In a hidden pop center, can you issue a personal challenge even though you cannot see the character? ( I am in no way referring to characters commanding or traveling with armies.) I am referring to an instance where you are aware of the commanders he has in the field and where his agent are, so you issue the challenge based on deduction of who would be there to do nation sells and such.
Yes. The tactic is called “shooting blindfolded”. When you don’t know a character is present but can deduce that he may be there you challenge on spec. It works about one out of three or four times. Causes consternation in the enemy since they can’t figgure out how you knew they were there.
A-73, a “blind challenge” can be issued anywhere you like. If you have reason to suspect the character’s present, give it a go. (Erennis rumoured to be stealing 8 hexes from the Huge army they’ve been threatening on the pbm boards…?)
The question is related to Hidden Pops, and thusly, the concept of “hiding”. It is multifaceted an no where near as complicated as Jim Kent’s first impression:
Note how your characters are always wandering around, making camp, no matter which hext they’re in city/camp/wild. Hexes are much larger areas than we give them credit for and it causes much confusion in this and other regards. Your character is camped somewhere in this large hex, and there happens to be a pop “hidden” somewhere in that hex also. Note army movement - this pop can yet be 4 days away from where you are…in the same hex.
The pop is “hidden”, the characters are not. Just like any other hex with a pop, they aren’t in the city, they’re “in the hex”. You can scout them and deal with them in that hex just as in any other.
The beauty of the hidden pop is opposite to the question, I believe. Instead of a character defense, it’s actually a liability! You see, the towns people are so busy “hiding”, they’re not out and about doing normal daily regional business…and thus THEY don’t see YOU! Hidden pops do NOT give foreign character reports…
Drop 3 mages, ScoChar,Recon into 2212…challenge 3 characters you find while cursing the army commander. 4 dead Dwarves who never knew it was coming… It’s a beautiful DS tactic that isn’t used as often as you would suspect - but when it is, you’ve got the Sinda and Dwarves always looking over their shoulder and maybe wasting the odd extra capital order on a 215…
As for characters with armies, they’re perfectly challengeable. It is only the Army Commander who can be challenged only by a character leading or “with” another army. Note, your ArchMage travelling “with” the army led by Veteran Loser is allowed to challenge your enemy army commander. Any loose character can challenge any other character travelling “with” the army. Note what you Can do here, and be wary of risking the challenge when facing an inferior enemy commander…because you don’t know who’s travelling “with” him…