CosmicWhaleShark

You forgot to mention that they're awesome at making lairs with cartoon villain style traps. I support this, playing the lich was quite fun.

Potions and golden apples will be allowed due to the fact that they're Nexus crafting items. They will also be allowed considering golden apples, for one, are restrictive in the actual methods required to craft them and time them in large quantities for the actual date - due to their rather short shelf life. And potions have drawbacks coupled with their boons. Flags have now been added, and the region has been cleared of grass, flowers, and other entities that may prevent executions.

The Northern continent has been pitched in bloody, civil war. The Coalition of various lords banding together to face the Crown of Oren and its still loyal followers. Assassination after assassination, meeting after meeting with foreign rulers, and an exchange of what seems like endless skirmishes have all lead, to this. The clock has been ticking. At the stroke of dawn, both side's work and preparation shall be weighed and measured. At the stroke of dawn, history shall be made, and everyone will remember where they stood. For their enemies will not forget. WARCLAIM Both sides collectively agreed to option 2. Type of battle: Pitched Battle Time: August 15th, 5PM EST - 10PM GMT Side A: Loyalist Forces of Oren and their allies Side B: The Coalition and their allies Location and boundaries: Direct area: Surrounding area of battlefield for reference to location: Terms of Victory Both sides shall be obligated to utterly decimate the opposing force, showing no quarter. To retreat means to surrender. If a force is routed, the victorious side will be permitted to ride down any stragglers for ten minutes after the result broadcast has been made. Upon Victory For... Side A: Side A will be permitted to decide the location for their attack on actual fortifications. They will be given two choices. Vanaheim, or Barrowyck. Side B: Side B will be permitted to decide the location for their attack on actual fortifications. They will be given two choices. Peremont or Dour's Watch. Rules -Server Rules -No fake statuses -No returning to battle -This is an open field battle, thus you will not be able to make any alterations to the terrain. Show up, and fight, that is all. -Victory will not be determined unless any remaining fighters proclaim surrender, or all forces are killed. Stragglers will not be obligated to surrender if they still wish to fight. This includes skirmishing with hit and run tactics, so stay sharp. Do note though, you must still be within the field, you can't retreat to a hold or anything. -All Nexus crafting items, including food, enchantments and potions, are allowed. -All forces that will be participating must be within the battlefield limits upon start, no late arrivals. -Don't be a wuss, if you lose, you lose. -Don't be a bastard, you won, get over it, you can brag when you actually win the war.

Alright, being the mod overseeing this, I'm going to step in - in an attempt to get this show on a road and, for lack of a better term, force compromise because both sides for one reason or another are failing to fully agree on most, if not all things. Bear in mind, as I write this, I'm considering my talks with both sides, their paths of logic, and also I have consulted the recently added dynamap - which has been incredibly helpful. A view of the topography, first of all. Now, to make things abundantly clear, we're going to be setting things up in preparation for the pitched battle. However, the location of the battle will depend on which plans the attackers - being the Coalition, decide to go on. Now, I've carefully considered the balance between realism and fun, comparatively realism and fairness, and finally what would make for compelling stories in a historical and RP sense. What would be fascinating if I was reading about this war from a future perspective, in a history book, what would seem believable. So, with those ramblings finished, I will present both sides with 3 options to platform from once the pitched battle is complete. Since that seems to be everyone's main concern, instead of, you know, the first actual bloody battle that decides the direction of the entire war. Now then, the red arrows are what I have surmised as the Coalition's plan of approach. The most direct path is through some rather inhospitable terrain, if the intention was to go around the tributaries and through the forest valley - then sure, pretend I drew an arrow there. This brings me to option 1. Option 1 will be the Coalition is able to advance on their merry way to the rendezvous point in Vanaheim, at which point they will then march upon Felsen. However due to the direct approach being literally half that, the loyalist Orenians will be permitted to conduct a counter-march if they so choose, upon Brelus. The Coalition will of course be allowed to have a garrison within Brelus, but all who participate in its defense will not be able to participate in any future engagements that involve the Coalition's main force. I will be counting heads. Now, that's rather bias Cosmic, it sounds like the loyalists have no cons to being able to counter-march upon Brelus. Wrong. Their allies are leagues away and thus - If the loyalists decide to press a quick attack upon Brelus, while the Coalition army is 'on march' they will have zero external support. This, too, will involve a very strict counting of heads. In both scenarios if I see any extra heads, I will simply tempban those individuals for the duration of the battle. Here is the final kicker to option 1. If the loyalists win in their besieging of Brelus, they will be permitted to return to intercept the incoming forces from Vanaheim on the field. If the loyalists lose, there will be no pitched battle, and the Coalition will be permitted to directly siege Felsen on the assumption that the forces are in need of recovery and restocking. A note to the Coalition, you have stressed several times that your main forces will be on the march to Vanaheim, so if I see a ridiculous garrison in Brelus so you can scum your way into an easy siege on Felsen, I will intervene. Be smart, this is a sort of wild card option though, just thought it'd be interesting. Option 2 is, the Coalition decides to make a path of approach with the green arrows, the more direct approach. This is the most straightforward option. Vanaheim troops will be permitted to join in, as will any other allies for either side. Total absolute brawl on the roads between the two sides, both sides giving it all they have and just... Having an epic, awesome battle. Should the Coalition win, they will then have to besiege Peremont, at which point if they win that they can then besiege Felsen. Alternatively, though it doesn't make a lot of sense - it is fair - the loyalists if victorious will first need to besiege Barrowick, Barrowyck, barrelwick, however it's spelled. Afterwards they can then besiege Brelus. A drawn out conflict, with simple terms to understand, and both sides giving it their absolute all in every battle. Epic play outs and awesome stories are to be had, and while it doesn't entirely make sense in a few aspects, it is in my opinion quite fair and easy to adhere to. Option 3 shall be Vanaheim conducting an initial attack upon Felsen unassisted by the rest of the Coalition. Bear in mind Vanaheim, that does not include anyone else. The loyalists will have two options. Keep the main forces in the fortifications, this will however void the notion of a pitched battle, and the rest of the Coalition shall then be able to besiege Peremont uninhibited in a separate battle a few days after the initial Vanaheissian attack. Troops stationed in Felsen will be able to march out from the city ten minutes after the siege on Peremont commences, I'll be taking screenshots of the Vanaheissian attack and teleport anyone I see in Peremont that participated back to Felsen. Second option for loyalists, do the same thing the Coalition would do and station a garrison in Felsen, while preparing the bulk of your forces in Peremont for the attack by the main forces of the Coalition. On one hand, you will not have to wait for reinforcements, on the other hand your capital is severely less defended and the Vanaheissian attack suddenly has a lot more threat. In both scenarios, with the siege on Peremont, allies will approach by foot/horse, from their capital, and get there when they get there. They will only be permitted to leave when the broadcast for the siege takes place. So then, the stakes for option three are as follows. If the loyalists stave off both attacks from the Coalition, then Brelus is free game. If the loyalists succeed in defending one place but lose another, they have to take that place back before thinking of attacking Brelus. If the loyalists lose both battles, that's rather obvious, Coalition wins. This one is sort of a marriage between 'realism' ""quotes"" and fairness. Logistics are moderately considered and the stakes, in my opinion are relatively even. Read these options over, converse amongst yourselves, if there's anything for any option that needs clarification or fine tuning, just pm me with your questions. I will be expecting a response on Sunday with your choice, if both sides decide on two different options, the first one to come forward with their choice will be asked one final question. Heads or tails. At which point I will literally flip a US half dollar, and depending on the result, we go forward with that. This war is going to get on the road, one way, or another. Oh also, hard set for the first battle, no matter what choice. August 15th, 5PM EST, 10PM GMT. There will be no more date changes. I don't care who gets banned, I don't care who can't make it, I don't care if someone's ant farm was flooded and they have to mourn the loss of their colony that day. That is the date.