The Friday thread Labor Day edition

[Gusington]

^That is true most of the time (like playing Civ MP). But the historical content of CK II, and having playable Byzantines and Muslim factions...will keep me interested.

Downloading Alea Jacta Es demo right now, btw. Not sure how long this will take.

[MetalDog]

I don't have the Sword of Islam expansion, but I'm pretty sure I can play the Byzantines.  I've kept my forays in Ireland so far.  My second game crapped out after a failed attempt to press a vassals claim.  That game lasted about three hours before I resigned.

[Gusington]

^No the Byzantines are to be released in another DLC soon.

[undercovergeek]

you can set up your armies before a battle and load the flanks with leaders that have good martial skills, heavy cavalry and such, then load the middle with your main martial and a crap load of pikemen and get involved with the initial set up - but once the battle starts youre a spectator. In recent patches theyve attempted to take away the get there with the mostest, firstest strategy - you can win a battle in which youre outnumbered if you take the time to set up the armies right - or you can go with 3 times as many men and just batter your way through.

I suppose the only issue is this is further down the line when youve managed to influence your army set up by building specific buildings in the provinces - some people go horse and archers only, some a mix

[Gusington]

^I can deal with that. Does army composition vary between the factions?

[undercovergeek]

thats a good question, ive played in Spain, Italy and England - and its always been the same composition, light and heavy infantry, light and heavy horse, archers and pikemen and you can influence what the majority in your forces are

[Gusington]

OK, as long as I know that going in and don't get my expectations going too high. I am hoping for some variation with Muslim and later Orthodox Christian factions. Want to play as the Bulgars against the Byzantines too at some point and I want to feel adequately...Bulgarian.

[undercovergeek]

yeah youll need a kick ass moustache for that and im not sure theyre modelled very well!

just boot it up and have a look at the force composition for the Bulgars - i forget, have you got the game - ill have a look for you if need be

[Gusington]

^Nah I've got it. I like to be surprised. On occasion.

[mikeck]

Wait....there is an AJE demo????

[TheCommandTent]

Wait....there is an AJE demo????

+1  ??

[undercovergeek]

^Nah I've got it. I like to be surprised. On occasion.

i can sneak up on you while youre looking

[Staggerwing]

Wait....there is an AJE demo????

Wait....there is an AJE demo????

+1  ??

You can prepurchase and get the game installed but frozen at the first turn of any game. You can plot moves, load scenarios, highlight units, see all the maps, etc. Then you wait like everyone else (though you get to play 3 days earlier than the rest of the Riff Raff).

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Weird.  Two of my vassals (an Earl and a Lord Mayor, I think) went to war with each other in my demense and I didn't really see any options for me to step in and stop it.  Any ideas what to do in this case.  Oh, and naturally enough, the claim in a neighbouring county that I'd been pushing for for 50 years finally paid off, just in time for my two nitwits to whittle their levies down to nothing so I had no troops to raise to press my claim.

[Gusington]

^You typed 'demense.' You get a cookie.

And yes, what 'Wing said about AJE. I looked around for a little bit.