Operation Italian Ice

[Kev]

We're almost done with the Romans. How shall we finish them?

Ravenna and Byzantium are all that's left. Ravenna is empty so we can take it with a military unit or buy it for 584 gold.

Then, Byzantium will have to be taken, and it's on an island to the East. How shall we take this one?

Ren, as military advisor I'd like your thoughts especially (though everyone should discuss)! Also, where should we go from there?

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

I would buy Ravenna. More City improvements will survive and less partisans will be created this way.

Before we do it either way, get units into those forts around the city, so that the partisans that are created won't appear in them.

BTW, I think we should just load up a spy and buy Byzantium.

ScreenShot of Ravenna

ScreenShot of Byzantium

 

[duke o' york]

I agree with my Dukely colleague that this is the best way to proceed. With regard to the taking of Ravenna then we should not be afraid to empty surrounding cities of their defenders and fill all potential partisan squares prior to taking and then return them afterwards on the rails. We can buy Byzantium at our leisure as there won't be any partisans from there anyway.
Bloody AI! They skilfully built Byzantium in the position so that they miss out on the fish.

 

[starlifter]

I agree exactly with the two wise Dukes (must be why they're Dukes, right?! ), and can expand some thought for anyone who's interested: In general, the best way to conquer a civ is simultaneously. This will eliminate the concern for Partisans... but in this case, its better to take Ravenna ASAP & Byzantium next turn.

How: this can be done on the very next turn by sacrificing the harbor in Pompeii, and IPRBing a transport in Pompeii, then zipping it due east with Vet Spy to nail the incredibly terribly placed city of Byzantium . If peace is forced for any reason, just subvert & be done with it.

Given the circumstances, I would take Ravenna with an immediate bribe to get the city cranking for the glory of our empire, then make peace & insist they "Withdraw troops" this turn or the beginning og the next, then bribe their last city which will contain all their partisans. Well, hmmmmm. OK, actually, I would not risk that (making peace to get all the partisans for free)... our Reputation is the pits, and they probably won't respect any treaty anyway.

So be it. Bribe the city while it's empty (can't beat half price), and kill the Romans off by bribing Byzantium the next turn.

About Partisan control, with all our hardware, I'd just occupy the difficult terrain (2 forts and swamp); they will not get many Partisans being this weak and with only size 12. Be sure to try and kill off Partisans from within cities (faster repair of unit damage) or Forts... like move the BB's into Ravenna before blasting any Partisans, and howies into the forts when possible. Need only 30%-40% healthy howies to blast Partisans in std terrain forts, or in the open... even if the howie has only 2/3 of a movement point left.... it'll win.

Summary:
1. Bribe Ravenna Immediately (only need to occupy swamp & 2 forts).
2. IPRB a Pompeii transport & Bribe Byzantium next turn (Romans = Extinct, heheheheee).

 

[Zwelgje]

I agree with the three posts above mine but I we also need to think what to do after these two cities. I suggest to put the howies in cities to let them be repaired and then load them on a transport and right off to English lands to kill them. Zulus are of minor concern so we should go after them once we've dealt with the English. Maybe we could have some battleships cruising the sea around Zulu-land to avoid any of their triremes to reach our home-continent. I don't want a spy of them stealing some tech which would make them a more annoying opponent (I know, its not going to happen, just look at last time they stole a tech but I just want to avoid any mess....)

 

[duke o' york]

I (and I think I've got Satan with me on this one) would be quite partial to a mess actually!
I don't think that we should give the Zulus any kind of credit whatsoever though. Even were they to steal techs then they wouldn't be able to make any kind of a difference. Just like last time.
The English have to be our next targets really. We already have more than enough military muscle to level all of their cities and I don't think that we are in any depserate hurry to annihilate them. We can just bring all of our conquering armies down in transports and attack them from both sides of their homeland for extra effect.

 

[Zwelgje]

Originally posted by duke o' york
We can just bring all of our conquering armies down in transports and attack them from both sides of their homeland for extra effect.

You're nasty!
Good idea though, but don't they have two somewhat big islands with cities on them? Anyway go to check out the game when I'm home.

 

[Kev]

Some things about attacking the English:

We'll likely take the howies down in a transport or two. I'd like to have the two battleships as escorts with the destroyer ahead just in case there's any little English ships about.

The question is: Do we stop at the island with Birmingham and that other city that we can see, or do we bypass it and go straight for their main cities? Where should we establish our foothold on either continent? We can go right for London if we wish to attack from the East, but the English have a fair amount of funds and should be able to relocate capitals a few times. From the north or south, we run the risk of being attacked from two sides. From the west will mean a fair amount of time before we can get across the continent to get at London (but may mean we've taken enough cash to keep them from capital hopping). Or shall we just get the island north and use that as a staging ground?

We'll have 5 battleships to play with right away with the addition of the bright new UFS Leowind. Probably a few more before all is said and done. Fanatica, rule the waves!!!

 

[duke o' york]

I think that we ought to price out the cities on the northern island and then either attack or buy them before using this island as a point to amass our troops and heal where necessary. There are going to be quite a few partisans kicking around all of the English cities but we aren't yet at the stage to take all of their cities together (my little hobby). I would like to see a strike against London as any shifting of capital by the English will mean it will be easier to bribe some of their cities at the other end of the empire and will cost them lots of cash each time - cash they could be using to rushbuild defenders. Fortunately they have changed out of fundy so we might get the opportunity to bribe some revolting cities (pun intended).

 

[Ren]

Sorry for my absence (again), I've only been able to make it here occasionally, but I should be able to keep active for the next week or so.

Byzantium looks relatively buyable, so I don't think it's worth sending anything more than a spy and alpine troops there, unless of course our beautiful Livia decides to come out of hiding and set up camp in Byzantium...Why is it you want to bribe Ravenna???

Then I would like to see us go south for the Zulus, for the most part because they are closer to our Military than the English, how do the others feel about this??

 

[Kev]

Ren:

If we buy Byzantium, it will have it's own defenses inside so no need to send alpine troops - and I agree to the buying. Buying Ravenna will help us to keep the improvements that are there right now - if we take it by force some will be destroyed.

While the Zulus may be silghtly closer, they really don't pose any threat whatsoever. Now that the English have automobile I'd like to take them out forthwith to be sure they don't give us any problems with battleships. The Zulus have auto as well, but I'm sure that they'll end up sending a caravel or something at us

duke:

Those cities on Birmingham Island may be pricey. It may serve us better to just bypass them with military but have a spy or three waiting for when the English cannot rebuild their capital. Whatever we decide, I do agree that it may be better to start at the London side of the island.