[SPOILERS] ARRR Ye Scurvy Dogs! Hannah the Irin

[Mardoc]

Wouldn't the Strong promotion still have carried over, if the fire weakness did? I think it's only the racial promotion which changes (which makes sense- you can upgrade stuff like human Kurio archers into Centaurs).

I'll have to try that out at some point; it makes sense, but I don't know precisely how the code works. Who knows, maybe we'll actually win against Thoth and that point will be later in this same game.

Of course, that would depend on WarriorKnight telling me the truth last time about his plans to hit Thoth as soon as the Sheaim are cleaned up, which means either I've been deluded all along about his NAP with Thoth, or he's willing to break another NAP on a flimsy pretext. Frankly, if it happens at all, I'd bet on the latter as the reason, given the recent invasion of Sheaim lands before T170.

Although I do have a little more info to add there. I wasn't certain this was kosher, but now that all the decisions that it might have influenced have been made, I'll share one more thing. When Mist asked me to check out the T156 save for his caravel, I also moved my northern caravel south, where I thought (but wasn't certain) I had moved it before.

And, I found a Privateer hanging out in a Sheaim port, at 3.something/8 health. Now, it's still not proof - but it's awfully strong circumstantial evidence. Johnny Shapiro might still be able to get Heisenberg off, but I think he's guilty.

Of course, it's also a little thing, more an excuse for war than a reason for it. If WK hadn't wanted the war, the reasonable option would have been to demand compensation. Or to build his own Privateers and get some HN revenge of his own.

[Mardoc]

Well...one more turn. I think I'll be able to do well for a little while, then Thoth will get his Gettysburg, and unless I get an English/French intervention, that'll be the end of the story of the South.

Aka - with the situation as it is, I see some opportunities. I know Thoth's outproducing me and is ahead on tech, though, so I'm doomed in the end unless WarriorKnight comes in and Nyktorion is able to do something other than pure survival.

Of course, the Sheaim are down to two cities, so WK will at least have his army free. I still haven't even gotten my assassin to Sheaim territory, the territory's been receding faster than my caravel can sail


Remind me, and I'll post an army summary at the start of next turn, so you can see what this approach can buy the Lanun in 10 turns.

[Mardoc]

Declared war on Thoth this turn. I only managed to take one city, though, the treaty city. He just has too much. I give it 5 turns until I'm ready to concede

His most effective defenders? Mages with Stoneskin. Surprised the heck out of me, but heavy resistances, combined with Str 7 on the defense, combined with high city fortifications, meant that even Stygians had poor odds.

[Mardoc]

Also, it seems pretty clear that my 30 turn NAP extension with Thoth cost me and possible everyone the game - if I could have attacked 5 turns ago, or even if he was simply afraid to hit Nyktorion with his whole army, this would have been very different.

[Selrahc]

His most effective defenders? Mages with Stoneskin. Surprised the heck out of me, but heavy resistances, combined with Str 7 on the defense, combined with high city fortifications, meant that even Stygians had poor odds.

Worth bringing some drowns along to break their skin?

[Mardoc]

And...that's the difference between a war on a shoestring budget, and a war with the full power and might of the Malakim empire. I got one city last turn - Thoth took 4 from me this turn. I got to hit first .

Well - there's always next game.

[Mardoc]

This is looking hopeless. Thoth took another 4 cities this turn, one of which exposed Hemah and Saverous. They're both dead.

[DaveV]

Too bad. I thought you had a pretty good game going, but it sounds as though Thoth is having no problems fighting and winning a 2-front war.

[Mardoc]

Too bad. I thought you had a pretty good game going, but it sounds as though Thoth is having no problems fighting and winning a 2-front war.

Nah, the real problem is that he beat Nyktorion around T165, so was able to bring his whole, veteran army to face me. Or to be more blunt, the real problem was that both me and WarriorKnight signed NAPs that prevented it from ever being a 2-front war.

Nyktorion's been giving me updates the past few turns, and apparently once his main stack was gone, Thoth moved in with something like 1 Eidolon + 3 Stygians + Frigate, and that was enough. Meanwhile I saw a whole menagerie, more units than I could kill in a turn, most of which were stronger than mine.

If we were going to have a chance at this, we needed to have a well-coordinated dogpile, and that just didn't happen. I bear probably 40% of the blame for that; Nyktorion 10% (mostly just for scaring me off at T140), and WK 50%.

[Mardoc]

Down to one mainland city, and 3 island cities. Soon I can read Thoth's thread and figure out how he grew so far so fast. Lesson learned - if you can't take the leader on by yourself, you should 100% stay out of NAP so you don't have to

He probably can't kill me off without one more stop in OO, although I could be wrong, maybe his production advantage will be enough to land enough forces. I've got basically no MFG on the island, so I can't replace any Cultists he kills

Or, well, come to think of it, I probably should be expecting to see water-walking Eidola at some point here.

I'm trying to get the Black Wind stack over to thoth's iron city before I die and raze the sucker, but probably he'll intercept it on the way.

Also - Dave, I appreciate having you along for the ride; I've learned a lot of FFH from you. But feel free to abandon ship at this point and go read other threads.