Rifles against Marines and Tanks looked bleak, so I figured if there was to be any chance, I had to get Infantries, and fast. So I launched an 8-turn golden age, built research practically everywhere, changed to Rep, so we could get to Assembly Line and Infantry in 4 turns. During that time, and after to be honest, Justinian's superior forces kept making sting attacks against cities. The attrition was pretty bad. For the most part we could take out the attackers afterwards, but it meant we kept losing units faster than it was possible to replenish them (especially deep in Byzantine culture). The city furthest in was down to the bare bones.
Finally having upgraded a sufficient amount to Infantry, and having a healthy amount of cannons, I went on the offensive again. At some point even Brennus joined the fray, with a giant stack.
We took a city north of Constantinople, while Brennus took a small desert spot. Then he started moving towards another city, and I figured this was a great opportunity for them both to lose a lot of units, as I had seen piles of defenders in that city, plus 7-8 tanks. Unfortunately, however, Brennus simply stopped moving 2 tiles from the city, not going anywhere. Weird. Therefore I took most of the stack, leaving 8-10 defenders, and moved towards Constantinople. It was heavily defended, but after suiciding 8 CR3 cannons, we finally had winning odds against most things (but I chanced 2 super attackers at 90%, both winning, removing two pretty sturdy defenders). The city was ours, and we were able to move an assortment of about 10 units into the city, some of them only damaged from an armada of airships. Was worried what would happen in between turns, he could easily do great damage against any of the nearby cities (railraods!!) or the damaged stack, inside or outside the former capital. But nothing of note occurred.
Except one thing. Brennus peaced out. Bugger. A few turns earlier Brennus also lost the desert spot to Justinian. Too lightly defended, and railroads make the logistics difficult even for the human. That means the frontlines moved a great deal closer to home, so I need more defenders everywhere.
With Brennus' huge stack gone (you can see it in a city below, some 40-50 units), Justinian is much more free to attack me wherever he pleases, which I suppose be will be in one of the two most recently captured cities. And Brennus will be free to go full-tilt on culture. He's around 50 turns away, but that could probably be half when he starts building culture instead of military units. I've bought him out of Free Speech a few times, but he goes back pretty quickly.
Still no sign of Justy capping. Monty has to break free first, and that won't happen anytime soon. Will have to thoroughly smack down Justy I think, so I'll have to take all the cities in this area. Hopefully we don't lose a ton of units to counters over the next few turns.
Stack in recently captured Constantinople. All survivors are in there now, and I must cross my fingers we're able to heal up without too many more bodies to bury.
One part of Brennus' stack. Another lot of Cavalry and Marines were further north, moving towards Aryan. Shame Brennus bought peace with Fascism. Also a shame he lost Aryan. Would have been very handy if all those units were stuck in that city, because I will probably have to deal with Brennus at some point to win this game. Unless I'm super-lucky and Justinian manages to build UN, so it's Justy vs Nutcracker, with friendly Brennus and Saladin voting for me.
A stack further north. The idea was to move west with it when it got enough cannons, but think they'll have to join the assault on the rest of Justy's east instead. Many of them can move straight to Adrianople (NW of gold) this turn, due to railroads.
Tried to attack from former Spain as well, but Justinian had too many units in that city at that time, so I basically lost that stack. Suicided all cannons, left a few hurt infantry for bait, and managed to retreat with 1-2 infantry + a few cavalry. Slowly building up another one over there, and since Isabella finally got to Astro, trade routes are restored, meaning we have access to iron and cannons. So maybe another attack can be tried in a bit. Need more units and cannons first.
Tech situation is not pleasant... Brennus and Saladin have completed Apollo, and I'm still crawling towards Scientific Method. Have one GE and 3 GS, so I'm thinking about triple-bulbing Physics and then crawling towards Artillery. Another GA would be nice (MoM was in Constantinople), but I need 3 GPs and only have the two types. Saladin is kinda far ahead...
Fighters and Gunships and all kinds of weird infra in his cities.
This war has definitely been bloody. The marines don't show (yet), there have been 6-7 kill of those. 17 tanks is rough.
Poor horsies!
Looks like UN can be a good way to win, also if in trouble tech wise. Though you clearly could have win any way you like here.
