian in front of crossbows is basically asking to gt killed)

[Warluster]

I'm gonna be away fir at least 5 days, so don't worry if I don't return PM's.

[AussieGiant]

I will be advocating full balanced stacks of silver or bronze experience with armour and weapon upgrades.

They should be placed in the fog of war areas not right on the edge of our front lines, that will then let the AI handle them how they want.

Tonight is a surge night , it just sounds good somehow.

It's 08:40 GMT +1 as I write this on Friday morning. Offensive season and deployment will be compeleted this evening so get your battles in or orders to me by tonight around 20:00 GMT +1

We will be at the start of 1358 by the end of the weekend.

[Ferret]

right as soon as the Poles are broken on the walls of Magdeburg again I'm going to try and take Breslau if that is all right with the Chancellor, I realise now Dieter the Mean (how did that happen?) isn't going to be able to recruit more men before he is besieged again, time to get out of that wreched castle.