SGOTM 14 - Ivan

[ignas]

Now klarius ahead in teretory, (first time in the game).

Because there's no doubt by this time they have cavalry and going through other civs like hot knife through butter.

only when the number of "unclaimed" tiles is about the same as our number of tiles missing for domination, we should start rushing temples

settlers much better than temples

 

[I. Larkin]

Looked at save. All very turbulent, but OK. Ignas Shortrushed Barracks in Rio and now Leonardo pre-build will not be good. So, I think we will not have it in the game.

Minor things: Better cover single Knights with Pikcman or at list have many at the same tile: Near Zimbabve, why not to send "all we have" to help?

We may RoP with Japan now, they will pay almost all their gold for that.

May be we already may transfer some troops to Japan? I mean not return to Zulu?

What our plan with Babs and Russia? Peace now? And re-settle later?

After Horce, in Alcaer do Sal, may be Temple? Or simply attack Busra?

 

[ignas]

Minor things: Better cover single Knights with Pikcman or at list have many at the same tile: Near Zimbabve, why not to send "all we have" to help?

That was a scouting knight and it's JUST one knight, we have 50 of them. Zulu has MI's, swords and horses running around near Zimbabwe, we should attack first with better odds instead of being attacked. Wait one turn before initial Zulu stack comes towards Medina, we kill it with help of trebs and then advance forward.
Zulu campaign won't last long, 5-7 turns I guess. Then we regroup and go for Japan.

What our plan with Babs and Russia? Peace now?

Peace with Russia. Peace with Babylon when resistors caught and annihilated, towns starved to avoid flips.

We may RoP with Japan now, they will pay almost all their gold for that

So we'll ROP rape Japanese? I think we will be ready to attack faster than in 20 turns.

Ignas Shortrush Barracks in rio and now Leonardo pre-build will not be good. So, I think we will not have it in the game.

There are many shield rich towns in our empire. If you think it's worth building Leo's and it will come in time we could try. But I don't think that way.

 

[I. Larkin]

That was a scouting knight and it's JUST one knight, we have 50 of them. Zulu has MI's, swords and horses running around near Zimbabwe, we should attack first with better odds instead of being attacked. Wait one turn before initial Zulu stack comes towards Medina, we kill it with help of trebs and then advance forward.

But why not to try capture Zimbabwe next turn? Really 2 MI and 2 Horses will not kill "the stack".

Zulu campaign won't last long, 5-7 turns I guess. Then we regroup and go for Japan.

I think it is time to form 2 fronts "SE" and "SW". and not to send "all we have" vs one opponent.

So we'll ROP rape Japanese? I think we will be ready to attack faster than in 20 turns.

Sure, and next to Rome and Atzteck

There are many shield rich towns in our empire. If you think it's worth building Leo's and it will come in time we could try. But I don't think that way

But they have barracks and for 20 turn it will be excluded. But the later we start Leo the more usless it will be.
May be it is already late, don't know.

 

[ignas]

But they have barracks and for 20 turn it will be excluded. But the later we start Leo the more usless it will be.
May be it is already late, don't know.

But I know that it won't be a game breaker and we don't need it: it could cost us few turns, not help to finish faster. We already have 54 knights, we can produce at least 2knight/turn when out of GA with horse->knight upgrade alone.

Sure, and next to Rome and Atzteck

I think so too.

But why not to try capture Zimbabwe next turn? Really 2 MI and 2 Horses will not kill "the stack".

My intention was to minimize losses. I don't know clearly how many units Zulu might have, likely there are more attacking units in the fog that we can't see. Also we can assemble just 11 or 12 knights ready to attack next turn. Zimbabwe is size 7 with at least 4 reg pikes inside, imagine few knights are killed or damaged and it's not enough to take Zimbabwe that turn. This is cautious approach. Of course we can throw everything now.

I think it is time to form 2 fronts "SE" and "SW". and not to send "all we have" vs one opponent.

Agree

 

[I. Larkin]

Quote:
But they have barracks and for 20 turn it will be excluded. But the later we start Leo the more usless it will be.
May be it is already late, don't know.

But I know that it won't be a game breaker and we don't need it: it could cost us few turns, not help to finish faster. We already have 54 knights, we can produce at least 2knight/turn when out of GA with horse->knight upgrade alone.

Sure, and next to Rome and Atzteck

I think so too.

In general, we may go as mashroom rings, just in all directions... That mean, that at the end of the game Knights in the centre will be not needed. But we have to draw a plan for that.

Quote:
But why not to try capture Zimbabwe next turn? Really 2 MI and 2 Horses will not kill "the stack".

My intention was to minimize losses. I don't know clearly how many units Zulu might have, likely there are more attacking units in the fog that we can't see. Also we can assemble just 11 or 12 knights ready to attack next turn. Zimbabwe is size 7 with at least 4 reg pikes inside, imagine few knights are killed or damaged and it's not enough to take Zimbabwe that turn. This is cautious approach. Of course we can throw everything now.

Zulu got Feudalism recently. so it may be just 1-2 picks. Next turn they may upgrade more. I'd send all "now".
Also we may use Galleys to ship next Trebukhets to unload near Isandhawana.

 

[Lanzelot]

Ok, I think the next steps are quite straightforward, except for one: strike Zimbabwe immediately or let the Zulus first come out of their holes?? I think that both of you might be right: 11 Knights may not be enough to take Zimbabwe right away, and also they may have more spears that can be upgraded in the IBT. You didn't peek into Zimbabwe before attacking? Any estimate of how many units might be in there?

Other things are obvious:

• I can probably trade wool and spices, if it's not too expensive. That should increase our score a bit.
• After the GA is over, Lagos may need a mine on the iron. So I will use the iron next to Rio Janeiro for disconnect/connect
• China has Republic. Do we want that? I think it's too late now to switch. In Demigod we will certainly get 5-6 turns of anarchy...
• Sign RoP with Japan and start sending 15 Knights over. But before attacking, I would like to take the last Ottoman town and gift it to Japan. That would reduce the flip risk for the Lighthouse. How about that?
• What to do with the remaining Knights after the Zulus are finished? I have two ideas: a) gift a Japanese town to France and then take the rest of that island. Should reduce the flip risk for the furs. (From there maybe procede to Incaland?) b) Sign a RoP with India (before we rape Japan) and start moving the Knights over there. India looks weak, has quite a few tiles and can be reached easily.
• Change Ninive & Babylon to settler? Will reduce the foreigners faster, and we can use the "upkeep-free" settlers as combat settlers.
• After the GA I would like to switch some of the low production towns (Luanda, Mecca, Guarda or others) to warrior. Our invasion forces can then consist of one half cheap MI (+trebs), which will take the coastal town, and one half Knights, which will then immediately strike the next town inland.

Long-term plan:
After we have taken care of a number of closeby smaller islands we should takle Germany/Mongolia/Greece. This is the biggest landmass so high priority to get. And all three have iron! So we should try and get it, before they reach Feudalism. There are three possible routes to take:

1. Lisbon core + Japan force --> Celts --> Greece
2. Uskudar core + Zulu force --> France --> (Incas, can be omitted) --> Iroquois --> Mongolia
3. Uskudar core + Zulu force --> India --> Mayas --> Germany

I think, after Japan and Zululand are finished, we should as fast as possible concentrate on 1 plus one of 2 or 3. Maybe there is a chance to take that continent, before it gets pikes... (Though Germany is probably already close to Feudalism.)

Regards, Lanzelot

 

[Othniel]

No on Leo's from my point of view.

I took a good look at the save prior to Ignas playing.
Two observations from then struck me:
1) Do we want some courthouses, especially for cities in the 30-40% corrupt range?
2) Not really understanding why we haven't taken a more aggressive resettling plan. By this I mean, we have all that lovely tundra up north by the Ottos. We could easily squeeze in a couple of towns, gift those towns to civs like Babs or Russia, and then just take over the southern portion of our continent. Also, why haven't we reduced Ottos to just one city yet?

Basically, I feel like we have a lot of "loose ends" on our continent—Russia, Ottos, Babs, even France—that would be nice to tidy up. Get them in a prison and throw away the key. Maybe we haven't had the opportunity yet to aggressively resettle civs due to diplomatic concerns or lack of units, but I think we now are in position to clean up.

 

[I. Larkin]

Ok, I think the next steps are quite straightforward, except for one: strike Zimbabwe immediately or let the Zulus first come out of their holes?? I think that both of you might be right: 11 Knights may not be enough to take Zimbabwe right away, and also they may have more spears that can be upgraded in the IBT. You didn't peek into Zimbabwe before attacking? Any estimate of how many units might be in there?

My vote is to try “take next turn”. It is big stack with 2MI and 3 Trebuchets, Knights all but 1 may go to Zimbabwe. We may not take Zimbabwe next turn but will be at least close.
Also we may use Galleys to ship next Trebuchets to unload near Isandhawana.
In general shipping help a lot with slow units. Everybody know it “in theory”, but…

Other things are obvious:

Not that obvious…

• I can probably trade wool and spices, if it's not too expensive. That should increase our score a bit.

Score is “minor thing” but WLKD may help somewhere. However, before Lighthouse we risk our reputation. But who care about reputation in our time? My vote “go ahead”.

• After the GA is over, Lagos may need a mine on the iron. So I will use the iron next to Rio Janeiro for disconnect/connect

OK, but I thought that Lagos will be a shipyard If Novgorod Yaroslavl’ will not enough.

• China has Republic. Do we want that? I think it's too late now to switch. In Demigod we will certainly get 5-6 turns of anarchy...

Yes, and “unfortunately” it will be most important turns…

• Sign RoP with Japan and start sending 15 Knights over. But before attacking, I would like to take the last Ottoman town and gift it to Japan. That would reduce the flip risk for the Lighthouse. How about that?

Japan (like Zulu) did care about it. Even better: Look at the map! It is big Japan border behind Iroquois. It is ideal jail: no escape.

• What to do with the remaining Knights after the Zulus are finished? I have two ideas: a) gift a Japanese town to France and then take the rest of that island. Should reduce the flip risk for the furs. (From there maybe procede to Incaland?) b) Sign a RoP with India (before we rape Japan) and start moving the Knights over there. India looks weak, has quite a few tiles and can be reached easily.

Resettle Arabia, Ottomans and France to Japan is “Primary goal”. I think Arabia first. Probably we will Finish Zulu first, so stack may go to India and second wave will deal with Arabia Ottos, France and next to Inca and Iroquois.

• Change Ninive & Babylon to settler? Will reduce the foreigners faster, and we can use the "upkeep-free" settlers as combat settlers.

Workers have better ratio to reduce size. And I think we keep these Cities. If they flip then we will see…

• After the GA I would like to switch some of the low production towns (Luanda, Mecca, Guarda or others) to warrior. Our invasion forces can then consist of one half cheap MI (+trebs), which will take the coastal town, and one half Knights, which will then immediately strike the next town inland.

Spearmen-> Pickman is also option when Iron disconnect. 7 spt Cities may do that.

Long-term plan:
This is the biggest landmass so high priority to get. And all three have iron! So we should try and get it, before they reach Feudalism. There are three possible routes to take:
1. Lisbon core + Japan force --> Celts --> Greece

I’d not return Japan stack, but go next to Atztek, Rome, Ejypt. Celts –> Greece will be new stack from Core. (RoP with celts aond Others before RoP rape!)

2. Uskudar core + Zulu force --> France --> (Incas, can be omitted) --> Iroquois --> Mongolia
3. Uskudar core + Zulu force --> India --> Mayas --> Germany

I’d make separate front and Zulu force will go to India->Maya ->Germany.
We need many separate task forces that act (N)E, SE, S, SW, W.

I think, after Japan and Zululand are finished, we should as fast as possible concentrate on 1 plus one of 2 or 3. Maybe there is a chance to take that continent, before it gets pikes... (Though Germany is probably already close to Feudalism.)

So we even may consider SEE direction as well.

So we decided no Republic and Leonardo?

 

[ignas]

You didn't peek into Zimbabwe before attacking? Any estimate of how many units might be in there?

No, I didn't investigate. When attacked Babylon there were 5 spears, so there might be 4-5 defenders in Zimbabwe too.

Change Ninive & Babylon to settler? Will reduce the foreigners faster, and we can use the "upkeep-free" settlers as combat settlers.

No, catch resistors and starve towns using taxmen. Leave it producing galleys, when we'll need them we will rush remaining shields.

 

[I. Larkin]

No on Leo's from my point of view.

I took a good look at the save prior to Ignas playing.
Two observations from then struck me:
1) Do we want some courthouses, especially for cities in the 30-40% corrupt range?
2) Not really understanding why we haven't taken a more aggressive resettling plan. By this I mean, we have all that lovely tundra up north by the Ottos. We could easily squeeze in a couple of towns, gift those towns to civs like Babs or Russia, and then just take over the southern portion of our continent. Also, why haven't we reduced Ottos to just one city yet?

Basically, I feel like we have a lot of "loose ends" on our continent—Russia, Ottos, Babs, even France—that would be nice to tidy up. Get them in a prison and throw away the key. Maybe we haven't had the opportunity yet to aggressively resettle civs due to diplomatic concerns or lack of units, but I think we now are in position to clean up.

It is lot more efficient to gift AI's Cities, not our own. Nerovats missed an opportunity to gift Lion to Russia, but that's it. I hope Japan will be Luxuray jail (dyce) for Arabs, France... First come - first served... But Kyoto will be our.

 

[Lanzelot]

Ok, no Republic, no Leonardo's, no temples... This is turning more and more into a game about the "bare necessities of life"...

Do we want some "no courthouses" as well? I can easily arrange that...

But Emerita, Coimbra, Évora and Sagres need Marketplaces! We are currently "loosing" 38gpt! (And still about 20gpt after the GA?!)

Regarding Zimbabwe I will just wait the coming interturn, see what happens and then make a decision. I'm more the "cautious" type of player, don't like loosing my best units. And Zimbabwe will certainly have many more units than Babylon. They have been developing peacefully for 4000 years now...

Starting now. But I'll check back for further comments in 1-2 hours.

Regards, Lanzelot

 

[I. Larkin]

IBT they simply kill our knight near Zimbabwe. At least cover it with 1-2 another. But I am not understand why not to try.
Things with Courthouses and Markets is the same as "Leonardo". "Nice to have, but..." But why not, after all? I vote "for". RoI much faster here.
I'd like to have 3 temples or, at least 1 to improve border shape.
But looks that nobody support this idea.
Corthouses are difficult to calculate until situation "not clear". May be you drive Zulu out and we will see.

 

[Lanzelot]

IBT they simply kill our knight near Zimbabwe. At least cover it with 1-2 another. But I am not understand why not to try.

Yes, I came to the same conclusion after looking at the situation for a while. There's only one unit that can attack for sure: the MI next to Zimbabwe. And we can kill that with a knight! And then I thought, we might as well move the entire stack there. Horsemen are not too dangerous, and they can't jave that many MI yet within reach.

And yes, it looks like a temple in Coimbra, Emerita, Rio Janero and Yaroslavl would be useful, so they can work on more tiles when they grow. I think I'll build a few temples and markets during my turn, but courts are probably not worth it.

Lanzelot

 

[I. Larkin]

yes, it looks like a temple at Coimbra, Emerita...

Start with these two, other less critical.

 

[Lanzelot]

Okay, the save is on the server.

Too tired now, I'll post a turn log tomorrow. It didn't go too well, a couple of flips and other mishaps... But for the second time I've overtaken team klarius...!

As Othniel won't play before Monday, I suggest: if Ivan has time this weekend, perhaps he can switch with Othniel as well?

Lanzelot

 

[ignas]

You should sleep at nights, not play civ

Looked at save, nice you catured Kyoto already.
It seems you lost quite a few units, we currently have just 57 knights (there were 54 before turnset).
Good that you didn't forget to sign ROP's with others.
Why are you building Marketplace in Uskudar? It's not worth it: it currently produces 7 gpt, so +3 from market when finished -1 for maintenance= just+2gpt for 100 shields so not worth it, same with Emerita; better switch to knights.
Towns like Ashur and Hlobne have just +1 fpt so better use citizens as taxmen as it will take forever to breed a new citizen.
We could sell barracks in captured towns like Ulundi, Hlobane, Eridu to save some cash.

a couple of flips

Paris and Bapedi?

other mishaps

Ellipi razed?


Waiting for a turnlog.

 

[Lanzelot]

Paris and Bapedi?

No, Paris didn't flip... How would I still have peace and RoP with France in that case...
Paris was lost due to a combined large-scale invasion from Hittite, Roman, Babylonian and Zulu forces...

Uskudar will grow to 12 quickly, then the market will make profit. Similar for Emerita, after a temple has been built in Coimbra.
(In any case, I think we should have built markets in a few towns much earlier, at the beginning of the GA. {I know we had other important things to do then as well.} But now it is already a bit late for some towns. For example I didn't build any in Leiria and Sagres...)

 

[Lanzelot]

Turnlog:

Spoiler :

0. 50AD Leftover:
Did a bit of trading: Maya: Wool + 7g for Ivory + Currency
Persia: 55g + 3gpt for Ivory, 8gpt for Silks (seem to be broke now)
Japan: 81g for RoP
Greece: 60g + 10gpt for Ivory + Incense
Germany: 60g + 1gpt for RoP
Russia: 18g for Peace

Micromanage Alcácer, Évora, Gui & Yaroslavl for food.
Killed Bab spear and the Zulu MI near Zimbabwe. Then moved 6 more Kts for cover. Loaded MI and Trebs on galleys. I noticed Zimbabwe has been building Sun Tzu's for a while, so can't have that many units.

IBT: Lost 1 Kt to a swordsman out of Zimbabwe. A horseman attacked as well, but failed, and a sword attacked out of Bapedi, but also failed.

The Hittites land a spear and a sword next to Paris, two more galleys approaching?!

1. 70AD:
3 Kts take Bapedi, no losses.
Don't want the Hittites to cause trouble now, so I make an embassy (101g) and sign a RoP with them (get 8g back).
Switch Coimbra and Emerita to market. Shortrush courthouse in Uskudar (224g) and switch it to Aquaeduct.

IBT: Hittites declare anyway!! Our Pike in Paris just barely holds against the sword. I will need to send a Kt over to prevent the spear from pillaging the furs.
One Zulu MI comes out of Ulundi and drives back an elite Kt from our stack.

2. 90AD:
3 trebs, 2 MI and 1 Kt take Isandhlawana, no losses. Kt pillages iron near Ulundi --> no more pikes and MI for them...
Rush settler in Babylon. Hate to starve people, and an upkeep-free settler may always be useful to have.
Greek: 8gpt + 20g for Silks

IBT: Zulu Impi comes out of fog and takes undefended Castello Oranco. A bit careless, I guess.
MI out of Zimbabwe kills a Kt, another MI dies. A Bab galley sinks one of our galleys near Paris. I am really glad I sent all three galleys to cover the one with the Kt!! Otherwise our furs would be gone now.
Hittites land another spear and 2 warriors next to Paris.
Elippi flipped! And our GA is over.

Babylon settler -> galley. Uskudar Aquaeduct -> Granary

3. 110AD:
Galley unloads Kt in Paris, which then kills the Hittite spear on our furs and retreats back to Paris. Just in time! The other galley kills the red-lined Bab galley. Revenge!!
A Kt retakes Castello Branco. 3 Kts cross over to the right side of the river and take Ulundi. No losses! (I would have expected to loose some, as Impi on a hill are usually quite tough?!) Capture a catapult and 4 workers.
I notice that our trade route to Mayaland has broken down?! Did they ran negative gpt and had to sell their harbour?? The attack by the Hittites can't have broken it?!

IBT: A reg archer from Hlobane kills a reg Kt in the jungle?!
The Babs call: they are willing to give Ellipi +7gpt for peace. Pondering for a long time, but then decline. If another town flips (especially Babylon) I want to be able to retake right away, without diplomatic complications... In retrospect it was probably better to take the deal, though.
The Hittite warriors die on the walls of Paris. (Good we have an elite pike there now.)

4. 130AD:
Two Kts raze Ellippi. 12 Kt are ready for an attack on Zimbabwe, and a few more can be retreated from their positions next to Mpondo, in case these 12 fail. So I finally start the attack. 4 Kts die, for more win, and Zimbabwe is ours. (I'm glad I didn't attack with a smaller force, this could easily have turned in a blood bath and then next turn all Zulu units would be healed again.) 2 more Kts take Mpondo.
Our Kt in Paris kills the remaining Hittite spear.

IBT: Germans start Sun Tzu's

5. 150AD:
2 Kts take Hlobane. Some regrouping of our forces. Rushing a couple of galleys in the east.

IBT: Germans offer Republic for Chivalry. No thanks. Greeks start Sun Tzu's.
Everybody seems to be fond of Paris: the Zulus land an archer, the Babs an Ancient Cav and the Romans a Legion

6. 170AD:
The Zulus are willing to make peace for the Republic. Ok, give it to me...
Our elite Kt in Paris kills the Legion. And the elite pike will hopefully hold against the AC.

Found a new town 2S of Ellippi, which starts a galley. (So the settler was good for something after all...)

Some espionage in Japan: Tokyo: 2sp, 2sw; Edo: 4sp, 1sw + 1sw to be finished next turn; Kyoto: 7sp, 1sw. 19 more units (a mix of spears, swords and horses) are running around in the open.
14 Portuguese units are already in Japan, 6 more land this turn, and 6 more can be unloaded inside Kyoto next turn. So the plan is: attack next turn, take Kyoto, and perhaps Edo if forces suffice. Dig in in those two cities and wait for the counter attack. Kill the Japanes stack and then take the other cities.
Get Wool, 4gpt and 16g from Greece for Monotheism. (They'll have it soon anyway.) Germany has reached Feudalism.

IBT: Hittites land 2 Three-Man-Chariots next to Paris! Man, they really mean it. The Bab AC kills our elite pike!
Our Kt in Paris is still red-lined from fighting the Roman Legion, the Hittites are not willing to talk and there's no way to bring reinforcements on time: this means "bey-bey Paris" next IBT.
The Hittites start Sun Tzu's.

7. 190AD:
Establish an embassy with India(3), Azteks(3), Celts(3), Korea(4), China(5), Greece(6) and Icas(6) for a total of 381g. The numbers in parenthesis means the number of units stationed in the capitals. Screenshots are attached.
Sign a RoP with India, Celts, Greece, China, Persia, France, Azteks, Korea, Incas and Ottomans and get ~200g back. (Some RoPs are tied to gpt. Please take these into account, when deciding whom to invade next.)

Now the big moment: the trashing of our reputation... (Oh, why am I then one who need to do this, as I always like to keep my word. )
Take Kyoto: 1 loss, 3 retreats, 8 wins! Wow, that was easy. (I'm pretty confident now that I'll have cleared Japan by the end of my turnset...)
Take Edo: 3 losses, 4 wins. Hmm, that took more then it should have. Especially bad was that I had to move units over from the Kyoto stack, so they have no movement left and will need to camp in the open.
Kill 5 more loose units, one Kt dies to a sword. Retreat everyone, who can still walk, behind the walls of Kyoto and Edo.

IBT: Hittites take Paris. We loose three of the open units in Japan, 1 survives.
A total of 15 units approaches Kyoto and Edo.
America asks for peace, but has nothing to give. No, thanks.
Bapedi flips and takes a pike and an elite Kt, that had stopped there for healing, with it.

8. 210AD:
unload for more Kt in Japan, land 4 Kt in France (thanks to the RoP, we can hit Paris from there, but the Hittites Chariots can't reach us. ) and 6 Kt in India. Healing in Japan...

IBT: Japan attacks. We loose 2 Kts, they loose like 8 horses & swords.
The Japanese pillage a road near Edo. This will be important lateron.
Uskudar Granary -> Market

9. 230AD:
Kill the remaining Jap units. No losses. I move all units, that were unloaded in Edo or healed in Edo, to Kyoto, because due to the pillaged road, they cannot attack Osaka out of Edo
A templar retakes Bapedi. (I thought, our reputation is trashed now anyway, so why not...)
New deal with Germany: Peace + MA vs Mongolia for Dyes, Incense, Silks and Ivory. I also sign an alliance vs Mongolia with the Greek, but don't tie it to a peace deal. We still have 18 turns of RoP with them, and I don't wont that to be blown, if Greece decides to make peace with Mongolia. So there should be some bloodshed now going on on the German/Mongolian/Greek landmass...
9gpt from Persia for Incense.

IBT: France starts Sun Tzu's.

10. 250AD:
12 units are not enough to take Osaka! 3 losses, 7 retreats, 2 wins.
I bring another Acient Cav into Kyoto by ship-chain: it kills a third spear. I risk a 4/5 Kt from Kyoto: it kills a 4th spear. If I counted correctly, this means the 2/4 spear that can be seen now, is the last remaining unit in Osaka. I risk a 3/5 Kt from Kyoto, but it retreats. . .. .. .. .. I'm not going to risk my 2/5 Kt. There are 2 more healed Kts in Edo, but they are out of reach. Why did they have to pillage this road and not the one 1SE??
Ok, I give up. I move the two Kts from Edo to cover our precious elite Kts. My successor will have 6 healed units ready for attack next turn. Pay attention to how many reinforcements the bring into Osaka in the IBT! If more than two, then I suggest retreating the entire stack and healing it.

Found two new towns: Viseu and São Mamede.

In the interturn a few Arabian units have suspiciously been sneaking around some of our undefended towns. I don't want to use units for covering them, so I ask the Arabs to leave. They declare! Man, they are brave...
I kill 5 loose Arabian units. Something to note here: even though I had dozens of elite wins meanwhile, still no leader! Please also try a bit of leader fishing. Use elite units only, if it's a sure win, or when trying to achieve an important objective, that can't otherwise be done.

2 Kts retake Paris from the Hittites. That puts us at 457 tiles, ~27 tiles ahead of team klarius...

Handover notes:
There are still a number of units to move, a number of horses to be upgraded and a number of Kt-builds switched back to horse, after the iron is disconnected. Also it's fine, if you go through the towns and sell a few barracks that are not needed.
I build an Aquaeduct and a Granary in Uskudar. Also let the Marketplace finish. Grow it to size 12 quickly (add a worker or two, if necessary) and it will be a powerhouse! Also I think Istanbul would be reasonably productive, so in the long run we should "relocate" the Babs?!

Continue to land Kts in France. The two galleys can do this quickly now. 15 should be enough, they can't be that strong. Peek into Orleans and then take them one be one.
Russia and Arabia are still on our continent, but I simply didn't have anything to gift them. Perhaps we can ICS Japan and give it to some of France, Russia, Arabia, India and the Ottomans?!

The attack on India should be pretty straightforward. Take for example Delhi and Bangalore, dig in and wait for the counterattack. Don't take Madras, because then their counterattack stack will sit on a hill! Take Bombay last, because that might be a tough nut like Osaka.

Celts will be more difficult. They have lots of Gallic Swordsmen running around. Perhaps take only Alesia and then hope the counterattack will die on that hill. (The Celts once suffered a devastating defeat against Caesar at Alesia... Make history repeat itself! )

 

[Lanzelot]

PS: after thinking about it a bit, I would say the Japs can't have any horses left. So Kyoto should be save, and you can move a Pike to our stack for extra cover.
The two trebs near Zimbabwe can go to Isandhlwana and mount the galley, when it gets rushed.

And: perhaps it is an option to postpone the attack on Celtia and take America instead?