BREAKING NEWS: Persia declares war on the Zulus!

[Chieftess]

There has been a shocking development this turnchat. Persia, already #1 in score and size, has declared war on the Zulus. Shaka may very well go by the way of Hiawatha. Dead. This will leave the other continent with a very powerful Persia.

It must be noted that Persia is #1 in score already by over 200 points. Conquering the Zulu lands threatens to make them a run-away AI. We need to keep up with Persia! Persia is also scientific (cheap libraries, etc.). Their culture (better in the long run if they grow big) WILL be a threat to us! Babylonian culture is great in the short term, but because they rarely expand, Persia gains the upper hand late in the game if Persia is large enough.

 

[Rik Meleet]

If we roll up our continent we can then assess whether "peaceful-measurements" need to be taken and whether those "peaceful-measurements" are just helping the Zulu or Aztecs, or invade the Zulu/Aztecs ourselves or remove Persia from large chunks of "our 2nd continent".

Time will tell.

 

[Bootstoots]

Persia has signed peace with the Zulus.

 

[Chieftess]

This news is now out of date. Persia had a quick war with the Zulus (perhaps a trade Strider did made them stop...).

 

[Sarevok]

concerning Persia though, once we hit the industrial age, we ought to make a large scale navy with reserve forces and sign an MPP with the Aztecs and the Zulu to make sure they survive. Using those civs as a launching base, we can push persia back. I suggest a naval buildup starting at when we get Magnetism.

 

[Lecky]

Yeah...Navy...Mmmm....my favourite!!!
Lets do it..Lots of lovely warships and transports
Seriously though folks, if we are ever going to deal with Persia then Sarevok is absolutely correct. It will require a navy and there's no two ways about it.

 

[Sarevok]

I also mentioned a "reserve force", or a force built up on-hand to send to the Zulu's immediately if another war breaks out, the navy would be mainly the guards of our "Convoy's" to and from the continent. this can be very good in order to be able to aid the Zulu right away if another war breaks out.

 

[tao]

I totally support to send an expedition force. But not to help the Zulu. :devil2: 2 galleons with a cavalry/muskets to conquer New Hlobane with its furs. It would also give us the chance to control/block the connection between the 2 parts of the other continent.

IMHO strategically much much more important than killing Babylon 1 or 2 turns faster, But regrettably the people will most likely not see the advantage and the officials will not implement it. Democracy.

PS: And I also woud put a city to acquire gems.

 

[Sarevok]

so instead of aiding the Zulu or Aztecs we ought to make a landing in Persia without having a power-base of operations from which we can attack? My plan was more resembling the BEF the French kind of aid, not another Gallipoli which is probably what might happen if we make a landing without a nearby launching base at this technology level.

 

[Chieftess]

Such a trip would be about 9 to 11 turns if we left from our east side. Granted, we'd need the ships, too, which are on the other side of the continent. I'm guessing our priority there would be New Hlobane, New Swazi, New Ngome, and New Tegula. There is a downside, though. Persia's culture outmatches us by 2.5 times. Plus, those cities would be much closer to the Zulu and Persian capital, increasing the chance of a culture flip on New Hlobane (fur city). The benefit is that it would give us control of the choke point, and a foot hold on that continent (which will pay off when airports come online).

 

[Sarevok]

indeed, secondary objective obviously being to get a foothold on that continenet foir a later subjugation of Persia.

 

[Chieftess]

Persia re-declared war on the Zulus on turn 8, of which the Zulus are looking a little beaten...

 

[Sarevok]

I noticed that, and it looks like they are beyond any aid we can give them. our goal for defense now goes to the Aztecs. They probably can take care of themselves, but still they ought to be considered "Vital to our interests"

 

[Chieftess]

There's a chokepoint that we can use, too. (Don't know if we can get a city there in time).

 

[Bootstoots]

We have a galley on our northern coast. What if we attack and take a couple of Zulu cities, to gain a foothold on that continent?

 

[Chieftess]

That was one option in blocking the Persians from taking the Aztecs. In the short-term, we'll have to watch out for culture flips, and keeping the cities defended. In the long-term, it gives us a foothold, and a spot on the continent where we can airlift units (perhaps up to 50 a turn)

 

[Sarevok]

sounds like a good plan.