SGOTM 08 - XTeam

[leif erikson]

I'm on turn 64 - 1440 BC

As I moved to Copper City, an Impi and a Settler suddenly popped out of Ulundi and are now 1-tile south of the grass hill. Screenie below and save attached.

I'm thinking we should play another turn and see if the Settler pair move northwest or southwest. If northwest, do we attack the city or take the Settler?
There are three Archers in Ulundi.

 

[ShannonCT]

I think we still need to take out the city. If Shaka builds another city somewhere that doesn't have copper/iron, it will be easy for us to take. We dont need another worker (from capturing the settler). The impi will be easy to kill later.

Remember to put all 4 units on the same tile to discourage Shaka from attacking a warrior.

 

[rrau]

I think we still need to take out the city. If Shaka builds another city somewhere that doesn't have copper/iron, it will be easy for us to take. We dont need another worker (from capturing the settler). The impi will be easy to kill later.

Remember to put all 4 units on the same tile to discourage Shaka from attacking a warrior.

I concur. I just hope Shaka won't change the settle spot once we raze it and try to settle it again.

 

[ShannonCT]

I concur. I just hope Shaka won't change the settle spot once we raze it and try to settle it again.

We can always put the survivors on top of the copper. As long as the impi is the settler's escort, it shouldn't attack anyone.

 

[leif erikson]

Continuing to Axe attack.

 

[leif erikson]

We are up to the point of attacking Copper City with the Axe. However, instead of the expected odds of around 15%, they are now at 8.8% as the Archer is promoted to CBT1.

Save is attached.

 

[ShannonCT]

We are up to the point of attacking Copper City with the Axe. However, instead of the expected odds of around 15%, they are now at 8.8% as the Archer is promoted to CBT1.

Save is attached.

As expected Leif:

Our axe will be 9% to win with no promos against a fully fortified archer. If our axe attacks first and loses, the archer will on average receive 42.5% damage. If the spearman attacks the average-damaged archer, the spear is 57% to win. If the spear loses, the archer will average 74.6% damage (total). If the warrior then attacked such an archer, he would be 79% to win.

The chance of losing all three battles is 8%.

 

[leif erikson]

OOopps. How did I miss that.

OK, I'll go make the Axe attack and let's see what happens.

 

[leif erikson]

Bad news:
Axe died and the Archer remains at full strength.

 

[ShannonCT]

Bad luck there - only 9% chance of that happening. I guess we should try to get one warrior back home now and one to explore west. Spear can guard the horses.

 

[leif erikson]

Bad luck there - only 9% chance of that happening. I guess we should try to get one warrior back home now and one to explore west. Spear can guard the horses.

Shall we remain at war?

Our new Axe ran into an Archer in the open and he attacked and killed it, down near the horse tile. Shall we have him guard the road to our core? He can be promoted, CR1 or CBT1. I'm thinking CBT1? He needs healing as he is at 2.8/5

 

[ShannonCT]

Shall we remain at war?

Our new Axe ran into an Archer in the open and he attacked and killed it, down near the horse tile. Shall we have him guard the road to our core? He can be promoted, CR1 or CBT1. I'm thinking CBT1? He needs healing as he is at 2.8/5

If we get peace now, our warriors and spear will be transported east, perhaps trapping them NE of Ulundi. Maybe get those three units south/west of Ulundi and then get a Cease Fire. The wounded axe can move one tile to the jungle now to heal, and then get ready to worker steal if Shaka tries to hook the horses. Our cities will be producing more axemen soon, so the threat of an invasion from Shaka is not much of a danger.

And yes, CBT1 for the axe.

 

[Cactus Pete]

Just returned and read the thread. A few queries:

Do we know where the impi and settler went? (concern about our warrior heading west being blocked if we get peace or cease fire, not to mention a horse city)

What's the advantage of peace?

Can we facilitate the movement of a warrior home by getting a peace or cease fire and having him magically transported east?

Will Shaka still negotiate a peace or cease fire without conditions?

Do we want one before we absolutely need it? (Delaying chopping, mining of copper hill, and horse hook-up are certainly desirable, if they can be achieved.)

How can an impi and a settler pop out together?

How long or effectively can the spear guard the horses, when axes are imminent?

 

[ShannonCT]

What's the advantage of peace?

Maybe Shaka would produce fewer axemen?

Can we facilitate the movement of a warrior home by getting a peace or cease fire and having him magically transported east?

My testing reveals that a unit would be transported east if it is on any tile adjacent to Ulundi.

Will Shaka still negotiate a peace or cease fire without conditions?

Yes, at the moment.

How can an impi and a settler pop out together?

Looks like Ulundi was whipped (it was at Pop3 a few turns ago).

How long or effectively can the spear guard the horses, when axes are imminent?

This is one possible reason to get peace and then worker steal if a worker tried to hook horses.

 

[leif erikson]

On Recon,
There seems to be more land to the north and west of Copper City. Is it worth sending a Warrior in that direction instead of navigating the jungle land west from Ulundi?

We have a Work Boat running along the coast in that direction. The problem I see is that we do not yet know if it can navigate around the south of the continent going west.

The settler pair must now be either on the jungle tile 3-south of our units, the forest tile 4-south or the forested hill 2-tiles west, southwest of Ulundi. I have no idea where they are headed.

I agree that the Spear and a Warrior need to head for the Horse tile and the Warrior can then continue home.

Not sure we should seek a cease fire during this turn set as SCT is correct that our units will be trapped. Axe can cover routes home for now, just a bit worried about a Galley with Axes.

 

[killercane]

On Recon,
Axe can cover routes home for now, just a bit worried about a Galley with Axes.

Dont give Shaka too much credit! He doesnt even have one axe now. We complete Oracle soon and build cats. His time will soon end.

It is a shame about the axe but those things happen. Combat is crazy with so few units; one brave unit can shutter all plans.

 

[ShannonCT]

On Recon,
There seems to be more land to the north and west of Copper City. Is it worth sending a Warrior in that direction instead of navigating the jungle land west from Ulundi?

That jungle land may still have a hut. We could send one of the warriors NW of copper city and the other W of Ulundi. I don't know that we necessarily need to get one of them back home. PH City doesn't need the MP for happiness and an axe can be chopped if it's threatened before we start building axes for the main assault.

 

[leif erikson]

That jungle land may still have a hut. We could send one of the warriors NW of copper city and the other W of Ulundi. I don't know that we necessarily need to get one of them back home. PH City doesn't need the MP for happiness and an axe can be chopped if it's threatened before we start building axes for the main assault.

OK, I like this idea even better!
Both Warrior and two Work Boats out looking!

The only question now is how much time we have to move the Spear back before an Axe shows up. Should we move the Spear in a way that avoids being adjacent to Ulundi or can we move right along side of it?

Hope to finish up this set this evening unless something else comes up.

 

[Cactus Pete]

OK, I like this idea even better!
Both Warrior and two Work Boats out looking! Fine by me.

The only question now is how much time we have to move the Spear back before an Axe shows up. Should we move the Spear in a way that avoids being adjacent to Ulundi or can we move right along side of it? He's just poprushed, and the copper hill probably hasn't been mined, so I doubt an axe will be built immediately.

Hope to finish up this set this evening unless something else comes up.

Okay, try to work in getting a forest pre-chopped in case we need an axe for barbs. If Shaka puts a unit in jeopardy, would opt for cease fire, rather than peace.

 

[leif erikson]

Now at turn 67 - 1320BC

A Settler and an Impi, with CBT1 and 2 promos, have moved onto the Isthmus NE of our Axe. Our Axe is not yet healed and we have a 42% chance if we attack. Perhaps we should follow them?

I think we are going to be one gold piece short of making it to CoL's and my fear is that the game will prevent us from getting CoL's on the tunr that Oracle completes, so CS will be unavailable?

EDIT - The Warrior near Shaka's copper city reconned and the land runs out up there, so he might as well return home?

EDIT2 - We have also met Joao II, who's Chariot came out of the jungle to Shaka's west.

Save attached.