IT (740AD):
Ok, taking a look around to see whats going on....
Not sure what I can do here, we have a french axe right behind our north sword/cat stack, with no archers - will probably lose a unit there. There is an axe/spear combo right next to seville - that would block our northern advance from lyons....
I notice seville is about to go unhappy -> I'm going to whip something there - probably military since market would only get us 1gpt extra (not worth the immediate benefit). I can whip an axe there and something in barc too, but there is no way I can take paris this turn.
There are 4 archers, 2 axes, and two spears - plus culture defense AND it would take the lyons units 6 turns to get there through french lands... What the heck am I supposed to do here?
Well I decide to be decisive and face the music later...
I whip several cities -> reason? because most were -2 unhappy and i just whipped them back to even. If I try to take paris (and I will at least head that direction), they won't be getting any happier. I will warn you though, our economy will most likely take a HUGE hit. I wouldn't worry, we have a decent tech lead locally. I think I got 3 axes and a sword out of our unhappy citizens..
End turn and say my prayers...
Turn 1(760AD):
Toledo: Racks -> Sword
Hmm, what did I say about JC and his settlers... He would later settle.
All the cities that built axes/swords last turn go back to what they were producing. We were not attacked at all, their north axe went for Rheims but were well defended. It will delay those reinforcements a turn though. I'm still gonna make a run at Paris, but probably won't finish on my turn... I start the long haul to paris and I'll check out Orleans on the way...pillage and burn baby...
Turn 2 (780AD):
Lose a sword to an axe in the south - thats why we should have had an axe in that stack - oh well...
Barc finishes colleseum and starts market (too far for mil reinforcements IMHO).
I attack an axe/spear thats about to pillage our stone near seville - 72% and lose grrr... But now I have to get rid of the axe and the spear or they'll just pillage... Sword kills spear - Axe finishes axe..
Louis wandering warrior in south is about to pillage our copper and/or attack our one archer city. I find a galley close by with an archer, and attack with 80% against the warrior -> WIN without a scratch.
What is he thinking? A settler gaurded by two spears during wartime?
I decide to leave them alone because I have no axes, and I would be in range of an attack next turn from the city of paris - and we could possible lose the whole stack.
I also switch seville to an axe to add to the 2 archers there - if louis attack there, he better bring an SoD.
Turn 3 (800AD):
CoL in -> Monarchy next for new civic (HR) - everything else is double digits anyway... I wanted Xbows but its 16 turns.
I create our new mini-SoD to start toward Paris -> should reach by end of my turns - there are units enroute to seville and in production at seville so it should be safe.
North stack in position to start bombard at paris... I assume louis will settle with the spear pair but I don't care, that will be easy picking later as it had two spears only. WE WANT PARIS NOW. And we can't ignore JC - although backward now - I can pretty much gauruntee he'll have that west island soon -> he is settler crazy it seems.
TUrn 4: (820AD):
Rheims expands.
Barb Archer in north.
Attack axe on our sheep by Rheims -> 75% and WIN - now I can move reinforcements down to paris from Rheims
Ok, heres our possible break.
Louis moves axe/spear outside of city - either to guard mine or go attack. If they attack our others cities, we have a good shot at paris, which now has less units. Start bombard -> down to 42%. We are going to need axes there though to take their axes out.
I do some other various MM.
Turn 5 (840AD):
Cordoba market -> courthouse
Seville finishes axe -> axe.
I fortify the seville axe in case louis makes a run at toledo (archer/warrior)...
Paris down to 24%... Odds for city raider II sword still 11% - WE NEED AXES... which are on their way...
I decide to send a sword from seville after the spears - If I promote strength and melee - he'll take both spears and grab a worker, plus won't get the city (unless founded before I get there).
Toledo finished sword -> Granary (we're at 40% science - need infra..)
Barb archer pillages stone in north but we have two - can't spare the units to take it right now.
Turn 6 (860AD):
Paris to 6% -> still 23% for sword -> with 7 units in the city, I'm unsure of a suicide - especially with units on the way. We might as well do this right. As soon as second stack arrives, I'll suicide at least two cats and pray...
Turn 7 (880AD):
Louis axe suicides on Rheims to our archer.
Bombard to 0% -> still at 24% (the cat has 20% for crying out loud!) I would go for it, but in two turns I'll have another stack there. I should be able to take it by the end of my turns. The weird thing is that Louis keeps moving units everywhere - seems safe but keep an eye out.
I whip granary at toledo...
I also kill a french spear by Rheims...
Turn 8 (900AD):
I kill an archer and an axe by seville...
I kill one spear but still a spear/settler left between rheims and seville.
One turn until Siege
Turn 9 (920AD):
Stink! -> I forgot to promote axe in second stack and it promptly got nixed by the AI... major
Thats gonna make it all that much harder with one axe left there...
Marseilles founded by louis, as soon as sword is healed, it will be razed.
The battle of Paris:
Here is what we are up against.
Upgrade first cat to barrage2 and suicide but damaged the axes!!
Same for second cat -> I'll save the other cats for now.
The city now:
1st sword 72% -> LOSE
2nd sword 89% -> LOSE WTF
3rd sword 97% -> WIN
4th sword 99% -> WIN
Axe 89% -> WIN
Cat 94% -> WIN
Cat 95% -> WIN
Spear 79% -> WIN
1 UNIT left -> oh well, I'll get it on my 10th turn...
Take out french spear in north...
Whip axeman in Rheims for barb archer...
Turn 10 (940AD):
Barb archer attacks Rheims and Dies.
Monarchy discovered -> Start Machine 20 turns
Hurrian Forge -> Court
Rheims Axe -> Court
Switch to Hereditary Rule for happy...
Of Course Louis pops an axe in paris grr...
I have no choice but to suicide a cat or risk not getting paris...
Cat Withdraws with little damage done
Cat2 beats axe - WIN WIN WIN
Axe beats Archer -> And...