tjs282
Stone \ Cold / Fish
"Yea, and verily did the pRNGods smile upon the fledgling Portuguese nation, blessing their soldiers with great fortune in battle*. And lo, the peasants did rejoice at the glad tidings of smited enemies, and did fruitfully multiply..."
*Footnote:
Well, I ain't dead yet...
To my dismay, my southern neighbour initially wanted no part of my war. Despite that, my opening gambit (as planned in the post above) was successful -- and once the first northen town (the major objective) came under my control, the southerners joined in on my side after all (at enormous expense) -- I assume because the loss of my northern neighbour's Iron+Dyes had broken a deal between them. This was confirmed much later: for the last couple of turns of this session, my southern neighbour has sent no more Iron-bearing units north -- nor mounted units either, implying that they lost their Horse-import as well.
My northern neighbour has suffered disproportionate losses to my forces (both in terms of raw units, and even more so in shields invested), and has been willing to talk peace for many turns now. However, so far he has only offered cash, nothing more useful, so I've rebuffed his advances, because I am waiting for the MA+RoP-deal with the southern Civ to expire first. I'm frankly surprised that they haven't broken it themselves already (maybe they like my gold too much), and I hope that I can hold on long enough to end the deal honorably (needs 4T more as of the last save), because I got ambitious, and lost several units I would rather not have lost, as a result of foolishly overextending myself. Time will tell whether this will cost me in the long run. The other reason I hope to end the deal honorably is so that I can replace it with a straight RoP, allowing my neighbours to continue fighting until they're exhausted, while I play 'fill-in-the-gaps' as AI-towns get captured/razed.
I've already started on that: several new towns have been planted during this war, expanding my empire's boundaries northwards (and I want to get at least one more down before signing a PT) -- I have even got to the point of being able to build my FP (a newly Settled town has just started doing that). My empire is now fairly thoroughly ICS'd, so that I can gradually disband the intermediates later, and go to CxxxC -- but these intermediates are currently among the largest/ most productive towns that I have, so I can't afford to shrink/abandon them yet. Also, I will need to build 'Ducts nearly everywhere, so I am strongly considering going Feudal until I can own my Continent, then switching to Republic as soon as enough basic improvements (CHs, Ducts, Libs, Markets) have been built/whipped.
But to do that, I'll have to extract Feudalism (and Republic) from someone(s)...
Turns 135-143
Turns 144-153
The world as of 380 AD:
*Footnote:
Spoiler :
And in several cases, unexpectedly good aim...
Well, I ain't dead yet...
To my dismay, my southern neighbour initially wanted no part of my war. Despite that, my opening gambit (as planned in the post above) was successful -- and once the first northen town (the major objective) came under my control, the southerners joined in on my side after all (at enormous expense) -- I assume because the loss of my northern neighbour's Iron+Dyes had broken a deal between them. This was confirmed much later: for the last couple of turns of this session, my southern neighbour has sent no more Iron-bearing units north -- nor mounted units either, implying that they lost their Horse-import as well.
My northern neighbour has suffered disproportionate losses to my forces (both in terms of raw units, and even more so in shields invested), and has been willing to talk peace for many turns now. However, so far he has only offered cash, nothing more useful, so I've rebuffed his advances, because I am waiting for the MA+RoP-deal with the southern Civ to expire first. I'm frankly surprised that they haven't broken it themselves already (maybe they like my gold too much), and I hope that I can hold on long enough to end the deal honorably (needs 4T more as of the last save), because I got ambitious, and lost several units I would rather not have lost, as a result of foolishly overextending myself. Time will tell whether this will cost me in the long run. The other reason I hope to end the deal honorably is so that I can replace it with a straight RoP, allowing my neighbours to continue fighting until they're exhausted, while I play 'fill-in-the-gaps' as AI-towns get captured/razed.
I've already started on that: several new towns have been planted during this war, expanding my empire's boundaries northwards (and I want to get at least one more down before signing a PT) -- I have even got to the point of being able to build my FP (a newly Settled town has just started doing that). My empire is now fairly thoroughly ICS'd, so that I can gradually disband the intermediates later, and go to CxxxC -- but these intermediates are currently among the largest/ most productive towns that I have, so I can't afford to shrink/abandon them yet. Also, I will need to build 'Ducts nearly everywhere, so I am strongly considering going Feudal until I can own my Continent, then switching to Republic as soon as enough basic improvements (CHs, Ducts, Libs, Markets) have been built/whipped.
But to do that, I'll have to extract Feudalism (and Republic) from someone(s)...
Turns 135-143
Spoiler :
T 135, 150 AD
Slaves retreated, Settler sent to Emer (2T to arrival)
Stack moves out of Emer, stops on Grass
IBT
Russians begin SisChap
T 136, 170 AD
Emer gives mined BGrass to Leiria to minimise SPT, maximise CPT
All is ready... I dial up Gandhi, and demand Feudalism with menaces... Naturally he refuses
Stack moves to Iron-hill, captures Slave
But Cathy won't play ball (even though she has at least 1 Knight already)! (An RoP would cost me 40g, and she doesn't know Ragnar or Smoke yet). This could get nasty...
Lagos switched to building vSpear (2T)
IBT
Indian Mace promotes vSword (2/5) (1-0)
Lisbon --- vSpear (3T)
Emer --- vAxe (3T, Pop6 in 2T)
Babs begin SisChap
T 137, 190 AD
Jaipur attacked:
Cats go 1/4 vs rPike, but it's still the strongest unit in town
rSwords demolish Pike and 2 rSpears, 1 Sword lost vs a 3rd Spear -- revealing rLBM (4-1)
r+eArcher kill 2/3 rSpear and LBM, capturing the town (+2g, 4 resistors) (6-1) --- Slave (10T)
We now have IRON! (And Dyes)
But there's another Mace incoming...
v+2rAxes upgraded in Lagos (3*60g). I'm 4g shy of upgrading another one...
rArchers sent to Iron-Hill to take the brunt, high-SPT Rax-towns switched to building Swords, low-SPT Raxes do Spears
009 Évora founded on Dyes NNE of Lagos --- Walls (20T)
Cathy will now sign an MA+RoP vs Gandhi: I pay Dyes, 10g and 16GPT (ouch)
SCI% zeroed to put some more cash in the kitty (+8GPT)
Spears sent to guard Evora and Jaipur (which also gets the 2/5 eSword and a vArcher)
Slaves go to mine exposed rGrass near Jaipur (3T)
Workers1+2 sent to road Jungle near Lagos (2T to arrival, 5T to road)
IBT
vArcher redlines rMace, then succumbs (6-2) There are 2 more rMaces incoming
But there go the Russians! Bloody Hell that's a lot of Horses...
We can build our FP! Great...
Coimbra --- Cat (5T, Pop4 in 5T)
Palace expansion!
T 138, 210 AD
No resistors have been quelled in Jaipur, so most troops evac'd to adjacent Dyes -- it can revolt unhindered...
Injured troops return to Evora to heal
New Swords sent forwards to Dyes-stack
New Settler sent to Russian border to the SE
Towns MM'd and spare Axes reshuffled to ensure efficient builds/growth and no riots
Iron-Hill cleared to let the Russians through quicker (I can see 1 Knight, 9 Horses, 2 Swords, and 1 Archer)
IBT
Ragnar demands 21g! I pay
Redlined Mace dies attacking Russians
T 139, 230 AD
010 Braga founded 2SE of Lisbon, expanding our border: Cathy won't be happy about that --- Walls (10T, Pop2 in 10T)
Cats redline 1 rMace (3/4 hits), rSword kills 2nd rMace approaching Evora (7-2)--a 3rd is incoming, if the Russians don't get him first...
Settler stays put in Emer --- I'd like to chop the Forest on the town-spot first, and I'll need to abandon Jaipur as well, once I've got Swords building everywhere...
IBT
Russians and Indians do each other lots of damage -- including the loss of the Knight -- clearing the way for my Settler and other units... Good
Lisbon --- Sword (5T, Pop6 in 3T)
Lagos --- Sword (6T -- Pop6 in 19T!)
T 140, 250 AD
New vSpear to Braga
Settler+Swords+Archer sent to grab the coastal Grass SSE of Karachi -- I can Settle the Forest later, if need be...
Dyes-stack split between Evora and the Settler-stack (Cats + healthy Swords mostly to Settler, to protect him from Indian Wellies)
rAxe garrisons Jaipur. If it flips, I won't lose much
Slaves sent to chop Forest NW of Emer (vSword guards)
We are now AVERAGE vs Gandhi! Excellent news!
IBT
Russians and Indians continue to hurt each other -- I saw a Wellie-flash, but they leave us alone
Emer --- Sword (6T, 0FPT)
Babs build KT in Nineveh!
T 141, 260 AD
Settler-stack moves forwards
rSword sent back to Lisbon, which upgrades another (60g)
Slaves begin chop (2T)
SCI%---10% for Monotheism in 29T, +9GPT (I have 4 Axes left to upgrade)
IBT
Russians are getting thin on the ground up north... Uh-oh...
Russians start SisChap
Indians build Leos in Delhi! And begin SisChap!
T 142, 270 AD
011 Faro founded, with Indian Mace just outside... --- Walls (20T, Pop2 in 10T)
That has, however, secured the Iron: rAxe is sent forwards to keep watch in Jungle NW of Dyes, and Jaipur is abandoned before the nearby Slaves finish their chop
IBT
Coimbra Cat --- Cat (5T, Pop5 in 5T)
T 143, 280 AD
Slaves begin road (2T) + mine (12T) on cleared BGrass -- no, wait, that was dumb, since I want to put a town there soon
Workers go to chop Forest outside Evora (1+2T)
Slave goes to chop Forest near Jaipur's ruins (1+8T)
IBT
Leiria --- Scout (5T, Pop4 in 3T -- needs MM)
Slaves retreated, Settler sent to Emer (2T to arrival)
Stack moves out of Emer, stops on Grass
IBT
Russians begin SisChap
T 136, 170 AD
Emer gives mined BGrass to Leiria to minimise SPT, maximise CPT
All is ready... I dial up Gandhi, and demand Feudalism with menaces... Naturally he refuses
Stack moves to Iron-hill, captures Slave
But Cathy won't play ball (even though she has at least 1 Knight already)! (An RoP would cost me 40g, and she doesn't know Ragnar or Smoke yet). This could get nasty...
Lagos switched to building vSpear (2T)
IBT
Indian Mace promotes vSword (2/5) (1-0)
Lisbon --- vSpear (3T)
Emer --- vAxe (3T, Pop6 in 2T)
Babs begin SisChap
T 137, 190 AD
Jaipur attacked:
Cats go 1/4 vs rPike, but it's still the strongest unit in town
rSwords demolish Pike and 2 rSpears, 1 Sword lost vs a 3rd Spear -- revealing rLBM (4-1)
r+eArcher kill 2/3 rSpear and LBM, capturing the town (+2g, 4 resistors) (6-1) --- Slave (10T)
We now have IRON! (And Dyes)
But there's another Mace incoming...
v+2rAxes upgraded in Lagos (3*60g). I'm 4g shy of upgrading another one...
rArchers sent to Iron-Hill to take the brunt, high-SPT Rax-towns switched to building Swords, low-SPT Raxes do Spears
009 Évora founded on Dyes NNE of Lagos --- Walls (20T)
Cathy will now sign an MA+RoP vs Gandhi: I pay Dyes, 10g and 16GPT (ouch)
SCI% zeroed to put some more cash in the kitty (+8GPT)
Spears sent to guard Evora and Jaipur (which also gets the 2/5 eSword and a vArcher)
Slaves go to mine exposed rGrass near Jaipur (3T)
Workers1+2 sent to road Jungle near Lagos (2T to arrival, 5T to road)
IBT
vArcher redlines rMace, then succumbs (6-2) There are 2 more rMaces incoming
But there go the Russians! Bloody Hell that's a lot of Horses...
We can build our FP! Great...
Coimbra --- Cat (5T, Pop4 in 5T)
Palace expansion!
T 138, 210 AD
No resistors have been quelled in Jaipur, so most troops evac'd to adjacent Dyes -- it can revolt unhindered...
Injured troops return to Evora to heal
New Swords sent forwards to Dyes-stack
New Settler sent to Russian border to the SE
Towns MM'd and spare Axes reshuffled to ensure efficient builds/growth and no riots
Iron-Hill cleared to let the Russians through quicker (I can see 1 Knight, 9 Horses, 2 Swords, and 1 Archer)
IBT
Ragnar demands 21g! I pay
Redlined Mace dies attacking Russians
T 139, 230 AD
010 Braga founded 2SE of Lisbon, expanding our border: Cathy won't be happy about that --- Walls (10T, Pop2 in 10T)
Cats redline 1 rMace (3/4 hits), rSword kills 2nd rMace approaching Evora (7-2)--a 3rd is incoming, if the Russians don't get him first...
Settler stays put in Emer --- I'd like to chop the Forest on the town-spot first, and I'll need to abandon Jaipur as well, once I've got Swords building everywhere...
IBT
Russians and Indians do each other lots of damage -- including the loss of the Knight -- clearing the way for my Settler and other units... Good

Lisbon --- Sword (5T, Pop6 in 3T)
Lagos --- Sword (6T -- Pop6 in 19T!)
T 140, 250 AD
New vSpear to Braga
Settler+Swords+Archer sent to grab the coastal Grass SSE of Karachi -- I can Settle the Forest later, if need be...
Dyes-stack split between Evora and the Settler-stack (Cats + healthy Swords mostly to Settler, to protect him from Indian Wellies)
rAxe garrisons Jaipur. If it flips, I won't lose much
Slaves sent to chop Forest NW of Emer (vSword guards)
We are now AVERAGE vs Gandhi! Excellent news!
IBT
Russians and Indians continue to hurt each other -- I saw a Wellie-flash, but they leave us alone
Emer --- Sword (6T, 0FPT)
Babs build KT in Nineveh!
T 141, 260 AD
Settler-stack moves forwards
rSword sent back to Lisbon, which upgrades another (60g)
Slaves begin chop (2T)
SCI%---10% for Monotheism in 29T, +9GPT (I have 4 Axes left to upgrade)
IBT
Russians are getting thin on the ground up north... Uh-oh...
Russians start SisChap
Indians build Leos in Delhi! And begin SisChap!
T 142, 270 AD
011 Faro founded, with Indian Mace just outside... --- Walls (20T, Pop2 in 10T)
That has, however, secured the Iron: rAxe is sent forwards to keep watch in Jungle NW of Dyes, and Jaipur is abandoned before the nearby Slaves finish their chop
IBT
Coimbra Cat --- Cat (5T, Pop5 in 5T)
T 143, 280 AD
Slaves begin road (2T) + mine (12T) on cleared BGrass -- no, wait, that was dumb, since I want to put a town there soon
Workers go to chop Forest outside Evora (1+2T)
Slave goes to chop Forest near Jaipur's ruins (1+8T)
IBT
Leiria --- Scout (5T, Pop4 in 3T -- needs MM)
Spoiler :
T 144, 290 AD
Mining Slave is interrupted, and sent to adjacent rBGrass
Since the Dyes are now secure for us, I ship some to Hammy: he pays Incense+1GPT
IBT
Lisbon --- Settler (5T, Pop7 in 5T)
Emer --- Sword + Settler queued (6+6T, food-wastage in 15T)
T 145, 300 AD
Gandhi's ready to come to terms! And Cathy appears to have run out of Iron and Horses (oh what a pity), since she's now sending Spears forwards. So I'll let her give up first...
IBT
Lagos --- CH (16T)
Evora --- Worker (10T, Pop2 in 6T)
T 146, 310 AD
Swords coming back to Emer, in prep for assault on Vladivostok, once Cathy breaks our MA
IBT
vWellie kills eSpear that was shielding Faro -- and then repels all subsequent Russkie attacks (2/5)
Sagres --- Sword (5T)
Palace expansion!
T 147, 320 AD
Mayans have finally learned Monarchy!
rSword forces injured Wellie to retreat, but is left exposed...
IBT
Indians request audience! But Gandhi will only pay 150g for PT, no techs. So nope
Wellie kills exposed rSword, but redlined Wellie dies on Faro's Spear, and another retreats from a vSword (8-3)
Coimbra --- Cat (5T) (and new citizen got Geeked automatically)
Leiria --- Scout (5T)
T 148, 330 AD
Cats+Swords sent from Emer back towards Faro, to repel Wellies
rArcher from Faro promotes vWellie to 5/6 (8-4)
Smoke still has nothing he'll give for peace
IBT
Wellie kills Faro's Spear, Sword kills redlined Wellie (9-5)
Braga --- Cat (10T, Pop3 in 10T)
T 149, 340 AD
MM Lisbon for Pop7 in 1T (Settler in 3T before growth)
IBT
Wellie fells Russian Spear outside Faro, and another dies to my Sword fortified in the Jungle! (10-5)
Indians land LBM near Lagos
Russian LBMs are incoming...
Russians begin CopsObs!
T 150, 350 AD
vSword kills amphibious LBM (11-5), Cat knocks 1HP off Galley that brought it
rArcher dies vs Wellie in Jungle NE of Dyes (11-6)
eArcher kills redlined Wellie outside Karachi (2/5) (12-6)
Karachi has only rSpears guarding it! Cats+Swords sent forwards from Faro
IBT
Wellies kill Spear in Faro, rSword in Jungle (12-8)
Lisbon --- Sword 5T, Pop6 in 10T
Emer --- Settler (6T)
T 151, 360 AD
vSword kills injured Wellie near Faro
Forces near Karachi force Wellie to retreat, but it costs me my eArcher and 1 vSword (13-10) -- and there's a vLBM incoming. Probably shouldn't have sent that stack forwards: discretion may now be the better part of valour... (IOW: 'Run away, run away!')
OTOH, the Russian LBMs will be up here soon...
Settler sent to BGrass 2NW of Emer, to build FP-town
Jaipur's ruins have been roaded: 1 Slave assists with mining, 2 sent to road adjacent Forest, which will then be cleared in 1T
GAME SAVED
IBT
vLBM shafts exposed vSword, but super-Archer in Faro fights off Wellie(!), and Swords+Cats defeat another rLBM (15-11)
Sagres --- Sword (5T)
Babs begin CopsObs
T 152, 370 AD
Slaves begin roading cleared BGrass (2T)
Worker sent to assist roading Mountain near Lagos (1+3T -- because it's there...)
Sword+Cats retreat to hide under a healthy vSword
Cats bomb Mace, rSword kills rLBM near Evora
Leiria MM'd to build 2nd Scout in 1T
IBT
2 Swords fall to Wellies, but LBM + 2 Wellies die as well (18-13)
And the Russians kill the redlined Mace, and are finally through the Jungle north of my territory
Leiria --- Worker (2T, 0FPT)
T 153, 380 AD
012 Rio Janeiro (FP) founded --- FP (200T, Pop2 in 10T)
Galley+Scouts sets off SW to explore Vikings' Continent via Russia
MA+RoP with Cathy has only another 4T to run, thank goodness...
GAME SAVED
IBT
Mining Slave is interrupted, and sent to adjacent rBGrass
Since the Dyes are now secure for us, I ship some to Hammy: he pays Incense+1GPT
IBT
Lisbon --- Settler (5T, Pop7 in 5T)
Emer --- Sword + Settler queued (6+6T, food-wastage in 15T)
T 145, 300 AD
Gandhi's ready to come to terms! And Cathy appears to have run out of Iron and Horses (oh what a pity), since she's now sending Spears forwards. So I'll let her give up first...
IBT
Lagos --- CH (16T)
Evora --- Worker (10T, Pop2 in 6T)
T 146, 310 AD
Swords coming back to Emer, in prep for assault on Vladivostok, once Cathy breaks our MA
IBT
vWellie kills eSpear that was shielding Faro -- and then repels all subsequent Russkie attacks (2/5)
Sagres --- Sword (5T)
Palace expansion!
T 147, 320 AD
Mayans have finally learned Monarchy!
rSword forces injured Wellie to retreat, but is left exposed...
IBT
Indians request audience! But Gandhi will only pay 150g for PT, no techs. So nope
Wellie kills exposed rSword, but redlined Wellie dies on Faro's Spear, and another retreats from a vSword (8-3)
Coimbra --- Cat (5T) (and new citizen got Geeked automatically)
Leiria --- Scout (5T)
T 148, 330 AD
Cats+Swords sent from Emer back towards Faro, to repel Wellies
rArcher from Faro promotes vWellie to 5/6 (8-4)
Smoke still has nothing he'll give for peace
IBT
Wellie kills Faro's Spear, Sword kills redlined Wellie (9-5)
Braga --- Cat (10T, Pop3 in 10T)
T 149, 340 AD
MM Lisbon for Pop7 in 1T (Settler in 3T before growth)
IBT
Wellie fells Russian Spear outside Faro, and another dies to my Sword fortified in the Jungle! (10-5)
Indians land LBM near Lagos
Russian LBMs are incoming...
Russians begin CopsObs!
T 150, 350 AD
vSword kills amphibious LBM (11-5), Cat knocks 1HP off Galley that brought it
rArcher dies vs Wellie in Jungle NE of Dyes (11-6)
eArcher kills redlined Wellie outside Karachi (2/5) (12-6)
Karachi has only rSpears guarding it! Cats+Swords sent forwards from Faro
IBT
Wellies kill Spear in Faro, rSword in Jungle (12-8)
Lisbon --- Sword 5T, Pop6 in 10T
Emer --- Settler (6T)
T 151, 360 AD
vSword kills injured Wellie near Faro
Forces near Karachi force Wellie to retreat, but it costs me my eArcher and 1 vSword (13-10) -- and there's a vLBM incoming. Probably shouldn't have sent that stack forwards: discretion may now be the better part of valour... (IOW: 'Run away, run away!')
OTOH, the Russian LBMs will be up here soon...
Settler sent to BGrass 2NW of Emer, to build FP-town
Jaipur's ruins have been roaded: 1 Slave assists with mining, 2 sent to road adjacent Forest, which will then be cleared in 1T
GAME SAVED
IBT
vLBM shafts exposed vSword, but super-Archer in Faro fights off Wellie(!), and Swords+Cats defeat another rLBM (15-11)
Sagres --- Sword (5T)
Babs begin CopsObs
T 152, 370 AD
Slaves begin roading cleared BGrass (2T)
Worker sent to assist roading Mountain near Lagos (1+3T -- because it's there...)
Sword+Cats retreat to hide under a healthy vSword
Cats bomb Mace, rSword kills rLBM near Evora
Leiria MM'd to build 2nd Scout in 1T
IBT
2 Swords fall to Wellies, but LBM + 2 Wellies die as well (18-13)
And the Russians kill the redlined Mace, and are finally through the Jungle north of my territory
Leiria --- Worker (2T, 0FPT)
T 153, 380 AD
012 Rio Janeiro (FP) founded --- FP (200T, Pop2 in 10T)
Galley+Scouts sets off SW to explore Vikings' Continent via Russia
MA+RoP with Cathy has only another 4T to run, thank goodness...
GAME SAVED
IBT
Spoiler :