Bugs 2.1 The Gauntlet Revisited

[Justus II]

OK, I fully expect them to attack, there’s no other reason for them to land there. The bright side (always look for the bright side) is once we deal with this incursion, we will have the perfect opportunity to take Sulcis (which the Portuguese took from Carthage) on the opposite end of the island, giving us our horses! We can also easily retake Izmit, as there are several MDI and trebs moving up from the south. Beware there is another Port city across the mountains from Salonika, which has only one defender, but luckily the AI doesn’t coordinate attacks well. We should be able to shift defenders around to react.

Taking Sulcis, Izmit, and maybe that other island city should force them to peace, giving us another opportunity to get a tech. I started up research, using some starving Chinese scientists and 10-20% science, and we can easily get Chemistry in less than 20 turns. In fact, once some GPT frees up, we can probably get it in 10 or so, which may work out to being able to then negotiate for Metallurgy from Henry.

A couple other notes, our Spice deal is up with Carthage, we need to renegotiate this turn. Currently paying 15gpt, based on the last round of lux deals, it may go up to 20-25, but worth it, as every 10% lux is 25-30 gpt. Second, Orhan’s Army is still empty, fortified near Istanbul. I had wanted to save it for Sipahi, but that’s up to the next leaders. With this new war looming, it may be worth filling it with MDI to take Izmit, then Istanbul can build the Epic etc. Downside of course is the slower MDI, and, with only Caravels, if we do fill it, it’ll be trapped on our continent until we get Galleons. But most likely we would next use it against Carthage anyway, so either way is probably fine.

Justus II <= Just played
grahamiam <=Up now
microbe <=on deck
gozpel
Bede

The Save:

 

[microbe]

No, unit support is 1 per unit for all govenments except Republic (2) and Feudalism (3).

Yes, but in your data sheet you have 24 excessive units for monarchy and the cost is 48. Maybe I overlooked something but you seem to have used 2gpt to calculate Monarchy unit support.

 

[microbe]

There are some excellent turns before me, and I hope I can play up to the same level.

I haven't looked at the save yet, but is there a way to do a gpt deal from Portugal before they declare?

I'll play this tomorrow night. I just spent two whole days trying to find a good deal for a trip to Hawaii, and I'm tired.

 

[Justus II]

Yes, but in your data sheet you have 24 excessive units for monarchy and the cost is 48. Maybe I overlooked something but you seem to have used 2gpt to calculate Monarchy unit support.

My fault, copied a formula too exactly...
Yes, unit support in Monarchy is 1 per, and I was using 2. So, based on the 750AD data, it was a break-even at best, and after accounting for the potential reduction in lux rate for MPs, we might have been paying about 25gpt extra in Republic. I just ran the numbers again, using data from the end of my turns (850AD) and with 65 units, we are currently paying 56gpt for support, vs only 3gpt under Monarchy. But our population is now up to 119, so our trade bonus is more substantial, and we are coming out ahead 24gpt. MPs are again not factored in, but we are already down to 10% lux, so I'm not sure how much they would offset. Certainly all of this shows that Republic is very competitive with Monarchy, even for our Quantity vs. Quality military!

I haven't looked at the save yet, but is there a way to do a gpt deal from Portugal before they declare?

Not that I could see, they won't accept gpt from us, (unless we go to the peace table, and they are the one power who's military we are weak against). Ironically, they're the only nation we don't already have a current deal with.

I'll play this tomorrow night. I just spent two whole days trying to find a good deal for a trip to Hawaii, and I'm tired.

Don't do that! Grahamiam is up next, you are on deck to play after him. Although, if you're offering a trip to Hawaii, he might agree to a swap!

 

[microbe]

Damn, I'm happy to wait. Forgive my mistake, I said I am tired.

 

[grahamiam]

very nice set Justus! i will play tonight so we'll see how this Portugese war works out. Hopefully, it'll be a quickie and we get the horse town

oh, and btw, i will gladly swap for a trip to Hawaii haven't been there since my honeymoon in '99.

 

[gozpel]

Our lands looks so much better

Who started this mongering?

 

[grahamiam]

Preflight check: well, Henry looks like he’s coming to get some. Look over the landscape and it looks like Justus had in mind what to do. The real thing that troubles me is what is in Izmit. If they have 3 cav’s they could take Uskudar, Iznk, and take a real shot at Mugla. I rotate troops to cover the 2 undefended cities and hope for the best.

Hurry the Temple in Iznik so I can build another ship or unit next turn. I’m going to fill the Army with MDI if it seems to be required.

IBT: Privateer sinks out Galley near Chengdu, Portugese declare war on us. 2 Spears die in that city but we redlined the Crusader and took 1hp off the cav. 2 more Portugese Galleys appear off our NE coast. We renew our spice deal with Carthage for 22gpt
Istanbul: Univ ->MDI; Endrine musket ->MDI; Iznik temple ->MDI; Konya caravel ->caravel

T1: 860AD A Portugese Privateer is sitting in the gulf between our mainland and our island. No way that Caravel will survive so I move it up to Iznik and move the MDI in Konya up north as well. Rotate reg pike in Sino up to Kafa, losing a hp in the process. Also run the vet warrior up there. This will give us more units that they have to attack with. Science & tax starve our corrupt Chinese holdings.

IBT: Portuguese cavalry attacks Sinop, killing a warrior but we hold. Port drops off 2 more cav on our eastern island. Our Galley defends against 1 privateer but is killed by a second. No mainland landings.
Portuguese complete Bach’s.

T2: 870AD Damn, a privateer is blocking the way to Kafa! Bombard him down to 1hp. A decide to take a big, big risk as I currently see no way to hold our Eastern Island unless I do this. I load the army and 2 MDI’s onto the caravel. Caravel attacks the redlined privateer and wins (3/4) and continue to Kafa.
At Kafa: Load 2 MDI’s into Army (I thought hard about this but decided against just 1 unit in the army to get 3 attacks); Army attacks cav kills 1 cav flawlessly and promotes a unit (9/9); Army attacks cav and wins (6/9);
If I sit pat, Sinop will be lost next turn as all it has right now is a reg longbow. I decide to use that longbow to attack the ¾ cav still on the island. Vet longbow redlines the cav and forces it to retreat!. Vet warrior from Kafa attacks redlined cav and loses 4 straight, promoting it (2/5). Should not have pressed my luck that far.
Not thinking clearly, I move the pike from Kafa down to Sinop since it was unprotected. This leaves Kafa protected by a lone warrior. Our only transport ship is inside. Should have moved the warrior, not the pike.

IBT: Portugal drops off a lot of units on our eastern island using 10 galleons. 7 cav, 5 crusaders, and 2 rifles. What was that about getting horses on this island? 1 Port cav attacks Bursa but retreats. Canton: Library ->MDI Mulga Settler -> settler
Koreans building Shakespear’s and they finish it. Portugese building US.

T3: 880AD Portuguese won’t talk so I decide to cut and run from the Eastern Island. Load army onto caravel and set sail for Iznik. Sell improvements in Kafa and Sinop for 40g. Pike in Sinop comes S towards Ankara. Abandon Sinop to prevent loss of gold to the treasury. Put fortify warrior on mountain and abandon Kafa as well. Looks like I’m folding up faster than the Chinese

IBT: Portuguese kill pike, warrior, and spear in Ankara, capturing the city & 3g. More galleys go to Izmit.
Istanbul MDI -> MDI; Chengdu library -> MDI

T4: 890AD Bombard Luanda with 2 trebs, revealing only 2 rifles in town. Worker joins Erdine to get it up to 10spt. Troops are slowly coming N from the S to take Izmit back.

IBT: Carthage offers a Peace Treaty which I accept, getting us our gpt back. Bursa: University -> Musket; Antalya duct -> MDI ; Portuguese ships move around. A Cav attacks our island iron, killing an MDI but we have an archer from a rotation last turn. 2 elite Portuguese cav are N of Mugla in Carthage territory.

Koreans are building US, I see Carthage has RR’s.

T5: 900AD Near Luanda: elite MDI kills cav; treb’s go 1 for 2. Crank up research to get Chemistry in 8T vs 14T. Move 7 treb’s, MDI army, and 4 MDI for Izmit. It’s all the offense we have right now.

IBT: Port cav’s attack FP town, killing the pike but retreating from the MDI. Port lands 1 cav on our iron island.
Edrine MDI -> MDI
Koreans are building Smith’s

T6: 910AD @ Izmut: Treb’s go 2 for 7, revealing 2 rifles; Army kills 1 rifle (6/9); MDI dies but redlines the 2nd, revealing a reg cav; MDI kills cav; MDI kills redlined rifle and we take the city. Army turns around and kills 4/5 cav but is redlined (1/9); Obaca’s Infantry (elite*) kills redlined cav.
Portuguese still won’t talk.
Urfa founded -> barracks

I gotta stop here as I’m too tired to continue. I have family coming into town tomorrow so I couldn’t get back to this till Sunday night. I think it’s best if the next player takes over instead of waiting till then. I’m very sorry for doing this. I also have to travel for business on Monday and won't be back till Friday. I will have a laptop and civ, but the internet may be spotty and there will be a couple of nights of customer entertaining to do. don't wait more than 24hrs if my turn comes up.

I think the next landing will be in our southern land.
The last of our island holdings are pretty much gone if Henry lands more cav there.

Cramped and stupid.

 

[Bede]

They just don't let up, do they?

 

[grahamiam]

They just don't let up, do they?

that's an understatement actually, the amphibious landing was quite a site to see. there were 10 galleons and about 20 frigates, plus all those cavalry. i'm much more comfortable when I'm the one landing units like that rather than the opponent this varient is definitely tough.

 

[microbe]

I'm up in a lot of difficult games, so I have to play this over the weekend. If anyone wants to swap with me, feel free to do so.

 

[Justus II]

Well, I said I was an Optimist, not a realist!

Wow, I really underestimated the Portugese attack. I'm used to the AI trying uncoordinated landings and sneak attacks, but it looks like he had this one loaded up and ready! I hate to lose East Island, but if we can get peace soon, and retain Iron Island and pick up Izmit, we're probably not that bad off, those towns were pretty corrupt. Horses will be the sticking point, since it doesn't look like we'll be taking Sulcis any time soon! I have to think the Portugese will settle that other horse spot soon, though, so maybe when it is time for peace, we can buy horses from them? Also, if you haven't already, load another MDI in that army, no sense in leaving a spot vacant, we won't have anything stronger to add for quite a while, and I doubt we'll take it island hopping again. The *'d MDI would be ideal. Good luck, Microbe!

 

[grahamiam]

the shear number of privateers and frigates makes sea conquest all but impossible right now so expansion on our continent is really the only feasible choice. however, our neighbor to the north is definitely industrial. our UU as well as our GA is what we need right now to get back in this.

 

[Bede]

Sidenote:
This is the second, no, third, Demigod game where I have seen more than token amphib operations from the AI. Why do I think somebody tuned the code a little....

 

[microbe]

preturn: I fire two scientists in Bursa - they'd better get back to work! We have 1 resistor and 4 clowns in Izmit?! Change 2 clowns to scientists and 2 to taxman.

Now we are in real danger in the eastern island. Shantung is defended by an unfortified vet archer, and Chinan has an elite pike and an archer. Salonika is empty!

There is no way we can defend these cities. Portugal has NO iron, so I really don't want to let it get it.

I dial up China and gift Shantung to it. Salonika will be captured next turn too, so I gift it to China as well, but I sell the walls, library and harbors, so it won't be able to transport iron to main land too fast. I can wait on Chinan.

IBT Cav attack our MDI on the mountain, one loses and one wins. Portugal dropped 7 cavs next to Chinan.

(1)910AD: so I gift it to China. I didn't sell harbor as I just realized that they can import the iron through Portugal's harbor, and the reason that it still doesn't have iron at home is it has no harbor at its home island.

We shouldn't have abandoned cities in the eastern island as well.

The good thing about gifting is that then our units and workers are teletransported to our capital.

(2)920AD: move units around.

IBT MDI killed and two trebs captured.

(3)930AD: merge two workers in Edfine.

Just find there are 4 workers planting forest over a mine next to Bolu, I think it was a mistake so I wake them up.

Lux has to go up to 20.

IBT Portugal makes MA with China against us. Pike loses to crusader at Mugla. Some ex-Chinese cities riot.

(4)940AD: Portugal agrees to talk but it asks for 186g+3gpt+worker. Our army kills musket and crusader, it drops to 186g+5gpt.

(5)950AD: Portugal boats are sailing to our SW as we have a couple of empty towns there. I don't want them to land, so I make peace and pay 188g+4gpt.

Sell Wm around and get 5g. We should keep doing this.

IBT Chemistry->Metallury.

(6)960AD: You know what? Our saltpeter has been exhausted! We are screwed.

(7)970AD: Nothing. Send a caraval with an archer to eastern island to reserve a settling spot for ourselves.

IBT Byzantines/China embargo against us. Lots of privateers appear from north so we have to withdraw our caraval.

(8)980AD: renew silks vs furs, but we lose the lux from Carthage. I sell silk to Portugal for 19gpt.

(9)990AD: renew peace with Byzantines.

(10)1000AD: Upload army, MDI, musket, and elite pike next to Shantung.

I hope we can extort something out of China. Keep the war with them.

We have a settler in Uskudar. We can wait to settle in the eastern island, or send it to west of Tsingtao to settle. More cities won't hurt.

We had quite some bad luck, expecially the saltpeter. But Ningpo has a saltpeter. It is size-1, so it might autoraze, so maybe we should use the settler in Uskudar to resettle it.

I put a stack of worker in Mugla. Don't know what to do with them.

EDIT: China doesn't have physics, and am now willing to give us Chivalry or Metallury (which we'll have in 3 turns). We haven't even done any thing to them.

I think we can get our cities back plus Ningpo, and see if China has Military Tradition (not likely).

 

[microbe]

Our army is ready to attack, but 9-hp MDI army is not necessarily able to defeat a fortified regular musket? Maybe we should wait for some trebs (in Chengdu).

 

[Justus II]

I agree with pushing on to try and retake Salonika, then the salt at Ningpo. Horses will be hard enough to get (does Portugal have a second set yet?), trying to buy salt on top of that will be impossible. Re: the 9HP army, I assume we haven't added a third MDI to it yet? I know we won't be able to transport it anymore, but it doesn't do us much good if we cant use it either, I'd add the third MDI and leave it there, it can eventually re-liberate that entire island, and Galleons aren't that far off anymore anyway.

 

[microbe]

Korea has a second source of horses available for sale.

 

[gozpel]

My turns? Erh, yes...so I got it.

 

[grahamiam]

@microbe -> nice turns and good point on gifting the cities. i shoulda done that too... i will keep that in mind next time