Checking Interest: RTW Hotseat Campaign

[TruePraetorian]

Now, I relize that the new "cool" thing to do is MTW2 Hotseats, but this thread is to check interest in a RTW hotseat. This campaign, I relize, could be a slow one because of some ideas I had in store.

I planned on one of two campaigns: A RTW.exe campaign or a RTW-BI.exe campaign (running through BI). Either way, I plan on using the vanilla Mundus Magnus map, which is basically just the map. This is good as it provides much more territories then the original, and the factions are a little more balanced. If interest builds I will post a link to the map if you can't find it.

If we play regular RTW, without the BI.exe, then my idea won't happen. If we do decide to play with the BI.exe, then I am also checking interest on the first ever (to my knowledge) PBeM with actual battles...this means little to no auto-resolving. Im sure for the small fights we can decide to just auto-resolve. That is the only reason that the campaign would be slower then most PBeM's, we would have to stay in contact as to know if the opponent wanted to either fight it out or auto-resolve.

For the BI.exe, I was actually just thinking about uploading my entire data folder, seeing as I have a folder with all the necesary components.
-Note, if we play with BI.exe all players need barbarian invasion (which to my knowledge nearly everyone does)
The reason being that if we were to play with actual battles, there are many more things we can do through the BI.exe. For example, I have two variations of hoplites; the overhand Greek phalanx, or the long pike macedonian phalanx. Some units can use shieldwall instead of warcry, some cavalry have powerful charges, and most importantly the AI are much better.

Wondering about those "actual battles" ? Well, this was my idea. When there is a battle that both players would like to resolve personally, or if we agree that " if the army has x amount of units" or "the army has the faction leader in it" means you must fight it (like I said its open to ideas), then I will take the co-ordinates of the area and create a historical battle. Doing so, I can specify the exact number of units as in the original fight. After the battle, the casualties could be notified to me and I would script the new "battle damaged" armys into place...just like if the battle was actually fought.

It's a drastic idea but, hey, it's worth a shot.

So, anyone think it's a good idea? If you do, just post about it, along with the faction you would like to be. They are all vanilla factions.
And i don't know if hosts can play, but I plan on it, so...first dibs

Julii - TruePraetorian

Scipii - Tom0

Brutii - Hannibalbarc

Senate - This faction is open for discussion (playable if no one clicks the senate tab) (and superfaction rules?)

Greek Cities - Brave Sir Robin

Macedon -

Seleucia -

Egypt - Zim

Thrace -

Gaul -

Briton -

Germania -

Carthage -

Numidia -

Parthia -

Armenia -

Scythia -

Pontus -

Dacia -

Spain -


Things to discuss - Using BI.exe, roman alliance, Senate playable, Senate superfaction rules, other.

[Tratorix]

I'd be interested as playing as the greek cities. I'm not sure how well your actually playing battles would work out. A lot of the people on the org. are in different timezones, meaning scheduling them would be hard. Not to mention the fact that it would really slow the campaign down.

[TruePraetorian]

Yeah i figured that, but thats why i said "worth a shot"

If the battles are Empire Deciding, I guess we could fight them. But, like i said, I don't think we want to fight the half stack vs half stack fights. When the game gets more people (if) then we can scrap out some rules.

Also, don't forget to post if we use BI.exe or not. And if BI.exe, I will post my data folder.

[TruePraetorian]

Hmm, now not many members have posted. It seems I dont have enough "push" to get this thread out there, would someone with a higher post-count/more renown do it for me?

[Tratorix]

You might try starting a thread in the Colloseum to see if people are interested. I don't think that many people just browse through the throne room.

[The Wandering Scholar]

Can I be scipii? Quick question, I have EB but I can still play Vanilla will this affect the download of the play by email?

[TruePraetorian]

Will put you in as Scipii, and no...i plan to upload my data folder. This way, you guys dont have to worry about what files to put where. The only thing you have to do is copy the downloaded folder to your desktop, create a new RTW shortcut, and change the target line to open up THAT data folder.

[Hannibalbarc]

What is a hotseat campaign? is it the same as this:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=30871

[TruePraetorian]

No, this is a Hotseat PBem, that was just a PBM.

To understand a hotseat campaign, just try to imagine playing Singleplayer campaign...only with actual people as the other factions. Instead of "my turn is over, AI's turn" it goes strait to another players turn.

In short, it is a campaign agaisnt everyone else.

[TruePraetorian]

Double Post

Even if this thing doesn't start up (looks like it won't), could someone with PBeM experience tell me how to lock the console and have passwords?

[_Tristan_]

You could check this thread...

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=95420

It is intended for M2TW or Kingdoms but should apply also to RTW

[The Wandering Scholar]

huh? Can I play with EB downloaded or do I have to uninstall it? Also I have done things to my descr-strat like changed the spawning rates for rebels, will this make a difference?

[TruePraetorian]

It doesn't matter if you modded your own game:

I am going to upload an entire data folder when this starts to be used seperatley. You will NOT have to edit any files to play, all the files will be provided.

1.What's going to happen is when we get more players, I will copy MY data folder and put it on the Org.
2.Everyone who is playing will then download said folder from the Org.
3.You will then put MY data folder into a spot where you can remember it (preferabley the desktop). You do NOT have to edit any files, and you do NOT have to overwrite any files.
4. With the upload, I will include a shortcut. This shortcut will be linked directly to MY data folder, so when you click on it you start up OUR campaign.

[Zim]

I'd play in RTW hotseat. How would the battles be played? I don't have a connection that would enable me to play an online battle with another player.

[TruePraetorian]

Well, its such a new idea that I am doubting the battles will take place...they were going to be as follows:

1.When a battle that was going to be fought in real life (both players want to)occured, I would have opened up the campaign. I then would have taken the co-ordinates and written them down.
2. I would have created a Historical Battle on the exact tile, with the exact number of units. I would have put it online, the battle would be fought, and the results recorded.
3. I would re-open the campaign, get rid of the old army, and spawn a new army with the exact results as the online fight.


This would have taken a huge amount of co-operation, and as Sir Robin suggested with everyone in different time zones, this method is best left to LAN based hotseat campaigns. Feel free to take the idea if you play a LAN campaign with your friends

Zim, what faction do you want to be?

And, we are not using BI.exe...the only reasons to use it would have been to fight the battles, but it obviously is too difficult.

Also, everyone here, try to recruit some players to the cause

[Hannibalbarc]

Do we have to play all the battle online? or can we choose to play them against the ai? Because I'm not sure I would have the time to play all the battles online.
if I play I think I will go with brutii.

[TruePraetorian]

From the looks of it, a player controlled faction vs a player controled faction will result as an auto-resolve. player vs ai faction (factions not controlled by people) can be fought if you choose.

I will say again, the idea of online battles will not be occuring.

i will add you in as brutii, hanibal. also, be sure to "recruit" some people to play.

[The Wandering Scholar]

IMO keep the game as it is, roman alliance plus senate unplayable

[TruePraetorian]

Ok, we can do that...if more agree. I was thinking whoever played the Senate would dish out the missions? If you wanted to play a very conservative role, then that would be it.

For the romans, I was also thinking about senate offices and such. I know how to give the traits for the office, so we could have a private thread on who to elect and what not, and for how long. This would definatley make the romans more "interesting" and could cause an earlier civil war, which could benifit the other factions.

For senate missions, if we use the thing above, we could divise a system in which the higher your office, the more your vote counts.

Obviously I have a lot of ideas for the romans, but if anyone has any ideas about ANYTHING please say so...

PS. Recruit, recruit, recruit! We need at least 10 people.

[Zim]

I'll take Egypt.

[TruePraetorian]

Ok, putting you in as Egypt. May we mighty romans ally with you (or crush you)

[The Wandering Scholar]

I like post 19. *Going recruiting*

[TruePraetorian]

Well, game didnt turn out as good as i thought..anyone just wanna start?

[The Wandering Scholar]

yep

[neillcowans]

want to play but new boy tell me more and wot to do by pm please

[TruePraetorian]

So, niel,re you britian then?

[TruePraetorian]

Do you guys just want to start a campaign? Or do we wait? I have no problem with either one...hell if everyone wants to we can just have a Roman campaign (Roma Victor!)

If thats the case, I will be the Senate, and since senate missions don't work with PBeM, I can give you guys the missions. Im guessing this would be interesting...actually it sounds pretty fun. We could have some threads similiar to KotR; One being the Senate thread where we vote for offices, one where we vote for rules of the empire..stuff like that.

What do you guys think?

This is ONLY if we can't get enough people.

[The Wandering Scholar]

I'm all for that.

[Hannibalbarc]

Same here.

[TruePraetorian]

well, we'll make the deadline to join for feb 19th at 3:00pm EST, so about 15 hours from now. If no one joins, well do the roman thing. If Zim or Sir Robin want to play too, they could still play...ill just let you guys know itll be a major roman game.