REVENGE-VENGENCE-VENGEFUL-REVENGEANCEFUL!!
The storm shall be unleashed!
(Apologies for the long post in advance.)
Turn 382, 1744 AD
Ah, still in our Golden years. Gonna refamiliarize myself with the scene and then I plan to march on Genghis with all due speed.
Checking Victory Conditions, we're edging out Monty on Domination. We'll see what happens when we get Mongol lands.
I think I want to trade Rifling to one or both of our Vassals to get Nationalism. Why? So we can start teching Military Tradition and get us some Cavalry available.
London appears to be well guarded.
Going around, messing with our Free Specialists. I'm putting focus on Scientists in towns that don't need anything else in particular. Oh, turn an Engineer in Satsuma to a Priest 'cuz we have that Super Priest wonder.
Only thing of note is that Tokyo's copper needs to be re-mined still. Get a few more hammers out. After some Specialist adjustments, we'd get steam power in 59 turns at 0% science. Not bad, I say. (Just to settle my curiosity, it'd be 10 turns at a sustainable rate.)
I trade/give rifling to our vassals. Probably a silly idea, but maybe they'll manage to hold out a little longer against Monty with that firepower. I doubt they're gonna trade it away, either. Well, Brennus is pleased with Genghis. Meh.
I'll wait a couple turns to upgrade some troops, and then go on the attack.
I see a couple of Mongolian towns on the west coast that can be demolished if land area is becoming an issue.
Oh, I see that Great Scientist . . . . Yeah, not sure what to do with him, either. Hm, I think an Academy in Osaka? It would net the most Beakers; I could wait for two more Great People and see if we can get 2 different ones, but it's likely to spit out another Scientist. I'll send this one north and wait 7 turns to see what happens.
-End Turn-
Turn 383, 1746 AD
Sturick may have cleaned out Monty at peacetime, but now the guy has nearly 600 gold laying around again.
Kagoshima: Cannon < Rifleman (4 turns)
Tabriz: Pikeman < Pikeman (5 turns)
Lakamha: Courthouse < Bank (20 turns)
We can put forward a new Resolution. Let's try Hastings this time. Maybe Monty will get some more unhappiness.
Urgh, Celtic revolt in Bibracte. This is really getting annoying, and it's eating into our profits (and perhaps Prophets)! Like it or not, I'm going to have to spit out some cheap military to send down there; I think we can afford that diversion, though.
Upgrades and troop movements.
-End Turn-
Turn 384, 1748 AD
Vienne comes out of revolt but we'll see how long that lasts.
Kyoto: Rifleman < Samurai (1 turn). Garrison for our unruly provinces.
Satsuma: Cannon < Cannon (3 turns)
Uxmal: Cannon < Cannon (6 turns)
Mutal: Hindu Missionary < Cannon (5 turns).
Oxhuitza: Spy < Bank (18 turns). It's pulling in some serious money.
Edirne: Courthouse < Forge (9 turns)
As expected, Monty defies the resolution. Good for him.
One more turn of upgrades, and then it is WAR!
-End Turn-
Turn 385, 1750 AD
No
new revolts, yay!
Kyoto: Samurai < Samurai (It's a waste if I think about it, but those Samurai could always be upgraded into City Raiding Riflemen if needed)
London: Pikeman < Pikeman (4 turns)
I spy a Celtic Cavalry. Brennus, at least, is making good use of his new technology.
Suleiman has upgrade all his garissons to Rifles, so Monty will probably end up smashing himself against that.
Turn up the Research slider and we have Military Tradition for ourselves in 5 turns. At a profit, no less.
Monty almost has Gunpowder, but I don't think it will do him much good in the end.
-End Turn-
Turn 386, 1752 AD
Kyoto: Samurai < Samurai
We have a pretty fearsome stack, I think.
Monty, the time has come. The trumpets sound and the drums of war beat.
(My laptop has begun to lag--that's not a good sign, heh heh.)
Oh, and Brennus had kindly completed an irrigation link for Coventry, forgot to mention that.
We're poised to strike the Mongols, but let's see what happens.
-End Turn-
Turn 387, 1754 AD
Khan heedlessly charges out and attacks our stack with a few units, but they are all cut down. Less work for us, thanks!
Kyoto: Samurai < Samurai (the Celts shall NOT revolt again, I say!)
Osaka: Cannon < Rifleman (6 turns)
Satsuma: Cannon < Rifleman (3 turns)
Kagoshima: Rifleman < Rifleman (4 turns)
Tokyo: Market < Hindu Monastery (5 turns) It'll probably be obsolete soon, but might as well squeeze out some benefit.
Monty has a stack gunning for London, just as we want.
Let's pound on Chinook a bit. We have a metric ton of siege, either Trebs or Cannons, and both'll do fine at this point, I think. I'll bombard with trebs and probably attack with cannons.
Go-Go City Raider III Cannon! Woo-hoo! The cannons quickly subdue the resistance and it's time to go in with the troops.
I send our Super Medic first 'cuz he's still got great odds and I want to make sure I don't forget to level him up. 4 more fights to go.
I send in various troops, but give our new Rifles a chance to play.
And the town is ours! I will be leaving a minimal garrison in order to sustain the offensive longer. And it looks like Sulei cleared out the Aztecs bumming around his territory.
-End Turn-
Turn 388, 1756 AD
Kyoto: Samurai < Rifleman (2 turns)
Tabriz: Pikeman < Pikeman (4 turns)
Coventry: Rifleman < Rifleman (6 turns)
Brennus took Nottingham from Monty and got a Great General for his troubles.
And it appears that Sulei is poised to take Hastings back from Monty. At least our "allies" are keeping the Aztecs busy on that front.
Monty hasn't entered our territory yet. I wonder if we've spooked him. Stack will be good to go next turn.
-End Turn-
Turn 389, 1758 AD
Ah, it appears that Monty is trying to take back/reinforce his towns. All the better.
Uxmal: Cannon < Rifleman (6 turns)
Mutal: Cannon < Rifleman (7 turns)
London: Pikeman < Cannon (6 turns)
Bah, an earthquake will ruin the gems mine at Vienne. I pay to repair it.
I wipe out an Aztec crossbowman that snuck in south of London.
Hrm, I spy a Cavalry in Genghis' town of Old Sarai. Disquieting, but no matter.
-End Turn-
Turn 390, 1760 AD
Military Tradition has been developed. Steam Power.
Kyoto: Rifleman < Stable (2 turns)
Satsuma: Rifleman < Cavalry (4 turns)
Monty took Nottingham back from Brennus. And the crazy psycho adopts Emancipation.
Oh well, at least our Vassals are providing a distraction.
I've had spies sitting around in Monty territory, but I decide to pull them back. We aren't attacking any time soon, and I don't see any reason to blow EPs right now. I'd rather not just let them get caught, either.
Will attack Old Sarai next turn.
-End Turn-
Turn 391, 1762 AD
Golden Age is over . . . .
Kagoshima: Rifleman < Rifleman (6 turns)
Vienne: Grocer < Courthouse (11 turns)
Old Sarai had a high cultural defense, so had to use some cannons for bombardment, as well. The Cavalry will pose some risk to the cannons, but let's see how it goes.
1st loses at 78% odds. Boo.
2nd gets away at 84% odds. Yay.
Everything else goes well. It looks like Khan piled the kitchen sink in here, even a few catapults.
Sending in Colin (I just noticed that his XP reset to a lower number. I think that's an upgrade glitch, and it is annoying). It's a bit of a slog taking the town, but it's just a mop-up. The cannons sure do wonders.
I wondered where Monty's stack went, and it looks like it's holed up in Nottingham. At least for now.
Looking at the power ratings, I think Khan went from 2.9 to 3.9.

We're also steadily gaining vs. Monty.
-End Turn-
Turn 392, 1764 AD
Kyoto: Stable < Cavalry (3 turns)
Tabriz: Pikeman < Cannon (12 turns)
Tokyo: Hindu Monastery < Hindu Temple (9 turns)
Stack'll take two turns to heal.
I just noticed that Bibracte is suffering from some Happy problems, mainly due to a desire to return to Celtia. The Moai finish next turn, so I'll probably start spamming temples and such.
-End Turn-
Turn 393, 1766 AD
Osaka: Rifleman < Rifleman (8 turns)
Bibracte: Moai Statues < Hindu Temple (4 turns)
Get a decent event at Xukpi. I pay for population. Which I can't actually feed!

So I whip the excess into a lighthouse.
Ooh, looks like Monty may have worked up the courage to attack London? Let's hope so~!
-End Turn-
Turn 394, 1768 AD
Nope, looks like Monty is going to play with Suleim. And we catch an Aztec spy at Kyoto. Maybe we should harass Monty a bit. I'll see if we have enough troops to spare for that.
Edirne: Forge < Cannon (10 turns)
Coventry: Rifleman < Rifleman (8 turns)
Bibracte Scores us a Great Merchant. I could get us about a thou-, but I'll just keep him and see if we get something new in 12 turns. Might be able to score us a 3rd golden age.
Hrm, I thought the stack would be done healing now, but we still have some wounded cannon. On the other hand, I may be able to scrounge up a strike force from Tokyo and hit Monty in either Hastings or Nottingham where he has big clumps of troops. A few cannons and a few Rifles and assorted troops should be able to wear them down.
Turn 395, 1770 AD
Kyoto: Cavalry < Cavalry (2 turns)
Satsuma: Cavalry < Cavalry (4 turns)
Samarqand: Courthouse < Lighthouse (18 turns)
Monty will talk, so just for kicks, I ask him what he'll give. Not much, not nearly enough. Besides, we're wiping out Khan first.
Ah, a 15 XP Cavalry fresh from Kyoto. Nice.
I assemble a Siege Squad that has about 6 cannon, 3 Riflemen, 2 Samurai, and 4 Pikemen. I'll see if I can throw anything else in there. I think it'll be fine, as the main goal of this group is not to conquer any cities, but just to attack and destroy Aztec units (which happen to be in cities).
-End Turn-
Turn 396, 1772 AD
Hmm, I think I lured Monty troops to London with that move. And Bibracte loses some crab nets to Mongolian poachers. I've put it off too long, but I need to put out some water craft.
Kagoshima: Rifleman < Cannon (5 turns)
Nothin' much, just troop movements.
-End Turn-
Kyoto: Cavalry < Drydock (3 turns)
Uxmal: Rifleman < Rifleman (8 turns)
Mutal: Rifleman < Rifleman (8 turns)
Bibracte: Hindu Temple < Hindu Mandir (5 turns) For the much needed +5 Happy, but also the +50% culture boost. Might help us maintain control of the city.
London: Cannon < Cannon (9 turns)
AP vote comes up, but the only option is Diplomatic Victory, and we don't want that.
Karakorum is in my sights for next turn.
-End Turn-
Turn 398, 1776 AD
Nothing too momentus in 1776.
Xukpi: Lighthouse < Granary (12 turns)
I begin the bombardment of Karakorum.
Lose another CRIII cannon at 82% odds. The first time is always the hardest.
Our Medic only needs two more fights to become the Ultra Super Medic, so don't forget about him.
We take the capital, and now we're fairly wealthy.
Khan has fallen to 4.7 relative to us in power. So, nearly 1/5 our power.
We get a new Great General. I'm just going to embed him in Satsuma because it's a military pump. And only has 1 GG in it right now.
Monty seems to be doing his Indecisive Dance, so I'll go ahead and start pounding on Hastings next turn.
Turfan should be the next target to relieve some of the cultural pressure on our newest acquisitions.
-End Turn-
Turn 399, 1778 AD
Sastuma: Cavalry < Cavalry (5 turns)
Monty does pay London a visit after all, onto our gold mine. Well, let's see if I can handle that with what we have there . . . .
Upgrade a Cannon with Barrage. It has good odds. Um, just noticed most of the stack is trebs, so no more barrage. I'll just hit the stack with the remaining cannons.
The scurvy buggers have all been removed. The assualt on Hastings may proceed.
Lose the 1st cannon, as usual, and a Cavalry to a pikeman. Our Riflemen perform admirably, each killing a Cuirassier (3), and a second Cavalry takes out that pesky Pikeman. The assault can continue next turn.
Move stack into Karakorum this turn to start healing. Should be good to go by the end of this set.
Honestly, I probably could have made better time by not stopping to heal, but it was basically the Cannons that needed healing, and I figure that it's better to take things at a reasonable pace. It would ultimately take longer if I got all of our siege units killed.
I decide to whip the Mandir in Bibracte, 'cuz the unhappiness is growing.
I think that London's garrison can handle whatever Monty throws at it, so let's keep reinforcing the Hastings offensive.
-End Turn-
Turn 400, 1780 AD
Kyoto: Drydock < Caravel (1 turn). Best we have . . . .
Tokyo: Hindu Temple < Theatre (4 turns). Tokyo is about to hit Happy and Health caps. We can still build a few things to help with that.
Bibracte: Hindu Mandir < Jewish Temple (??) Frickin' Town went into another 4-turn revolt!
Lose a Samurai at Hastings to 80% odds. Most units need healing. This was probably one of my more reckless diversions this set. The only good news is that it's keeping Monty's wounded troops holed up and out of mischief.
-End Turn-
Turn 401, 1782 AD
Machiavelli claims that we are the 3rd most advanced Civilization, trailing Khan and Brennus.
Kyoto: Caravel < Cannon (2 turns)
Osaka: Rifleman < Cannon (7 turns)
Kagoshima: Cannon < Cannon (5 turns)
Oxhuitza: Bank < Market (14 turns)
Vienne: Courthouse < Hindu Temple (6 turns)
Calakmul: Bank < Market (17 turns)
Emancipation unhappiness is starting to hit us hard. Satsuma is already feeling the effects.
Too bad we can't switch. We don't even really need Slavery any more.
Kyoto's Caravel comes with 14 xp. Nice. Should probably promote it with Combat upgrades to take out Khan's Caravels.
We continue to lay waste to Monty's forces in Hastings. It is a nice diversion. No losses this turn.
-End Turn-
Turn 402, 1784 AD
We have discovered Steam Power! That means Levees! And we can put them in Kyoto and Satsuma, as well as several other cities. I think that we should. Put in Railroad (18 turns) because we don't have the prereqs for Industrialism.
Coventry: Rifleman < Rifleman (8 turns)
Chinook: Granary < Lighthouse (5 turns)
We have found several sources of coal, including one in Kyoto's BFC. Heh. Wasn't there a prediction long ago?
Gonna trade Steam Power to Brennus. Hmm. We want Constitution so that we have a shot at Democracy. Ah, he's Friendly now, big boost from shared religion and shared war. Gonna try to beg education, but not expecting much. Hey, he does! So steam power nets Constitution and his World Map. Can't get Mil Sci, but not a big deal.
Argh, wait, I should have tried to get Constitution! Then I could have tried to trade for Democracy next turn . . . . Urgh. OK, I'm holding onto Steampower for now. No one else is research it, so we still have the monopoly. Sturick, if and when you make peace with Monty, make sure to get Constitution, then we can trade to Brennus (probably) for Democracy. Or, if you think it would be safer to do the reverse (trade then get for peace) in case Brennus decides that we're too advanced all of a sudden. *shrugs*
Well, the good news is that we can now put in a few Universities to help the ol' research along.
Urgh . . . lose a Combat IV Rifleman to a Cuirassier at 95% odds. It had another promotion available, too. I guess I should have gone ahead and given it Combat V. What a waste.
In better news, Turfan should fall in two more turns. But, my set is over now, so I'll pass the reigns along.
I don't think I have any closing remarks: My brain is pretty fried right now. I guess the whole Hastings campaign was a bit of a folly since it was under-manned, but in my defense, it was an amusing diversion and aside from losing units when I shouldn't have, I think it served the purpose of keeping pressure on Monty. I think that little operation will manage as new reinforcements are diverted there. I don't think the Mongol campaign needs further troops. There are more than enough siege to bombard and deplete the garrisons out there, and we have enough troops to capture and garrison the towns ourselves. Sturick, you can probably even shuffle around some of the garrison in that area; I don't think that Khan can muster a counter-attack at this point. Oh, and don't forget to give our Super Medic two more battles.
(I need to take less pictures; they are very time consuming.)