Someone has caught me pants down...
kenScott said:
I'm curious to know why you haven't occupied the wine outside Pharsalos?? If he's in war weariness and loses those wines his cities will go into chaos!!
Because i'm dumb. I was so deeply concentrated about culture flipping chances, plans for the attack, placement of troops, micromanaging, trading maps, looking for techs discovered by AS and so on, that i overlooked that stinking wine tile in the greek territory for several turns.
Second serious mistake of the game. I hope it's the last.

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630AD - Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!
Little things happened during the interturn. Another hoplite ventured into my land. Two longbows are stationed in the hills north and south of Sparta. My troops are moving toward the greek capital. I've given my troops some last-minute orders, another little change from the original battle plan. The main forces of the 1st army have moved east instead of SE. Why? A sort of further insurance. In case the 1st attack fails, i can at least send some troops north and NW to block possible reinforcements from Delphi, thus easing an eventual second attack. But i REALLY hope it won't be necessary...
Two extra legions from Athens have been sent invading the irrigated grassland SE of Sparta. I hope to lower its population and lure some greek pukes into attacking them. For the same reason, a pike and an archer have been sent harassing some other fertile territory NE of Sparta. We'll see quite soon if it was a wise move or not. A last legion is now fortified into the mountain NE of Pharsalos. He'll be useful to track greek movements from south.
In the meantime, the harassing hoplite has been redlined by catapults. A legion is sent to deliver him the final blow. All my horsemen were upgraded into Knights. Lots of money, but well spent. They'll be quite useful in the upcoming battles. And finally, Corinth is still mine and is due to complete a worker this turn. Will i manage to avoid the flip?
I hit enter. As expected, the longbows around Athens attack my harassing legions. One of them kill without even losing an hit point. Another one attacks and fails. A third one kill my second legionary.
Good anyway. Two units less defending Sparta. Longbows are 4/2/1 in this game, they would have defended at 3 if garrisoned in the town.
To the south, an other longbow venture out of Thermopylae and dare attack a fortified legion on a mountain. The legionary survives and get promoted.
I got a pop-up warning me that Jason has started building Bach's Cathedral. Music Theory for Babylon? Nice thing. Hi Jason, i've heard that your lousy empire has finally managed to discover a new tech. Would you award me with Music Theory in return of Engineering? Oh, how nice! Thank you very much. Now go to hell. Oh, mighty RNG gods! Please bless humble tR1cKy and let him poop a leader in the next battle...
640AD - My troops charge toward Sparta. Catapults manage to weaken 2 defending muskets, then legions charge. Sparta is captured, but once again my casualties were enormous, even worse than i was expecting. Seven veteran musket companies were defending Sparta, and they fought heroically 'till death. Of the 25 units attacking, only 8 managed to survive. 17 legions killed, including my newly formed batallion, 3 coordinated companies under the command of General Scipio. Legends about the valor and courage of Spartans soldiers were not told in vain.
The Hanging Gardens and the Sistine Chapel are in my hands now. WLTKD in several towns next turns. And Sparta has functional barracks and a marketplace. Money for my coffers and a quick healing for my wounded troops. Good.
Corinth is still mine, and has finally pooped a worker. Greek, of course. RNG gods have screwed me a lot in the battle of Sparta, but have been merciful with Corinth. Now its cultural pressure from Greece is quite loosened. Obviously, i'm now facing the very same problem on Sparta. 8 tiles under foreign control. It's now a battle against time to prevent the city flipping. I need to strike at Pharsalos as soon as i can, and then go conquering Delphi. But now the remnants of the greek republic are cut into pieces. Communication lines are no more, except for naval ones. If i strike quickly, Pharsalos won't have a chance to get reinforcements.
I can have 5 knights, 4 legions and 1 catapult ready to attack Pharsalos next turn, and the city is on a grassland. I don't expect more than 4 defenders garrisoned. Should i gamble? Next turn, 2 more catapults and some extra legions would be available. I decide to move the troops to cut out that wandering hoplite outside the city, then i'll decide.
In the interturn, a longbow from Pharsalos attacks a legion and dies, but the legionary is redlined. He'll be left where it is as a bait. If there are other longbows in Pharsalos, they'll probably try to finish him. But nothing happens.
650AD - Pharsalos. What should i do? I think that losing 1 or 2 units trying to estimate the enemy forces wouldn't be a tragedy. I can always stop the attack and wait for reinforcements if things go bad.
The visible defender is a veteran musketman. The catapult bombards and fails.
The first knight is sent to attack. Losing only 1 hitpoint, it kills the musketman. Now a
regular musketman shows up.
The second knight is sent. It retreats redlined, and the musket is at 2/3 now. Another regular shows up.
The third knight attacks. Once again, redlined, and musket at 2/3. But the damaged musketman
remains visible!!!
These are great news. No more that 2 musketmen at 2/3 are defending the town, and there are no hoplites at veteran level or above. But i can't tell if there are some weaker units inside. I think the situation is worth spending at least another knight...
The 4th knight charges, and is killed. The musket is redlined.
The 5th knight charges. Same as above. But the redlined musket
is still visible.
No hoplites then. And no longbows at well. Those 2 redlined muskets are all that remains of the city defenders, and i have still 4 legionaries ready to attack, 3 veterans and 1 elite. Chances are on my side now.
The elite legion attacks and kills the redlined musketman.
A veteran legion attacks. It's redlined but gets promoted... and walks into the town! Pharsalos is captured! I guess i've been a little lucky this time...
There's still a hoplite wandering in the plain just outside Athens. Catapults redlines it, and a legion completes the task.
Workers are sent to road some strategic tiles. Next turn, optimal routes between Sparta and Corinth and between Athens and Pharsalos will be available.
My next target will obviously be Delphi. I've not finished the turn yet, i need to readjust production is some cities and dispatch the remaining free troops. After a pause, a coffee and a smoke. I need to enjoy myself sometimes
In the shot, my northern territory in 650AD, after the successful battle of Pharsalos.