SPOILERS - PBEM8 Serdoas going to war

[Serdoa]

I have unfortunately no screenie to show (I'll try to think about it when I get the turn back) but I am in a bad position. I have an enemy warrior on my improved corn (probably will get pillaged) 1N2E of my city if I am not mistaken and a Quechua 1E2S of my city.

The warrior on the corn is my own mistake as I had the possibility to put him in the situation that he would have had to move into the open next to my warrior if he wanted to get where he is now. Unfortunately that was at the time I was travelling and playing on my laptop so I basically overlooked him.

The same goes for the Quechua btw, only that he is not in such a bad position for me. But I have also overlooked him for 2 turns...

My worker is 2W of my city, improving the cow and not in immediate danger at least. I also have a warrior fortified in the city and another one 1E of it. I hope to get the warrior on the corn to attack me, rather then pillage and maybe kill me, but so that I can kill him off afterwards with the warrior in the city.

2 more warriors are travelling around. Not that I assume to find anything. I know already that I have 2 neighbours only some tiles off (around 6?) and the others are nearby as well I guess. So there will not be much chance to build up.

What I did though was researching AH (no horses near enough) and now BW. I had thought to go for Archery, but I had already chosen Mining and researched it, so I could now choose between Hunting -> Archery or BW. Takes basically the same amount so I have gone for BW. I probably will get out some more warriors till I have researched it and try to clear my grounds and set up sentries at the entry points near the mountains. And then I'll try to get some cities build with defenses up and running.

And to be honest: I have never played AW and feel that I play rather weak. There are some mistakes on my part which I blame on my laptop and also being ill, but still, we did not play that many turns till now and I already could see like for every single turn something I should have done differently in hindsight.

[plako]

Don't worry. Mistakes come and go. No one is immune to them. AW + close-by neighbours hasn't been that common setup in earlier RB games.

[Serdoa]

Still researching BW and thinking about it, that was probably a mistake. I have two warriors choking me, both on hills. I probably won't have copper in the BFC and with those warriors it can get kind of ugly to get my settler and worker to the copper or horses. Means I should probably have researched Archery now so that I can build Archers. Str 3 would have been enough to be equal against a fortified warrior on a hill (2+50% = 3).

Well, nothing I can change now. Worker has finished the pasture and I hope that will not get pillaged as it happened to my corn.

[Serdoa]

Finished BW, instantly switched to Slavery (yay for no anarchy). Now on to Mediation. Because it only takes 3 turns and a religion can't be a bad thing, now can it? Especially as I won't have anarchy to switch into it.

I will also finish a settler in 3 turns. Well, now down to 2 I think. I could now also slave him out, but I am not sure if getting him 1 turn sooner is really worth 2 pop. Have to look how much overflow I get.

Oh, BW also showed copper which I do have in my borders already (guess the non-creatives won't have it by now if I haven't mixed up turn numbers). Anyway, 2 turns and my farm on the corn is finished and then I will go for the copper. Interestingly, someone (no clue who) had his warrior fortified on that tile with the copper. I had 3 warriors there, so I attacked and got really lucky finishing him with the first warrior. Which is now ... hm, how is that promotion called? Where you have more defense in forests and jungles? Well, I call it Forest and he is Forest2 now, so he can two-move if it is through jungle and wood. Guess he will get upgraded to an Axeman soon and then lets see if someone is not having enough forces in his second city.

[plako]

Very good result for you indeed. The promotion is called Woodsman.

[Serdoa]

Woodsman you are right - thanks Plako.

[Serdoa]

So, my warrior I had fortified in Indias land was killed (that was pretty clear, seeing as India had an Archer there). Also they have already setup their 2nd city. I guess going for Archers and land was the right decision in the situation we have found ourselves here, but as I said, I have never played AW so that is really new for me.

I have also finished my 1st settler and am sending him to a hill-chokepoint to seal of my hinterlands from India. In the process I should maybe also get already the gold (I have the map not in front of me right now), but if not the 3rd city will take it.

I am producing in the cap my 2nd worker right now. When he finishes, copper will be hooked up and I finally will no longer have the feeling that I will die in some rounds. Well, maybe - if I can get myself to build Axes...

Oh, I have also finished Meditation and got indeed Buddishm. I am going now for Pottery (though probably not the best idea seeing how easy pillaging probably will be).

Last point: I have already converted to Slavery and Buddishm as neither did cost me anything. Yay for Spiritual.

[Serdoa]

So, I settled, will have an axe shortly at the new city and am not sure what I am researching right now. I think Hunting -> Archery -> HBR to whip out HAs and kill off India... was that the plan? I think it was.

[Serdoa]

Indias archer is next to my second city. I have 2 warriors in there with another one behind the city and another one and an axe 1 tile away. So I guess I can hold on this city.

I have finished Hunting research I think and am off to Archery. I get another axe in the cap and then I will settle another city probably, and get some workers done for roads. Well, both my workers are at roading duty right now. Stating that, having only 2 workers is not all that much. I guess I have to get more workers out before I settle another city. But I had to pour many hammers in forces right now due to India. Nobody else does harass me - so I guess, India sets us both back at the moment.

[Serdoa]

I guess plako took over the reporting so not much I have to tell

The Indian archer is still staying around on my hill and I still do ignore him. Yeah, I do have 2 axes in the city but the odds are still bad and I simply see no reason to throw away at least 23 hammers for 16 of his (and probably more like 43) for no real gain. It's annoying to have him fortified there, but hey, I guess as soon as HAs are pouring in his lands he will call him back.

I think I have right now 3 workers and also get my 3rd city soon - I think next turn. It's kinda hard to keep track of that stuff as the game is not moving as fast as I had hoped.