We have a settler that seems doomed to die in the south. I can't think of anywhere it can go with even hope of surviving, so I am going to merge it into Hattusha in the south.
Sign peace with the Celts: They give peace and Monotheism; we give peace and 13gpt.
Demand the Hittites remove their troops. Oh.. they did. Well, I go and declare anyway.
Some minor MM.
420AD
I spot a Hittite longbow and MDI. In the west they are heading for El-Ashmunein (or passing it by on the way to the unguarded Aleppo and Hattusha). In the east they seem intent on Pithom.
Kill 3 spears and 2 archers. Set some towns to make trebs. Science to 40%, Gunpowder still in 2, but no longer losing gpt. [5-0]
IBT --
Kill 5 archers and lose one [10-1]
The Dutch land a longbow near our undefended town by the Hittites. They are going to attack so I will gift the town ... to whom?
430AD
Troops move and in the west troops heal up.
Think long and hard until and decide to gift Hattusha to the Greeks. I would love the Dutch to attack anyway, putting those two civs at war with each other. At worst, we will have two Greek cities bordering us to pick off once the Hittites are done for.
IBT --
We learn Gunpowder. Chemistry is next; I assume we are heading for Mil Trad.
Hittites move a pike to take Aleppo. Dang, one more turn and I could have covered it.
The Hittite SOD moves away from Pithom... Maybe our fortified spear has them worried? Either way, it buys us time for our cats to come south.
440AD
Lose an MDI, but sweep up with our Sword.
Wonderful news, we have no saltpeter. I can see one in Hittite lands, though. And the Greek city bordering our NE has one as well.
We move a SOD against Hareid.
IBT --
Hittites want to talk.
Spear redlines longbow, but dies. Hittites take Aleppo. [11-3]
450AD
Battle for Hareid: Lose 1 MDI, kill 2 Pikes and 3 spears.
Kill archer with MDI.
IBT --
Lose an MDI I foolishly left out in the open. [17-5]
460AD
Decide it would be nice to have a few horsemen, so Thebes at 15spt is switched over.
IBT --
The Dutch seem intent to attack. They have landed another Longbow beside a defended city now. Now my gift feels foolish; they wanted to attack us no matter what.
470AD
I'd boot the Dutch if I could (for war happiness) but that option isn't given to me with just one Dutch longbow.
IBT --
The Dutch declare. Their longbow dies without so much as scratching the spear. [18-5]
480AD
Kill a pike that was on a pillage mission.
IBT --
Found out where that Hittite SOD went; they surfaced in the west.
490AD
Our eastern SOD starts its march on Emar.
Kill 1 MDI, 1 Longbow, & 3 Archers in the west.
IBT --
Longbow kills our spear defender. Hittite SOD Decides to head back east... [23-6]
500AD
Kill Longbow, archer, and spearman.
Hold up the eastern attack party one turn to wait on some cats that were catching up.
Kill our luxury and up our science to 50%. Seem to have some war happiness from The Dutch after all.
Think I'll wrap up here just to end us on an even number.
Kill ratio ends at 26:6
We have a sizeable SOD in the east ready to move next turn agains the Hittites. They are currently fortified as they were waiting for some more cats, so remember to wake them.
The Hittites keep sending spears and pikes north to pillage our iron. I have two cats and a couple units ready and waiting to pick them off one at a time when they do come.
Settler in the north, which I forgot to put on the screenshot. I was debating between settling on the ruins of the town that was destroyed up there before or 1 SW to defend it better. There is also a Settler in Pithom to use against the Hittites.
Don't know where the Hittites will push against next. The bulk of their troops were moving against Pithom at first, then pulled back at the last minute and showed up in the west just now. Now they are retreating again (after I picked a good amount of them off) presumably to the east but who knows.
The Hittites are willing to talk, but I don't think we are.