Turnplay Log

[Conroe]

Turn 186 - 1260AD

15^th Turn of the Aloha War

War weariness remains unchanged. (+1 in cities > 10 pop)

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We are greeted with a trade screen from Epsilon. They are offering us their spare sheep (health) resource for free. They also sent over an updated map, which for the life of me I cannot figure out what has changed. They also included a request for us to send them Replaceable Parts. I should have sent that over to them last turn, but sadly I forgot to do it.

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I can see no indication of trading amongst the axis powers. Aloha is up Divine Right on everybody. We (and Epsilon) are up Education, Engineering, and Replaceable Parts on them. In addition, Epsilon has completed Steel this past turn. Epsilon also turned off research (+280 gpt), so I presume they intend to start Steam Power as their next tech.

Aloha is down to 296 gold, having spent 46 gold this past turn on research. This compares to 75 gold they spent last turn; I'm not really sure what those folks are up to, to tell the truth.

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Aloha's capital is about the only city that didn't get this past turn. Evidently, I made them nervous by advancing our landing party. The city of Hello got whipped for 3 pop (a Cossack) and Privet was whipped for 2 pop. An analysis of their score shows that a net total of 8 pop was whipped in all of their cities.

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Their is no change in the defense of their capital this past turn. Our Frigate lowers the cultural defense bonus to 48%. A second Frigate will be available next turn.

I sail our forces to the mouth of Pearl Harbor. There was some discussion in the strategic affairs thread about scouting the isthmus. Is this something that we want to do?

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Meanwhile, on Aloha's other coast ... we finally find out what happend to Aloha's five unaccounted for Cossacks. The city of Hello has been reinforced with eight Cossacks. I'm not really sure how to proceed, so I opt for doing nothing.

They don't have enough Cossacks to take out the entire stack. But they do have enough to make our lives miserable! If they do decide to attack our stack, we may be able to pick off the wounded cavs with our healthy cavs. Alternatively, we may be in a position to just raze the city. We'll have to wait and see what Aloha decides ...

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Our Frigate lowers the defenses of Allegra to 18%. We also land 2 Cavalry outside the city gates.

The city will fall next turn.

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Balderdash -> Moved a citizen around to reduce the amount of starvation. The Cavalry training is unaffected. But, the city is still starving. The city has 324/400 GM points and is accumulating +16 points/turn. We will pop a Great Merchant in 5 turns.

Hamburger -> No changes. The city is continuing to train Pikemen.

Treacle Cottage -> No changes. The city is training Cavalry. Albeit it, slowly ...

Brilliant -> No changes. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 46 turns to work it off.

Twaddle -> No changes. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 42 turns to work it off.

Leonidas -> No changes. Irrigation has finally arrived! Next up is workshops and lumbermills!

Chappaquiddick -> No changes. A barb Axeman has sidelined Aloha's Workers for one more turn. It should suicide on the IBT.

Phooey -> No changes. The city is finally starting to see some growth.

Zapotec -> No changes. Ditto.

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Innovia has built the Taj Mahal and begun a golden age. I am attaching a current save in case anyone would like to have a look. Innovia's graphs are certainly impressive!

1260AD Save

 

[Conroe]

Turn 187 - 1270AD

16^th Turn of the Aloha War

War weariness remains unchanged. (+1 in cities > 10 pop)

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Once again, we are greeted with a trade screen from Epsilon. Once again, they come bearing unexpected gifts. By a rather lethargic vote, the deal is approved and ...



and thus we usher in the industrial era ...

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Innovia becomes the first axis partner to research Education. Meanwhile, Aloha appears to still be running deficit research. Although they managed to pick up 13 gold from somewhere. They now have 309 gold in the bank.

Meanwhile, Epsilon still has research turned off. And they jumped from +280 gpt last turn to 327 gpt this turn.

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No sign of the whip this past turn. Not surprising after the amount of whipping Aloha did previously. According to the score card, they grew 4 pop over the last turn. We can see two of the pop in the cities of Aloha and Hello.

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More units in Aloha's capital. A Musketman and a Catapult appear in the city. My guess is the Catapult was built using whip overflow. Our Frigates lower the cultural defense bonus to 36%.

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But the real action happened on Aloha's other coast. Remember when I said I wasn't sure what to do after Aloha dropped 8 Cossacks in the city of Hello? Well, I opted to do nothing. Big mistake. Huge!

They killed all 5 Pikemen plus 3 of the Cavalry. What's worse is they got 3 lucky RNG rolls. Three!?!?! They have 3 healthy Cossacks protecting their wounded. I don't see how a counter-attack on the stack would do anything other than pass out even more promotions to Aloha.

So I decide to do something unheard of ... I run. Our remaining 6 Cavalry are loaded onto Galleons. I see no other option but to retreat.

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Our Frigate lowers the defenses of Allegra to 16%. I had a boatload of Catapults heading north up Aloha's coast. Since they are no longer needed up north, I decide to delay the assault of Allegra by one turn.

We should still be able to raze the city before Aloha's reinforcements arrive. That assumes, of course, that there are no roads underneath that black fog.

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Balderdash -> No changes. The city is still starving. The city has 340/400 GM points and is accumulating +16 points/turn. We will pop a Great Merchant in 4 turns.

Hamburger -> I decide to abandon Pikeman training and start on Cannons. Since the Cannons are about 20 hammers cheaper, I move some citizens from the 1-hammer plains into the cottages.

I also hire an Engineer. The odds of popping a GE in this city have dropped from >50% to 32%. But, we've still got to try!

Treacle Cottage -> I decide to swap this city over to Cannon construction, as well. It was building 6-turn Cavalry. Now it is building 6-turn Cannons and working a couple of extra cottages.

Brilliant -> No changes. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 45 turns to work it off.

Twaddle -> Moved a citizen from a lumbermill to a cottage. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 41 turns to work it off.

Leonidas -> No changes. The Forge will be ready next turn. What should we build next? Cannons or Cavalry?

Chappaquiddick -> No changes.

Phooey -> No changes.

Zapotec -> No changes.

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Moving all of those citizens to working cottages has shaved 2 turns off of our Rifling research. And the cottages, combined with Aloha reducing our troop expense, allows us to up the research slider by a notch (to 60%). Unfortunately, we're still on schedule to run out of cash before Rifling is completed.

 

[Tubby Rower]

don't beat yourself up Conroe. This isn going to be a tough war and your doing a great job.

how many turns until Rifling?

 

[Conroe]

how many turns until Rifling?

Hard to say, really, since we are going to run out of cash shortly. But to hazard a guess, I'd say about 20 turns. We should have a better idea once our GM pops ...

 

[Whomp]

Yep no worries Conroe. We still have the upper hand and if anything it could mean another razed coastal city for them in exchange. I like those odds.

 

[pindicator]

Can't win every battle, Conroe. Besides, didn't we get some lucky RNG rolls earlier at Hej? The good news is they are still on the defensive and have no opportunity to attack us.

So we have ~20 turns until Rifling. What does everyone think about not revealing cannons until we have the rifles to go along with them? Sure, they probably can surmise we'd have them, but it would still be a psychological blow to go from cats,pikes & cavalry at their doorstep to cannons,cavalry & rifles

 

[Sweetacshon]

If we aren't going to use cannons until we turn up with rifles, then there is absolutely no reason to reveal that we have them. Also, it might be nice to have some homeland defence for a while

 

[Conroe]

Turn 188 - 1280AD

Sorry about the lack of a turn report this time. We've got company in town this weekend, and it has been rather hectic ... I'll just go with the highlights for the time being and get a real report up in the next day or two.

- razed Allegra (although our cav with 95% odds barely survived )
- started a uni in Balderdash
- cannons in our other production centers
- pulled back as many troops into our borders as possible, in an effort to conserve cash for the run towards rifling
- noticed Innovia has an unconnected sugar. We have a spare wine -- maybe one of our negotiators could give them a call?

 

[Sweetacshon]

Conroe, I just wanted to congratulate you on your warmongering. Very well done, especially for someone who is just winging it.

 

[killercane]

Epsilon still has research turned off. And they jumped from +280 gpt last turn to 327 gpt this turn.

Holy crikey! How are we going to beat these guys? We could give Aloha a break in exchange for about 3 scientists to get to nukes fast. Other than that Im all outta ideas. Isnt Epsilon supposed to fight Innovia sometime? Like yesterday?

 

[Sweetacshon]

Yes, but it was always their plan to have each of the other teams fighting amongst themselves, while promising the world, and running away with science. I STILL think we should cut Aloha some slack, and get the dogpile on epsilon

 

[Furiey]

Has Epsilon given us an ETA of their attack? Even a rough one?

 

[Tubby Rower]

before 2050 I presume once again they have screwed us by being vague and we assume that they are being forthright

 

[Conroe]

Holy crikey! How are we going to beat these guys? We could give Aloha a break in exchange for about 3 scientists to get to nukes fast. Other than that Im all outta ideas.

It occurs to me that our war with Aloha shall determine the winner of this game. If we defeat Aloha, then Epsilon wins. If we are defeated, then Innovia wins.

I'm not sure how far in bed Aloha is with Innovia, but it would probably behoove both of our teams to come up with a solution. Because right now its looking like neither of us are going to win.

 

[killercane]

It occurs to me that our war with Aloha shall determine the winner of this game. If we defeat Aloha, then Epsilon wins. If we are defeated, then Innovia wins.

I'm not sure how far in bed Aloha is with Innovia, but it would probably behoove both of our teams to come up with a solution. Because right now its looking like neither of us are going to win.

I dont know, Epsilon might win regardless! But we have to come up with something to improve our chances. Can we whip out the uni or wait next for a bank there in Balderdash and whip a uni in Treacle rather than work the no food hammer tiles? Or build National Epic in Balderdash and go caste system/pacifism to get out some scientists? If we can get that thing to 100 gpp/turn we can roll on some science. I dont know if this is possible though

 

[Conroe]

Turn 189 - 1290AD

18^th Turn of the Aloha War

War weariness:
+2 in cities ≥ 12 pop
+1 elsewhere

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Innovia has traded Education to Loco. My what good friends these two have become! Aloha still lacks Education, but the last trade was delayed several turns, if you will recall.

Meanwhile, Aloha has apparently upgraded something. They are down to 159 gold (from 309 gold previously) and still appear to be running deficit research.

Meanwhile, Epsilon still has research turned off. They have accumulated a nestegg of 1230 gold and are adding to it at 308gpt.

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Aloha has been cracking the whip somewhere in their empire the last turn. It doesn't appear to be in their capital, though, as it is back up to size 6. It is primed and ready to whip a Cossack, I presume.

Meanwhile, I continue to pull troops back into our borders in an effort to preserve cash. We have enough cash to maintain research for 10 turns. If our GM can complete his trade mission by then ...

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I cancel OB with Innovia. I believe this was the general consensus in the other thread. Our actions have trapped both their Galley and their Camel Archer in our backfield. I am going to send them a letter of apology explaining the reason behind our actions.

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Balderdash -> No changes. The city is still starving. The city has 372/400 GM points and is accumulating +16 points/turn. We will pop a Great Merchant in 2 turns.

Hamburger -> No changes.

Treacle Cottage -> No changes.

Brilliant -> No changes. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 43 turns to work it off.

Twaddle -> No changes. The city has +4 whip anger and will need 39 turns to work it off.

Leonidas -> No changes.

Chappaquiddick -> No changes.

Phooey -> No changes.

Zapotec -> No changes.

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Epsilon has founded a new city (their 14^th), as does Loco.

 

[Conroe]

Turn 190 - 1300AD

19^th Turn of the Aloha War

War weariness:
+2 in cities ≥ 12 pop
+1 elsewhere

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Loco has managed to lay their hands on Constitution. Are they planning on making a run for Democracy? That emancipation penalty would be murder if they do. I also find it odd that they "can't trade" Constitution this turn.

Aloha continues to lay on the research. They are down to 88 gold, running deficit research. Meanwhile, Epsilon has turned research back on.

Innovia, though, has started accumulating cash. They are pulling in +263gpt from their golden age fueled economy.

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I can see no evidence of the whip in Aloha this past turn. And based upon their score, they have added 5 pop.

They've added a couple more units to their capital (a mace and a musket) over the last several turns. It looks like their builds, while they grow their capital, are concentrating on Catapults. Our Frigates at Pearl Harbor have finally reduced the city's defenses down to rubble.

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Innovia has decided to go have a look around in our backyard.

I'm thinking of holding off attacking that barb city. I don't want a bad RNG roll to allow their Camel Archer to walk in and pickup some free xp.

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Balderdash -> No changes. The city is still starving. The city has 388/400 GM points and is accumulating +16 points/turn. We will pop a Great Merchant next turn.

Hamburger -> No changes.

Treacle Cottage -> No changes.

Brilliant -> No changes. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 42 turns to work it off.

Twaddle -> No changes. The city has +4 whip anger and will need 38 turns to work it off.

Leonidas -> No changes.

Chappaquiddick -> No changes. Aloha's Workers are building a road to Zapotec.

Phooey -> No changes.

Zapotec -> No changes.

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I failed to note in my report last time that Loco has popped a Great Scientist. If I've calculated it correctly, it should allow them to lightbulb Engineering.

 

[Sweetacshon]

Do we have a pike to guard that worker? It may be a bit late for a worker steal, but it's not as if we have that many, do we?

 

[Conroe]

Turn 191 - 1310AD

20^th Turn of the Aloha War

War weariness:
+2 in cities ≥ 12 pop
+1 elsewhere

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Aloha's research efforts have paid off for them. The have acquired Engineering. Don't really care much about the Pikemen, but the extra road movement will be a big asset to them. They are now down to 15 gold.

Meanwhile, Loco continues to have a monopoly on Constitution. Innovia and Epsilon are both continuing to raise cash ...

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After subtracting out Engineering from Aloha's score, it looks like they managed to grow 2 pop this past turn. One of the pop was in their capital.

It seems that after the withdrawl of our forces, Aloha has decided to lay off the whip.

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It looks like the most we will get from our Great Merchant is 1300 gold. I send him north to an awaiting Galleon.

I have also sent a message to Epsilon asking for 250 gold to keep the Rifling research up while we wait on the trade mission. To that end, the research slider is kicked up to 80%. Rifling will be done in 8 turns.

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Balderdash -> Fired the 2 merchants. The city is no longer starving.

Hamburger -> No changes. The city continues to produce Cannons.

Treacle Cottage -> No changes. The city continues to produce Cannons.

Brilliant -> No changes. The city has +5 whip anger and will need 41 turns to work it off.

Twaddle -> No changes. The city has +4 whip anger and will need 37 turns to work it off.

Leonidas -> No changes. The city continues to produce Cannons.

Chappaquiddick -> No changes. Aloha's Workers are building a road to Zapotec.

Phooey -> No changes. Venison begins to arrive from the camp built by the Workers. The city finally has food!

Zapotec -> No changes. This city is about to run out of improved tiles. Hopefully Aloha's Workers will arrive in time.

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Innovia is taking a page out of Epsilon's playbook and founding cities. They now have 11 cities (compared to 14 for Epsilon). We have 9 cities of our own. We may need to think about putting some of our newer cities, as they grow large enough to be productive, on Settler duty.

 

[Conroe]

Turn 192 - 1320AD

21^st Turn of the Aloha War

War weariness:
+2 in cities ≥ 12 pop
+1 elsewhere

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Loco has forwarded Constitution over to their pals in Innovia. Aloha, however, has not received it. Yet? Aloha also has not transfered Engineering to their allies.

Meanwhile, Innovia and Epsilon are both continuing to raise cash at a rate of +289gpt and +315gpt, respectively. Epsilon has 1873 gold in the bank after our loan ...



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Once again, we see no sign of the whip in Aloha's territory. Based upon the score, they have grown 2 pop this past turn.

I can't tell if there are more troops in their capital or not. It has been 5 days since we've seen a save and I honestly cannot recall.

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Take a gander at what our Caravel has spied!

Aloha's western borders! I back our Caravel off a bit so that he will not be seen by them this turn.

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Balderdash -> No changes. The University will be complete next turn.

Hamburger -> No changes. The city continues to produce Cannons.

Treacle Cottage -> No changes. The city continues to produce Cannons.

Brilliant -> At size 10, the city is at its happiness cap. Hired an engineer to reduce the surplus food. The city has +4 whip anger and will need 40 turns to work it off.

Twaddle -> No changes. The city has +4 whip anger and will need 36 turns to work it off.

Leonidas -> No changes. The city continues to produce Cannons.

Chappaquiddick -> The Library is for 2 pop. Aloha's Workers continue to build a road to Zapotec.

Phooey -> No changes.

Zapotec -> No changes. This city is about to run out of improved tiles. Hopefully Aloha's Workers will arrive in time.

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Epsilon has put down another city, their 15^th!

Rifling is due in 7 turns. Our Great Merchant will arrive in 4 turns.