Our correspondent in the North reports:
"This year the three Northern Powers [Dalriada, Moray, and Galloway] have seized many lands. Unfortunately the King of Galloway seems to have been outwitted by his fellows. By buying only 3 Peasants and an extra March, Dalriada was able to seize three provinces. And by buying an extra March instead of a Knight, Moray was able to send two Peasants south with one March and then send one of them on again with the extra one [two Marches is the limit for Peasants, Knights can March three]. Other Kings might want to copy these smart moves.
Unfortunately these moves leave them with little military spread over a large area.
The struggle for the 2 great Grassland areas of Scotland has already begun. The Southwest Plains [44-59] seem to belong mostly to Dalriada as of now though this may change. Meanwhile the smaller North Loch area [65-70] is almost guaranteed to go to Moray since his Knight is closest.
Scottish Powers, please remember that units must stop once entering a forest or hill space. That will slow you down considerably in the North... so get cracking!
![Wink ;) ;)](/data/assets/smilies/wink.gif)
"
Meanwhile our Southern Correspondent reports:
"Already the four Southern Powers [Mercia, Wales, Anglia, and Wessex] are struggling over the great Central Plains which contain most of the good land in the area. Wales is not likely to get in on the act since its borders are covered with Forest and it already owns plenty of good land within its own borders. Meanwhile Yorkshire is looking to get some land in the south while Mercia's back is turned. This year he is guaranteed 28 and 32, good land spaces, and probably the only Grass he'll have since his kingdom is situated in the hilly Pennine Mountain Chain."
Our Military correspondent reports:
"No Castles or Wars made this year. Some Non Aggression Pacts were signed, however, and some of the Northern Powers are looking to get into an alliance with each other and possibly Yorkshire. We'll have to see how the land conflicts, especially Moray's double march south, affect negotiations. Yorkshire's moves north may force Galloway to forgive and forget about Moray, especially since Yorkshire's knights are right now at the farthest limit of the line proposed [but not yet accepted by Yorkshire] by Galloway. In the South alliances are unlikely, at least until the borders are straightened out. Right now most land in the South is anybody's guess. We'll have to see how negotiations turn out."
Our Financial Correspondent reports:
"This year:
MORAY has 11 gold to spend.
WALES has 9 gold to spend.
DALRIADA has 9 gold to spend.
ANGLIA has 8 gold to spend.
WESSEX has 8 gold to spend.
MERCIA has 7 gold to spend.
GALLOWAY has 6 gold to spend.
YORKSHIRE has 5 gold to spend.
However, some of the richest nations are also the weakest, since low military means less upkeep. Most Powers have 4 military units, a blend of Knights and Peasants.
However, Galloway, one of the poorest powers, has 5 Peasants to defend! Meanwhile Moray and Dalriada, the richest powers, have a mere 3 units each.
Both military and land usage will even out in the next few years, I predict."
That's all for the DA today!
Your map followeth. Orders are due by 4 PM Monday San Fran time, 24 hrs from now.
IT IS NOW 1036 A.D. Tick, tock.