[Spoilers] Old Human Tourist: Empress of Azteca

[Old Harry]

Super quickly, I'm currently just mostly working and sleeping.

- That scout thing, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Gifting a concrete unit with the ability to get valuable info is completely different from sending iron-for-iron trade with some city gifts added in. However, I'm not sure whether this will work in practice and I'm fine with waiting for more lurker input and deciding when we have a clearance.

I think people's issues are with using numbers or letters and city gifting, not with unit gifting, so I'm inclined to go ahead unless someone feels really strongly about it.

- The more I think it the stronger my opinion is: If dtay attacks pindicator we want to react.

Even if it turns out not to be the totally optimal play for us it is the fun one . What do you think would happen if we offered Pindi a defensive pact? It would probably give dtay too much warning that we were up to something wouldn't it?

- Based on current info I think dtay attack is reality, he gets Rifling in 2, upgrades a bunch of units and strikes, let's say in 5 turns. This means that we need to attack him asap, if we give him 15 turns, dtay has taken hindu shrine + other good stuff, pindicator is demoralized and we find ourselves staring at rifles in every coastal city (dtay must understand that attacking pindicator is an invitation as well) --> Consequently, I think our attack date should be T170 (+/- 1 turn), which means that preparations need to start immediately

I think he has a bunch of cash on hand still, so may be able to upgrade and attack t166... I think that means he can hit the Shrine t168 .

- Regarding current turn: I think we should consider switching our research to Gunpowder.

Gunpowder will obsolete our Astro bulb, so we could get it 99% complete this turn, part-bulb Astro next turn, then complete GP and overflow into Mil Trad/RP/Astro/Chemistry (frigates could make our fleets safer). Alternatively we pop the bulb this turn and complete GP?

I don't have a problem detouring here as part of the reason for getting Constitution-Democracy-Corporation is Representation and our Golden Age is still about fifteen turns away.

EDIT: Yeah, Englebert switch sounds good, I don't like building navy in Marmalade as the city is visible to dtay, let's use the whip in other places.

EDIT2: Reducing our EP spend to dtay is fine, but we want to keep that city visibility. We want to know where his troops are located and what kind of defenses cities have when we attack

I'd hope that one galley in Marmalade wouldn't be enough to worry him, but you never know... The problem with other places is that three of the best ones, Kirby, Gertie and Cornelius are all on important tasks already - Gertie and Cornelius could delay their universities I guess. That just pushes Oxford back a bit further. Upland Cress could whip a Galley to queue-upgrade, Englebert could produce a Galley then a Galleon, Cornelius could whip a Galley to queue-upgrade, Gertie could produce one boat (G or G), there is a Galley just west of Upland Cress that can upgrade and join up too. That makes six Galleons up north.

Down south we don't have a problem, Rocky, Nina and Izzy can all pump boats out. Six sounds about right, but more might be necessary...

In the middle Hazelnut can probably produce a couple of boats in between Knight builds.

Unit mix:
- Up north with six Galleons I think we should have ten Knights (or Cuirs - at least half Amphi), four Maces and four Pikes (Amphi if possible).
- In the middle with two Galleons it depends what dtay defends with, but it looks like he's getting Oromo warriors in place, against which Knights or Cuirs are going to be most effective.
- Down south we want to land our expeditionary force, as far from his stacks as possible. With perhaps six galleons we should be able to land 18 Knights (or Cuirs) to rampage through some very lightly-defended territory. Do we want to bring a cat stack too to provide collateral, or would they be too exposed to counter attack? Pikes would be handy for stack defence (although perhaps they don't defend Cuirs?)

If we can get some Rifles and they will be better than Pikes or Maces, although Grenadiers are excellent for Amphibious attacks against an opponent with Rifling and Mil Sci gives Commando, which we'll have one to three units capable of taking... A commando raid to destroy the Jewish shrine would just make my day...

I think we're likely to get the second half of the turn timer as dtay plays very early. Since he's in Caste (I think) anyway that doesn't really hurt him and he gets to use promotions.