First things first. What to do with the Great Engineer...
Well well well. T35 Construction. I checked in the build queue and a sculptors studio would take 8t currently but City of Totoro can grow 2 sizes once it finishes the Settler next turn and can bring in a few more hammers and knock that down.
My score has jumped considerably... but fortunately the creative Balseraph are out there in front with extra land points.
The next tech has been lined up as Mysticism. Once it is in I will revolt to God King and Agrarianism. Elder Council's will be built and the next tech will be Mining.
I will have to do some planning but hopefully I'll be able to get quite a few Wood Golems together in quick sucession and be able to rush the Sheaim. If diplo works out then obviously the hammers will be better spent on settlers etc but I'm not sure.
Our warrior in the south wasn't attacked and the Lizard moved north:
I moved SE with his 2nd movement point.
In other news, Happy wasn't attacked on the inter-turn and made it back to safety.
Ok - so I met bob on pretty much the first turn of the last blitz and so rather then get an email, he started a chat with me:
Quote:18:20 bobchillingworth: oh by the way
we have contact
as of this turn
8 minutes
18:29 me: cool - how'd we meet?
bobchillingworth: a scout of mine found your borders
me: oooo
18:30 bobchillingworth: dodged a combat III lion on the way over- anyone you know? :P
me: yep - he ate one of my warriors earlier - I take it you came from the south?
18:31 there is a scorpion on my south western border to watch out for too
18:33 bobchillingworth: ah okay, thanks for the heads up
18:34 and yeah I'm to your south
met anyone else yet?
18:36 me: yep
the sheaim are to my east!
clan somewhere to the south west
and sareln has reached my borders too
don't know where he came from untili see the save
bobchillingworth: You must have a fairly central position, then
18:37 me: maybe
no one to my north
just sea and ice
yuck
bobchillingworth: hah
18:38 me: Sareln mentioned he could help me find the difar
sidar sorry
I think they are between me and him
who have you met?
18:39 bobchillingworth: just you, actually
I've had to be cautious in my scouting
had an epic lair nearby
so needed to keep a large garrison ready
18:40 seen any uniqure features? I've found three
Bradeline's Well, the Standing Stones, and the Pool of Tears
18:42 me: ah the well
did you pop it?
i have seen remnants of patria
on desert
broken sephulcher
near sheaim
seven pines
and thats it
18:43 I popped the sephulcher and let that scorpion free
18:44 bobchillingworth: just saw the scorpian
haha he has the death's touch ability
18:45 fun guy
he's to your west tho
I thought you said sheaim were in the east?
18:49 me: they are
the scorpion went on a world tour for some reason!
honestly it has moved a lot since i popped it!
18:50 what does that ability do?
18:51 bobchillingworth: I think it gives the withered promotion to units who attack it or it attacks
something mostly pointless like that
18:51 bobchillingworth: just don't try to kill it with a non-golem hero if you don't have priests
18:53 bobchillingworth: is the sepulcher still there by any chance?
18:55 me: nope
but the raw death mana is
bobchillingworth: you should grab that first
me: i know
it is nearer the sheaim though
i can't defend it
18:56 my wood golems are like jelly to his pyre zombies
i have a sort of plan but will see
18:59 bobchillingworth: Yeah, the Sheaim are one of the worse civs you could have started near
although you're of course under no obligation to actually focus on wood golems
19:00 Homeland chariots work quite well, for example
19:01 any idea what goodie he ended up getting from the sepulcher?
Bob was clearly confused that I actually popped the Sephulcher and there was no "goodie" to be had.
We then chatted again a few days later:
Quote:14:40 me: Hey Bob, sorry for dropping out on sunday - had quite an eventful evening in the end!
bobchillingworth: hey- np
14:41 obviously couldn't be helped. I don't think anyone was upset with you for leaving :P
me: well - they'd have been pretty harsh to think so.
14:42 So - I found your borders last turn
bobchillingworth: right, I saw
me: plucky little guy made it all that way!
14:43 bobchillingworth: well done! I actually haven't explored my east very well, so if you want to exchange screenshots I'd certainly be grateful
I've uncovered a little more land to your west, but I think my scout may have been devoured by a giant spider
me: I'd be happy to
14:44 seeing as I'm a forthcoming friendly dwarf
here is what my scouts think the world looks like http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18370161/FFH2PBE...%20JPG.JPG
you know where you are!
14:45 bobchillingworth: I actually know with what I believe to be close accuracy what the world looks like
Met Sareln last turn (and apparently the Clan too, according to an email I had in my inbox this morning), so I've gathered a bit of info
14:46 me: cool
clan had a big power jump the other turn
too much for a warrior
too much for tech.
I wonder if they have goblinified a wolf...
bobchillingworth: must be
14:47 I've gotten a couple of them in my game with irgy, and they give a huge power boost
me: str4 3 move units are dangerous this early!
bobchillingworth: yeah, especially with free combat I
me: protect your capital!
14:48 bobchillingworth: haha, I am
I can draw up a map of the world in pain in a few mins
paint*
it will only look painful
14:49 me: I am paint level 2...
14:50 bobchillingworth: did you say there was ocean above you?
me: yeah
ice n stuff
14:51 bobchillingworth: any idea what Serdoa's coastline looks like?
me: no not yet
bobchillingworth: k
me: he seems pressed up against the coast though... really not much room
6 minutes
14:58 bobchillingworth: here, check this out: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10367439/revised%20map.JPG
bear in mind that I have no idea what anyone's coast is like besides my own
so I probably don't have such a disproportionate share of the land as I drew :P
me: heh
14:59 bobchillingworth: but the relationship of the civs to each other should be about right
me: I like acheron.
bobchillingworth: haha, thanks
I suspect we're on a Terra map
me: Me too
one big blob with another island for the red dragon
15:00 don't know how big it is though
I imagine LF is on that island too
bobchillingworth: if it is terra, should be about half the size of our main continent
me: snowfall owns and with 3 casting civs... well
bobchillingworth: and there should also be a minor "third world" landmass
somewhere
usually tundra islands
15:01 me: Well
I have the save atm
will play when I get home
I'll see about cropping some screenshots for you
bobchillingworth: sure, no rush. I have class in an hour, and then a movie afterwards
so I won't be back online until about 8 PM
me: you'll have the save waiting
15:02 bobchillingworth: great
me: btw
I don't think we have any need for a nap at the moment
but if you wanted one i'd be happy
just ask
bobchillingworth: sure, although I agree that we don't really need one at present
15:03 me: ok - cool - lets leave it at that and hopefully build some trust by our action rather than cyber paper.
bobchillingworth: works for me :D
I'm going to head out now
so, ttyl
me: k cya
Not a lot to say but I got the feeling Bob wasn't particularly happy with my map! I spent all of 5 minutes on that!
I was a stand up guy and sent him this:
Quote:19:22 me: Present: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18370161/FFH2PBE...286%29.JPG
19:26 bobchillingworth: heya
thanks- I guess this is from the start of your turn?
I already have vision over that area, but thanks regardless
me: yeah - didn't move
19:27 ah heck - no worries
Hopefully my warrior survives
Then, 2 days ago we had this chat:
Quote:20:39 bobchillingworth: Hey, I just played today's turn a little while ago, and I've finished scouting the territory between you and the Clan
let me know if you need / want a screencap, and I can send one next turn
20:41 me: Sure - That would be really welcome
bobchillingworth: np
20:42 looks like there's about space for one city for each of you toward the other
20:43 although if you were to settle aggressively toward them, well we certainly wouldn't protest
me: sounds about right from the map
it is pretty cramped
bobchillingworth: yeah. They're awfully close to me
me: not sure i wanna piss off the clan just yet.
20:44 bobchillingworth: heh, I'm already taking that risk
my first expansion will go toward them
it's a critical location for me, though. Plus under normal circumstances wouldn't even raise an eyebrow :P
20:45 It's a bit early in the game for conspiracies, I think, but if you, me, sareln, and iskender were to all settle toward the clan
we could probably contain them rather well
me: At the end of the day - so long as someone places a city within reasonable distance of their own capital, you are pretty harsh to complain about it
20:46 I'm still uncertain of my 1st city location.
Need a couple more turns scouting I think
bobchillingworth: Makes sense. My settler is already complete, so I'm founding soon.
20:49 Anyway I'll send you the map info tomorrow I guess. Keep in mind the option of some sort of containment policy vs. the Clan, though- it would bring four of us together vs. a common target if everyone available gets in on it, and the Clan are the least likely civ on the map to go for a peaceful win condition, I think
20:50 so very likely all of us are going to have to fight them eventually, unless Tredje decides to try a priest spam religion victory
20:54 me: ok i'll keep it in mind although any win is obviously a long way off yet. If we contain the clan early they should fall behind in tech a bit. thats when it would be best to attack them - with colateral for the 100's of units they will have!
20:55 bobchillingworth: My thinking exactly
Hmm... so Bob is already trying to set up a gang bang against the Clan. Thats not very nice is it? While he makes some good points I don't like to have my foreign diplomacy dictated to me, even if it does make sense. To be honest, I would much rather have a strong Clan as my friend to help me through the early game than a Balseraph who are not necessarily going to give me anything in return for settling towards a dangerous early rusher civ.
It makes no sense for me to go settling aggressively in the Clans face. That got me thinking. I have already had a decent chat with Tredje of the Clan and he is willing to work with me this game. Maybe Howl can pay him a visit some time in the near future to see what he thinks of the Clowns little idea...
Then, this morning I received this email:
Bob Wrote:As promised, here is the area between you and the Clan. Apologies for the heavy-handed edits :P
The signs are for my own use in-game, although one marks the last-seen location of a CII spider near you. I've chatted some with Sareln, and he is confirmed in for the "settle toward the Clan" plan. He said that he'll approach Iskender about doing so as well- if all four of us do, we should be able to contain the Clan's expansion fairly well. If you decide to go along with it, and I urge you to do so, I've marked what I thought might be a fairly attractive location for you on the map with the brown dot. I've also helpfully revealed your horses for you :P. I personally think it would be a great city- not so far away from you to be blatantly aggressive, but it's perfectly placed to prevent the Clan from taking a nice 2 Dye, 1 Cotton spot. You'll also get your horses for chariots if you want to deploy those vs. Sheaim PZ. The yellow dot is where I'm thinking of settling another city of my own, if I can grab it. Please note that I'm considering the mana node that it would pick up as being within my "sphere of influence".
Oh, and Tredje does indeed have a wolf rider. It's Combat II.
Did your warrior near my capital survive his encounter with the Lizardman? If you have any pictures of your path into my territory and/or the eastern coastline near me, I'd certainly appreciate them
-Bobchillingworth
So the Anti-Clan alliance could be as big as 4 civ's if I were to take part.
Square Leg Wrote:The Clan watchtower was a quiet place at this time of day. Many of the goblins were snoozing on the grassy bank and the orcs were playing poker... well, they using a hot poker on the rats to pass the time. All of a sudden a shout came from the top of the tower.
"Errr boss... there seems to be a movin castle on the horizon."
"What d'ya mean, castles no move" Said the orc captain with a sneer towards his junior scout.
"Av a look yerself boss" the nervous scout replied.
The orc reluctantly climbed the tower and took a look:
No sooner had the orc said that and Howl was stood next to him with a casual smile on his face and an apple in his hand. He was dressed in fine clothes and carried a cane in his free hand.
"Good day to you my friend" Howl announced. "How is life in the Clan lands?"
"Err..." the orc replied slightly perplexed as to how the elfish dwarf had managed to get past the sleeping goblins... "Gud" he eventually grunted.
"I have come give your master a message, a message of insight regarding the clowns. Beware, they have many spy's in the wilds and so do not spread this word to another soul, only your master. Beware of animals with large shoes - they are certain to be the clowns in disguise. I saw a bear on my way here with a pom pom on his head." Howl was in full flow now as he started to tap his cane to a beat.
"If you find yourself pressed for space,
A conspiracy it might be,
The Clowns are a dastardly race,
I wonder if it was she?
You can trust in us, we won't partake,
Our master thinks too much of you,
The magic civ's, they may act fake,
A crazy plan they seem to brew......"
And as fast as he had appeared he was gone.
"De castle's movin boss..." the goblin scout yelled.
tee hee - I hope this will make him ask questions and then I will happily give more information. It is a real opportunity to build a solid relationship with a strong early game civ at the expense of a later blooming civ. Something that I hope to take advantage of!
"I'm hiding in the bushes behind the lake. Can you see me? I bet you can't, cause I'm a member of the secret Sidar society. First rule of Sidar is: you don't talk about Sidar, but what the hell - we live west of here, behind the big lake. We've made contact with everyone, except some crazy clowns. Gotta go, I'm being chased by someone's pet scorpion!"
The scout retreated in such haste that he lost what looks like a pair of shades.
Heh - nice message. Clearly role-playing a bit and making bad jokes!
My reply:
Square Leg Wrote:As your scout retreats he feels a smack on the back of his head. With hesitance he picks up the object and studies it with intrigue. In his hands a small square shoe presents itself in a way that only a small square shoe can...
"Who throws a shoe? I mean honestly?"
Inscribed on the sole of the shoe is this message:
"oops - sorry - I was aiming for tree in front of you. ;-)"
Inside the shoe is a whistle and a piece of parchment that smells distinctly of ale.
"Sorry about my messenger, he played the same on the Sheaim recently. Apparently throwing shoes is his favourite past time. I'll ask him to be more respectful in the future.
Walgna was indeed my doing. He has been equiped with a copy of "Sights of Erebus" and is currently visiting the Remnants of Patria. Where he heads to next is a mystery!
You are my final contact and should you wish for contact with the Balseraph I am happy to point you to the south-south-east of my borders. Shrieks of laughter have been heard in that direction as well as a C3 lion wearing a pair of oversize shoes. My messenger is desperate for those...
Thorion Vo was most grateful for the shades. ;-)"
A reference to a "Shade" of my own at the end there. (and some recycled jokes... )
Thanks! I am trying to think of other diplomats to bring into the game at different points assuming the situation allows it. The Sheaim are going to be getting this one unless I hear back from them soon:
This is No-Face from the film Spirited Away. He doesn't talk much
![[Image: T35%20%281%29.JPG]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18370161/FFH2PBEM5/Screenshots/T35%20%281%29.JPG)
![[Image: T35%20%282%29.JPG]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18370161/FFH2PBEM5/Screenshots/T35%20%282%29.JPG)
![[Image: area_between_SL_and_Tredje.JPG]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18370161/FFH2PBEM5/area_between_SL_and_Tredje.JPG)
)
![[Image: no-face.jpg]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18370161/FFH2PBEM5/no-face.jpg)