A Team PBEM?

[Chamnix]

You are all welcome to the opening of The Great Library.

Very glad to hear I am welcome - could you kindly give me directions to that city? GPS to azza.

Spoiler :

-610 – Well, so Mel completed the Great Library. That’s a lot of shields worth of wonders. Of course, he hasn’t done much research, so he could have a rather large stash of gold.

I complete another settler, a spearman, 5(!) mounted warriors, and a galley. I think I may have to pay a visit to Mel’s wonders . Azzaman333 has started building the Statue of Zeus. Hopefully he really just started and is not going to finish it this turn like Mel just did. The town that is building it is only size 4. But that is the town he built his Colossus in – maybe he is seriously going for 20K. I feel like such an uncultured slob next to these 2, it makes me want to go on a rampage of mindless destruction.

The troops keep unloading on Mel’s continent. I’m going to have to start a war soon, or my unit costs will strangle me. Even in Monarchy, with 0% science and 0% luxuries, I am only +17 gpt thanks to my 53 gpt unit costs. At least I know Mel’s military can’t compare considering how few towns he has and the fact that he is a Republic. My Golden Age will solve my “problem”.

Interestingly enough, Mel left some units with “goto” orders so I got to see them move on the IBT – 3 immortals moved to his eastern border. If he thinks 3 immortals will do anything to my stack, he is in for a rude awakening.

To be continued…

 

[Chamnix]

GPS to azzaman.

Spoiler :

-590 – Only a galley is produced this turn. Mel is now working on the Temple of Artemis in his capital – is he serious? Another 500 shields of wonders?

No short-rushing this turn – I just don’t have the cash flow yet.

My useless chariots try to find a way through the jungle and mountains to see Mel’s land. I don’t think they are worth anything as fighters, but they can force Mel to keep some troops guarding his rear cities, and they may be able to pillage some stuff if they can find a path.

 

[Meleager]

GPS. You may know the city as "the summer palace", my immortals will be happy to guide your onterage from the nearest boarder.

 

[Chamnix]

GPS to azza.

Spoiler :

-570 – Opened the save and Queen Azzaman is offering me Literature (without accept). I thought he was going for Construction. We never talked about Literature, so I don’t know what he even wants for it. I don’t send him anything in game, but I will send him a note.

One more Mounted Warrior produced – Mel’s fearsome 3 immortals creep closer. I send a worker over to Dapad.

My chariots continue to spread out – I see another 2 immortals approaching. However, my chariots will not be able to make it very far – jungles, mountains, and marsh block the way everywhere except through Mel’s territory. So much for sneaking around the back.

On the IBT, my spear kills a barbarian but doesn’t merit a promotion.

 

[Meleager]

GPS. Sorry for the delay.

 

[Chamnix]

GPS to azzaman.

Are those my tour guides, Meleager? You really only had to send one...

Spoiler :

-550 (Turn 100) – azzaman is offering me Literature again. He said he wanted Monarchy for it. This is a terrible deal for me for any number of reasons – I don’t care about Literature, Monarchy is very useful to azza, and Monarchy is much more expensive than Literature. So why am I making it anyway ? I guess I’m hoping azza won’t attack me when I’m busy with Mel – it probably won’t work, but what are you going to do?

I complete another 5 mounted warriors, a spearman, a galley, and a worker. Found the towns of Southern Outpost East and Icy Cove. I spend all my cash hurrying the walls in Dapad since Mel's immortals are getting closer.

My 10 turn update:

21 towns covering 209 tiles (first in land area)
81 total citizens (72% of world population – 1st, Mel has 18% (20 citizens), so that leaves 10% for azza (11 citizens))
0 settlers
30 workers
1 curragh
8 veteran spears
4 regular warriors
1 veteran warrior
31 veteran chariots
16 veteran mounted warriors (strong compared to azzaman and Mel).

Currently building:

1 barracks
6 settlers (I need to get my unit costs under control)
3 workers
4 mounted warriors
3 galleys
3 walls
1 harbor

Up Map Making, Monarchy (for now), and Horseback Riding on azzaman.
Up Map Making, Monarchy (for now), and Horseback Riding on Meleager.

 

[Meleager]

I'm assuming this got lost in transit..

 

[Meleager]

GPS... why chamnix, only the greatest of enterances is prepared for you.

 

[Chamnix]

GPS to azzaman.

Spoiler :

-530 – Complete a settler, a mounted warrior, and walls in Dapad. Meleager fortified his immortals just outside my territory but did not enter – I guess it will be up to me to start this war but not this turn… I want to make sure I have Mounted Warriors able to reach his immortals. I change most of my settler builds to Mounted Warriors – even my settler factory in Salamanca starts a barracks. I will control my unit costs by killing my units against Mel’s troops (and by starting my Golden Age).

 

[Chamnix]

Any life left in this?

 

[Meleager]

Maybe it got lost in transit or something.

 

[classical_hero]

I think azz could be having some problems with all his pbems he is playing. Even I do not have that many going on at once.

 

[azzaman333]

I think azz could be having some problems with all his pbems he is playing. Even I do not have that many going on at once.

Well, I cut 4 off PBEM's today, after cutting 2 others off last week some time.

(BTW, resent (i think))

 

[Chamnix]

GPS to azzaman.

Spoiler :

-510 – OK, where was I? Oh, yeah, about to declare war on Mel. 2 mounted warriors, a galley, and a worker complete – more of the same started. One note – I gave azzaman Monarchy a while ago, but he is still in Despotism .

Enough of this – time to declare on Meleager.

4/4 Mounted Warrior vs. 4/4 immortal -> ¼ mounted warrior (my Golden Age begins – my income goes from +1 gpt to +66 gpt).
4/4 Mounted Warrior vs. 4/4 immortal -> 2/5 mounted warrior.
4/4 Mounted Warrior vs. 4/4 immortal -> 4/5 mounted warrior.
4/4 chariot vs. 4/4 immortal -> ¼ chariot - I didn’t expect to win that one. I thought I was going to have to suicide a few chariots before winning.

Adjust my cities – I now have many 2 or 3 turn MW factories for my Golden Age.



Message sent to Meleager:

Dear Meleager,

The citizens of Dapad were feeling extremely claustrophobic with all those immortals about. We had also heard rumors of what happens to people if they tolerate immortals’ presence for too long.

Regretfully, I felt my only option was to declare war and clear a little space to keep my citizens happy. The battle log:

4/4 Mounted Warrior vs. 4/4 immortal -> ¼ mounted warrior.
4/4 Mounted Warrior vs. 4/4 immortal -> 2/5 mounted warrior.
4/4 Mounted Warrior vs. 4/4 immortal -> 4/5 mounted warrior.
4/4 chariot vs. 4/4 immortal -> ¼ chariot.

Chamnix

 

[azzaman333]

Who the heck is this Zues fellow? Whoever he is, there is a statue of him in one of my cities now.

GPS.

 

[General_W]

Hoo boy! Get out the popcorn!

 

[Meleager]

GPS.

Someone's going to burn.

Really chamnix, my immortals were just there to make you feel welcome.

Spoiler :

I'm Doomed, but I'm not going to make it easy for him.

Mel's plan to be as stubborn at dieing as possible:

1. Get myself some minions. I have sent this email to azzaman:

Chamnix has got me big time. I will fall, and when I do there will only be you and him left on the map. You will not survive.

If you wish to have any chance of winning this game you must strike now, whilst his troops are in my territory. No matter what happens, I will not survive for long, but you may still have a fraction of a chance if you act on the opportunity now!

- Meleager

My current military: Chamnix whipped out most my immortals with one blow. Fortunately I have ships that should be able to block any reignforcements soon. All cities are building immortals, unfortunately his units are horses and therefore will get to my cities fast.

So step 2:
Since I am a republic and don't need to run science as I have the great library I am using my gold to rush immortals.

Step 3:
Put everything I have in the cities closest to his army. I've already got most my spearmen there. I just hope they slow him down enough so that my other cities can build as many units as possible.

Btw, battle stats this turn:

Immortals 5/5 vs. Mounted Warrior 4/4 -> Immortals 4/5, Mounted Warrior ¼ (retreated)

Step 4:
I have a little distraction for him to the north. When I first attacked fe333au I had to put a colony thingy on an iorn rescource. That rescourse is still ouside my territory defended by one spearman. Chamnix will likely think that is all the iorn I have. He would be wrong. Hopefully he will send some troops that way thinking he can cut it off but only end up wasting his time.

In reality, I have no hope. But I don't want to go out easy.

 

[Chamnix]

GPS.

My chariots just want to express their gratitude - I trust you have enough oats to keep all my horses happy? They get rather ornery when they're hungry...

Spoiler :

-490 (Turn 103) – Meleager sent me a battle report claiming to have retreated a mounted warrior with an immortal, but it was a chariot he attacked.

Debberland riots – I must have moved an MP out . 3 Mounted Warriors complete. Azza is in anarchy – he must have been waiting for the Statue of Zeus to complete to switch. Meleager is still building the Temple of Artemis.

The war situation before I move anything:



I decide to spread out my chariots. They are useless for fighting, but they could make good pillagers. I expect to lose a couple, but they will temporarily prevent Mel from using powerful tiles (at least for 1 turn), and any survivors can pillage. The closest ones surround The Thrown preparing to pillage.

The chariots who are not in his territory yet retreat temporarily to look for a good opportunity to attack his immortal. The main stack of Mounted Warriors moves closer.

The only battle:

¼ chariot captures a worker.

Change a couple worker builds to settlers – my 31 workers are already having trouble finding things to do, and my unit costs are still too high.

The battle zone after I move:



The main stack midway between The Thrown and Dapad is 4 chariots and 13 mounted warriors.

 

[Chamnix]

Meleager returned from vacation over 2 months ago, and since then we have played 8 turns .