I knew it was going to be a pretty active session.
Having leveraged the possibility of rushing one of the two, I had, at first, had a strong preference for Izzy. However, I dont want the Impis on my land anytime soon, so I think about going towards Shaka first.
Plan:
Chop/whip several axes while waiting for IW, rush Ulundi and any other Zulu city standing. Send some Praetorians if necessary. The third city will have to wait
.
We are third in power, behind Shaka, but my chopping staff seems to indicate that this is likely to change pretty fast.
I have lost one scouting warrior in the north-east, while Rome has been heavily pumping axes for initial wave.
IW revealed iron to the north, on grassland near gold. One settler will be stuck between military to get this spot.
Declare war on Shaka on turn 62. Five axes are on the way for the first wave. Three more to come very soon. Hope to have him pants down. On the first turn, Nobamba is in ruins with no casualties.
In Rome, I settle Cumae next to Iron/Gold on the coast, and have a worker start his mine. I hope to pump Praetorians very soon.
I got the road to the Zulu done at time for my invasion, which allowed me to catch one of his workers. You never can have too many workers
Writing and Iron in 67 turn, started to chop Praetorians with whatever wood left nearby.
I attack Ulundi with six axes and a warrior ( important to notice, see below )vs 2 Impi, Axe and an Archer.
I captured the city losing 3 axes, finally winning with a scouting warrior
. The Zulu have one city left to the east.
As first Preatorians started leaving Rome and Antium, I got a Great General for my Zulu campaign. I decided to make him Military Instructor in Antium.
My military campaign was coming slowly to an end, I decided to use my new CR2 Praetorians on Izzie, and catch her also pants down ( though, when you look at her, you wonder why you would like to catch her pants down
).
After Pottery, I started Mysticism.
My last offensive on Zulu started in turn 77, with 1 Praetorian and 4 axes. I lost two of the latter, and the Zulu city was still up, defended by a heavily wounded impi and axe. Next turn Zulu were no more.
I declared war on Izzie in turn 80, going after Madrid with 4 Praetorians ( more on the way ). In the meantime, Oracle and Great Wall were BIDL.
It turned out that Izzy was pants down, running like a mad after I dont know what. The only force in Madrid were 2 archers.
It was no surprise as on turn 83, Madrid fell.
Barcelona was even funnier, with no archer inside
I have researched Hunting for the deer resource, and now starting Polytheism. Trying to catch up the religion side. Now that we have a holy Buddhist Madrid
And here I am, in T86, Alone in my island. Well, I dont count the small barb outpost that Im going to catch up soon.
Zulu proved to be a worthy warring partner, but Izzy
Nothing, literally nothing. I have chopped too much troops for this target.
On the turn 88 I got, and kept, Gaul. My Asterix culture found it funny to keep it
I have followed Polytheism by Priesthood, on the religious path to Organized Religion. I should be trying Pyramids pretty soon given my Industrious nature
On the build path, I have managed several monuments and libraries. I think disbanding units like warriors, even some axes, my research is really too bad.
A settler was up in Cumae, and I went for a double-gold wheat tile north to Rome. I know my eco is already BAD, but I will try to get it well with all this gold. And so Neapolis saw the daylight in turn 96 ( seventh city so far
too much, my instinct says ).
Masonry was followed by Monotheism.
On several last turns, Confucianism and Christianity were found IDL.
I followed my building libraries/monuments path, setting up granaries where necessary.
Rome started Pyramids, though with no more forests to chop, it will be rather difficult.
Here is a small empire overview on turn 100:
What went ok:
- Zulu invasion, Spain invasion
What went wrong:
- too many units chopped given Izzys military
- too many cities Im afraid
Going to rush currency as soon as Organized Religion is on
In the next episode we will meet Augustus spreading Buddhism everywhere and trying to get the shrine in Madrid, researching economy knowledge and trying to get an economic wonder like The Great Lighthouse ( though it will be difficult ).