pomthom
Drive & Reverb
Damn peace vassalling, changes a lot. It's bad news but I reckon Fred will eventually unvassal, and probably not long after a truce is signed with Japan. Until then...
What to do next ? You could spam some units to go sucker-punch some XPs in Japan but I wonder if it wouldn't be a waste of hammers considering you have no immediate clear military objective (I agree with you on the fact that Zara and Izzy are best left alone right now, and probably for quite a while ; be nice ). You have the Protective trait and you have a huge buddhist protective cushion, I'd say you're safe from harm for the time being.
I would be a bit more enclined to momentarily stop research, chop/whip relevant infra in all cities that need it (factories, AP monastaries, courthouses and whatnot) and then go for the right Lib slingshot. I also think that the slingshot should be Astronomy for the following reasons:
What to do next ? You could spam some units to go sucker-punch some XPs in Japan but I wonder if it wouldn't be a waste of hammers considering you have no immediate clear military objective (I agree with you on the fact that Zara and Izzy are best left alone right now, and probably for quite a while ; be nice ). You have the Protective trait and you have a huge buddhist protective cushion, I'd say you're safe from harm for the time being.
I would be a bit more enclined to momentarily stop research, chop/whip relevant infra in all cities that need it (factories, AP monastaries, courthouses and whatnot) and then go for the right Lib slingshot. I also think that the slingshot should be Astronomy for the following reasons:
(i) Compass is good trade bait
(ii) Optics can be considered as a short-term goal because, being a bit behind, you need to meet the 2 remaining civs sooner rather than later. They have been isolated from the start (and at war if I'm not mistaken), so they should be way behind in tech, making them perfect targets
(iii) Astro is very good trade bait especially if you don't have to bother self-teching it
(iv) Astro should be an average but always interesting improvement in your trade route economy (only 3 costal cities, yeah ok not the best argument...)
Once Astro is in, reconsider diplomatic situation and aim for a military objective or UN victory.