Turn 170 - 540 AD

[Donovan Zoi]

Tampere Falls!

Another turn, another loss by CGN.

I am still absorbing the details from Friday's historic chat, and will be posting my thoughts on this matter tomorrow afternoon EST.

From what I gather so far, it seems that CGN is looking for monetary aid from ourselves and Apolyton. I myself have always hoped for us to be in a position to grant military aid. However, my proposal now looks like it could be too little too late. Once I research the chat, I will most likely contact Apolyton to see how far they are from researching Astronomy and Navigation. In the meantime, I feel we should continue with our FP domestic agenda while building Riders in our established cities. We can then hopefully send a small battalion of Riders to Netatolia for assistance once we secure navigation from Apolyton.

Once again, I feel that there are no easy answers here. We are really in no position to provide significant help, and draining our treasury for an uncertain result is not sitting well with me at this time. However, I do not plan on voting on the current CGN-aid measure until I have read the transcripts from both chats.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Our bluff seems to have worked!

A bit of good news on our part is that our Elite Swordsman seems to have driven the Elite GCA spear off the continent. I am sure that Lucky and Co. did not want to risk the chance of our getting a Great Leader from this meaningless altercation.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Our First Rider Produced!

The first of these highly-skilled mounted units was produced in our capital, with the hopes of more to follow.

Our nation seems to be torn of how we should dispatch these units once we have built up our numbers somewhat. Much of our citizenry would like to keep these soldiers in our homeland to offset a possible threat from Apolyton, while others(myself included) would like to keep trust in our long-standing alliance and send these units abroad to assist a floundering Netatolian nation.

With each new Rider produced, this difference of opinion will prove to be one of the greatest debates of this term, and possibly the next. I welcome all to once again state your feelings on these weighty matters so that our nation can reach some kind of consensus when the time comes.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Barb Camp in Sight

We have a Horseman and an MI stationed outside the Sakae barb camp, awaiting orders to permanently remove this settlement and its makeshift harbor. This directive should be carried out next turn.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Finally, I have decided to build a worker out of Shen Ling so that it may add to Ju Yaosai's population. JY produces a Marketplace in two turns and will benefit greatly from the added pop.

Also, I had to temporarily tap the food supplies in Zhi Gang so that our workers would have enough energy to finish a Barracks in 1 turn instead of two. Doing this will allow another city to join the Rider production cycle, and will grant us the possibility of making great strides militarily.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

And finally, here is the Big Picture. Please let me know your questions and concerns.

 

[Emp.Napoleon]

We should keep the raider in our homeland, for the reasons that you said.

 

[croxis]

What if we sent half the forces oversea, and half remain here? How long would it take for a boat to head over to the LargeLands?

 

[Hygro]

I think our military should not remain home to combat the Apolyton "threat". The quotes don't signify a lack thereof, morerather, it would be better for us to take faith they won't start a war that would be hopeless for us, and instead use or military where we could see real gains with minimal losses (I.E. fightin overseas )

 

[Emp.Napoleon]

They shouldn't go overseas as that would cause war. We have a small army and it is not ready for combat. We need a navy to send over there also to help transport them too. I would hate to see us go into WW due to some war that may not be won.

 

[Hygro]

Well, its send them overseas, or not build them at all in my mind.

 

[Yndy]

Unless we have 10 Riders and boats to carry them this is a non issue. While we build Riders with the three developed cities, we need to start thinking upcoming builds (When would you estimate Banking to be available DZ?)

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Originally posted by Yndy
Unless we have 10 Riders and boats to carry them this is a non issue. While we build Riders with the three developed cities, we need to start thinking upcoming builds (When would you estimate Banking to be available DZ?)

Last time I personally spoke with Apolyton(which was about 5-7 turns ago), they were planning an [Education ---> Astronomy ---> Navigation] research path in order to get us the upper hand in naval activity, as well as to get us both across the ocean to help CGN. So I would not foresee Banking becoming available to us until some time after that.

Since we are not quite ready for prime time when it comes to researching our own tech, I have been satisfied with our current gold-for-tech arrangement with Apolyton. However my goal is for us to have Libraries in our high-commerce cities by the time we finish Printing Press(due in 30 turns). Incidentally, PPress is due at nearly the same time as our FP will be built, so if we have most of our new cities in place by that time we should see a commercial boost from our FP as well.

Does this sound reasonable?

 

[Yndy]

Of course Libraries are good to be built and not shield expensive so our top cities could build them by the time PP is due.

Still, I'd love to see our top 3 cities finish Banks very soon after we get the technology, but given the current research priority this is not to be discussed ATM.

 

[RegentMan]

Originally posted by Donovan Zoi
A bit of good news on our part is that our Elite Swordsman seems to have driven the Elite GCA spear off the continent.

Are you sure the spearman didn't just go into that fogged tile? Where was it the turn before?

I believe Apolyton can be trusted. We need to organize an overseas force to aid our friends and keep victory in sight.

 

[Zarn]

It doesn't matter whether they can be trusted or not, we still MUST go overseas, eventually. Else GWT is going to dominate everyone. An invasion in required to win this game.

1) How many galleys do we have?
2) How many riders are on the way?
3) Are we going to build troops to fortify former GWT cities, or are we burning them to the ground?
4) Are we going to give CGN their destroyed lands back (I hope not)?
5) Are there any cities in the German Webring's empire that would be most vulnerable to attack?
6) Do we plan on negotiating West continent borders with Poly, or are we going in with a free-for-all approach?

Not all of these questions have to be answered right away, but we have to answer them soon.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Originally posted by RegentMan
Are you sure the spearman didn't just go into that fogged tile? Where was it the turn before?

I believe Apolyton can be trusted. We need to organize an overseas force to aid our friends and keep victory in sight.

Yes, I am positive. I just forgot to take the screenshot while our Swordsman was standing one tile SW. There is nowhere else that Spear could have gone, except for a swim.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Originally posted by Zarn
It doesn't matter whether they can be trusted or not, we still MUST go overseas, eventually. Else GWT is going to dominate everyone. An invasion in required to win this game.

1) How many galleys do we have?
2) How many riders are on the way?
3) Are we going to build troops to fortify former GWT cities, or are we burning them to the ground?
4) Are we going to give CGN their destroyed lands back (I hope not)?
5) Are there any cities in the German Webring's empire that would be most vulnerable to attack?
6) Do we plan on negotiating West continent borders with Poly, or are we going in with a free-for-all approach?

Not all of these questions have to be answered right away, but we have to answer them soon.

Great questions, Zarn.

I will definitely have to give these some thought. I must first talk with Poly to figure out how close they are to Navigation, and then base our readiness estimates on that deadline. Did that come up in last week's chat by any chance? I don't recall any mention of it.

Also, here's a silly question, and I believe the answer is "no."

Have we had our Golden Age yet?

 

[Hygro]

it's "no"

 

[GenMarshall]

I beleve the GCA's Spear may have moved south into the FOW