Minor Annoyance
Deity
We (Germany) were about to be attacked by the Spanish Confederation. They had a large military plus the gladiators civic which increases their strength further. We had nine hours before the battle started so we had time to build more units, but they just kept adding more until they had over 2000 power, far more than we could make up for by adding more units.
The weather was foggy so the best defensive unit was spearmen, and I had the production to make 100 of them (adding 800 power with heroic stance.) but we'd still be 600 short of being even. So I tried to rally people to build Call to Arms, and event wonder that would have killed almost half there army, but not enough people were around to get it built before the opportunity passed. I came back less than an hour before the battle to build and add in my troops. One other person from my civ was there and we discussed who had more troops to add to the last slot on the battlefield.
I happened to notice how close we were to researching Monarchy, which gives you longbows. I went to the market and bought up the science I needed and instantly our archers upgraded to longbows (this also won me a science medal and made me science minister). Someone else had built up archers before we knew we would be in a fog battle, but with the upgrade their preferred weather changed from snow to fog, doubling their strength in addition the higher base defense power. We were closer but it still wasn't enough.
Then I noticed Himeji Samurai Castle was available with monarchy too, and it increased the defense of all your units by one. This was perfect. I added one of my great generals to the wonder but it still needed someone else to add a great builder. The other guy online didn't have either of the great people required and not enough money to buy one (they were something like 7000 gold). By this time the battle had already started and the first rounds of combat were happening. I suggested selling my three great generals with would lower their market price, but he was flat broke likely from buying units earlier. All he had to sell was 4759 culture which was trading even with gold and the price would drop like a rock if he started selling. I had over 20000 gold and realized if I bought up culture it would greatly inflate the price. I proposed the plan and I bought up culture while he sold it. I popped a great scientist from it and he had the gold to buy a builder. The castle was built (I got a culture medal became minister of culture for helping to build it) and we were now slightly ahead in power with Spain.
Then I noticed one more thing. When it looked like we weren't going to win I didn't set by spearmen to 'heroic' to avoid the extra casualties it would take in exchange for the increased power. Now that it wouldn't be an issue I set them to heroic and got a huge boost. We were not ahead 3100 to 2300. A landslide victory. I stuck around to watch the battle. We took few losses and theirs were near total. By owning about 1/4 of the units we had in the battle we just won (out of 18 players) I won a military medal and was made defense minister. All these medals also increased my rank in the civ and I was made king. Plus Spain had 18 players which was big enough to trigger a domination victory for us for beating them.
It was quite the victory gotten from several last minute opportunities that I was in the right place to take advantage of, and I think the best part is that no one from Spain was around to see that battle. When they left they were expecting an easy victory and when they came back there army was gone, we'd won a domination victory and they'd have no idea how it happened. Well they might if they noticed we had the samurai castle, but when I got back s another civ had already built the castle for themselves and cancelled ours.
Good times.
The weather was foggy so the best defensive unit was spearmen, and I had the production to make 100 of them (adding 800 power with heroic stance.) but we'd still be 600 short of being even. So I tried to rally people to build Call to Arms, and event wonder that would have killed almost half there army, but not enough people were around to get it built before the opportunity passed. I came back less than an hour before the battle to build and add in my troops. One other person from my civ was there and we discussed who had more troops to add to the last slot on the battlefield.
I happened to notice how close we were to researching Monarchy, which gives you longbows. I went to the market and bought up the science I needed and instantly our archers upgraded to longbows (this also won me a science medal and made me science minister). Someone else had built up archers before we knew we would be in a fog battle, but with the upgrade their preferred weather changed from snow to fog, doubling their strength in addition the higher base defense power. We were closer but it still wasn't enough.
Then I noticed Himeji Samurai Castle was available with monarchy too, and it increased the defense of all your units by one. This was perfect. I added one of my great generals to the wonder but it still needed someone else to add a great builder. The other guy online didn't have either of the great people required and not enough money to buy one (they were something like 7000 gold). By this time the battle had already started and the first rounds of combat were happening. I suggested selling my three great generals with would lower their market price, but he was flat broke likely from buying units earlier. All he had to sell was 4759 culture which was trading even with gold and the price would drop like a rock if he started selling. I had over 20000 gold and realized if I bought up culture it would greatly inflate the price. I proposed the plan and I bought up culture while he sold it. I popped a great scientist from it and he had the gold to buy a builder. The castle was built (I got a culture medal became minister of culture for helping to build it) and we were now slightly ahead in power with Spain.
Then I noticed one more thing. When it looked like we weren't going to win I didn't set by spearmen to 'heroic' to avoid the extra casualties it would take in exchange for the increased power. Now that it wouldn't be an issue I set them to heroic and got a huge boost. We were not ahead 3100 to 2300. A landslide victory. I stuck around to watch the battle. We took few losses and theirs were near total. By owning about 1/4 of the units we had in the battle we just won (out of 18 players) I won a military medal and was made defense minister. All these medals also increased my rank in the civ and I was made king. Plus Spain had 18 players which was big enough to trigger a domination victory for us for beating them.
It was quite the victory gotten from several last minute opportunities that I was in the right place to take advantage of, and I think the best part is that no one from Spain was around to see that battle. When they left they were expecting an easy victory and when they came back there army was gone, we'd won a domination victory and they'd have no idea how it happened. Well they might if they noticed we had the samurai castle, but when I got back s another civ had already built the castle for themselves and cancelled ours.
Good times.
