1275 AD This turn spent reorganizing troops. Lost a few Siphai to a marauding Byzantine knight. The first Knight army attacked Nicaea, killing one musketeer.
The goal will be to take the four circled cities. This will take the source of horses away from the Byzantines. If we take Varna as well, then theyll lose a source of iron as well. Well see how those four cities go, then determine if we can take Varna as well.
1280 AD Lots going on this turn. Osmans scientists discover Magnetism, and I draw Steam Power as my free tech. Unfortunately, there are only two sources of coal on this continent. One deep to the north in Babylonian territory. The second is towards the middle of the continent in Hittite territory. I guess as soon as I take the four or five cities from Theodora, well be going after Mursilis next.
Nicea falls to the First Knight Army. Another attack group moves into range of Chalcedon.
1290 AD Chalcedon and Heraclea have both fallen. However, the Byzantines now seem to have Cavalry. Ill need to get rid of their horse supplies as soon as possible. Ive taken out nearly all of their forces in Adrianople. Well see how the counter attack goes.
1300 AD Varna has fallen. Of course, so have the Inca, to the Chinese. Thats going to thin things out a little on the other continent. Traded Steam Power to the Egyptians for Democracy. Fortunately, as a result they have spare coal. I trade them iron for coal.
The long term plan is to prop up some other Civs on the other continent in order to keep the Spanish from running away, which seems to be what they are doing.
1305 AD Making excellent progress. Constantinople has fallen, the next to last major city that the Byzantines hold. I should be able to sweep through the rest of the Byzantine cities in the next 5-10 turns. Ill then stay at peace for the next 8-10 turns after that, until my trade deal with the Egyptians expires for Coal. Then Ill go after the Hittites.
Well, what do we have here?
Really? Hmmm
. This could turn out more interesting than anticipated.
1310 AD Well what a crappy start this turn got off to. Chalcedon and Nicea both flipped, taking a bunch of AC with them. I recaptured Chalcedon fairly easily but Im not sure I have enough forces to take Nicea in the next couple turns.
On the plus side we captured Caesarea and Amorium, so the decline of the Byzantines continues. Ive got almost no defenders around right now, which always makes me a little nervous. Im ripe for a Hittite double cross.
Speaking of which
Thats 18 Babylonian knights immediately to the north of the former Viking core
Somehow I doubt any good is going to come of this.
On the plus side I got a MGL on the assault on Amorium, which brings the total to 3, which is about 1 more than I usually get. =)
1315 AD Formed another army, this time a Siphai one. That should help to repel the Babylonians for their inevitable strike. Ive rushed walls in Alesund and upgraded the defenders to Muskets. Im hoping that will be enough to convince him to bugger off, though Im not going to hold my breath.
1320 AD
Guess not.
The Babylonians took Alesund, though I redlined at least 5 of the 18. Redlined another two with a pike who was escorting some workers.
They have 4 knights in striking distance of Stavanger. They have 4 more one turn away. Stavanger is building barracks this turn, and walls the next. It currently has 1 Siphai, 2 pikes, 1 musket and 1 MI. Hopefully thatll be enough to hold this turn (assuming they dont just turn tail and run, ha!)
Ive got 1 Siphai and 1 Sword that are 1 turn away, and I should be able to upgrade survivors as necessary. Ive not been able to get my rail line up yet, so itll be slow going from one end to the other. I think that the 18 knights may be the bulk of their force however.
1325 AD Lost a Pike and a Musket, but other than that survived. Upgraded the survivors so now I have 2 muskets and an MI. Also had 2 Siphai arrive. With the three Siphai I took out a like number of knights. I also captured Naissus, the second to last Byzantine city. The only other city left will require a quick jaunt through Hittite territory.
1330 AD Killed off a couple more knights, and lost two Musketeers. I think Ill be able to hold Stavanger. If I do, I have several more Siphai on the way.
Of course, now the Hittites have a small SOD headed towards one of my cities.
Heres the new plan.
I need the coal in red above. Its next to a Hittite city. So
. If I can get the Babylonians to take the city from the Hittites, then I can take it off of them. =) At least thats how Id like it to go. And it should keep the Hittites off my backside.
And sure enough, for Physics, the Hittites will go for it. So lets see how this shakes out. I also got a RoP out of the deal, which means the last Byzantine city will fall that much sooner.
1335 AD Well, I hate the Hittites. After cutting a deal with them, they declare war on me. Time to make peace with Babylon, and wipe Musilis from the face of the planet. I lost Harran, which I had taken from them many years ago. Looks like Im going to be bogged down in a war for quite a while.
1340 AD Well, managed to lose Nicea as well. Worst fears have come true. While trying to eliminate the Byzantines, I spread myself too thin. Theodora also managed to get a city on the other continent as well, so all the cities I took from her could still flip.
1345 AD As much as I hate to do it, I trade Electricity, which I just discovered, to the Spanish for Nationalism, 75 gold and 31 gpt. At least Riflemen should help me to hold things a little better. The best the Babylonians can manage is knights, though the Hittites do have Cav.
So, Ive suffered a couple of setbacks. Fortunately, Ive got a good economy, so I should be able to push the Hittites back. I think I broke the back of the Babylonian attack driving off their knights. Im going to contemplate going to Mobilization to see if I can squeeze out some defenders. Thats really what Im lacking more than anything.