Term 3: Military Department - Dominance of Gaelic Swordsmen

[Falcon02]

Here is the Military Department for the Third Term, please feel free to ask questions and give suggestions. I'll try to keep this updated with current info and proposed instructions so people can look them over before the actual turnchat.

Leader : Falcon02
Deputy : TheOverseer714

 

[TheOverseer714]

You want a deputy? I can continue in that capacity, even if I am chief elsewhere...I think.

 

[Falcon02]

I think that will work well, you seemed to do a good job for Billybones27

 

[CommandoBob]

From Technology and Trade:

The upgrade path for Gallic Swords is to become Maces. Maces are available with Feudalism.

However, we can still build Gallic Swords once we learn Feudalism, as long as we have not had/begun our Golden Age. Once that happens, we can only build Maces. Until we have our GA, we can build Maces and GSs.

Our current/proposed research path in the Middle Ages is Engineering first and Feudalism second, but having The Great Library means we do not totally control what we learn or when we learn it.

 

[TheOverseer714]

We'll get Feudalism as soon as 2 other tribes get it, so it could be pretty fast. In a way, that would be nice. We could save our GA for later and still thrash the Fomorach. I think any leftover warriors should be upgraded(vets and elite) or disbanded(regulars and conscripts) to allow us to build more offensive units. We might even consider building no more Spears and disbanding the ones we have, in favor of GSes and ACs and some Maces. Our unit support is nearly crippling us, so I favor fast offensive units over slow defenders to get the most from it.

 

[TheOverseer714]

Civilian units:
Settlers 3
Workers 8

Military units:
Warriors 3 Regular
Archers 2, Elite 1, Veteran 1
Spearmen 8, Elite 1, Veteran 4, Regular 3
Gallic Swordsmen 7, Elite 2, Veteran 5
Ancient Cavalry 1, Veteran
Curragh 1, Regular
Catapult 1

Unit Support:
Total units: 34
Allowed: 1
Support cost: 46 gpt

We are "strong" compared to the Byzantines, English and Ottomans.

There are no barbarians visible. Byzantine tribe has a settler pair in sight.

There is a Vandal tribe near Maeve. An unescorted Settler nearby.

 

[Falcon02]

I do think the settlers in the north should pull back until they can get escorts, as The Overseer noted, there is a vandal tribe nearby and to lose our valuable citizens to the barbarians due to negligence would be criminal.

We should have Iron reconnected soon and I would request Gaelic Swordsmen and Spearmen whenever possible.

 

[Falcon02]

I believe it may be time to start upgrading units.

We have 14 Spearmen at a cost of 30 gold per unit to upgrade to a pikeman

right now 7 can be instantly upgraded for a cost of 210 gold

To upgrade ALL spearmen we would need 420 gold, and some shuffling around of units.

Our current treasury is at 1369 with +91 gpt (though the gpt may likely change as Sci is at 0%)

 

[Cyc]

Questions, Falc.

1. Should we wait to see if we can comlete Leonardo's Workshop before we start upgrading? That Wonder may be in our near future.

2. Does it cost the same to upgrade Spearman to Pikemen, and then upgrade them to Musketmen, as it would to upgrade Spearmen straight to Musketmen?

I am definitely in favor of upgrading.

 

[Falcon02]

1.) We could, however the cost benefit would be relatively small given the low cost of the Spearman upgrade, it's still up to another 210 gold in our coffers though.

2.) (following numbers exclude Leonardo's Workshop)
Upgrade cost 3 gold per 1 shield difference

Spearmen cost 20 Shields
Pikemen cost 30 Shields
Muskets cost 60 Shields

Spearmen -> Pikemen -> Muskets
(30-20) * 3 + (60-30) * 3 = 10 * 3 + 30 * 3 = 40 * 3 = 120 gold per unit

Spearman -> Musket
(60-20) * 3 = 40 * 3 = 120 gold per unit

So the cost is the same

Individually
Spear -> Pike = 30 Gold per unit (/w LW 15 Gold per unit)
Pike -> Musket = 90 Gold per unit (/w LW 45 Gold per unit)
Spear -> Musket = 120 Gold per unit (/w LW 60 Gold per unit)

Also we are quite a few turns away from Leonardo's Workshop and Muskets with no guarantee we'll have ready access to Saltpeter

 

[Cyc]

Thank you, sir. The information is valuable. I now agree that we should upgrade Spearmen to Pikemen as the opportunity arises. I'm sure we can spare the 420 gold over time.

 

[TheOverseer714]

In AW doctrine, the Spear>Pike upgrade is generally worth doing, but the Spear>Musket, or for that matter the Pike>Musket is not considered worth the cash. I'd recommend the Spear>Pike upgrade with or without Leo's, but I'd only do the Pike>Musket with Leo's in our possession.

 

[Bowsling]

In AW doctrine, the Spear>Pike upgrade is generally worth doing, but the Spear>Musket, or for that matter the Pike>Musket is not considered worth the cash. I'd recommend the Spear>Pike upgrade with or without Leo's, but I'd only do the Pike>Musket with Leo's in our possession.

Yup, I agree.

 

[Cyc]

Minister Falcon02, I implore you to show us an attack plan using your seasoned battle skills. History shows us that you can lead a nation to victory in the field. A battle plan will help us succeed with a quick thrashing of the Fomorach.

 

[Falcon02]

Minister Falcon02, I implore you to show us an attack plan using your seasoned battle skills. History shows us that you can lead a nation to victory in the field. A battle plan will help us succeed with a quick thrashing of the Fomorach.

I'll try to generate something real quick tonight so you all can look over it, though I'm going to bed soon, so it may have to wait until Thursday evening.

 

[Falcon02]

Relevant numbers

18 Cities to Defend ( 5 Border, excluding 2 northern cities with Persian, Chinese Settlements)

Defensive
1 Spearman (1/2/1)
13 Pikeman (1/3/1)

Offensive
2 Knights (4/3/2)
9 Gaelic Swordsmen (3/2/2)
9 Ancient Cavalry (3/2/2)
2 Archers (2/1/1) (Can be upgraded to Longbowmen (4/1/1) current turn for 60g each, 120g total)
4 Warriors (1/1/1) (Can be upgraded to Medieval Infantry (4/2/1) for 90g each, 360g total)

Bombard
1 Catapult (Can be upgraded to Trebuchet for 30g)

Total cost to upgrade ALL obsolete units to current tech level : 520g

Our current Cash stores are 1445g with -24 gpt

I do lean towards upgrading the Warriors, but it's not a cheap upgrade


Ideally I would like 1 Pikeman per city, maybe 2 for border cities + Expeditionary force escorts... however that's not very practical so the 2 defense of the Gallic Swordsman and Ancient Cavalry will have to suffice for the most part.

Looking at the Trade Screen we can assume Elizabeth has Feudalism and Chivalry since we are able to trade to her Theology, Engineering, and Republic. In fact her government is Feudalism and she currently building the Knight's Templar... This means she is just as technologically advanced as us in the military arts (with the exception of the Longbowman and Trebuchet).

We are currently rated as "Strong" compared to the English

Odds are however most of her defenses are still based in the Ancient Era, but that will change as time goes on.

 

[Falcon02]

Here's a preliminary Attack plan

There are 2-3 Groups

One group (Green) will attack Warwick to the south, go on to take Birmingham (should have little resistance), continue on to Hastings, and then take Brighton

The Second group (Blue) is a "optional" group to take Reading (it's defenses should be light so a small force should be sufficient)

The Third group (orange) will go for Coventry and go onto raze York (possibly doubling back at some point to take Reading)

 

[Falcon02]

Still need to think about about the distribution of the units between these stacks though, it also may depend on what upgrades we go for

 

[Cyc]

Thank you, General Falcon02.

 

[Falcon02]

Alright, here's how I'm thinking of splitting up the Stacks

13 Pikeman + 1 Spearman + 2 Gaelic Swordsmen + 2 Ancient Cavalry for City defense (that's 18 units for 18 cities)

that leaves for the offensive
2 Knights
7 Gaelic Swordsmen
7 Ancient Cavalry
2 Longbowmen
4 Medieval Infantry
1 Trebuchet

Orange Group : 4 Medieval Infantry, 2 Longbowmen, 1 Trebuchet
Green Group : 1 Knight and 7 Gaelic Swordsmen
Blue Group : 1 Knight and 7 Ancient Cavalry

Once Reading Falls the Blue Group will go to reinforce the Orange Group at Coventry