RB PBEM #1 - Charlemagne [SPOILERS]

[mostly_harmless]

Ok, folks.
Next motivation hole coming.
While playing my turn I spotted a highly promoted, slightly injured tank stack approaching Bursa. Some Combat III, some Drill III and some mixed.
They are coming from the eats via the land route, so I am pretty sure those are not the troops Dreylin used to attack sooooo's coastal cities. I am also sure Dreylin did not have those good troops on border patrol to Ruff.
So why have I not seen those tanks in action before????
Let's ask Ruff, shall we?

Hi,

I am bit puzzled about a Ottoman tank stack that I spotted.
Nicely promoted, slightly injured.
Since I am pretty sure they don't roll off Dreylin's production lines likes this and I saw that you disband units on a great scale, now that soooo is finished, here the question:
You are not giving your best units to Dreylin, so he can finish me off earlier and can win the game earlier, right?

mh

Ruff's power dropped dramatically last turn, but his war weariness was not affected, which spells unit disbanding to me.

Here the detailed answer:

Hi mh,

Nice to hear from you. Dreylin and I were involved in a tank for $ deal. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to offer you the same deal. You might question why I am doing this ... in fact, you have .

Background: Dreylin and I have signed a 'no future war' agreement so I don't see any threat to myself regarding disbanding or selling my units to him. He is planning to win via culture. I am planning to win by space. We both know this about each others approach. We also have some spying restrictions in place (emphasis on some).

As such, I need to tech almost to the end of the tree to win. To do this, I need $. Thus my willingness to sell him tanks. Sure, it gives him more resources to kill you quicker ... but to be honest, I actually see this as giving you the opportunity to generate further GG points ... based on your stellar performance over the last 20 or so rounds. I expect that he could build the tanks I am selling him in 1 or 2 turns at most so he isn't gaining that much.

Sure, I freely admit that this is freeing up some of his civ to concentrate on culture. I also admit that this might speed his war against you and let him concentrate purely on culture. However, I reject outright that this is speeding his victory. I have what I believe to be a pretty solid method of stopping any cultural victory that he might try to achieve ... you being alive or dead will have no impact on the method that I am planning to apply.

So - the upshot ... I get $ to help me win, Dreylin gets some tanks but I don't view this as helping him win. Does it mean more pain for you ... yes (sorry), but it also means more death and destruction opportunities too.

Cheers,

Ruff

So, yes Ruff is giving his troops to Dreylin for cash. Battle hardened troops at that. Bet you a cookie that this Combat III & Range I fighter was from Ruff as well.

So, what now? Delaying Dreylin as long as possible so Ruff has a chance to win was one of the motivations for the last 30 turns, seeing how Dreylin was messing up his attacks. Now I get the message from Ruff, that he feels, nothing I did and will do to Dreylin will have the slightest impact on him winning the game? Nice!
Dreylin wants to go for culture and Ruff claims he can prevent that. What is hindering Dreylin to go for space as well? He can certainly out-tech Ruff, even more so, if I leave my towns intact.

Very annoying situation.
As for Dreylin, I am pretty sure he will finally move into Vienna in the next two turns. He will time this with his, by now, 8 paratroopers near Augsburg, I guess. I also noticed that there are 3 carriers missing. Certainly not disbanded, because there are still Battleships around for god's sake. He probably lands next to my oil city as well.
Maybe he gets his concerted attack right this time.

If I sound bitter, then it is because of Ruff's eMail.
Sorry, will step back for a few hours. Shouldn't get wound up over a simple game of CIV, really.

mh

[darrelljs]

Delaying Dreylin as long as possible so Ruff has a chance to win was one of the motivations for the last 30 turns, seeing how Dreylin was messing up his attacks. Now I get the message from Ruff, that he feels, nothing I did and will do to Dreylin will have the slightest impact on him winning the game? Nice!

Ruff might or might not feel that way, but if he does he's wrong .

Darrell

[Twinkletoes89]

Whatever happens mh, you should know that you have given a terrific account of yourself as a player! Many would have quit long ago or just let themselves get steamrolled and a quick exit.

Not you! You've fought on to the bitter end and really given some pounding back to Dreylin, who I'd imagine wasn't expecting such vicious fighting too!

Keep your chin up and go out and kill as many as you can!

[mostly_harmless]

I have made a last attempt to ask Dreylin for peace.

Lets see.

mh

[mostly_harmless]

Ok, I hold the turn for quite a long time in order to work something out with Dreylin.
I assume he is posting all our email correspondence in his thread? Is that right?
So while we remain in state of war for the time being, we have effectively settled to try a diplo victory for Dreylin.
I for my part think I had enough fun from this game and successfully defended against overwhelming numbers. I got plenty of praise from the lurkers and I want to thank you all for that.
I geared my civ now for maximum growth. As part of that plan I wanted to resettle Aryan in the north and spotted Dreylins amphibious landing there. So it looks like he was going to attack next turn in earnest.
And frankly, he probably would get it right this time. I don't see another surprise victory coming for my. And even if, I rather spare Dreylin the humiliation of another failure.

The key point was discovering that Ruff gives his best troops to Dreylin and his eMail, which might have true core but which I perceived as very wrong.

So here is what you will miss if this diplo victory goes through in hopefully less than 15 turns:
Scenario 1: I make peace with Dreylin after getting another 4XP out of him for my next GG. Pile up cash while rebuilding my lands, especially Vienna. Tech Fission. Chop Manhattan Project. Have Vienna crank out 2 turn ICBMs (Ironworks, HE, MilAcademy, Factory, Power, Forge, Police State). Hit Ruff in around 20 turns with nukes. See whether that puts a dent in his space ship plans.
Scenario 2: I keep fighting Dreylin for old times sake. Get attacked simultaneously at Augsburg, Vienna, and Brandenburg. My plan would be to give up Vienna (city is empty since 4 turns or so), Florence, Brandenburg. Defend Augsburg to keep the SoZ. Form a new "line" around Prague, Aachen, Ulm. In the next stage I would fall back to Nuremberg, giving up Aachen, Prague, Ulm and probably Augsburg. Than gradually retreat all the way to the northwest to my last city Luxemburg. Trying to avoid a decisive battle to keep enough ATs at hand to prevent his tanks rushing forward without infantry support. I figure I could hold out for another 20-25 turns.

mh

[Dantski]

I for one would like to see some screenshots of nukes and the diplomacy with Ruff following that (assuming its successful)

[Krill]

Yeah, the nukes sound somewhat interesting...

[mostly_harmless]

Not much happening as I farm and grow.
I will look into the nuke thing. It does not conflict with the preparations for the diplo win.
Maybe we can even play on after the diplo win like in SP.

mh

[mostly_harmless]

Grow, grow, grow. From 53pops 4 turns ago to 67pops right now. Piling up cash for the dash to Fission. Also prechopping forests for Manhattan. if I remember correctly, Manhattan is a project and cannot be goldrushed or slaved.

mh

[Rowain]

Also prechopping forests for Manhattan. if I remember correctly, Manhattan is a project and cannot be goldrushed or slaved.

mh

Yep Manhatten is a project (as are the Space-ship-parts, the Internet, SDI and Apollo).