[spoilers] Going Dutch: The Commodore Files

[Commodore]

Amphibious Knights?

Urgh, nevermind. For a second I thought the AGG bonus applied to mounted units, too for some reason.

It doesn't, BUT! We just built the RBmod Statue of Zeus. That's actually very much on the menu. Plus, well, easy access to amphibious maces/muskets/grenadiers/rifles/infantry everywhere.

[Commodore]

Och, I just don't know. I'll give a bit of the report, first. Last night's turn, I saw where Plako settled his city and was almost mollified; it's settled in such a way that two more cities can be placed down here by us or him. So another forked border like the one with Dtay is doable, for what that's worth.

Nasty, that.

In a similar vein, looking to the east the fish is most definitely contestable, but Plako, also, has dibs and the whip hand.

Depressing neighbor award for 2014, as good as won!

So, what'll I be doing? Well, for right now I'm settling two good cities with their own food sources, see the signs.

We both disagree with the barbarians' dotmap.

The gate to the east, the jewel of the empire, the...naw, actually, just a pretty okay little city.

The argument for fun is a strong one, but I don't want to limit our impact/reach/scope. With pretty minimal overflow, we just 1-turned Code of Laws and then 1-turned Monarchy at a mere 70%, which is near break-even. Our GNP is super-excellent, and that crop yield is nothing shameful, either. Honestly Dtay is the more scary of our neighbors in the short term, owning that top crop with aplomb.

MFG says no forges online yet, and also that Commodore sucks at working hammer tiles.

We've got an awesome empire that's just too encumbered by neighbor-set to win. Changes is enjoying the growth focus and about to get a decent +6 population from military police to work dry grass cottages too. Although I've not gone Operation Fiscal Jackhammer on this land, we still own a decent cottage core and we can certainly reach our Dutch Toybox with this kind of land. Horse archers are getting built and some aggressive spears, axes, and swords mean that if we tussle in Plako's ridiculously reachy spot, we can enjoy decent advantages. I just know that for all that we have cities like Changes here, Plako owns an ever-growing shrine to compensate.

Also not Ottawa.

Oh, as kind of an aside, does this map seem vaguely familiar to anyone?

   
The positions even are kind of analogous.

[Commodore]

Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh ack. Blech. Ick!

Blergh.

In the "curse our competent and aggressively expansionist neighbors" file, let's also just post this one.

Yeah, that's not fun.

[Commodore]

Screw this. Plako, you gotta bleed for this reach, bud.
   
This will end well.

[Whosit]

Well. Do you actually have stuff that can kill that stack in the area when you declared war?

[Commodore]

Well. Do you actually have stuff that can kill that stack in the area when you declared war?

Nope! At best the archer might be able to kill a vulture...

[spacetyrantxenu]

Looks like more of a statement of intent or nonverbal protest. Good luck!

[Molach]

Think Mackoti gifted you his map to tell you just this - that Plako can't expand anywhere but through you, so might as well gear up for the fight...

(He probably wants a long slog-out between two equal opponents now)

And love that gem city. Truly the gem of the budding empire.

[Commodore]

Alas, Plako "won" by killing my archer. I saw he'd shuffled more troops, so I accepted a white peace. The Plan is incoming...

Hwee hwee hwee

[Commodore]

Net gain due to intercontinental routes with the Porch Uggles. Lovely, non?

Speculative names warning!