Overall lost 3 WC and an archer, built 3 WC and an archer, killed various barb archers and axes. City#3established. Currently researching construction but that's a way away. Pigs were pillaged but not yet repastured. Workers currently developing gems at Ishiro's Hope.
Not a very succesful set but not a total disaster either.
Matsumoto waited patiently in the woods. The horse was a bit uneasy earlier, but he had managed to calm it. He wasn't sure if the barbarian hears the horse, but he continued to wait for the prefect moment to charge, while keeping his eyes focused on the huge burly man with an axe hanging on his waist.
A crow croaked towards the east, causing the barbarian to momentarily turned his head, and Matsumoto's patience pays off ... with a roaring warcry, he urged the horse to raced forward ... the trees flashed backwards in a blur, but Matsumoto only only had his eyes focused on the chest of the barbarian ...
With a single thrust, Matsumoto killed the barbarian. There are other barbarians near by, but those club-waving fools are of no threat. He had eliminated the biggest threat ... the one with the axe ... he can now retreat back to the woods, in case Ivory Coast, the newest city to fly the Golden General's banner, get attacked from other directions.
And indeed, now he saw another more dangerous barbarian, carrying a sword! Fearlessly. Matsumoto raced towards the swordsman. He must not allow the barbarian to attack the new city.
"For ... the ... Golden ... General ....!"
As the dust settled, Matsumoto could be seen standing, panting, covered with blood which he couldn't differentiate which was his and which came from the barbarian that lies dead on the ground, still clinching the sword. Matsumoto was fearless, but he was not a fool. He understood that he was lucky to get the sword by surprise, but he had to inform Toshi that other chariots may not be able to withsatnd the new, more powerful barbarian swordsman. The Golden General need to start producing axes for her troops to effectively counter the swords. Perhaps one day they would learn to wave the swords as well ... but they need iron ore. And iron ore is too far away, too dangerous to bring back with barbarians raging afoot. Axe will be the correct answer.
Determined, Mastumoto pulled the reins and started back towards Thebes, to see the Golden General ...
* * * * * *
Mastumoto was lucky, the next one was not.
But I avenged him with an archer.
Notice also the archer from Sally in the top--right corner of the previous shot? He joined the realms of dead as well.
the Gems was connected,
and I left an archer to protect the gems. The workers is hurried west to mine the copper. We desperately need the copper to start pouring/whipping out axe. I had managed to set an archer out towards the northwest. That's where the barbarians seems to be pouring down from. Hopefully the archer would survive and be successful in diverting barb's attention from Thebes. The archer on the east is either too successful in fog-busting, or something, but he had seen no activities during my turnset.
I have not whipped any city, so next player can whip when the copper come on line.
Ok...I took a quick look around, but before I play the turns, I want to consult with the group on a major decision. Low sleep for me recently means that I want to check my thinking before I screw up.
We're going to have Copper hooked up in about 4 turns, assuming I use both Workers. At that point, I will be able to follow Fox's suggestion and whip Masihero and Ishiro's Hope once each. If I do it right, I'll get four Axes in short order (MM to get 6 hpt in each, build for 1 turn, whip for two pop and put the overflow in the second Axe). However, that leaves us with three pop 2 (!) cities at the end of my turns. And not a Granary to be seen, so growing back takes a while.
I'll point out that we're seeing barb Swords starting to come in from the north (NW at the moment, but I bet our lonely guy in the NE sees something soon, too), so we need at least 1-2 axes for border security up there. The single fogbusting Archer we've got in each direction is unlikely to be sufficient.
And I have no idea what Cyrus, Saladin, and Washington are up to, but the power graph is NOT pretty:
Leads me to think that four axes would be handy to have, but I'm really worried about stunting our already pitiful growth. I think I have to whip at least two axes out ASAP, but I could stop there and only burn 1 pop in each city.
Please discuss. Turns tomorrow night, most likely.
But I am already using both workers. To hook up something, it must also be connected by road. That's why one worker is roading the forest NE of the copper, and one worker is mining.
--
But I say whip the axes. No point having a high-pop city with no adequate defenders.
--
Re the fog-busters: the reason for pushing them out early is so that the barb will be forced to be spawned further away from city, giving our workers a chance to road up the resources. I agree one archer is not enough, not matter how insanely promoted. The war charriots should reinforced the archers when there is danger approaching.
I'm inclined to say chop the axes. We've got forests near all our cities we'll want to remove for protection, and in the longer term, good production is the only thing that's going to give us a chance (and we already suck in that respect).
It might be worth getting a couple of spears too, since at least Washington and Saladin have horses.
I think the NW is the only likely barb spawning ground now - we've got neighbours on almost every other side and barbs in the NE are as likely to head for Saladin as they are for us.
Chopping sounds good. Growing cities sounds good. More workers might be good to build cottages and mines (and reconnect pigs). Leave whipping for emergencies.
well, why not dbl-whp just one city for 2 axes for now, and build/chop other ones. This way, we get some good defense quickly, but we're not totally killing our city. I say whip Masihero (all that food means it'll grow quickly) and we can chop around Ishiro's Hope
Yeah, I guess Masihero can grow back pretty fast if I go all-food for a bit (shame we don't have those pigs pastured, though...put that on the to-do list). I'll look into it when I get the game up again. Chopping alone, as Fox points out, is problematic because we only have 2 workers, and they've got a lot to do right now.
I can work with that. Thanks for the input.
@Fox - Yes, you're using both Workers already. My point was that to get hooked up in four turns, I have to take the road guy to help build the mine (and the road on that tile) after he finishes his current job, rather than sending him on to, say, pasture the pigs or start a cottage.
"There. To the west." Setha pointed down the hill. Through the swaying leaves, a silvery glint of sunlight off metal was visible.
"Swords again?"
Setha peered into the murky green for a time. "No. Axes this time."
His companion grunted. Axes were bad, but he'd seen worse, and recently. "We should tell the others."
"Yes. And let us pray that the wounded can still draw their bows."
"Or that the chariots get here soon. For whatever good they will do in this d-mned forest."
The pair slipped off up the hill to alert the beleaguered Guardians of the Northwest that battle was once again upon them.
---
"Here they come."
"Where?"
"There. At the river." Motawe pointed down the hill to the plains below the mine, where shaggy barbarians could be seen emerging from the sluggish waters and forming into loose bands. "They come with swords this time."
His driver scrubbed a hand across his face, scowling. "Your orders?"
"Have the Company form up here. We attack at once, before they can gain the hills and threaten our General."
"But - "
"Yes, we may be slaughtered. But we will take many of them with us, and thus save our city. They will write songs of our deeds this day."
"Yes, sir."
Motawe clapped his driver on the shoulder as he hefted his spear and climbed into the chariot. "Cheer up!" He glanced at the sky, blue with a few traces of clouds. "It is a beautiful day to die."
---
"Here they come."
"Where?"
"There. Near the city." Ishiro pointed down the slope to the forest road. A column of horsemen snaked along the road, carrying short bows and the banners of Persia.
"They RIDE upon the beasts? How can they shoot?"
"I don't know. But I don't like it." Ishiro frowned down at the enemy. "Get the men into position - we can't let the mine fall into their hands."
"Right awa-" He cut off with a gurgling cry. Ishiro spun to see his aide falling, with a blue-fletched arrow jutting from his chest. An instant later, he saw the horsemen, cantering forward with arrows nocked and ready to fire.
Without thought, his bow came up and he loosed two shafts before the volley of Persian arrows smashed him to the ground. The curses and cries of his enemy filled his ears as he died.
---
"Here they come."
"Where?"
"There. At the door. Don't look!" Gurka nudged his fellow slave and they both returned to pumping the bellows that heated the ore ovens to blistering temperatures. One of the guards idly flicked his lash across their backs, reminding them not to talk.
They could only catch a glimpse of the Queen as she passed behind them, on an inspection tour of the smelting shop. Her voice was low, but angry "...years to arm enough of our warriors at this rate!"
"Yes, my queen," her advisor groveled, "But anything faster will kill the slaves."
"A price I am willing to..." Her voice faded into the noise of the shop, and Gurka was left simply staring in shock at his companion, until the whip snaked out to strike him again.
---
[Turn report and actual game stuff in the next post]
Ok...since I seem to have misplaced my turn notes, but I have my turnlog, we'll work from that.
Basically, we're getting hit from all sides. Starting in turn one (65 AD), we saw barbs coming from the tundra. A mix of Swords and Axes, with a Warrior and an Archer in there somewhere. Heaviest in the northwest, but we've seen two Swords from the northeast, who simply bypassed our fogbuster and headed for the capital.
As you can see, I sent a WC to assist in the NW, but the archer up there had to stand on his own for several turns. He was a trooper, taking out, IIRC, two Swords, an Axe, and a Warrior during the turnset. I renamed him Guardian of the Northwest in honor of his achievements. The WC nailed an axe somewhere in there, but it's really not built for operations in heavy forest like that (and it sucks wind against Swords).
The second WC is there playing cleanup - catching the occasional barb that slips past the guys in the forest, before they get to the heartland.
Back in the capital, I had a tough choice. I didn't want to let that Sword rampage over our improvements or attack the city directly if I could help it. On the other hand, even our Combat II WC had mediocre odds.
In the end, I attacked the sword on the 'killling ground' 2NE from Masihero. Lost it at 50% odds, then cleaned up with a brand new WC. I am really lusting for Copper at this point.
Whatever, we did OK in the north.
On turn 5 or so, we got Copper connected (to two cities) and I could do my whipping. I whipped Masihero for 2 pop, as described, and got a pair of Axes out quickly.
(Don't ask me why it doesn't recalculate the second Axe's time properly in that second shot - as you can see, it was done one turn later). Meanwhile, Masihero went to max food, and one of the Workers was repasturing the pigs, while the other was connecting Ivory Coast to the Copper (and everything else, too).
In Ishiro's Hope, I started an Axe, but did NOT whip the city. I was pretty happy about this later.
So far, so good. We have Axes to counter Swords, WCs to counter Axes, so we're in fine shape, right?
Not so fast. Our neighbors to the south are getting frisky, too. Cyrus showed up with a Horse Archer near Ishiro's Hope. We've got nothing in the cupboard that can hurt these guys much.
No point in leaving the city and attacking, so I cross my fingers and hit enter. Of course, he whacks the Archer guarding the gem mine (Ishiro). The Archer dies valiantly, and the WC cleans up the badly wounded HA next turn.
The gems were not pillaged. At this point, I switch Ishiro's Hope from an Axe to a Spear. If Cyrus has HAs, we're going to need them.
Then, Washington comes snooping around with HA's as well, and picks off a WC near Ivory Coast. Again, a valiant death, and we clean up next turn.
Then Cyrus is back. And he's p-ssed.
I whipped one Spear in Ishiro's Hope to help out. Couldn't do the 2-pop-whip thing, because I had too many hammers invested already.
I've left the spear inside IH to hold the city. There's really nothing I can do to save the gems - they are going to get pillaged this time.
The military in Ishiro's Hope still has moves, so the next player can veto my turtling strategy there, but I think it's playing with fire. We've got a spear, a WC, an axe, and an archer facing 3 HAs and 3 archers. They're camped out right outside the city and on the gems.
And Washington showed up in the last turn with another HA over by Ivory Coast. We've got enough archers there to hold out (3, IIRC), but we should get a spear there ASAP, too. I just hate to keep whipping our tiny little cities if I don't have to.
IBT: While defending in Egyptian territory near Ecbatana, Archer loses to: Persian Horse Archer (1.92/6) (Prob Victory: 20.3%) While defending in the wild near Masihero, Guardian of the Northwest (Archer) defeats (0.21/3): Barbarian Swordsman (Prob Victory: 80.6%)
IBT: While defending in Egyptian territory near Ecbatana, Ishiro (Archer) loses to: Persian Horse Archer (1.20/6) (Prob Victory: 11.8%) While defending in the wild near Masihero, Guardian of the Northwest (Archer) defeats (1.74/3): Barbarian Swordsman (Prob Victory: 80.6%)
Turn 177 (140 AD) While attacking in the wild near Masihero, 3rd Squadron (War Chariot) defeats (4.45/5): Barbarian Warrior (Prob Victory: 100.0%) While attacking in Egyptian territory at Ishiro's Hope, War Chariot defeats (5.00/5): Persian Horse Archer (Prob Victory: 100.0%) Masihero finishes: Axeman
IBT:
Turn 178 (155 AD) While attacking in Egyptian territory at Masihero, War Chariot defeats (4.10/5): Barbarian Archer (Prob Victory: 68.7%) While attacking in the wild near Masihero, 3rd Squadron (War Chariot) defeats (2.85/5): Barbarian Axeman (Prob Victory: 82.5%)
IBT:
Turn 179 (170 AD) War Chariot promoted: Combat I 3rd Squadron (War Chariot) promoted: Combat II
IBT: While defending in Egyptian territory at Ivory Coast, 4th Squadron (War Chariot) loses to: American Horse Archer (1.44/6) (Prob Victory: 31.5%)
Turn 180 (185 AD) While attacking in Egyptian territory at Ivory Coast, Archer defeats (3.00/3): American Horse Archer (Prob Victory: 97.3%) Ishiro's Hope begins: Axeman Ishiro's Hope begins: Spearman Masihero grows: 3 Ishiro's Hope finishes: Spearman Ivory Coast finishes: Archer
IBT:
Turn 181 (200 AD) Ivory Coast begins: Spearman Archer promoted: Guerilla I While attacking in Egyptian territory near Masihero, War Chariot defeats (4.25/5): Barbarian Axeman (Prob Victory: 96.0%)
thanks for picking up my slack. Good sets. I read the creative report when it was posted but forgot to check back again!
I wonder if we can play some defense, get a sizable WC force and head south for some quick smashing in the next few sets. If not, we've lost our War Chariot window and should probably find some iron
Toshi turned to Captain Kemet, swept back a wisp of hair that had blown free on this breezy autumnal morning and asked him how their military plans were progressing.
"My Queen, I have the misfortune to be the bearer of bad tidings. Our warriors at Ishiro's Hope had been instructed to defend the city at all costs, but following the recent tragic death of the great Ishiro, confusion reigns among the commanders there. A company of spearmen engaged Persian horsemen there and were defeated. Our charioteers arrived in time to win the day, but not to save their impetuous comrades. The enemies have pillaged our gem mines and are now massing for an assult on the city."
"This seems grave Captain" Toshi replied. "What would you advise?"
"Unrest is reported in the town, Ma'am. Whether this be the work of enemy spies, I cannot say, but the disloyalty of the people there is a cause of some concern. Perhaps some of the more unruly citizens could be persuaded to take up arms and vent their aggression and frustrations on our enemies. With the loss of our spearmen, we are in need of reinforcements."
Toshi let out a world-weary sigh. Sacrificing the populous in defence of Egyptian lands was something she didn't want to condone, but with their already meagre armies spread perilously thin, she acknowledged that there was little alternative.
A succession of skirmishes followed, against the innumerable barbarians to the north, American incursions on the Ivory Coast, and the Persian threat at Ishiro's Hope. Attacks were repelled, and Egyptian forces prevailed more often than not, but no war is without casualties and this proved to be no exception. Toshi began to wonder what she had done to anger the gods so.
As messengers arrived from east and west, bringing word of battles fought, she met with Captain Kemet again.
"Captain, you know how much I appreciate the work you do here, training the new recruits" Toshi began. "It has been your calling now for a number of years, and you have fulfilled those duties with diligence and rigour, but I fear the time is approaching when Egypt requires your leadership abilities on the battlefield instead of in the barracks."
"My Queen?"
"I have faith in you captain, or should I say, General. Go forth from this city, and lead our armies to glory. Word is already coming in of another American incursion to the southwest. It is imperative that we hold them off and protect the supplies of copper with which the men's weapons are forged. I know you will not let me down."
==========
OOC:
Captain Kemet has been ready to go into action since the bulk of the Persian army was defeated in the forests outside Ishiro's Hope. He could either be attached to the HA we're training in Masihero (combat 3 plus march would make that a useful unit) or return to his duties at the training grounds there (ie settle). I'm not convinced any one city is producing sufficient troops to justify going down that route though, so a warlord unit may be a better option. I thought I'd leave it for the group or next player to decide.
Two American HA have been killed outside Ivory Coast on the current turn, but there's another, bigger stack approaching already. If they do what the last one did, they'll skirt east through American territory before approaching the city from the south, but they may advance directly instead.
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and should probably find some iron 
